Asia has both the highest and the lowest points on the surface of Earth, has the longest coastline of any continent, and is subject overall to the world’s widest climatic extremes. The history of Asia can be seen as the distinct histories of several peripheral coastal regions: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia. The term Asia–Pacific generally refers to a combination of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and islands in the Pacific Ocean – and most are also considered part of Australasia or Oceania. Get all the latest news, live updates and content about Asia from across the BBC. Asia es la cuna de numerosas civilizaciones antiguas, entre ellas la mesopotámica, la civilización del valle del Indo y la china. En la división convencional de continentes, de origen europeo, Asia y Europa aparecen como dos entidades diferentes por razones culturales e históricas. Asia is divided into five major regions: Central, East, South, Southeast, and Western Asia, plus North Asia, covering Siberia. A guide to Asia including maps facts and information about Asia, free printable map of Asia. Explore Asia's geography, countries, and more with our Map of Asia. Click on any country for its map and information. Asia is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. It is separated from Europe by the Pontic Mountains and the Turkish Straits. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. Asia is subdivided into 49 countries, five of which (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) are transcontinental countries lying partly in Europe.