africa. more about africa africa: africa is the second-largest of the seven continents on earth...
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AfricaAfrica
More About AfricaMore About Africa AfricaAfrica: Africa is the second-largest of the seven continents on Earth (Asia : Africa is the second-largest of the seven continents on Earth (Asia
is the largest continent). Africa is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the is the largest continent). Africa is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, the Indian Ocean on the east, the Mediterranean Sea on the north, west, the Indian Ocean on the east, the Mediterranean Sea on the north, and the Red Sea on the northeast. and the Red Sea on the northeast.
Africa covers 11,700,000 square miles (30,300,000 square kilometers). Africa covers 11,700,000 square miles (30,300,000 square kilometers). CountriesCountries: There are about 53 countries in Africa (some countries are : There are about 53 countries in Africa (some countries are
disputed). The biggest country in Africa is Sudan, which covers 967,500 disputed). The biggest country in Africa is Sudan, which covers 967,500 square miles (2,505,816 square kilometers). The countries with the square miles (2,505,816 square kilometers). The countries with the largest populations in Africa are Nigeria (107,000,000 people), Egypt largest populations in Africa are Nigeria (107,000,000 people), Egypt (64,800,000 people), and Ethiopia (58,700,000 people). (64,800,000 people), and Ethiopia (58,700,000 people).
Highest and Lowest PointsHighest and Lowest Points: The tallest point in Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro, : The tallest point in Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania (eastern Africa). Mt. Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet (5895 meters) in Tanzania (eastern Africa). Mt. Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet (5895 meters) tall. Africa has no long mountain chains. tall. Africa has no long mountain chains.
The lowest point in Africa is Lake Assal, in Djibouti (in eastern Africa near The lowest point in Africa is Lake Assal, in Djibouti (in eastern Africa near the Horn of Africa); it is 512 feet (156 meters) below sea level. the Horn of Africa); it is 512 feet (156 meters) below sea level.
LakesLakes: Africa's largest lake is Lake Victoria; it covers 26,836 square : Africa's largest lake is Lake Victoria; it covers 26,836 square miles (69,500 square kilometers). Other large lakes in Africa are miles (69,500 square kilometers). Other large lakes in Africa are Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Chad. Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Chad.
RiversRivers: The longest river in Africa is the Nile River; it is 4,241 miles : The longest river in Africa is the Nile River; it is 4,241 miles (6825 kilometers) long. Other long rivers in Africa include the (6825 kilometers) long. Other long rivers in Africa include the Congo River, the Niger River and the Zambezi River. Congo River, the Niger River and the Zambezi River.
DesertsDeserts: Africa has many vast deserts, including the largest hot : Africa has many vast deserts, including the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara. The Sahara Desert is located in desert in the world, the Sahara. The Sahara Desert is located in northern Africa and covers 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 northern Africa and covers 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 square kilometers). The Kalahari, in southern Africa, is another square kilometers). The Kalahari, in southern Africa, is another large desert. large desert.
IslandsIslands: The biggest island off Africa is Madagascar, which is near : The biggest island off Africa is Madagascar, which is near the coast of southeast Africa. Madagascar covers 226,658 square the coast of southeast Africa. Madagascar covers 226,658 square miles (587,000 square kilometers). Other islands include the miles (587,000 square kilometers). Other islands include the Seychelles (a chain of islands north of Madagascar), the Comoros Seychelles (a chain of islands north of Madagascar), the Comoros (another chain of islands north of Madagascar), the Canary Islands (another chain of islands north of Madagascar), the Canary Islands (a chain of islands off the northwest coast), the Madeira Islands (a chain of islands off the northwest coast), the Madeira Islands (another chain of islands off the northwest coast), the Cape Verde (another chain of islands off the northwest coast), the Cape Verde Islands (off the coast of western Africa), Equatorial Guinea (off the Islands (off the coast of western Africa), Equatorial Guinea (off the coast of Cameroon), and Sao Tome (southwest of Equatorial coast of Cameroon), and Sao Tome (southwest of Equatorial Guinea). Guinea).
The SaharaThe Sahara
The boundaries of the Sahara are the Atlantic Ocean The boundaries of the Sahara are the Atlantic Ocean on the west, the Atlas Mountains and the on the west, the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea on the north, the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea on the north, the Red Sea and Egypt on the east, and the Sudan and the valley of Egypt on the east, and the Sudan and the valley of the Niger River on the south. Sahara is divided into the Niger River on the south. Sahara is divided into western Sahara, the central Ahaggar Mountains, the western Sahara, the central Ahaggar Mountains, the Tibesti massif (a region of desert mountains and Tibesti massif (a region of desert mountains and high plateaus), and the Libyan desert (the most arid high plateaus), and the Libyan desert (the most arid region). region).
EgyptEgypt
Location:Location: Northern Africa, bordering Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Seathe Mediterranean Sea
Area - Area - slightly more than three times slightly more than three times the size of the size of New Mexico (US) (US)
Rivers include: Nile Rivers include: Nile Deserts: Egypt includes parts of the Deserts: Egypt includes parts of the
Sahara Desert and of the Libyan Sahara Desert and of the Libyan Desert Desert
Coastline:Coastline: 2,450 km 2,450 km Climate:Climate: desert; hot, dry summers desert; hot, dry summers
with moderate winterswith moderate winters Natural hazards:Natural hazards: periodic droughts; periodic droughts;
frequent earthquakes, flash floods, frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms sandstorms
The Serengeti - TanzaniaThe Serengeti - Tanzania
The AnimalsThe Animals
TanzaniaTanzania LocationLocation: Eastern Africa, bordering the
Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
AreaArea - comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California
ClimateClimate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
GeographyGeography - Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest
LanguagesLanguages: Swahili (official)
The Republic of GhanaThe Republic of Ghana Location:Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo Area - comparative:Area - comparative: slightly smaller than slightly smaller than
Oregon Oregon Land boundaries:Land boundaries: border countries:border countries: Burkina Burkina
Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km km
Climate:Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area plateau in south-central area
Natural resources:Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower
Natural hazards:Natural hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts droughts
Languages:Languages: English English
The The Dogon Dogon ofof MaliMali
MaliMali Location: Location: Western Africa, southwest Western Africa, southwest
of Algeria of Algeria Area - comparative: Area - comparative: slightly less slightly less
than twice the size of Texas than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: Land boundaries: border countries:border countries:
Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km km, Senegal 419 km Coastline: Coastline: landlockedlandlocked
Climate: Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February dry November to February
Terrain: Terrain: mostly flat to rolling mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast northeast
Languages: Languages: French French
South AfricaSouth AfricaNelson Mandela, diamondsNelson Mandela, diamonds
The name "diamond" comes from the Greek "adamas," The name "diamond" comes from the Greek "adamas," meaning unconquerable. Made of pure carbon, diamonds meaning unconquerable. Made of pure carbon, diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man. are the hardest natural substance known to man.
Diamonds were formed in the depths of the earth and are Diamonds were formed in the depths of the earth and are three quarters of the earth's age—although humans didn't three quarters of the earth's age—although humans didn't find them until 4,000 years ago. Put another way, if the find them until 4,000 years ago. Put another way, if the earth's age was on a twenty-four hour cycle, diamonds earth's age was on a twenty-four hour cycle, diamonds would be born in the first hours of the morning, but man would be born in the first hours of the morning, but man didn't find them until seconds before midnight.didn't find them until seconds before midnight.
Former President, African National Congress Former President of South Africa
South AfricaSouth Africa Location: Location: Southern Africa, at the southern Southern Africa, at the southern
tip of the continent of Africa tip of the continent of Africa Area: Area: includes Prince Edward Islands includes Prince Edward Islands
(Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) Area - comparative: Area - comparative: slightly less than slightly less than
twice the size of Texas twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: Land boundaries: border countries:border countries:
Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 kmSwaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Climate: Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nightsalong east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain:Terrain:vast interior plateau rimmed by vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plainrugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Natural resources:Natural resources:gold, chromium, gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas salt, natural gas
Religions: Religions: Christian 68%Christian 68% Languages: Languages: 11 official languages11 official languages
NigerNiger Western Africa, southeast of Algeria Western Africa, southeast of Algeria Area - comparative:Area - comparative: lightly less than lightly less than
twice the size of Texas twice the size of Texas Land boundaries:Land boundaries: border countries:border countries:
Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:Coastline: landlocked landlocked Climate:Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty;
tropical in extreme south tropical in extreme south Terrain:Terrain: predominately desert plains and predominately desert plains and
sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north hills in north
Elevation extremes:Elevation extremes: lowest point:lowest point: Niger River 200 m Niger River 200 m highest point:highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum gold, petroleum
Natural hazards:Natural hazards: recurring droughts recurring droughts Languages:Languages: French French
NigeriaNigeria Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of GuineaWestern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea Area - comparative:Area - comparative: lightly more than twice the lightly more than twice the
size of California size of California Land boundaries:Land boundaries: border countries:border countries: Benin 773 Benin 773
km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km km
Coastline:Coastline: 53 km 53 km Climate:Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in varies; equatorial in south, tropical in
center, arid in north center, arid in north Terrain:Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central southern lowlands merge into central
hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north in north
Elevation extremes:Elevation extremes: lowest point:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, tin, natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, arable land arable land
Natural hazards:Natural hazards: periodic droughts; flooding periodic droughts; flooding Geography - note:Geography - note:
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea
Languages:Languages: English English
Dem Rep of CongoDem Rep of Congo Location:Location:Central Africa, northeast of Angola Central Africa, northeast of Angola Area - comparative: Area - comparative: slightly less than one-slightly less than one-
fourth the size of the US fourth the size of the US Land boundaries: Land boundaries: border countries:border countries: Angola Angola
2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Climate:Climate:tropical; hot and humid in equatorial tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October March, dry season April to October
Terrain:Terrain:vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east mountains in east
Natural resources:Natural resources:cobalt, copper, cadmium, cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber timber
Languages:Languages:French French Congo River
AfricaAfrica