an image of the earth from space

The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old and has a unique atmosphere composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and trace gases like carbon dioxide and argon. With a global population of over 8 billion people, our planet is home to diverse landscapes and ecosystems. Russia is the largest country, while the Pacific Ocean, the biggest and deepest, contains the Mariana Trench, the Earth's lowest point. Mount Everest stands as the highest mountain, towering at 29,032 feet. The Amazon Rainforest is the most biodiverse place, teeming with over 3 million species. Earth's surface is about 71% water, but only 2.5% of that is freshwater. Our world is divided into seven continents and experiences five major climate zones--tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar--making it a planet rich in natural diversity and human activity.