Africa, the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, is located on the African continental plate. With an area of approximately 11,730,000 square miles, it covers 20% of the Earth's land surface. The continent is home to 54 recognized sovereign nations, two disputed states, and nine territories.
A map of Africa showing its geographical location.
Geographical Location and Boundaries
The "Dark Continent" is divided roughly into two parts by the equator and surrounded by sea except where the Isthmus of Suez joins it to Asia. Africa is located in the Eastern Hemisphere and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The Atlantic Ocean is situated to its west.
The Red Sea and the Suez Canal are located in the northeast of the continent, along the Sinai Peninsula. Mediterranean Sea forms the separation between Europe and Africa. A peninsula named 'Horn of Africa', forms in the easternmost projection of the continent, and it contains countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
Major Landforms and Features
Africa is a diverse collection of landforms - mountains, deserts, rivers, forests, and others. Africa is a continent comprising 63 political territories, representing the largest of the great southward projections from the main mass of Earth's surface. The main structural lines of the continent show both the east-to-west direction characteristic, at least in the eastern hemisphere, of the more northern parts of the world, and the north-to-south direction seen in the southern peninsulas.
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The average elevation of the continent approximates closely to 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level, roughly near to the mean elevation of both North and South America, but considerably less than that of Asia, 950 m (3,120 ft). Moderately elevated tablelands are thus the characteristic feature of the continent, though the surface of these is broken by higher peaks and ridges. As a general rule, the higher tablelands lie to the east and south, while a progressive diminution in altitude towards the west and north is observable.
Deserts
The endless Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world, extends from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. The Sahara Desert in the north of the continent is the largest desert in the world, occupying an area of 9 million square kilometers.
Rivers and Lakes
In contrast to the dry deserts, Africa also has impressive rivers. The Nile River is the longest one in the continent, and is famous in the world for fostering the ancient Egyptian civilization. Next comes the Congo River, which discharges the highest amount of water among all African rivers. The arid areas are watered by the Niger River, which flows along half of the length of the continent. The rivers of Africa are generally obstructed either by bars at their mouths, or by cataracts at no great distance upstream.
The principal lakes of Africa are situated in the African Great Lakes plateau. The lakes found within the Great Rift Valley have steep sides and are very deep. The largest river is the Omo, which, fed by the rains of the Ethiopian highlands, carries down a large body of water into Lake Turkana.
Mountains
The Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain-range in Africa. This dormant volcano range is 19,341 feet above sea-level at its highest point. Residing mostly in Tanzania, it has three volcanic cones: Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo. Mount Kenya features the highest peak in the country, and the second-highest in all of the continent.
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Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.
Climate and Weather
As regards the climate and weather, African subcontinent displays remarkable contrast. The northern portion of the continent features wide deserts, while the southern portion is mostly green. Since the equator passes right through this continent, the summers can get unbearably hot. Another problem the continent faces is rainfall, which is neither regular nor sufficient. Which is why Africa contains one-third of the dry lands of the entire world.
Great heat is experienced in the lower plains and desert regions of North Africa, removed by the great width of the continent from the influence of the ocean, and here, too, the contrast between day and night, and between summer and winter, is greatest. The most important climatic differences are due to variations in the amount of rainfall.
Wildlife and Natural Resources
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Africa is home to a wide range of wildlife, terrain, and climates. Serengeti in Tanzania's Mara and Simiyu regions is famous for its massive annual migration of wildebeest and zebra. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers an area of more than 8,000 km² in northern Tanzania.
The continent is also rich in natural resources, particularly in minerals, such as gold, uranium, diamonds, platinum, and chromium.
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Historical Significance
Frequently referred to as the “cradle of civilization,” African continent is the world’s oldest landmass. About 97% of the continent’s land has been virtually the same for the past 300 million years. Africa has been home to some of the greatest civilizations in human history.
During the 19th century, the various African kingdoms started to come in contact with Europe. This was when the colonization of Africa saw a marked increase, and slaves from various African regions were taken to work in colonies and plantations overseas, for instance, in the Americas.
Tourist Attractions
Africa boasts numerous tourist attractions, including:
- Victoria Falls: These majestic waterfalls span Zambia and Zimbabwe and are known as the 'Jewel of Africa'.
- Pyramids of Giza: Located in Egypt, the Pyramid of King Cheops were built around 2650 BC.
- The Great Sphinx, Egypt: Another ancient masterpiece located in Egypt, the Sphinx is the body of a lion and the head of a human.
- Masai Mara National Reserve: Pristine beauty, acres of greenery, and abundant wildlife greet the visitors as they enter the Masai Mara National Reserve, southwest of Kenya.
- The Serengeti National Park: Located in Tanzania, Serengeti National Park is famous for its annual migration of over 1.5 million white-bearded wildebeest.
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: The tallest peak on the continent, Mount Kilimanjaro encompasses multiple climate zones.
Countries of Africa
There are 54 countries in Africa that are internationally recognized. The largest country is Algeria, and the smallest is Seychelles - an archipelago. In the mainland Africa, smallest country is Gambia.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Algiers |
| Seychelles | Victoria |
| Gambia | Banjul |
| Tanzania | Dodoma |
| Kenya | Nairobi |
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