Africa is a huge continent. Due to major limitations in education and other mitigating factors, the students of Africa fight an uphill battle to obtain their education. The Islamic religion, which the Arabs carried with them, spread from North Africa into many areas south of the Sahara, so that many western African peoples are now largely Islamized. It covers one-fifth of the earth's land. It is blessed by God. Later, some two million years ago, the first creatures to be classed as part of the human species evolve in Africa. The vast continent of Africa is so rich and diverse in it's culture with it not only changing from one country to another but within an individual country many different … Military coups have been fairly common in Africa. From desert nomads traveling in the north to gold miners working in the south—welcome to the continent of Africa. Where can you experience all these adventures? Douala… But I would like to air out my observations. The plateau’s surface is higher in the southeast and tilts downward toward the northeast. There isn't a lot of "converting" going on any more. History Reference: Ancient History & World HistoryThe Eastern Hemisphere - Africa, Copyright © 2021 Web Solutions LLC. Other, smaller islands include the Seychelles, Socotra, and other islands to the east; the Comoros, Mauritius, Réunion, and other islands to the southeast; Ascension, St. Helena, and Tristan da Cunha to the southwest; Cape Verde, the Bijagós Islands, Bioko, and São Tomé and Príncipe to the west; and the Azores and the Madeira and Canary islands to the northwest. Some of the largest animals in the world graze throughout the continent, as well. The country’s coast, on the Bight of Bonny, is part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. There are many groups of people, each having their own cultures and traditions. Climatic and other factors have exerted considerable influence on the patterns of human settlement in Africa. The continent is bounded on the west by the Atlantic … From about four million years ago ape-like creatures walk upright on two feet in this continent. Living in Africa Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in Africa? Its northern extremity is Al-Ghīrān Point, near Al-Abyaḍ Point (Cape Blanc), Tunisia; its southern extremity is Cape Agulhas, South Africa; its farthest point east is Xaafuun (Hafun) Point, near Cape Gwardafuy (Guardafui), Somalia; and its western extremity is Almadi Point (Pointe des Almadies), on Cape Verde (Cap Vert), Senegal. Terms of Use. Africa is that quiet but mighty bird. Africans have their Detroit and Hurricane Katrina too. Africas physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately. Geography of Africa. It is home to some of the worlds most creative and kind and talented people. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The rainforest areas are jungles of dense, wet forests. The northwestern part, which includes the Sahara (desert) and that part of North Africa known as the Maghrib, has two mountainous regions—the Atlas Mountains in northwestern Africa, which are believed to be part of a system that extends into southern Europe, and the Ahaggar (Hoggar) Mountains in the Sahara. However, just like we don't like it when foreigners have a simplistic view of America, we ought to update our view of Africa. Africa is a huge continent. Corrections? Of all foreign settlements in Africa, that of the Arabs has made the greatest impact. Africa is a Desert While there are a few deserts in Africa (like the Sahara Desert in the North and the Namib Desert in the Southwest of Africa), large parts of Africa, especially central Africa, are tropical rainforests. Laugh all you want but I think a lot of us have a certain preconceived idea of what Africa is like and what the savannah is like. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Look at the map on page 119. The continent, composed largely of a vast rigid block of ancient rocks, has geologically young mountains at its extremities in the highlands of the Atlas Mountains in the northwest and the Cape ranges in the south. The desert was created around 7 million years ago, as remnants of a vast sea called Tethys closed up.. Southern Africa The region of Southern Africa is dominated by the Kaapvaal craton, a shelf of bedrock that is more than 2.6 billion years old. Africa is the setting for the long dawn of human history. Click through this guide for a taster of what African children must contend with on a daily basis. African regions are treated under the titles Central Africa, eastern Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, and western Africa; these articles also contain the principal treatment of African historical and cultural development. Beaded crown (ade ileke), Yoruba, 19th century, Nigeria. This richness is matched by a great diversity of biological resources that includes the intensely lush equatorial rainforests of Central Africa and the world-famous populations of wildlife of the eastern and southern portions of the continent. The southeastern part of the plateau includes the Ethiopian Plateau, the East African Plateau, and—in eastern South Africa, where the plateau edge falls downward in a scarp—the Drakensberg range. It is a continent of over 700 languages. White people are viewed as elite class citizens by most blacks. I struggle with things like lack of air conditioning and lots of insects. The continent of Africa is known primarily for its natural attractions, including its diverse geography and an abundance of wildlife. Perhaps you'll want to travel by jeep on a safari (suh-fah-ree)—a trip to Africa to see wild animals. However, just like we don't like it when foreigners have a simplistic view of America, we ought to update our view of Africa. Enslavement in Africa . Simplified climatic map of Africa: sub-Saharan Africa consists of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa in the north (yellow), the tropical savannas (light green) and the tropical rainforests (dark green) of Equatorial Africa, and the arid Kalahari Basin (yellow) and the "Mediterranean" south … And yes, there are some fantastic safaris and pyramids tourists can enjoy, just like our Grand Canyon and Statue of Liberty are worth seeing too. Of these Madagascar, one of the largest islands in the world, is the most significant. What about a bumpy camel ride across the largest sand desert in the world? See if your geographic knowledge points north or south in this journey through Africa. Africans have their Detroit and Hurricane Katrina too. I am fascinated by Africa and I speak Spanish. - What Is the Climate Like? This is … Africa is a wonderland. In 2018, I've had the pleasure of visiting 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. CBBC Newsround is investigating just what life is like for kids living on the vast and varied continent. Africa’s climate is just as variable, ranging from desert to jungle, subtropical coastal bushlandto mountains. In the northeast, Africa was joined to Asia by the Sinai Peninsula until the construction of the Suez Canal. The Republic of Cameroon is a west African country bordered by Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south, and Nigeria to the west. I absolutely love this continent. As Africa urbanizes rapidly the presence of Chinese construction teams have become virtually ubiquitous. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. For discussion of major cities of the continent, see such articles as Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Kinshasa. In antiquity the Greeks are said to have called the continent Libya and the Romans to have called it Africa, perhaps from the Latin aprica (“sunny”) or the Greek aphrike (“without cold”). From the jeep, you might see lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes. It is a continent of over 700 languages. Africa, the second-largest continent, is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Because of the location of the equator, most of Africa has a tropical climate. Africa, the second-largest and second most-populous continent, is also home to the youngest population in the world. I'm from the US and I have traveled to South America and Europe. Victoria … Author of. Like you need a good reason to go on safari in Africa for your next holiday! Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. You might have to break a few immigration rules. Africa is a very fertile continent with a huge variety of food crop and fauna. Okay I don't know about the social system of any other country besides South Africa because I have not been abroad. Although agriculture (primarily subsistence) still dominates the economies of many African countries, the exploitation of these resources became the most significant economic activity in Africa in the 20th century. One of the most remarkable features in the geologic structure of Africa is the East African Rift System, which lies between 30° and 40° E. The rift itself begins northeast of the continent’s limits and extends southward from the Ethiopian Red Sea coast to the Zambezi River basin. Thus, although Africa is the second largest continent, it contains only about 10 percent of the world’s population and can be said to be underpopulated. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. Not to mention that something like 80% of Kenyans attend church. Intermediate between apes and men, they have been named Australopithecus. These young men and women are the future of Africa, but their future is also uncertain. In 2018, I've had the pleasure of visiting 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. And yes, there are some fantastic safaris and pyramids tourists can enjoy, just like our Grand Canyon and Statue of Liberty are worth seeing too. History Reference: Ancient History & World History. What Is the Geography of Africa? Updates? Victoria Falls, on border between Zambia and ZimbabweNairobi, the capital city of KenyaA busy street in Ghana. E-mail this page to a friend The physiography of Africa is essentially a reflection of the geologic history and geology that is described in the previous section. It covers one-fifth of the earth's land. I believe the theory that humanity originated in Africa, so I feel that visiting there could help me return to my authentic self. This is a worrying trend for experts, especially when twinned with rapid population growth. Is the northernmost point of Africa farther north than the southernmost point of Europe? By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. You'll meet the people who live on the continent and explore the geography and culture. Africa, the second largest continent (after Asia ), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. The Sahara is the largest desert in Africa, and the largest hot desert in the world – with summer temperatures reaching 122 °F (50 °C) – and stretching across 12 North African countries. Or maybe you'll sail down the Nile River to see ancient pyramids. Notice that the equator runs through the middle of the continent. Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Look at the map on page 119. With 1.3 billion people as of 2018, it accounts for about 16% of the world's human population. Namibia's climate is that of a hot desert: Not surprisingly, it's dry, sunny, and warm almost … In which I explain what it's like to live in Malawi, Africa. For discussion of individual countries of the continent, see such articles as Egypt, Madagascar, and Sudan. I will also comment sincerely on my personal accounts. At about 30.3 million km (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. 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