Detailed solution paragraph § 27 on geography for 7th grade students, authors Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. 2017
Questions and tasks
1. Name the most significant geographical features of South Africa.
Zambezi, Kalahari Semi-Desert, Drakensberg and Cape Mountains.
2. Using a comprehensive map, highlight the main types of economic activities in the countries of Southern Africa.
Agriculture and mining.
3. Name the main features of the nature and economy of South Africa.
South Africa is a country of diverse natural complexes and enormous natural resources. Most of the country is a flat plateau, which gradually rises in steps to the south and east, giving way to mountains. The country's territory is dominated by savannas. Natural conditions, as throughout South Africa, change not only from north to south, but also from east to west.
South Africa, with its wide variety of landscapes, has a very rich fauna. In many areas, hunting and fishing are still the main occupation of the local population. But with the arrival of Europeans, the number of wild animals decreased noticeably and many species almost disappeared. The number of herbivores has especially decreased - antelopes, zebras, giraffes, elephants, large black buffalos, and rhinoceroses. Lions and leopards have almost completely disappeared.
In order to preserve wild animals from complete extermination, as well as natural complexes in general, nature reserves and national parks have been created in South Africa. In the largest of them - national park Kruger - collected all species of animals found on the mainland.
Territories with fertile lands in the country belong to white farmers - owners of private agricultural enterprises. Farms They widely use machinery and fertilizers and therefore obtain high yields. They grow corn, wheat, beans, sugar cane, citrus fruits, cotton and other crops. Sheep and cattle farms are located on high plateaus with good pastures. Pasture farming occupies a very important place in agriculture.
The subsoil of South Africa is rich in a variety of minerals. This country is called a geological miracle. South Africa ranks one of the first places in the world in reserves and production of diamonds, gold, platinum, uranium and iron ores. The country's economy is dependent on British and American monopolists, who lead the development of mineral resources and receive huge profits.
There are many factories and factories in the country, and industry is developing rapidly.
4. Compare the nature, population and their economic activities of Northern and Southern Africa. What are the similarities and differences? Explain the reasons for the differences.
North Africa is part of the Middle East and is even sometimes included in it. North Africa is an undoubted and inseparable part of the Muslim Arab world, mostly desert territories and it is inhabited mainly by Arabs, Berbers and other Semitic-Hamitic tribes, along with the traditional African population of Africa. South Africa is classic Africa except that it is more developed, along with North Africa, than other parts of Africa due to the larger white population there due to its mineral-rich lands.
GENERALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC
1. Name the main features of the surface structure of Africa. What explains them?
Based on the type of relief, Africa can be divided into two parts: low in the north and west, high in the east and south. The relief of the continent is dominated by plains and plateaus with heights from 200 to 1000 m, the largest territory of which is occupied by East African and South African plateau. Elevated areas of the continent alternate with basins, the largest of which are the Congo Basin and the Kalahari Basin. The highest parts of the mainland are the Ethiopian Highlands (up to 4500 m) and the Drakensberg Mountains (over 3000 m). Such features of the African relief can be explained by the fact that most of the continent was formed on the ancient Arabian-African platform; within the platforms, the relief is represented by plains. The Atlas, Cape and Drakensberg Mountains are confined to fold belts of different ages. There is a large fault in eastern Africa earth's crust– continental rift. In the rift zone, heat flows escape and matter rises from the mantle; the resulting basins are occupied by lakes, along which volcanic cones rise. It is here that the highest peak in Africa is located - the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m).
The well-known statement “Africa is the hottest continent” can be explained by the fact that the continent is located in the warmest climatic zones of the Earth (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical). Africa is located on both sides of the equator, within latitudes that receive significant amounts of solar radiation from 160 kcal/cm² to 200 kcal/cm². The temperature on the mainland is above +20⁰С throughout the year. The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the equator, because a low belt is formed here atmospheric pressure, in which rising air currents form clouds saturated with moisture. The least amount of precipitation occurs in the tropical zone, where, on the contrary, in the zone of high atmospheric pressure the formation of clouds does not occur. The climate of the continental coasts is influenced by warm and cold currents.
2. What are the characteristics of the African climate? What do they depend on?
The climate features of Africa were formed as a result of the action of a system of various factors. Most of the continent is located between the tropics, and therefore the climate of Africa is characterized by high values of total solar radiation. Accordingly, a significant part of the continent has high temperatures, and therefore Africa is considered the hottest continent. There are areas where the air temperature sometimes exceeds 50°C.
In the latitudes of Africa, constant winds, the Trade Winds, dominate over the ocean, which significantly influence the distribution of precipitation. The southeast trade wind blows from the Indian Ocean and therefore brings humid air masses. The Northeast Trade Wind is from Eurasia and causes dry weather. The southwestern ones are delayed by the Cape Mountains, which affect the redistribution of precipitation: coastal areas receive a large amount of it, while behind the mountains there is little precipitation.
Sea currents play a significant role in shaping the climate of the African coast. Therefore, low humidity is typical for the northwestern coast (due to the cold Canary Current), southwestern, eastern (Somalia). On the contrary, the western and southeastern shores are well moistened due to warm currents(Guinean and Mozambican, respectively).
In the central part of the continent, the air warms up evenly throughout the year. Temperature fluctuations are clearly visible only in tropical and especially subtropical latitudes. The climate differs mainly in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Their largest number occurs in the Equatorial regions: the Congo River basin (Zaire) and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea - 2000–3000 mm per year, and on the mountain slopes - up to 9000 mm. North of 20° Mon. w. and south of 18° S. w. The climate in Africa is tropical, in the Northern Hemisphere it is deserted and very dry. In the Sahara, precipitation decreases to 100 mm or less per year; Eastern Sahara is the driest region in Africa (10–20 mm of precipitation per year).
Africa lies within seven climate zones. Due to the fact that the equator cuts the continent in half, climatic conditions are mirrored from the equator to the edges of the continent. In Africa there are equatorial, two subequatorial and two tropical zones. The extreme southern and northern parts of the continent are located in subtropical zones.
The equatorial belt extends in a narrow strip along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and further inland to east coast Lake Victoria. In this belt all year round Constantly humid and uniformly hot equatorial air reigns. The air temperature here is high throughout the year: 26°С – +28°С. The total annual precipitation is more than 2000 mm, which is distributed evenly throughout the year.
3. List the main features of African rivers. Which of them depend on the terrain, which on the climate?
The longest river in the world is the Nile (6671 km). It begins on the East African Plateau and flows through Lake Victoria. In the upper reaches, the river, rushing down the gorges, forms rapids and waterfalls. Having reached the plain, it flows slowly and calmly and is called the White Nile. Near the city of Khartoum, the river merges with the waters of the largest tributary, the Blue Nile, flowing from the Ethiopian Highlands. After the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the river becomes twice as wide and receives the name Nile. In the middle course, the Nile cuts through a plateau composed of hard rocks, so there were rapids that interfered with navigation. Now, thanks to the dam built near Aswan, navigation conditions have been improved. In the lower reaches the river flows calmly. When it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, it forms a large delta, in the place of which several tens of thousands of years ago there was a bay of the Mediterranean Sea. The deepest and second longest river in Africa is the Congo (Zaire) (4320 km). In terms of water content and basin area, it is second only to the Amazon. The river crosses the equator in two places and is full of water all year round. Congo (Zaire) flows along the ledges of plateaus, so it has many rapids and waterfalls. Navigation is possible only in certain areas. The river, unlike the Nile, does not form a delta; its muddy fresh waters in a wide stream they extend far into the Atlantic Ocean. The third largest river in Africa by length and basin area is the Niger. In its middle reaches it is a flat river, and in its upper and lower reaches there are many rapids and waterfalls. A significant part of the river crosses arid areas, so it is of great importance for irrigation; for this purpose, dams and irrigation canals were built on the river. The Zambezi is the largest of Africa's rivers. Indian Ocean. Here is one of the world's largest waterfalls - Victoria Falls. The river falls in a wide stream (1800 m) from a ledge 120 m high in a narrow gorge that crosses its bed.
The river's source is in the black swamp region of northwestern Zambia, among forested hills at an altitude of about 1,500 meters above sea level. To the east of the source there is a belt of hills with rather steep northern and southern slopes, lying between 11 and 12 degrees south latitude. The watershed between the Congo and Zambezi river basins runs along this belt. It clearly separates the Luapala River basin (the main tributary of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. In the vicinity of the source, the watershed is not clearly defined, but the two river systems are not connected. The Zambezi is a powerful river. Although the Zambezi ranks only fourth in Africa in terms of length, it ranks second in terms of annual flow volume and is second only to the Congo River. The Zambezi mainly receives its nutrition from heavy summer rains (at these latitudes, summer lasts from November to March). At other times of the year the river is much less full. The river regime is characterized by a rapid decrease in water level in March and a subsequent rise in November. In order to prove the relationship that exists between inland waters and relief, it is necessary to trace the nature of the flow of rivers and the shape of lakes. Mountain rivers differ from lowland rivers in their fast flow, high banks, and the presence of rapids and waterfalls. Lake Tanganyika, located along the line of the Great African Rift, has an elongated shape in the meridional direction. The length of the lake is almost 10 times its width. The full flow of rivers and lakes and the regime of their filling with water depend on the nature of the climate. One of the main sources of nutrition for rivers and lakes is precipitation. Therefore, we can safely say that rivers and lakes located in the equatorial climate area are more full-flowing compared to rivers and lakes located within the tropical desert climate. Shallow Lake Chad, located within the subequatorial climate zone, periodically changes its shape, increasing and decreasing by half. This transformation is associated with the frequency of incoming water from the rivers flowing into the lake. Thus, we see a clear relationship that exists between relief, climate and inland waters.
Full water all year round (Congo), or dependence on rains in the lower reaches and high floods (Nile).
4. What natural areas predominate in Africa? What are their features and how do they explain them? Which zones have the most favorable nature for agriculture?
Africa is predominantly a flat continent. Mountain systems occupy only the northwestern (Atlas Mountains) and southern (Cape Mountains) outskirts of the continent. The eastern part of Africa (High Africa) is occupied by the East African Plateau, which is highly uplifted and fragmented by shifts in the earth's crust. Here are the highest peaks of the continent - giant extinct and active volcanoes Kilimanjaro, Kenya, etc. The peculiarities of the development of Africa determined the main features of the structure of its surface. Most of the continent is characterized by flat terrain with a wide development of planation surfaces from Permo-Carboniferous and Triassic to Neogene and even Quaternary with blocky and volcanic mountains protruding separately among them. Due to its geographical location ( for the most part in the hot light zone) Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. Due to its geographical location (mostly in the hot zone of illumination), Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. It receives more solar heat and light than any other continent. It is the only continent that extends approximately equal distances from the equator into the northern and southern hemispheres. The sun stands high above the horizon throughout the year between the tropics, and twice a year it is at its zenith at any point. The main features of the climate are determined primarily by the position of the main part of the continent in tropical and equatorial latitudes. Against the backdrop of constantly high air temperatures, the main differences in the climate of individual regions are determined by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season. In tropical latitudes there are huge deserts, closer to the equator there are areas of summer rains, in the equatorial zone precipitation falls throughout the year. Vast spaces experience an acute lack of moisture. The continental climate is especially pronounced in the northern part of Africa due to its large size and close proximity to Eurasia. The western shores of the continent in tropical latitudes are washed by cold currents - the Canary and Benguela, which cool the air above them so much that its lower layers to a height of about 500 m become noticeably colder than the overlying ones. This eliminates the possibility of the development of rising currents and precipitation. Therefore, along the western coasts in tropical latitudes lie oceanic deserts. The southeast coast, on the contrary, is washed by the warm Mozambique Current, which increases the instability of air masses and contributes to precipitation on the mountain slopes of Eastern and Southern Africa. Most of Africa is influenced by the trade wind circulation of both hemispheres. The northern hemisphere trade winds coming from land carry continental air with low relative humidity. The trade winds of the southern hemisphere, coming from the Indian Ocean, carry masses of moist, unstable air to the eastern edge of the continent. The distribution of the river network and flow across the continent is extremely uneven, which depends mainly on the difference climatic conditions, relief and nature of the rocks of certain areas. Along with areas with a dense hydrographic network and large lakes, vast areas of Africa are almost or completely devoid of local river networks. Many rivers do not reach the ocean and end in inland drainage basins. Almost all the continent's rivers are fed by rain. Only in deserts and semi-deserts is their nutrition groundwater, and on high peaks The sources of the rivers in the Atlas Mountains and East Africa are also fed by meltwater from snow and glaciers. In the far north and south there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, followed by zones of semi-deserts and deserts, savannas, variable and permanent wet forests. Latitudinal zoning is violated only in the mountains and highlands, but there are few of them on the mainland.
The nature of savannas is most favorable for agriculture. A distinctive feature of savannas is the alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take approximately six months, replacing each other.
5. Name some of the most outstanding natural sites in Africa.
Sahara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls, Nile River.
6. What natural resources Africa has?
Crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, copper, diamonds, gold. chrome ore, tungsten, mica, silver, hydropower resources, fish, salt.
7. Give examples of changes in the nature of Africa by humans. What do you propose to stop the advance of deserts into savannas?
Back in the 19th century. Africa was presented as a continent of virgin nature. However, even then the nature of Africa was significantly changed by man. The area of forests, which had been uprooted and burned for arable land and pastures for centuries, has decreased. Especially great damage to the nature of Africa was caused by European colonialists. Hunting, carried out for profit, and often for sport, led to the mass extermination of animals. Many animals were completely destroyed (for example, some species of antelope, zebra), and the number of others (elephants, rhinoceroses, gorillas, etc.) was greatly reduced. Europeans exported expensive wood to their countries. Therefore, in a number of states (Nigeria, etc.) there is a danger of complete disappearance of forests. The territories in place of cleared forests were occupied by plantations of cocoa, oil palm, peanuts, etc. Thus, savannas were formed in place of equatorial and variable-humid forests (Fig. 59). The nature of primary savannas has also changed significantly. There are huge areas of plowed land and pastures here. Due to poor agricultural practices (burning, overgrazing, and cutting down trees and shrubs), savannas have been giving way to deserts for many centuries. Over the last half century alone, the Sahara has moved significantly south and increased its area by 650 thousand km2. The loss of agricultural land leads to the death of livestock and crops, and to starvation of people.
Stop cutting down forests, start planting vegetation, watering deserts, and streamline economic activities.
8. What do you think will happen to the boundaries of natural areas if measures are not taken to protect the nature of Africa?
The area of savannas and equatorial forests will decrease, and deserts, including the Sahara, will expand.
9. What maps will you use to describe the nature of Madagascar? What data can be obtained from each card?
Physical (relief), climatic (precipitation, average temperatures in January and July, currents), map of natural zones (vegetation, animals).
10. What peoples inhabit Africa and how are they distributed on the continent?
Africa is inhabited by a variety of peoples. Over the course of a long history, other peoples have been added to the indigenous inhabitants, whose origins are not connected with this continent. The colonization of Africa contributed to the resettlement of peoples living in the countries of Asia, Europe, and America. Arab peoples inhabit the north of the continent. Central and southern regions inhabited by peoples of the Negroid race. Descendants of Europeans live in the north and south of the mainland: the French, the English, the Dutch.
11. What changes have occurred on political map Africa over the last 40–50 years? What do these changes indicate?
Many of the countries gained sovereignty. This indicates that peoples have received a chance to build their own states.
12. Name the African states you know and their capitals.
Algiers, capital Algiers. Ghana, capital Accra. Nigeria, capital Abuja. Ethiopia, capital Addis Ababa. Republic of South Africa, capital Pretoria. Egypt, capital Cairo, Tunisia, capital Tunisia.
13. Among the countries of Africa, distinguish those that are located on the plains and those that lie in the mountains.
On the plains are located: Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Algeria. The mountains are located in: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.
14. Which parts of Africa would you like to travel to? Why?
I would like to travel across the entire continent of Africa to see with my own eyes all the features, similarities and differences.
Geography of Africa
Click to enlarge
In the south Africa is washed 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 - Atlantic Ocean.
Geographical features of Africa
Atlas
The Atlas Mountains system extends from southwestern Morocco along the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain ranges, namely: High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Coastal Atlas. The most high point– Mount Toubkal, located in the western part of Morocco, with a height of 4,167 meters.
Congo River Basin
The Congo River Basin, located in central Africa, covers most of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the neighboring Republic of the Congo. It also covers Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of this fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 sq. km., and about 20% of all tropical forests in the world grow on its territory. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and its network of tributaries and streams serves a transport function for the population of inland Africa.
Great Rift Valley
A sharp depression 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 were 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 located many of the most high mountains Africa, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.
Ahaggar Highlands
Ahaggar is a highland region in the central part of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km away. south of the country's capital, and west of the city of Tamanrasset. The region is mostly rocky desert, with an average altitude of over 900 m above sea level. The highest point is Mount Takhat (3,003 m).
Kalahari Desert
The desert area is about 259,000 sq. km., it covers most of Botswana, southwestern South Africa, and the entire western part of Namibia. This desert plateau is dotted with dry river mouths and is home to an abundance of dense bushes. There are several small mountain ranges in this area, including Karas and Hans. The Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park, located in South Africa, bordering Namibia, is home to large herds of wild animals.
Namib Desert
The Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, stretching over 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast. The desert begins in Angola, runs through Namibia, and ends at the Olifants River in the Western Cape in South Africa. To the east of the Atlantic coast, the desert gradually gains height, up to 200 km. at the foot of the Big Ledge Mountains.
Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm. in the driest areas of the desert up to 200 mm. at higher elevations, which is why the Namib can be considered the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically it consists of dune (sand) seas in the coastal areas, while the inland areas are dominated by gravel plains and rock formations.
Desert sand dunes, some of which reach 300 m in height and 32 km. in length, are the second largest in the world, second only to the dunes of Badin Jaran in China.
Sahara Desert
Covering almost one-third of the entire African continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, with an approximate total area of 9,065,000 sq. km. Topographically, the desert includes rock-strewn flat areas, shifting sand dunes, and numerous dune (sand) seas.
Desert altitude 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 Sahara is divided into the Libyan Desert, the Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, west of the Nile.
There is virtually no precipitation in the Sahara, but several underwater rivers flow through its territory, originating in the Atlas Mountains, which help irrigate isolated oases. In the east, the Nile waters help fertilize small areas of the desert.
Sahel
The Sahel is a broad strip of land stretching across the entire width of northern central Africa, southern region the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is a transition zone between the dry regions of the north and the tropical regions of the south. This area receives very little rainfall (15–20 cm per year), and the vegetation here is represented mainly by sparse grass and shrubs.
Nile River System
Africa is a part of the world with an area of 30.3 million km 2 with islands, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.
Geographical position
Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most of it), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient continent, Gondwana has a massive outline, with no large peninsulas or deep bays. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, and from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.
Main geographical characteristics
Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are small lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost entirely occupied by the Sahara Desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, the southeast is the East African Plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Drakensberg mountains The highest point in Africa is the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the world's largest crustal fault stretches, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.
The following rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger (West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi (South Africa), as well as one of the deepest and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from the south to north (its sources are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming a delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). Rivers are characterized by high water content exclusively in the equatorial belt, due to the large amount of precipitation there; most of them are characterized by high flow rates and have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest lake in area after Lake Superior (North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, maximum depth - 83 m), the largest salty endorheic lake is Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern edge of the world's largest desert, the Sahara).
Due to Africa's location between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in Al-Aziziya (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shadow).
On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo basin), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannas and woodlands, extending to Sudan, East and South Africa, to In northern and southern Africa, savannas give way to semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, Kalahari, Namib). In the southeastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains there is a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural areas mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.
African countries
The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 are independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories, belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, Asian countries were foreign colonies of various European states and only gained independence by the middle of the last century. Depending on the geographical location Africa is divided into five regions: Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.
List of African countries
Nature
Mountains and plains of Africa
Most of the African continent is plain. Available mountain systems, highlands and plateaus. They are presented:
- the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
- the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands in the Sahara Desert;
- Ethiopian Highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
- Drakensberg Mountains in the south.
The highest point of the country is the Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the continent...
Deserts and savannas
The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwest side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from there into the continent to the east there is the Kalahari Desert.
The savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. In area it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical of savannas, low shrubs and trees. The height of herbaceous vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. These can be practically desert savannas or tall grasses, with a grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...
Rivers
The longest river in the world, the Nile, is located on the African continent. The direction of its flow is from south to north.
The list of major water systems of the mainland includes the Limpopo, Zambezi and Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through Central Africa.
On the Zambezi River is the famous Victoria Falls, 120 meters high and 1,800 meters wide...
Lakes
The list of large lakes on the African continent includes Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square km. Two more large lakes continent: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in the faults of lithospheric plates.
There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the world's oceans...
Seas and oceans
The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Indian and the Atlantic. Also off its shores are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part, the waters form the deep Gulf of Guinea.
Despite the location of the African continent, the coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the Indian Ocean, the currents are warm. The largest are Mozambique, in northern waters, and Agulhas, in southern...
Forests of Africa
Forests make up a little more than a quarter of the entire territory of the African continent. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, strawberry tree, etc. Coniferous plants grow high in the mountains, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.
Closer to the coast there are cork oak forests; in the tropical region, evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...
Nature, plants and animals of Africa
The vegetation of the equatorial forests is diverse, with about 1000 species of various types of trees growing here: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, oil palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects live here, living directly on the trees. On the ground live: brush-eared pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes - gorillas...
40% of Africa's territory is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with forbs, low, thorny bushes, milkweed, and isolated trees (tree-like acacias, baobabs).
Here there is the largest concentration of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are herbivores such as: hartebeest (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-footed antelope, various types of gazelles (Thomson's, Grant's), blue wildebeest, and in some places rare jumping antelopes - springboks - are also found.
The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness; these are small thorny bushes and separately growing tufts of herbs. The oases are home to the unique Erg Chebbi date palm, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and salt formation. In the Namib Desert, unique plants such as Welwitschia and Nara grow, the fruits of which are eaten by porcupines, elephants and other desert animals.
Animals here include various species of antelopes and gazelles, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling vast distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among the mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Dorcas gazelle, sabre-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian ass, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are resident and migratory birds.
Climatic conditions
Seasons, weather and climate of African countries
The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is in an area of low pressure and receives sufficient moisture; the territories north and south of the equator are in the subequatorial climate zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisture and an arid desert climate. Far North and the south are in the subtropical climate zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has minimal precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the characteristics of the movement of trade winds, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara, where the amount of precipitation is minimal , in some areas it does not fall out at all...
Resources
Natural Resources of Africa
In terms of water resources, Africa is considered one of the poorest continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only sufficient to satisfy primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.
Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible lands are cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of adequate water volume, soil erosion, etc.
African forests are a source of timber, including valuable species. The countries in which they grow, export raw materials. Resources are being used unwisely and ecosystems are being destroyed little by little.
In the depths of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.
Energy-intensive resources are widely available on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investment...
Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, the following can be noted:
- the mining industry, which exports minerals and fuels;
- the oil refining industry, distributed mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
- chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
- as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.
The main agricultural products are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. Oil palm is grown in tropical regions of Africa.
Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total agricultural output. Livestock production indicators are also not high and the reason for this is the infection of livestock by tsetse flies...
Culture
Peoples of Africa: culture and traditions
There are approximately 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups living in 62 African countries, totaling approximately 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization; it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.
Most peoples in Africa can number several thousand people or several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 nations, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with a population of more than 5 million people, 1/3 are peoples with a population of more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...
There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:
- West Africa. Peoples speaking the Mande languages (Susu, Maninka, Mende, Wai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zaghawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages (Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, Nupe, Gbari, Igala and Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, Kambari, Birom and Jukun, etc.);
- Equatorial Africa. Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandans), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Komo, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
- South Africa. Rebellious peoples and speakers of Khoisani languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
- East Africa. Bantu, Nilotes and Sudanese people groups;
- Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra), Cushitic (Oromo, Somali, Sidamo, Agaw, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages (Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
- Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.
In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the southern European minor race, mainly professing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.
The second largest continent on planet Earth is the continent of Africa. The first in size is the continent of Eurasia. There is another part of the world that is also called Africa. This article will look at Africa as the continent of the planet.
In terms of area, Africa is 29.2 million km2 (with islands - 30.3 million km2), which is about 20% of the planet's total land surface. The continent of Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast, West Coast It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south and east the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and the northeastern coast is washed by the Red Sea. There are 62 states in Africa, of which 54 are independent states, and the population of the entire continent is about 1 billion people. By following the link you can see full list African countries in the table.
The size of Africa from north to south is 8,000 kilometers, and when viewed from east to west, it is approximately 7,500 kilometers.
Extreme points on mainland Africa:
1) The easternmost point of the mainland is Cape Ras Hafun, which is located on the territory of the state of Somalia.
2) The most northern point This continent is Cape Blanco, which is located in the Tunisian Republic.
3) The westernmost point of the continent is Cape Almadi, which is located on the territory of the Republic of Senegal.
4) And finally, the most southern point mainland Africa is Cape Agulhas, which is located on the territory of the Republic of South Africa (RSA).
Relief of Africa
Most of the continent is made up of plains. The following landforms predominate: highlands, plateaus, stepped plains and plateaus. The continent is conventionally divided into High Africa(where the heights of the continent reach a size of over 1000 meters - the southeast of the continent) and Low Africa (where the heights reach a size mainly less than 1000 meters - the northwestern part).
The highest point of the mainland is Mount Kilimanjaro, which reaches a height of 5895 meters above sea level. Also in the south of the continent there are the Drakensberg and Cape Mountains, in the east of Africa there is the Ethiopian Highlands, and to the south of it there is the East African Plateau, in the northwest of the continent there are the Atlas Mountains.
In the north of the continent there is the largest desert on the planet - the Sahara, in the south there is the Kalahari Desert, and in the southwest of the continent there is the Namib Desert.
At the same time, the lowest point of the mainland is the bottom of the salt lake Assal, the depth of which reaches 157 meters below sea level.
African climate
The climate of Africa can be ranked first among all continents in terms of warmth. This is the hottest continent, since it is completely located in the hot climate zones of planet Earth and is intersected by the equator line.
Central Africa is located in the equatorial belt. This belt is characterized by high precipitation and a complete absence of seasons. To the south and north of the equatorial belt there are subequatorial belts, which are characterized by a rainy season in summer and a dry season in winter with high air temperatures. If you follow further to the south and north after the subequatorial belts, then the northern and southern tropical zones follow, respectively. Such belts are characterized by low precipitation at fairly high air temperatures, which leads to the formation of deserts.
African inland waters
The inland waters of Africa are uneven in structure, but at the same time vast and extended. On the mainland, the longest river is the Nile River (the length of its system reaches 6852 km), and the deepest river is the Congo River (the length of its system reaches 4374 km), which is famous for being the only river that crosses the equator twice.
There are also lakes on the mainland. The most big lake Lake Victoria is considered. The area of this lake is 68 thousand km2. The greatest depth in this lake reaches 80 m. The lake itself is the second largest freshwater lake on planet Earth in terms of area.
30% of the landmass of continent Africa is deserts, in which bodies of water can be temporary, that is, at times they dry up completely. But at the same time, usually in such desert regions groundwater can be observed, which is located in artesian basins.
Flora and fauna of Africa
The continent of Africa is famous for its diversity as flora, and the animal. Tropical rainforests grow on the continent, which give way to open forests and savannas. In the subtropical zone you can also find mixed forests.
The most common plants in the forests of Africa are palms, ceiba, sundew and many others. But in savannas you can most often find thorny bushes and small trees. The desert is characterized by a small variety of plants growing in it. Most often these are herbs, shrubs or trees in oases. Many desert areas have no vegetation at all. A special plant in the desert is considered to be the Velvichia amazing plant, which can live for more than 1000 years, it produces 2 leaves that grow throughout the life of the plant and can reach a length of 3 meters.
The fauna in Africa is also diverse. In areas of the savannah, grass grows very quickly and well, which attracts many herbivorous animals (rodents, hares, gazelles, zebras, etc.), and, accordingly, predators that feed on herbivorous animals (leopards, lions, etc.).
The desert may seem uninhabited at first glance, but in fact there live many reptiles, insects, and birds that hunt mainly at night.
Africa is famous for such animals as the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, a wide variety of monkeys, zebras, leopards, sand cats, gazelles, crocodiles, parrots, antelopes, rhinoceroses and much more. This continent is amazing and unique in its own way.
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Recently, ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they seem to be conceived somehow primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large amounts of information and squeeze out a lot of water and information noise. I, too, decided to take aim at our William Shakespeare.
You could, of course, lighten up the topic with a catchy title like “10 must-see places in Africa” or something similar. But I won’t 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 interesting things :)
The reasons why people travel 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.
A unique place in Africa, and perhaps on the entire planet, where original tribes still remain, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, and decorations of its own body. In the Omo Valley, it is as if you are traveling in a time machine many centuries, or even millennia, back to the primitive communal system.
Of course, the proximity to the benefits of civilization had an impact on the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war that lasted here for a considerable time also took its toll. Many men carry Kalashnikov assault rifles, for example, instead of spears and bows. The local population has already become accustomed to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and have even learned to benefit from it. Don't expect to be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Every frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)
Perhaps the most popular national park Africa, an icon of Kenya's tourism industry, one of the continent's best parks. The Masai Mara is often written in superlatives and, it should be noted, quite deservedly.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only on the territory of Kenya.
The 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 trio: lions, leopards and cheetahs.
And, of course, we should not forget about the great migration that takes place in the Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive in the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.
In general, we can say that none safari in Kenya
cannot be considered complete without the Masai Mara.
Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as Victoria Falls or the 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 websites and offline 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... If you want to add these subjects to your portfolio, then you are in .
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. Animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the crater ancient volcano. As one client said: “Where will they go in a submarine” :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big Five, and its relatively small size and confined space make the safari one of the most exciting in Africa.
Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda
Among the top three big waterfalls peace and that says it all.
