Mainland Africa is the second largest on the planet after Eurasia. It occupies more than twenty percent of the entire land area and is almost entirely located in the hemisphere in the south.
The mainland is washed by several oceans: the Atlantic and Indian. The territory is divided between fifty-five countries.
African countries and their capitals
African countries are usually divided into five groups. The list looks like this:
In terms of economic indicators, the most developed and richest is located in the south of the mainland South Africa. At the same time, residents of many states, in particular the central part of the mainland, are below the poverty line, in particular the CAR, DRC, Burundi - the poorest countries in Africa.
The largest state in terms of territory is Algeria, and the smallest is Mayotte. The most numerous is Nigeria, and the lowest population in the islands is the Seychelles.
African states acquired their sovereignty in the middle of the twentieth century. Majority modern names appeared at the same time.
For example, until 1985, Côte d'Ivoire was called the Ivory Coast, and Djibouti until 1977 had an official status and name in the form of the French Territory of Afars and Issa. Such changes have affected almost half of the territorial units of the mainland.
Characteristics of Africa
The area is equal to twenty-nine million square meters. km. The prevalence from the north down - eight thousand kilometers, and from the west to the left - seven and a half.
Physical map of Africa (click to enlarge)
There are several variants of the origin of the name. The most common ones are:
- Afri - people who lived near Carthage, later the Romans began to call the whole region that way, and then the continent of Africa.
- From the Latin aprica - sunny.
- From the Greek afrkn - no cold.
Note: Africa is considered to be the ancestral home of Homo sapiens, it is there that the remains of the most ancient ancestors, in particular hominids and sahelanthropians, were discovered.
The continent has long attracted Europeans, as the history of the discovery showed, active study began in the fifteenth century, when Vasco da Gama circled Africa on his way to India.
From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the mainland was divided among the great powers:
- the north is part of the Ottoman Empire;
- south - Spain, Portugal and other colonialists.
After World War II, the map changed as the wave of independence began. Today there are several territories on the African mainland under the control of Europeans, in particular Canary Islands, Madeira, Chagos Archipelago.
Extreme points of Africa
About which point is the most northern, southernmost, which is the most eastern, and where the westernmost is located, the following image tells well:
Population
More than one billion people live on the mainland today. Along with this, the largest increase in the number and life expectancy is observed. Demographic estimates predict that the population will double over the next thirty years.
There are two main races in Africa:
- Negroid - in the center;
- Caucasians - mainly in the north and in the South African Republic.
The most common people are Arabs. The population density is low compared to Europe and Asia. Today interethnic conflicts continue.
Its useful to note: the level of urbanization in the countries is low, but its rate is the highest in the world.
As for religion, the leading world movements are generally widespread, but all other religious movements are also represented. Traditional beliefs are still prevalent in the central part.
Climatic zones
Africa is considered the warmest continent, and the warmest place is located here - Dallol. The entire territory is distributed in warm climatic zones.
The main ones and their characteristics:
- Equatorial - heavy rains and in fact there is no change of seasons, there is constant summer.
- Subequatorial - two main seasons, rainy summers, winters characterized by dry trade winds.
- Tropical - almost no precipitation, deserts are widespread.
Minerals
Africa is rich in minerals that have a high price.
In particular, the main ones include:
- gold;
- oil.
The northern coast is also rich in manganese, iron ores and phosphorites.
Flora and fauna
The organic world of Africa is characterized by exceptional diversity.
In tropical areas, there are a variety of large animals, in particular, rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, monkeys and others.
Large birds also live on the continent, such as flamingos, ibises.
The north is dominated by lizards and snakes that have adapted to the climate of the Sahara. The “big five” are the trademarks of the south of the mainland: buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros.
The climatic conditions of northern Africa have contributed to the adaptation of many plant species. In the south, more than two and a half thousand flowering plants are counted - this is almost ten percent of the world's wealth.
Geographic objects
Atlas mountains
The main objects of geography of Africa include:
- Atlas Mountains;
- Pools of the Congo ( lowest point) and Nile;
- Rift Valley;
- Ethiopian and Ahaggar highlands;
- deserts - Kalahari, Namib and Sahara.
In addition to the oceans, the mainland is washed by one sea - the Red and Suez Canals.
Rivers and seas
One of the longest rivers in the world is located in Africa.
The length of the Nile is almost seven thousand kilometers.
Among others large rivers relate:
- Niger;
- Congo;
- Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange.
Africa is rich and large lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika and Chad. The latter is the largest saline body of water in the interior of the mainland.
Plains
Plains in Africa are represented by plateaus (East African) and trenches (Chad, Congo, Kalahari).
The plateaus are high plains, along with them the pits are low.
Mountains of africa
Mostly Africa is a continent on the plains, there are enough mountains on it:
- Atalas - in the north;
- Ahagar and Tibeste - in the Sahara Desert;
- Effiop Highlands - in the east;
- Kapsky and Drakonovs - in the south.
The highest point is the Kilimanjaro volcano, its height is five thousand nine hundred meters.
In conclusion, I would like to focus on the concepts of "continent" and "continent". There are only six continents on Earth, all of which are well known. But there are only four continents.
"Continent" translated from Latin means "continuous". Since Eurasia and Africa are connected together by the Suez Canal, they are not separated from each other, therefore they are not separately continents.
Africa is a unique continent that combines the diversity of flora and fauna. Most of the states are at the stage of economically developing countries, partly this is due to the long-term colonization of the region.
The name of the second largest continent appeared in the II century. BC NS. The Roman army established a colony on the territory of conquered Carthage, which was named after the Afarik tribes. Modern Africa is very contrasting. Climate, relief, nature, culture, cuisine and living standards change from region to region.
Basic geographic information
The continent is located on both sides. It crosses Africa almost in the middle. Due to this arrangement, the territory receives a huge amount of heat and light. The area of the continent is 30.3 million km². The territory of the mainland from north to south has a length of 8 thousand km, and from west to east - 7.5 thousand km.
The coastline of Africa is practically not indented. The coasts are washed by the Atlantic and Indian Ocean as well as the Red and Mediterranean Seas. Extreme points continent:
- northern - Cape Ben Sekka;
- southern - Cape Agulhas;
- western - Cape Almadi;
- eastern - Cape Ras Khafun.
Namib
This desert is about 80 million years old. Namib is the most ancient desert on the planet, located along the Atlantic coast. The symbol of the state of Namibia is the thumbua plant, which grows here in large quantities. It withstands drought, feeding exclusively on condensation. Forest of the dead trees, Deadvley, attracts travelers with a mystical appearance. The highest dune is 380 m.
Inland waters
Lake Victoria
Rivers and lakes are unevenly distributed. The Nile is located in Africa - the most long river the world. Its spills were once the source of Egypt's soil fertility. After the construction of the hydroelectric power station, the level of the river is monitored. The Nile meets 10 states on its way. Its valley separates the Libyan and Arabian deserts.
The second largest, Congo, stretches for 4,700 km. Dangerous due to its fast current and depth. In some places it reaches 25–30 m. Water discharge is uniform throughout the year, without drying out and spills. Scientists attribute this to the location of the basin on both sides of the equator. Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river is of great industrial, economic and commercial importance. The lakes have different origins. The great lakes are Tanganyika, Victoria, Albert, Edward, Kivu and Malawi.
Lake Victoria is - and the second in the world.
Climate
Equatorial climate zone
Thanks to the location of the mainland, a unique climatic environment has been created. The equator cuts Africa in half. The following main climatic zones are distinguished:
Everyday life and activities of people depend on a specific type of climate. Even in the cold season, the temperature does not drop below -10 ° C. In the tropics, the influence of the oceans is very limited. The north of the continent forms low pressure zones that spread throughout Africa. From the South Atlantic region, monsoons blow, reaching the Guinean coast. There is humid air and heavy rainfall. The states in the north of the mainland are influenced by the Indian monsoon. All regions of Africa are characterized by temperature differences. Precipitation falls unevenly. There is a lot of rain in the equatorial areas. Annual precipitation depends on the terrain. Most of the rain is in the Cameroon area.
Flora and fauna:
Vegetable world
On east coast and Madagascar has tropical rainforests. Deciduous-coniferous forests grow on the outskirts of the southeast. Equatorial Africa is framed by savannas, which are subdivided into typical, tall-grass and deserted types.
The vegetation of the Sahara is sparse. Shrubs are the most common. Date palm belongs to the most important trees of the oases. Namib and Kalahari are famous for acacias and succulents. Evergreen forests are represented by coffee trees, rosewood and baobabs. The Atlas Mountains are home to cedar, olives and cork oak.
Animal world
The abundance of representatives of the fauna is observed in the savannas. It is inhabited by:
- Ungulates: buffaloes, gazelles and antelopes.
- Monkeys: baboons, gorillas, baboons and chimpanzees.
- Carnivores: jackals, and hyenas.
- Birds: ostriches, marabou, vultures, crowned cranes.
- Reptiles: monitor lizards, pythons, cobras, crocodiles, chameleons.
They attract tourists with their diversity of flora and fauna. The northern and southern deserts are home to different types of animals. In the north live jerboas, fennecs, jackals. A large number of snakes, lizards and other invertebrates are present. On southern territories animals are practically absent. The dune is a natural habitat for insects and reptiles. On coastline seals arrange rookeries.
In evergreen forests, a huge number of invertebrates, crocodiles live in reservoirs. Mammals are represented by a small number of ungulates, birds and monkeys. The continent's tropical sanctuaries are popular with travelers. Here you can admire zebras, elephants, flamingos and ostriches.
Minerals
Africa is a world storehouse of ores, gases and precious metals. In the east, the continent's foundation is shallow, so minerals are close to the surface. Gold and copper are mined here. The mainland is the leader in the number of reserves of these minerals.
The diamond deposits are located in the center of Africa and on the southeast coast. The northern and western parts are rich in oil, natural gas and phosphorites. South Africa is the most resource-rich country. Platinum and cobalt are mined here. There is a lot of coal on the territory of the state. The processing industry is poorly developed. Because of this, most of the mining is exported raw.
Ecological situation
The main problem of the continent is overuse natural resources... Deforestation and expansion of agricultural land leads to erosion, desertification and a sharp decline in green areas.
Resource extraction pollutes air and water. Due to poaching, many species of animals are under the threat of extinction. Hides, bones and tusks are prized on the black market. The bans have practically no effect on poachers: in seven years, the elephant population has decreased threefold.
The countries are scattered, they pursue a policy that is not aimed at preserving the unique flora and fauna. Some states are concerned about the state of the continent. Animals are protected in national parks, water in rivers is purified, new trees are planted in forests. Creation of national parks - last hope for endangered species of animals and plants.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Geography of Africa
Click to enlarge
In the south, Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast, the Sinai Peninsula is washed by the waters of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, in the east and southeast, the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Geographic features of Africa
Atlas
The Atlas Mountains system extends from southwestern Morocco along Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain ranges, namely: High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Seaside Atlas. The highest point is Mount Toubkal, located in the western part of Morocco, with a height of 4,167 meters.
Congo river basin
The Congo Basin, located in central Africa, spans most of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the neighboring Republic of the Congo. In addition, it extends to Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of this fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 square kilometers, and it is home to about 20% of the world's tropical forests. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and the network of its tributaries and streams serves as a transport function for the population of the interior countries of Africa.
Great rift valley
A sharp deepening of the Earth's surface, approximately 6,400 km long, extending from the Red Sea, near the border with Jordan in the Middle East, south to Mozambique. Essentially, this valley is the result of a series of geological faults caused by large volcanic eruptions many centuries ago. The result of these same faults was numerous sheer cliffs, mountain ranges, rocky valleys, and very deep lakes located throughout the considerable length of this valley. In the immediate vicinity of the valley are many of the most high mountains Africa, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.
Ahaggar Highlands
Ahaggar is a high-altitude region in the central part of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km away. south of the capital of the country, and west of the city of Tamanrasset. The region is mostly a rocky desert, with an average altitude of over 900 m above sea level. The most highest point- Mount Takhat (3,003 m.).
Kalahari Desert
The desert is about 259,000 square kilometers and covers most of Botswana, southwestern South Africa, and all of western Namibia. This desolate plateau has many dry river estuaries, and dense bushes grow in abundance. There are several small mountain ranges in the area, including Karas and Hans. In the Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park, located in South Africa, on the border with Namibia, there are large herds of wild animals.
Namib Desert
Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, stretching over 2,000 km in length along the coast Atlantic Ocean... The desert begins in Angola, runs through Namibia, and ends at the Oliphants River in the Western Cape in South Africa. To the east of the Atlantic coast, the desert is gradually gaining height, up to 200 km. at the foot of the Bolshoy Ustup mountains.
Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm. in the driest areas of the desert up to 200 mm. on the hills, because of which Namib can be considered the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically composed of dune (sandy) seas in coastal areas, while gravel plains and rocks prevail in inland areas.
The sand dunes of the desert, some of which reach 300 m in height and 32 km. in length, are the second largest in the world, second only to the Badin-Jaran dunes in China.
Sahara Desert
Covering almost one third of the entire African continent, the Sahara is largest desert in the world, with an approximate total area of 9,065,000 sq. km. Topographically, the desert includes stone-strewn plains, mobile sand dunes, and numerous dune (sandy) seas.
The height of the desert varies from 30 m below sea level to 3 350 m above sea level ( Mountain peaks in Ahaggar and Tibesti). At the regional level, the Libyan Desert, the Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, west of the Nile, are distinguished from the Sahara.
There is practically no precipitation in the Sahara, however, several underwater rivers flow on its territory, originating in Atlas Mountains that help irrigate isolated oases. To the east, the waters of the Nile help fertilize small areas of the desert.
Sahel
The Sahel is a wide strip of land that stretches across the entire width of the northern part central Africa, on southern edge the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is a transitional zone between the dry regions of the north and the tropical regions of the south. There is very little rainfall on this territory (15 - 20 cm per year), and the vegetation here is represented mainly by scanty grass cover and shrubs.
Nile River system
Use the atlas map and travel around the globe. start from the western coast of South America, head eaststrictly along the parallel of 20 degrees S. Determine which geographic objects met on the way
Help please, otherwise I forgot the card at school (I am an evil teacher (Use the atlas map and take a trip around the globe... start from the western shores South America, follow east strictly along the parallel of 20 degrees S. Determine what geographic objects you met along the way
The mountains
Lowlands
Plateau
Ocean
Mainland
Island
Ocean
Mainland
Desert
The mountains
Sea
Ocean
Islands
I have always been attracted by the Arctic, - said the first geographer.
- And I study the mountains, it's a pity that there is not a single active volcano on my continent, - said the second.
“I also study mountains, only“ eight-thousanders ”,” said the third scientist.
“Come to me at the cold pole,” exclaimed the fourth.
- Better to me, to the shore The Pacific, - added the fifth.
The sixth geographer was silent, but from the statements of the first five one can precisely
determine where who works. And the sixth scientist is working on the remaining mainland.
Determine which continent each geographer is exploring. Each of them studies the nature of one continent. Write in detail your reasoning. What mountains does he study
second geographer, and what third geographer?
An employee of a well-known travel company was entrusted with a responsible task - to compile a list of world and continental record holders, indicating their nationality. He immediately turned to the Internet for help, but a large amount of conflicting information did not allow him to complete the task correctly. Help the performer of this task: according to the characteristics provided, determine the geographical record holders and indicate the countries in which they are located. Fill out the answer in the form of a table.
Geographic record characteristics:
1. The highest alpine navigable lake in the world.
2. The largest river island on the Earth.
No.
Geographical object name
Nationality
The longest mountains on earth.
4. The largest island in the world by area.
5. The river that flows through the largest number of countries in the world.
6. The largest highlands of the Earth.
7. The driest desert in the world.
8. The lowest absolute mark of the earth's land.
9. The longest river in Eurasia.
10. The largest peninsula in Africa.
11. The largest peninsula in Australia.
12. The most high peak Antarctica.
Recently, ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they look somehow conceived primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large volumes of information and squeeze out a lot of water and information noise. I've also decided to aim at William our Shakespeare.
It was possible, of course, to yellow the topic with a catchy heading like "10 places in Africa that you must visit" or something like that. But I will not be like top bloggers :)
Naturally, the concept of "interesting" hints at the subjectivity of the list: what is interesting to one may be absolutely not interesting to another. Therefore, this is the most subjective, but unbiased list of African interests :)
The reasons why people go to Africa can be divided into 3 components - animals, people and nature. For me, this is an axiom, which formed the basis of the list.
Valley of the Omo River. Ethiopia
Brent stirton
A unique place in Africa, and, possibly, on the entire planet, where original tribes are still preserved, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer ... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, adornments of its own body. In the Omo Valley, it is as if you are traveling in a time machine for many centuries, or even millennia, back to the primitive communal system.
Of course, the proximity to the benefits of civilization influenced the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war, which continued here for a considerable time, also has an effect. Many men, instead of spears and bows, wear Kalashnikov assault rifles, for example. The local population has already got used to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and even learned how to benefit from this. Do not expect to be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Each frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)
Masai Mara National Park. Kenya
Perhaps the most promoted national park Africa, icon tourism industry Kenya, one of the continent's finest parks. Masai Mara is often written in a superlative degree and, it should be noted, quite deservedly.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only in Kenya.
Masai Mara is famous for its prides of lions, and in general it is one of best places in Africa to observe the big cat three: lions, leopards and cheetahs.
And, of course, do not forget about the great migration that takes place in Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive at the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.
Amboseli National Park. Kenya
Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as Victoria Falls or Cape Good Hope, and, despite the fact that the mountain itself is located in Tanzania, the best and most picturesque view of it opens from national reserve Amboseli (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian travel sites and offline travel guides do not hesitate to illustrate articles about Kilimanjaro with photographs taken in Amboseli.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro, giraffes and Kilimanjaro, Masai and Kilimanjaro, African acacias and Kilimanjaro ...
The park is good in itself, there are all the big five, but it is Kilimanjaro that makes it special and unique.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tanzania
The highest concentration of wild animals in the world in their natural habitat. This argument immediately gives a head start and increases the attractiveness of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the crater. ancient volcano... As one client put it: "Where are they going in the submarine" :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big Five, and its relatively small size and enclosed space make safaris one of the most exciting in Africa.
Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda
And - the stars of this national park located in northern Rwanda on the border with Congo and Uganda. I have not yet met a single person whom these animals would leave indifferent.
You shouldn't expect a traditional jeep safari in the park, when you are brought up to the animals and all you have to do is press the “masterpiece” button on your precious camera. Moreover, a meeting with these majestic and cute primates must be earned by walking more than one kilometer through the mountainous tropical rainforest. But this impression becomes more vivid, and the pictures are more valuable :)
Okavango Delta. Botswana
The uniqueness of the Okavango Delta speaks for itself. There are not so many rivers in the world that overflow with delta without flowing anywhere. The wildest and still untouched by civilization place in Africa. Forget about wi-fi, telephones, TVs, etc. Real tête-à-tête with wild nature Africa in its original form. And be prepared for the wild animals to be closer to you than you might think.
In a unique combination of a rich animal world (the Big Five is found in) and a variety of landscapes. A gourmet safari dream :)
Alley of baobabs. Madagascar
Another symbol of Africa is the baobab. There are a lot of these giants scattered throughout Africa, but so that there are many in one place ...
In my opinion, just one alley of baobab trees is reason enough to visit Madagascar. And if we add to it more lemurs and other endemics of the island, then doubts develop into the confidence that we must go, or rather, fly :)
Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe / Zambia
One of the three most large waterfalls peace and that says it all.
Sossusflei. Namibia
The tallest and most picturesque dunes in the world - that's a pro. The most mystical valley of dead trees is a pro. The Namib Desert has been nominated for various New Wonders of the World lists, natural wonders light ”, but never made it to the final. And yet, in my opinion, this is one of the most interesting places Africa, which I had to visit.
Cape Town. SOUTH AFRICA. Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope
With all the desire to ignore Cape Town, it is impossible. Do not give Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope.
Table Mountain was included in the list of the seven natural wonders of the world, and the Cape of Good Hope is the same iconic point in Africa as Victoria Falls and Kilimanjaro.
P.S. I am far from thinking that this is the only possible list of the ten most interesting places in Africa. Perhaps someone will think that it lacks the Kruger National Park in South Africa or the Serengeti, the Blyde River Canyon (the world's largest overgrown canyon) or Madagascar scurvy ... And I agree, because there are many interesting places in Africa :)
I will gladly read alternative opinions
Cheops pyramid in comparison
Township Primorsky, Feodosia: history and modernity
Flying at supersonic speed
The most luxurious and most expensive trains in the world that you can only dream about
"Two capitals" (ship): reviews of cruises