Africa
Introduction
AFRICA is the SECOND LARGEST continent (after Asia), covering about 30 million sq km — 20% of the Earth's land area. It is known as the 'DARK CONTINENT' (historically because it was UNKNOWN to Europeans) and the 'CRADLE OF HUMANKIND' (the oldest FOSSILS of early humans were found here). Africa is a continent of EXTREMES — vast deserts, RAINFORESTS, high mountains, WILD rivers, and INCREDIBLE wildlife.
1. Location and Size
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Area | 30.3 million sq km (2nd largest) |
| Population | Over 1.4 BILLION (2nd most populous) |
| Number of countries | 54 |
| Highest point | Mount KILIMANJARO (5,895 m) — Tanzania |
| Lowest point | Lake ASSAL (−155 m) — Djibouti |
| Longest river | The NILE (6,650 km) — world's LONGEST |
| Largest desert | SAHARA (9.2 million sq km) — world's LARGEST HOT desert |
| Largest lake | Lake VICTORIA (69,485 sq km) |
Location
- Africa is CROSSED by the EQUATOR (passes through the MIDDLE)
- Bounded by: Mediterranean Sea (N), Atlantic Ocean (W), Indian Ocean (E), Red Sea (NE)
- The STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR separates Africa from Europe (14 km wide)
2. Physical Features
A. Plateaus
Africa is a CONTINENT of PLATEAUS. Most of the continent is at LEAST 300 m above sea level.
| Plateau | Location |
|---|---|
| East African Plateau | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Ethiopian Highlands | Ethiopia (HIGHEST plateau — over 2,000 m) |
| Southern African Plateau | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia |
B. Mountains
| Mountain/ Range | Location | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Mount KILIMANJARO | Tanzania | 5,895 m (HIGHEST in Africa) |
| Mount KENYA | Kenya | 5,199 m |
| Drakensberg Mountains | South Africa | 3,482 m |
| ATLAS Mountains | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia | 4,167 m |
C. The Great Rift Valley
- A HUGE CRACK in the Earth's crust — EXTENDS for 6,000 km from Syria to Mozambique
- Formed by TECTONIC forces pulling the African plate APART
- Contains DEEP LAKES — Tanganyika, Malawi, Turkana
- The Rift Valley is STILL WIDENING — Africa is SLOWLY SPLITTING
D. Major Rivers
| River | Length | Flows Through | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NILE | 6,650 km | Uganda, Sudan, Egypt | WORLD'S LONGEST; CRUCIAL for Egypt; irrigation |
| CONGO | 4,700 km | DRC, Congo | DEEPEST river in the world; HYDROELECTRIC power |
| NIGER | 4,180 km | Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria | Important for WEST AFRICA |
| ZAMBEZI | 2,574 km | Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique | Has VICTORIA FALLS |
E. Deserts
| Desert | Size | Location | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAHARA | 9.2 million sq km | North Africa | WORLD'S LARGEST HOT desert; sandy and rocky |
| NAMIB | 81,000 sq km | Namibia | OLDEST desert in the world (80 million years) |
| KALAHARI | 900,000 sq km | Botswana, Namibia, South Africa | Semi-desert (some grasses) |
3. Climate
Climate Zones
| Zone | Location | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| EQUATORIAL | Central Africa (Congo Basin) | HOT and WET year-round; heavy rain; rainforests |
| TROPICAL | North and South of equator | WET and DRY seasons; SAVANNA grasslands |
| DESERT | Sahara, Namib, Kalahari | VERY HOT days, cold nights; ALMOST no rain |
| MEDITERRANEAN | North African coast, South Africa | WARM, DRY summers; MILD, WET winters |
| TEMPERATE | Southern tip (South Africa) | MODERATE temperatures; RAIN throughout year |
4. Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
| Zone | Vegetation | Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
| EQUATORIAL (Rainforest) | DENSE, TALL trees; thick canopy | Gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, forest elephants, colourful birds, snakes |
| SAVANNA (Grasslands) | TALL grasses; scattered ACACIA trees | 'BIG FIVE' — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo; giraffes, zebras, antelopes |
| DESERT | CACTI, thorny bushes | Camels, Fennec foxes, lizards, scorpions; adapted to SURVIVE with little water |
| MEDITERRANEAN | SHRUBS (maquis), olive trees | Deer, wild boar, rabbits, many BIRD species |
The 'Big Five'
The term was coined by HUNTERS — the FIVE most DANGEROUS animals to hunt on foot. They are:
- LION — 'King of the Beasts'; found in savannas
- LEOPARD — SOLITARY; hunts at night; very ELUSIVE
- AFRICAN ELEPHANT — LARGEST land animal
- RHINOCEROS (Black and White) — ENDANGERED due to poaching
- CAPE BUFFALO — VERY DANGEROUS when threatened
5. People and Economy
Population
- Over 1.4 BILLION people
- MORE than 3,000 ethnic groups
- Over 2,000 languages — NIGERIA alone has 500+ languages
- Urbanisation is RAPID — cities growing FAST
Economy
Agriculture (MAIN occupation of most Africans)
| Type | Crops | Regions |
|---|---|---|
| SUBSISTENCE | Cassava, yams, millet, maize | Across the continent |
| COMMERCIAL (Cash crops) | Cocoa, coffee, tea, cotton, palm oil | West Africa (cocoa), East Africa (coffee, tea) |
Minerals and Resources
| Resource | Major Producers |
|---|---|
| GOLD | South Africa, Ghana, Mali |
| DIAMONDS | Botswana, DRC, South Africa, Sierra Leone |
| COPPER | Zambia, DRC |
| PETROLEUM | Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Algeria |
| COBALT | DRC (70% of WORLD'S supply) |
| URANIUM | Niger, Namibia |
Industries
- Mining is the MOST important industry
- Manufacturing is LIMITED but growing
- TOURISM is important — especially SAFARI tourism in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana
ICSE Exam Focus
2-mark questions
- What is the area of Africa?
- Name the LONGEST river in Africa.
- What is the 'BIG FIVE'?
4-mark questions
- Describe the PHYSICAL FEATURES of Africa.
- What are the CLIMATE ZONES of Africa?
- What are the MAIN ECONOMIC activities in Africa?
6-mark (essay) questions
- Describe the MAJOR RIVERS of Africa and their importance.
- Discuss the CLIMATE, VEGETATION, and WILDLIFE of Africa.
Self-Test
-
Why is Africa called the 'CRADLE OF HUMANKIND'? Answer: The OLDEST FOSSILS of early humans (like Lucy in Ethiopia — 3.2 million years old) were found in Africa. Scientists believe HUMANS ORIGINATED in Africa.
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What is the GREAT RIFT VALLEY? How was it formed? Answer: It is a HUGE CRACK in the Earth's crust extending 6,000 km from Syria to Mozambique. It was formed by TECTONIC PLATES pulling apart. It contains deep lakes and active volcanoes.
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Name the MAJOR RIVERS of Africa and their locations. Answer: NILE (East Africa to Egypt — longest), CONGO (Central Africa — deepest), NIGER (West Africa), ZAMBEZI (Southern Africa — has Victoria Falls).
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What are the CLIMATE ZONES of Africa? Answer: Equatorial (hot, wet year-round), Tropical/Savanna (wet and dry seasons), Desert (Sahara, Namib, Kalahari — very dry), Mediterranean (North and South — warm dry summers, mild wet winters).
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What are AFRICA'S main MINERAL resources? Answer: GOLD (South Africa, Ghana), DIAMONDS (Botswana, DRC), PETROLEUM (Nigeria, Libya), COPPER (Zambia, DRC), COBALT (DRC — 70% of world supply).
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What is the SAVANNA? Name its vegetation and wildlife. Answer: The savanna is TROPICAL GRASSLAND found North and South of the equator. Vegetation includes TALL GRASSES and ACACIA trees. Wildlife includes lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
