Africa is the second-largest continent in the world by size and population. It covers about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is thought to be the continent where the first humans evolved. Africa is the most tropical of all continents. As it is the only continent that straddles the equator, it incorporates both the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
Map of Africa with surrounding water bodies
It contains 54 fully recognized sovereign countries, 8 territories, and 2 de facto independent states with limited or no recognition. Algeria is Africa's largest country by area. Nigeria is its largest country by population.
According to the United Nations, the continent of Africa can be divided into 5 regions:
Northern Africa - Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara
Western Africa - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d'lvoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Central/Middle Africa - Angola, Camerron, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe
Eastern Africa - British Indian Ocean Territory, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, French Southern Territories, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Reunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Africa - Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa
Africa straddles the equator, having almost equal parts (lengthwise) - south and north extent. This makes the climatic and physical conditions in the north repeat themselves in the south. For example, the Kalahari Desert in the south is equivalent to the Sahara Desert in the north.
In terms of geology, Africa appears to be different from the other continents. Its surface consists of a geologically stable landmass made up of the pre-Cambrian basement rock overlain in part by a sedimentary cover of a later period. Africa is made up of very old crystalline, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks of great hardness (collectively known as "basement complex"). Most of the highlands and mountains of Africa are the result of recent volcanic activities e.g. east African mountains like the Kilmanjaro (19340 ft or 5895m).
A unique feature of Africa's physical geography is its Y-shaped integrated Rift Valley system that is believed to have been caused by the movement of the continental plates. The Rift Valley begins from the Red Sea and extends through the Ethiopian highlands to the Lake Victorian region where it subdivided into east and west segments and continues southward through Lake Malawi to Mozambique. Its total length is estimated to be 6,000 miles (9,600 m). The average width ranges between 20 miles (32 km) and 50 miles (80 km).
Y-shaped Eastern African Rift Valley
Africa has a remarkably straight and smooth coastline, free from any major indentations. That is why it has a limited number of natural harbors. The continent presents a steep face to the sea and the faulting has produced its general shape. The absence of a wide continental shelf as in Europe and the northeastern part of North America limits the development of fishing grounds and the opportunities of exploring for major petroleum sources off the coast.
Although Africa consists of one landmass, it has a number of islands, which are structurally no different from the mainland. Major Islands are Madagascar, Zanzibar, and Pemba; Comoros; Mauritius; Reunion, Seychelles (all in the Indian Ocean); Cape Verde, Fernando Po, Principe, Sao Tome, and Annobon (all in the Atlantic).
Some of the world's largest and longest rivers are found in Africa, e.g the Nile, Zambezi, Congo, and the Niger. However, the rivers are not as effective as transportation routes due to the existence of a large number of rapids and cataracts. Despite being impediments to transportation, most of the rivers provide great potential for the production of hydroelectricity.
Africa has a range of climates - equatorial climate, tropical wet and dry climate, tropical monsoon climate, semi-arid climate, desert climate, and subtropical highland climate. Temperate climates are rare across the continent except at very high elevations and along the fringes. Rainfall is the most significant climatic factor in Africa. Because of the continent's location relative to the Equator, the temperature is high across the continent but the temperature range is quite small and it isn't very windy. In fact, the climate of Africa is more variable by rainfall amount than by temperatures, which are consistently high.
The best soils are alluvial deposits found in the major river valleys. With a few exceptions, most of the soils are difficult to cultivate although improvements can be made to increase natural fertility. Soils in the humid tropics can be quite rich due to the forest cover and the rapid decomposition of organic matter. However, intense rainfall leaches out most of the plant nutrients.
Climate and vegetation range from equatorial rainforests, tropical deserts, and savanna grassland to the Mediterranean. The high degree of climate variation across the continent has led to exceptional diversity in flora and fauna in Africa. Africa is rich with varied wildlife including elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, gorillas, crocodiles, and hippos.
There are many different species of African plants and trees, including one of the most famous of these, aloe vera. There are about 700 species of acacia in Africa. Acacia trees are adapted to hot and dry climates, and they grow over much of sub-Saharan Africa. Other notable trees in Africa are baobab, fig, and marula trees.
Africa has seen the rise and fall of many great civilizations and empires throughout its history. The oldest and longest-lasting of these being the Ancient Egyptians who are still famous today for their pyramids and pharaohs. However, the Egyptians weren't the only civilization to develop in Ancient Africa. Important civilizations developed throughout the continent such as Carthage, the Mali Empire, and the Kingdom of Ghana. In the late 7th century North and East Africa were heavily influenced by the spread of Islam. That led to the appearance of new cultures such as those of the Swahili people, and the Mali Empire. This also led to an increase in the slave trade that had a very bad influence on the development of the whole continent until the 19th century. Between the seventh and twentieth centuries, the Arab slave trade took 18 million slaves from Africa via trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean routes.
In the late 19th century, the European powers occupied much of the continent, creating many colonial and dependent territories. Only three states - Darwissh State, Ethiopia, and Liberia - were left fully independent. In 1951, African independence movements had their first success when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history has been full of revolutions and wars as well as the growth of modern African economies and democratization across the continent.
People who come from Africa are called Africans. People north of the Sahara are called Maghrebis and people in the south are called Subsaharans. The most populated country in Africa is Nigeria. Internationally, the Maasai tribe is very well-known. The Maasai are an indigenous ethnic group in Africa of semi-nomadic people settled in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Due to their distinct traditions, customs, and dress and their residence near the many national game parks of East Africa, the Maasai are among the foremost African ethnic groups and are known internationally because of their links to the national parks and reserves.
Maasai people
Whereas the majority of Africa's people are indigenous, European colonial settlers constitute the largest majority of new people, with substantial numbers in Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Mozambique. Dutch settlers first arrived in South Africa in 1652; their descendants now constitute the main Afrikaner, or Boer population. French and Italian settlers also established new communities in North Africa and, to some extent, western Africa.
Africa is the most tropical of all the continents; some four-fifths of its territory rests between the Tropics of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Therefore, the culture and physical traits of people adapt to hot, dry climates and hot, wet climates. Let's see the example of variations in skin color. Skin color Indigenous African people largely have dark skin. But skin color is not uniform. As the northern part of Africa has a Mediterranean climate, people have a light or tan color; Sudanic regions in western and East Africa have intense Sun radiation, therefore people have very dark skin. Similarly, the African population varies from the tallest to the shortest people; body form and facial features also vary widely.
There is a wide variety of religious beliefs. Islam and Christianity are believed to be the two largest religions in Africa. Then, there are also traditional religions.
Over a thousand languages are spoken in Africa. UNESCO estimated there are around 2000 languages spoken in Africa. Africa is the most multilingual continent in the world, and most people fluently speak multiple languages including African and European languages. Languages in eastern Africa include Swahili, Oromo, and Amharic. Languages in western Africa include Lingala, Igbo, and Fulani.
African art is renowned and has a huge influence on contemporary art forms. African art describes the modern and historical paintings, sculptures, and other visual art forms from native or indigenous Africans and the Africa continent. Punu mask and mbira (a thumb piano) are two examples of African art.
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 2002, 53 African countries joined together to form the African Union (AU). The leaders of these countries felt that the union would benefit their people, governments, and business.
The AU replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU had been formed in 1963. Around that time Africa was undergoing great changes. Colonies that had been under the control of European powers were becoming independent countries. The new countries faced many challenges. The countries set up the OAU so that they could help each other.
African leaders formed the AU to improve what the OAU had been doing. One of the AU’s goals is to promote unity, or togetherness, between African countries. Other goals are to defend the member countries and to encourage economic development. The AU also works for peace and stability, the end of hunger, and the protection of human rights.
The leaders of the AU hope to bring all of Africa under a single, central government someday. The AU already has its own parliament or lawmaking body. The leaders are also planning a court system for all of Africa. In addition, they want the countries of the AU to use a single form of money.
Africa has a very young population. The worldwide median age is 30.4, in Africa, the median age is 19.7.
Despite a wide range of natural resources, Africa is the least wealthy per capita. It remains the world's poorest and least-developed continent. Poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and inadequate water supply and sanitation, as well as poor health, affect a large proportion of the people who reside in the African continent. This is in part due to legacies of European colonization and the Cold War, as well as corrupt governments, human rights violations, lack of central planning, high levels of illiteracy, lack of access to foreign capital, and frequent tribal and military conflict.
With the exception of South Africa and the countries of North Africa, all of which have diversified production systems, the economy of most of Africa can be characterized as underdeveloped. Africa as a whole has abundant natural resources, but much of its economy has remained predominantly agricultural, and subsistence farming still engages more than 60% of the population.
