Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: Mark on 04/06/2009 15:30:03

Title: Why are peninsulas attached to land at their northern end?
Post by: Mark on 04/06/2009 15:30:03

Mark asked the Naked Scientists:
   
If you look at a globe, there are several very large peninsulas - Korea, Thailand, Florida, Baja California, Italy. All of these seem to be attached to the mainland at the northern end of the peninsula - why?

What do you think?

Title: Why are peninsulas attached to land at their northern end?
Post by: chris on 04/06/2009 23:05:42

Hmm - that's a good question - although Cape York, Australia, is at the top of a very long south-attached peninsula, and I'm sure there must be more examples...

Title: Why are peninsulas attached to land at their northern end?
Post by: Don_1 on 05/06/2009 08:14:49

Just mussing here, might this have something to do with the fact that most of the land mass is in the northern hemisphere?

Title: Why are peninsulas attached to land at their northern end?
Post by: LeeE on 05/06/2009 16:03:27

I'm with Don_1 on this - most of the land mass is in the northern hemisphere.  It's interesting how the 'pointy' bits of South America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent all point south.  The Yucatan peninsula is quite a large North-pointing peninsula though.