Geography of Africa

The second-largest continent on Earth, Africa makes up around one-fifth of the planet's land area. The Atlantic Ocean borders the continent on the west, the Mediterranean Sea on the north, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean on the east, and the waters of the Atlantic and Indian seas on the south. The Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean all encircle Africa.

The Equator divides it almost exactly in half. It is possible to separate the physical geography, environment, resources, and human geography of Africa.

Features

Of all the continents, Africa is the most tropical. The largest of the vast southerly extensions from the main mass of the surface of the Earth is the continent of Africa, which is made up of 63 sovereign territories. Equatorial rainforests, tropical deserts, savanna grasslands, and Mediterranean climates and vegetation are all represented. It covers a region of 30,368,609 km² (11,725,385 sq mi), excluding neighbouring islands, within its regular outline. Africa is almost equally large to the north and south as it crosses the equator. The climatic and physical conditions in the north repeat themselves in the south due to the partition of Africa into nearly two equal portions (lengthwise) across the equator.

Divisions

Africa has seven major physical regions: Coastline, Drainage, Islands, Mountains, Plains, Plateau and lakes.

Coastline

There is more constructed harbour than natural ones on Africa's coastline because it is typically straight and short in comparison to other continents. Africa has a wonderfully smooth form and a rather simple shape. In a sequence of falls and rapids, the rivers pour off the borders of the plateau into the ocean. Mangrove swamps, coral reefs, sand bars, and lagoons along the coast, obstructing access to the interior of the continent. The Agulhas Bank, which spans 320 kilometers (200 miles) offshore, is the only location with an extended continental shelf.

The growth of fishing grounds and prospects to explore for significant petroleum sources along the coast are restricted by the absence of any significant continental shelf, as is the case in Europe and the northeastern part of North America. No significant coastal islands, with the exception of Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world. In general, the coastline is undisturbed.

Drainage

Africa is home to some of the world's biggest and longest rivers, including the Nile, Zambezi, Congo, and Niger. Due to the abundance of rapids and cataracts, rivers are ineffective as means of transportation. A few kilometers inland from the coast, the rivers descend the interior plateau at spots where they almost all have rapids. For instance, the Zaire River, which spans 214 kilometers, is broken up by 32 rapids and cataracts that drop almost 200 meters. The St. Lawrence and Mississippi, for example, offer the finest entry into the interior from the coast and also acted as a less expensive mode of transportation for industrial commodities in other continents, but this is not the case in Africa.

Islands

Africa has a single land mass, but it also features a number of islands that are physically identical to the continent's main mainland. Major Islands include Cape Verde, Fernando Po, Principe, Sao Tome, and Annobon (all in the Atlantic), Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Madagascar, Zanzibar, and Pemba (all in the Indian Ocean). The isthmus between Africa and Asia was converted into a canal in 1869 because of Africa's position between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and its vast latitudinal extent, which served as a trade barrier between Europe and Asia.

Mountains

The typical landscape of Africa does not include mountains. To further differentiate the differences in geography, geographers created the concepts of "high Africa" and "low Africa," with "high Africa" spanning from Ethiopia down south to South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope, and "low Africa" representing the plains of the rest of the continent. Highlands are frequently referred to as elevated mountain regions.

A vast dome of ancient rock was raised by magma from Earth's mantle 75 million years ago, causing the Ethiopian Highlands to start rising. The Great Rift Valley system was later formed when this dome was divided by the separation of Africa's continental crust. Today, this valley runs from southwest to northeast through the Ethiopian Highlands. The majority (80%) of Africa's tallest mountains are found in the Ethiopian Highlands. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, contains three peaks with the names Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, with Kibo being the tallest. The three main summits of Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, are Batian, Nelion, and Lenana Point.

Plains

The pediplain and etchplain types of plains, which frequently appear as steps, make up the majority of Africa. The etchplains frequently contain inselbergs and laterite soil. In several parts of Africa, including Tanzania, Namibia, the interior of Angola, and the Moroccan Anti-Atlas, inselberg-dotted plains are frequent. The African Surface, a composite etchplain present throughout much of the continent, is one of the most widely disseminated plains. The Sahel, a region of plains, stretches along the southern edge of the desert. The Sahara, dry region and greatest scorching desert on earth.

Sahel

Between the savannas to the south and the Sahara to the north, the Sahel is a small strip of semi-arid territory. It is composed up of flat, desolate plains that span across Africa, from Senegal to Sudan, for about 5,400 kilometers (3,300 miles). One of Africa's longest rivers, the Niger, has a fertile delta that is located in the Sahel. Unfortunately, due to drought, deforestation, and excessive cultivation, the Sahel's lush territory is quickly turning into a desert.

Sahara

The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, measuring 8.5 million square kilometers (3.3 million square miles), or almost the size of Brazil in South America. The Sahara, which defines Africa's northern bulge, accounts for 25% of the land area. Ergs, regs, hamadas, and oases are just a few of the Sahara's distinctive geographical features. Ergs are sand dunes that span hundreds of km and rise above 300 meters (1,000 feet), making up 20% of the Sahara.

Plateau

In Africa, there are a lot of plateaus. The high southern and eastern plateaus have a mean elevation of roughly 1,000 m (3,300 ft), rarely dipping below 600 m (2,000 ft). The South African plateau connects to the East African plateau, which is distinguished by certain distinctive features and likely has a somewhat higher average elevation. It is created by the eastern axis of high ground extending out, which divides into several zones running north and south and is composed of ranges, tablelands, and depressions in turn.

Lakes

The African Great Lakes plateau is home to the majority of Africa's lakes. The Great Rift Valley is home to many deep lakes with steep edges. The two largest of this kind, Tanganyika and Nyasa, the latter with depths of 800 m, exhibit this. Others, though, are shallow and in the dry season rarely touch the valleys' steep edges. These include Lake Rukwa, which is in a depression to the north of Nyasa, Eiassi, and Manyara, which are all part of the Great Rift Valley system. The three largest lakes on the continent, in addition to the African Great Lakes, are Lake Chad in the northern inland watershed, Lakes Bangweulu and Mweru, which are crossed by the Congo headwaters, and Lakes Mai-Ndombe and Ntomba (Mantumba).

Conclusion

The second-largest continent, Africa, is home to a variety of landscapes, including grasslands, mountains, and deserts as well as rainforests. Although Africa has a long coastline, it has few natural harbour despite having several rivers, notably the Nile and Zambezi. Unique islands and majestic mountain ranges like the Ethiopian Highlands can be found on the continent. The Sahara Desert, the biggest scorching desert in the world, dominates much of Africa's geography. Desertification is occurring in the semi-arid Sahel, nevertheless. Africa's geographical diversity is further enhanced by the continent's Great Lakes and plateau regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the size of the Sahara Desert?

The Sahara Desert covers approximately 8.5 million square kilometers (3.3 million square miles), making it the largest hot desert in the world.

Which river has a fertile delta in the Sahel region?

The Niger River has a fertile delta located within the Sahel region.

What are the major physical regions of Africa?

Africa can be divided into seven major physical regions: Coastline, Drainage, Islands, Mountains, Plains, Plateau, and Lakes.

Where are the highest mountains in Africa located?

The majority of Africa's tallest mountains are found in the Ethiopian Highlands, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

How is the climate in the Sahel region?

The Sahel is a small strip of semi-arid territory located between the savannas and the Sahara Desert. It experiences a dry and arid climate.

What are the African Great Lakes?

The African Great Lakes refer to a series of deep lakes located within the African Great Lakes plateau. Some notable examples include Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa.