East Africa. South and southeast Africa Which states are included in East Africa

Beautiful and vibrant Africa is the second largest continent in the world. More than 1 billion people live in its vastness. And its lands are conventionally divided into 5 regions. By tradition, African countries, the list of which consists of 62 items, are classified as the following regions:

• Yuzhny.
• Western.
• Northern.
• Eastern.
• And Central.

This division is due to different geographical and climatic conditions, differences in cultures and forms of government of states.

Africa has dependent and independent territories. There are 37 countries with access to seas and oceans. Present (10 units). And 16 countries located in the interior of the continent.

African countries: list of states in the Southern region

South Africa retains memories of the colonial period. Nuclear weapons were developed on its territory, which the government later abandoned. It includes the following countries:

• Zimbabwe;
• Mozambique;
• Comoros Islands;
• Seychelles;
• Mauritius Island;
• Reunion;
• Madagascar;
• Lesotho;
• Botswana;
• Swaziland;
• Namibia.

The largest country on this earth is the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Almost the entire population of the Southern Region lives and works there. There are 11 officially accepted languages ​​in this territory. The ethnic composition of South Africa is a diverse group of numerous religious affiliations.

The proximity of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean makes South Africa attractive for tourism. The southern part of the continent is warm and humid all year round. But the climate is temperate, so the heat can be tolerated quite easily.

African countries: list of states in the Western region

The humid and windy climate of West Africa is directly dependent on the capricious trade winds. This territory consists of the following countries:

• Sierra Leone;
• Senegal;
• Benin;
• Burkina Faso;
• Gambia;
• Ghana;
• Togo;
• Guinea;
• Guinea-Bissau;
• Cape Verde;
• Cameroon;
• Mauritania;
• Nigeria;
• Niger;
• Mali;
• Liberia;
• Cote d'Ivoire;
• Saint Helena Islands.

The Western region is home to many African languages. On its territory, oral folklore is still valued today. And ceremonial dances are included in the program of every significant holiday.

The natural border of this land in the east is the Cameroon Mountains. In the south of the region itself the legendary Sahara Desert begins. And in the west, the natural border is formed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria several years ago received the status of the largest oil producer. Most of the population speaks several dialects at once. There are 527 officially recognized languages ​​in this country. Among them there are 11 “dead” dialects; English and several other languages ​​of the local ethnic group are taught in state schools.

Abuja is the Nigerian capital, chosen by the government as the most ethnically neutral place in the Western region. After the completion of the main stages of construction in 1976, Abuja received the status of the main city of Nigeria instead of the overcrowded Logos.

African countries: list of countries in the Northern region

A significant part of the Northern region is occupied by the sands of the Sahara Desert. The largest states of the entire African continent border the endless sandy sea:

• Sudan;
• Tunisia;
• Algeria;
• Morocco;
• Libya;
• SADR;
• Egypt.

The Mediterranean natural area is considered very comfortable for living. Therefore, large tourist sites of the African continent, which are known throughout the world, are located there.

The region's economy is in better shape than other parts of Africa. The proximity of Europe affects not only the development of the region, but also its cultural heritage.

Tunisia is a country that has the most competitive economy of all African countries. Tunisia is home to about 10 million people, most of whom speak Arabic. Almost the entire population of the northern state professes Islam. The Mediterranean climate makes Tunisia an important tourism sector. The country's culture contains many diverse trends that are organically woven into the daily life of the Tunisian people.

African countries: list of states in the Eastern region

To the East of the mysterious Nile there are several countries that make up the Eastern Region. Among them are such states as:

• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Uganda;
• Tanzania;
• Somalia;
• Mayotte;
• Kenya;
• Djibouti;
• Zambia;
• Comoros;
• Malawi.

The climate of Eastern Africa is arid in the central regions. But on the coast it quickly changes to tropical. Former colonists set state boundaries quite arbitrarily. Due to the fact that cultural and religious trends were not taken into account, the development of the Eastern region is happening at a very slow pace.

Kenya is not only a favorite destination for tourists, but also a place that has amazing flora and fauna. On the territory of Kenya there are a large number of nature reserves that are protected by the international organization UNESCO.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, people speak English and the local dialect Swahili. For a long time this country was a colony of Great Britain.

African countries: list of states of the Central region

The following states are located in the heart of Africa:

• Angola;
• Congo;
• Sao Tome;
• Equatorial Guinea.

These countries are endowed with a subequatorial climate. Thanks to the extensive river system, it is there that you can see endless forests consisting of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The Republic of the Congo is extremely rich in mineral resources. This circumstance several centuries ago contributed to the emergence of the African “gold” rush in the country.

The capital of the country with the unusual name Brazzaville is quite developed in terms of education. The literacy rate of the population there reaches 82%. The state's economy is based on oil production and agriculture. The cultural sector is represented by folk art. The direction of contemporary art is also well developed.

All African countries, the list of which is given above, are considered officially recognized states. Meanwhile, many territories of the African continent have recently embarked on the path of international recognition and are not yet real states. But they still have symbols of borders on some maps.

Anthropologists call Africa the cradle of civilization. According to research, human culture first appeared there. It’s paradoxical, but in the place where all living things originated, there are still corners where no human has set foot. Of the 29 million square meters, only a small part is inhabited by people. The rest of the area is deserts and tropical forests. African fauna is unique. found nowhere else on this continent.

Exploring the countries of Africa, the list of which is so diverse, it is difficult to imagine that the Sahara Desert occupies an area larger than the entire territory of the United States. Also, half of the world’s gold is mined on the continent. And the name of this part of the world comes from one of the most ancient tribes, “Afri”.

The group of East African states demonstrates an even greater degree of differences, even contrasts, and here individual countries stand out noticeably from the rest, as if out of the ordinary. This applies to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and some other countries. In general, the countries of the East African region deserve special attention in this sense.

1. Ethiopia- the largest and oldest of them. Its history goes back centuries and has been discussed more than once in previous parts of the work. In the 60s of our century, Ethiopia was an independent and highly respected state in Africa, led by the revered monarch Emperor Haile Selassie I. True, this populous (over 50 million people) and resource-poor country was constantly plagued by natural disasters, especially droughts, almost regularly bringing her economy to a catastrophic state. Droughts, famines, and failures with agrarian reform led the country to an acute political crisis in 1973, which resulted in the deposition of the emperor. Since 1974, power passed to the Provisional Military Administrative Council, whose leaders destroyed each other in a bitter internecine struggle, until M. Haile Mariam came to power in 1977, firmly committed to development according to the Marxist-socialist model.

The nationalization of industry and land, the authorities' strict control over the population led the country's economy to complete degradation over the course of a decade and a half. Droughts became more frequent and their consequences became more and more severe. Millions of people were dying from basic hunger and disorder in the country, while the ruling bureaucracy was mired in lawlessness and corruption. The decisive blow to the ruling party and its leadership was dealt by events in our country related to perestroika and a general change in ideological and political orientation, as well as stopping the flow of supplies from the USSR. The weakening position of the government, aggravated by defeats in the fight against separatists and rebels in the north, led to the collapse of the regime in 1991. The dictator fled, and his successors inherited a difficult inheritance. There was no longer any talk about the Marxist-socialist model. Ethiopia now faces the difficult task of finding its new face and returning to normal life.

2. Somalia, located east of Ethiopia, on the coast, in the Horn of Africa, it is a relatively small state (population approx. 6 million people). The inhabitants of British Somalia gained independence in I960; a democratic parliamentary republic was established on a multi-party basis, one of the first of its kind in Africa. But multi-party democracy led to a weakening of the political structure, which was also undermined by tribalism and clan patron-client ties. The 1969 coup brought to power S. Barre with his dreams of a Greater Somalia and his orientation towards the Marxist-socialist model of development. In 1977–1978 In the war with Ethiopia for the Ogaden, Somalia was defeated, and this was reflected in a change in orientation: the Somali authorities abandoned their previous bet on the USSR, whose leadership preferred to take the side of Ethiopia, and began to seek support in the West. In 1984, Somalia was forced to renounce its claims to the part of Kenya inhabited by Somalis. The idea of ​​Great Somalia has collapsed. An era of acute internal crisis has arrived, caused by military spending, devastation, and inflation that is unsustainable for a small country. Rebel protests began against the regime of S. Barre. In 1989, he tried to soften his regime, took a course towards economic liberalization and privatization, promised a multi-party system and democracy, and even introduced a new constitution in October. But it was already too late. In early 1991, Barre's regime fell to rebel attacks. In 1992, bloody civil strife began in the country. The instability of power during the struggle for political dominance of various ethno-political groups created a situation of dangerous instability in Somalia and led the country to famine.

3. Kenya Located south of Ethiopia and southwest of Somalia, a former British colony, it became quite widely known in the first post-war years, when a broad national movement led by D. Kenyatta developed here. This movement was closely connected with the terrorist actions of the Mau Mau society, which terrified the British. In 1953, the Mau Mau movement was defeated, and Kenyatta ended up behind bars. In 1960, the country gained independence, and Kenyatta became its president. In 1978, after his death, the country was headed by D. Moi. The one-party presidential system suffered serious disruptions under this president: corruption became noticeable, and the opposition became more active, demanding a multi-party system. In 1990, Moi made concessions and at the end of 1991 announced the introduction of a multi-party system. The country's economy is still in a difficult situation, the standard of living of the population (about 25 million people) is low, but in the recent elections (1993), Moi was again elected president.

4. Uganda- a state west of Kenya with a population of 16–17 million people. In 1962 it gained independence and became a republic with the former King of Buganda Mutesa II as president and M. Obote as prime minister. In 1966, Obote took full power, and the 1967 constitution abolished the monarchy in the country. In 1971, as a result of a military coup, the bloody dictator Idi Amin came to power. The Amin regime was overthrown in 1979 with the support of Tanzania, and in 1980, Obote, who won the elections, again became president. A military coup in 1985 removed Obote; Since 1986, the country has been led by I. Museveni. Uganda is one of the few African countries where for quite a long time, albeit with ^ in fits and starts, the multi-party system has operated and continues to operate. The country's economy is undeveloped, the standard of living of the population is very low. Economic liberalization at the turn of the 80s–90s, however, began to produce positive results (6–7% growth per year).

5. Tanzania, located south of Kenya and Lake Victoria, was created in 1964 as a result of the unification of Tanganyika, which had been independent since 1961, with the island of Zanzibar, which gained independence in 1963. This is perhaps the only case in which this kind of unification turned out to be viable. Population approx. 25 million people Tanzania is a presidential republic with a very stable political system. For many years, the president of the country was D. Nyerere, under whom experiments were undertaken related to an orientation toward the Marxist-socialist model (nationalization, cooperation in the Ujamaa style, etc.). President A.H., who replaced Nyerere in the late 1980s. Mwinyi is inclined to support the economic revival program adopted in 1986, associated with economic liberalization and a move away from socialist experiments.

6–7.Rwanda(approx. 7 million) and Burundi(approx. 5 million people) in 1908–1912 were included in German East Africa, from 1923 they became a mandatory territory of Belgium, and in 1962 - an independent republic and a monarchy, respectively. Rwanda's republican structure has proven resilient. Burundi, having experienced a number of military coups, also became a republic. Both states have a one-party system, the economy is poorly developed, and the standard of living is low.

8–12. Djibouti(0.5 million population), as well as a number of island states - Reunion(0.6 million), Seychelles(0.07 million), Comoros(0.5 million), Mauritius(1.1 million) - are small independent countries of East Africa that gained their independence relatively late, in 1968–1977. (Reunion remains an overseas department of France). Mauritius is a multi-party parliamentary republic that formally recognizes the Queen of England as its head of state. Djibouti is a one-party presidential republic. In the Seychelles, the 1979 coup brought to power a party oriented towards the Marxist-socialist model. In the Comoros, a similar coup in 1975 had a different fate: another coup in 1978 returned the government of A. Abdallah to power, which then steadily ruled the country for many years. What all these small states have in common is their comparative youth as independent structures (this does not apply to Reunion), a fairly noticeable degree of political stability and, with the exception of Djibouti, remoteness from the mainland, which greatly affects their destinies. It is important to note that Arabs predominate in Comoros, Indo-Pakistanis in Mauritius, Christian Creoles in the Seychelles and Reunion.

13. Madagascar, a large island east of Africa, gained its independence in I960. Population - over 11 million people. Initially, the leader of the Social Democrats, F. Tsiranana, was the head of the state and government. The 1972 coup brought the military to power; in 1975, the Supreme Revolutionary Council, headed by D. Ratsiraka, set a course for development along the Marxist-socialist model. The National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, created by the council, united 7 political parties, banning the activities of the rest. The economy has been nationalized and the public sector is absolutely dominant. In the early 90s, Ratsiraka's power and his political course collapsed. A powerful opposition movement developed in the country.

So, among the 13 large and small countries in the region, four large ones (Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar) and at least two others (Seychelles, Comoros) attempted to develop according to the Marxist-socialist model, and in three cases (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Madagascar) these were long-term experiments, counting in decades. The experiment could have turned out to be just as lengthy in Somalia if the political situation had not prompted S. Barre to change his earlier orientation. And only in Uganda, and even then only intermittently, did a multi-party system function. All large countries in the region are underdeveloped and have a low standard of living. Only a few of the islands (Mauritius, Reunion and tiny Seychelles) stand out for the better against the general bleak background. With reservations, the same can be said about Djibouti. The standard of living in politically relatively prosperous Kenya is slightly higher than in other large countries in the region.

We included the southern and southeastern parts of Africa into two tourist mesoregions that are part of the macroregion Central and Southern Africa. The South African tourist mesoregion covers five countries (Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho), the tourist mesoregion Southeast Africa covers seven countries (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Comoros, Madagascar, etc.). Both tourist mesoregions are characterized by attractive nature, exotic culture and unique cultural heritage.

The cultural specificity of South-East Africa is determined by the interweaving of Islam, Christianity and local traditional beliefs. And even against this background, the island of Mauritius is unique, where Islam, the Catholic religion and Hinduism coexist. The cultural identity of South Africa (especially South Africa) is associated with the largest introduction of the Christian religion on the continent (mainly Protestant movements - Calvinism and Anglicanism). However, in Namibia and Botswana, local traditional culture has largely been preserved. In Southeast Africa, the peoples of two language families predominate: the Niger-Kordofanian - Malawi and other Bantu (Niger-Congo group) and the Austronesian - Malagasy (on the island of Madagascar), related to the peoples of island Indochina - the Malays, Indonesians, etc. The indigenous population South Africa are the peoples of the Khoisan family (Bushmen, Hottentots) and the Niger-Cordofan family (Zulus and other Bantu). In southern Africa there are also peoples of the Germanic group of the Indo-European family: Afrikaners (Boers) - descendants of Dutch colonists, and Anglo-Africans - descendants of British settlers.

South Africa

Name Republic of Namibia(825.1 thousand sq. km, 2.1 million people in 2008), adopted with the declaration of independence in 1990, comes from the Namib Desert (translated from the Hottentot language - “that which goes around” ). The first Europeans to appear here were the Portuguese in the 15th century. Since 1884, these lands, called South-West Africa, were a protectorate of Germany, and in 1915 they were occupied by the Union of South Africa (later South Africa).

Name Republic of Botswana(581.7 thousand sq. km, 1.8 million people in 2008), adopted with the declaration of independence in 1966, comes from the ethnonym Tswana and means “Tswana land”. During colonial times, there was a British protectorate called Bechuanaland (“the country of the Bechuanas,” where the Bechuanas are an obsolete name for the Tswana people).

South Africa(1 million 219 thousand sq. km, 48.8 million people in 2008) named for its geographical location in the south of the mainland. The first colonists in southern Africa were the Dutch, and subsequently the lands of the Dutch descendants (Afrikaners or Boers) were seized, resulting in the creation of the British dominion of the Union of South Africa (SAA) in 1910. In 1961, South Africa left the British Commonwealth and changed its name to South Africa.

Name Kingdom of Swaziland(17.4 thousand sq. km, 1.1 million people in 2008), which was a British colony until 1968, comes from the ethnonym Swazi and means “Swazi country” (English land - “country”) .

Name Kingdoms of Lesotho(30.4 thousand sq. km, 2.1 million people in 2008) comes from the ethnonym Soto (suto). Before the declaration of independence in 1966, the territory of Lesotho was the British protectorate of Basutoland (“the country of the Basotho,” where Basotho is an obsolete name for the Sotho people).

South East Africa

Republic of Malawi occupies an area of ​​118.5 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 13.9 million people. The name of the state comes from the ethnonym Malawi, which unites a group of Bantu-speaking peoples. The Republic of Malawi adjoins the western shore of Lake Nyasa (translated as “lake”) and until 1964, being a British colony, was called Nyasaland (“country of Nyasa”).

Name Republic of Zambia(752.6 thousand sq. km, 11.7 million people in 2008) comes from the Zambezi River (“big river”, “great, mighty river”), which flows through its territory. Zambia until 1964 was a British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia (from the name of the English politician Cecil John Rhodes).

Name Republic of Zimbabwe(390.8 thousand sq. km, 11.4 million people in 2008) was adopted in 1980 and comes from the name of the ruins of ancient stone structures in Zimbabwe (“ruler’s dwelling”). During colonial times, Southern Rhodesia was a British possession.

Republic of Mozambique occupies an area of ​​799.4 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 21.3 million people. The modern name of the state appeared in 1498, when the Portuguese landed in the northeast of the country and named it Mozambique after the local Sultan Moussa Ben Mbika.

Union of Comoros occupies an area of ​​1.9 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 730 thousand people. The name of the islands, located in the Mozambique Channel, dates back to the period of Islamization of the east coast of Africa by the Arabs. Their original Arabic name Jezair el-Komra (“lunar islands”) was somewhat altered by Portuguese sailors at the beginning of the 16th century.

Republic of Madagascar occupies an area of ​​587.0 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 20.0 million people. The name of the island and state of Madagascar is usually associated with the ethnonym of the inhabitants of the island, Malagasy.

Republic of Mauritius(2.0 thousand sq. km, 1.3 million people in 2008), formed in 1968, is named after the largest island that is part of the Mascarene archipelago of the Indian Ocean. This island was discovered by the Portuguese at the beginning of the 16th century, but in 1598 it was captured by the Dutch and named Mauritius - in honor of the stadtholder Prince Moritz of Orange. Since 1715, the island was owned by the French, who renamed it Ile-de-France (“island”), but in 1810 the island was captured by the British, who returned its Dutch name.

In total, within Southern and South-East Africa, 25 sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, of which 14 are cultural monuments.

Africa is the largest region in terms of area (30 million sq. km.), including 54 independent states. Some of them are rich and developing, others are poor, some are landlocked and others are not. So how many countries are there in Africa, and which countries are the most developed?

North African countries

The entire continent can be divided into five zones: North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, South Africa.

Rice. 1. African countries.

Almost the entire region of North Africa (10 million sq. km.) lies on the territory of the Sahara Desert. This natural area is characterized by high temperatures; it is here that the world's highest temperature in the shade is recorded - +58 degrees. The largest states in Africa are located in this region. These are Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan. All these countries are territories with access to the sea.

Egypt - tourist center of Africa. People from all over the world come here to enjoy the warm sea, sandy beaches and infrastructure completely suitable for a good holiday.

State of Algeria with the capital of the same name, it is the largest country by area in North Africa. Its area is 2382 thousand square meters. km. The largest river in this area is the Sheliff River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Its length is 700 km. The remaining rivers are much smaller and are lost among the Sahara deserts. Algeria produces large quantities of oil and gas.

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Sudan is a country in the North African region that has access to the Red Sea.

Sudan is sometimes called the “country of three Niles” - White, Blue, and the main one, which is formed as a result of the merger of the first two.

Sudan has dense and rich vegetation of tall grass savannas: in the wet season, the grass here reaches 2.5 - 3 m. In the very south there is a forest savannah with iron, red and black ebony trees.

Rice. 2. Ebony.

Libya - a country in the central part of North Africa, with an area of ​​1,760 thousand square meters. km. Most of the territory is a flat plain with altitudes ranging from 200 to 500 meters. Like other countries in North America, Libya has access to the Mediterranean Sea.

West African countries

West Africa is washed by the Atlantic Ocean from the south and west. The Guinean forests of the tropical region are located here. These areas are characterized by alternating rainy and dry seasons. West Africa includes many countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, Liberia. The population of this region is 210 million people. It is in this region that Nigeria (195 million people) is located - the largest country by population in Africa, and Cape Verde - a very small island state with a population of about 430 thousand people.

Agriculture plays a major role in the economy. West African countries are leaders in the collection of cocoa beans (Ghana, Nigeria), peanuts (Senegal, Niger), and palm oil (Nigeria).

Central African countries

Central Africa is located in the western part of the continent and lies in the equatorial and subequatorial belt. This area is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea. There are a lot of rivers in Central Africa: Congo, Ogowe, Kwanza, Kwilu. The climate is humid and hot. This area includes 9 countries, including Congo, Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, and Angola.

In terms of natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the richest countries on the continent. Here are unique rainforests - the Selvas of Africa, which make up 6% of the world's rainforests.

Angola is a major export supplier. Coffee, fruits, and sugar cane are exported abroad. And in Gabon, copper, oil, manganese, and uranium are mined.

East African countries

The coast of East Africa is washed by the Red Sea, as well as by the Nile. The climate in this area is different in each country. For example, the Seychelles are characterized as humid maritime tropics, dominated by monsoons. At the same time, Somalia, also belonging to East Africa, is a desert where there are practically no rainy days. This region includes Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Some East African countries are characterized by the export of specific products that are not available in other African countries. Kenya exports tea and coffee, while Tanzania and Uganda export cotton.

Many people are interested in where is the capital of Africa? Naturally, each country has its own capital, but the capital of Ethiopia, the city of Addis Ababa, is considered the heart of Africa. It is landlocked, but it is here that the representative offices of all the countries of the mainland are located.

Rice. 3. Addis Ababa.

Southern African countries

South Africa includes South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland.

South Africa is the most developed in its region, and Swaziland is the smallest. Swaziland borders South Africa and Mozambique. The country's population is only 1.3 million people. This region is located in the tropical and subtropical climate zone.

List of African countries with capitals

• Algiers (capital - Algiers)
• Angola (capital - Luanda)
• Benin (capital - Porto Novo)
• Botswana (capital - Gaborone)
• Burkina Faso (capital - Ouagadougou)
• Burundi (capital - Bujumbura)
• Gabon (capital - Libreville)
• Gambia (capital - Banjul)
• Ghana (capital - Accra)
• Guinea (capital - Conakry)
• Guinea-Bissau (capital - Bissau)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (capital - Kinshasa)
• Djibouti (capital - Djibouti)
• Egypt (capital - Cairo)
• Zambia (capital - Lusaka)
• West Sahara
• Zimbabwe (capital - Harare)
• Cape Verde (capital - Praia)
• Cameroon (capital - Yaoundé)
• Kenya (capital - Nairobi)
• Comoros (capital - Moroni)
• Congo (capital - Brazzaville)
• Cote d'Ivoire (capital - Yamoussoukro)
• Lesotho (capital - Maseru)
• Liberia (capital - Monrovia)
• Libya (capital - Tripoli)
• Mauritius (capital - Port Louis)
• Mauritania (capital - Nouakchott)
• Madagascar (capital - Antananarivo)
• Malawi (capital - Lilongwe)
• Mali (capital - Bamako)
• Morocco (capital - Rabat)
• Mozambique (capital - Maputo)
• Namibia (capital - Windhoek)
• Niger (capital - Niamey)
• Nigeria (capital - Abuja)
• Saint Helena (capital - Jamestown) (UK)
• Reunion (capital - Saint-Denis) (France)
• Rwanda (capital - Kigali)
• Sao Tome and Principe (capital - Sao Tome)
• Swaziland (capital - Mbabane)
• Seychelles (capital - Victoria)
• Senegal (capital - Dakar)
• Somalia (capital - Mogadishu)
• Sudan (capital - Khartoum)
• Sierra Leone (capital - Freetown)
• Tanzania (capital - Dodoma)
• Togo (capital - Lome)
• Tunisia (capital - Tunisia)
• Uganda (capital - Kampala)
• Central African Republic (capital - Bangui)
• Chad (capital - N'Djamena)
• Equatorial Guinea (capital - Malabo)
• Eritrea (capital - Asmara)
• Ethiopia (capital - Addis Ababa)
• Republic of South Africa (capital - Pretoria)

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 zones of 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 its 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. There are 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 of the 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, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees, grow high in the mountains.

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. The far north and 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 precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall 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, Vai), 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, Como, 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.