Asia, the largest continent on Earth, is a land of contrasts. It is creased by several mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, which includes Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. The lowest place can be found in Asia’s Dead Sea. There are 46 countries on the continent, with two–China and India–that are each populated by more than one billion people. It is a continent of political diversity, with countries featuring governments that range from democratic to communist. Most of the world’s major religions have their roots in Asia.