Which Continents Are in the Western Hemisphere? — Reading Comprehension

The Western Hemisphere is the half of Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian. This imaginary line runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and helps divide the world into eastern and western halves. The Western Hemisphere includes all of some continents and parts of others.

Two continents are mostly or fully in the Western Hemisphere: North America and South America. North America includes countries like the United States, Canada, and Mexico. South America has countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Peru. These two continents are completely in the Western Hemisphere.

Parts of two other continents also stretch into the Western Hemisphere: Europe and Africa. The western parts of Europe, like Portugal and parts of Spain, are in the Western Hemisphere. In Africa, countries such as Ghana and Senegal are on the western side of the Prime Meridian, so they are partly in the Western Hemisphere too.

Learning which continents are in the Western Hemisphere helps us read maps, study geography, and understand where different places are in the world.

Fun Fact: The city of Quito, Ecuador, is right on the Equator—and in the Western Hemisphere!

What line divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres?

Which two continents are fully in the Western Hemisphere?

Which part of Europe is in the Western Hemisphere?

Which African countries are partly in the Western Hemisphere?

Why is it useful to know which continents are in the Western Hemisphere?

What is the main idea of the passage?