6 A TEXTBOOK OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



of land and water corresponding to the average distribution 

 for the whole of the earth's surface. 



The sea surface is much below the average between 20 

 and 75 N. Lat., and between 45 and 70 N. the sea does not 

 cover half the earth's surface. In the Arctic Circle the land 

 occupies three-quarters of the surface. In tropical regions 

 the sea occupies most space, taking up three-quarters of the 

 surface. South of 35 S. Lat., where the African and Aus- 

 tralian Continents end, the sea covers nine-tenths of the earth's 

 surface. Between 56 and 60 S. there is, except for the South 

 Sandwich Islands, nothing but water. 



Water Hemisphere . 



Land Hemisphere 



FIG. i. THE LAND AND WATER HEMISPHERES. 



The Old World contains 62' i per cent, and the New World 

 8r2 per cent, water. 



The west and south parts of the earth contain the great 

 water areas, the east and north the great land areas. It is 

 possible to divide the surface of the earth up into two hemi- 

 spheres, so that one contains the maximum area of land, the 

 other of water. These are the so-called land and water hemi- 

 spheres. According to recent measurements, the centre of the 

 land hemisphere is on the coast of France, near Croisic, at the 

 mouth of the Loire. The centre of the water hemisphere lies 

 in the Pacific Ocean south-east of New Zealand. 



