Новозеландский «микроконтинент» - седьмой материк Земли

Аннотация

The term «microcontinent» should be applied to small portions of continental earth-crust enclosed with continuous oceanic crust (microcontinent of the Seychelles, t. e.). A huge mass of continental crust which usually goes under the name of the New Zealand microcontinent comprises property New Zealand and other continental blocks such as Campbell, Challenger, Bellona, Chatem, Bounty. Its size about 4 million sq, km is comparable with the continent of Australia. The earthcrust thickness under the New Zealand «microcontinent» is up to 25 to 35 km. There are well pronounced continental shelf, continental slope and continental rise; at the west it is contiguous to a transitional zone of the Emerald Basin. The history of the megablock formation has much in common with this of other continents. The New Zealand «microcontinent» is in tact the seventh continent of the Earth, its main difference from other continents being smaller size and higher percentage of submerged area.