Africa is the second largest continent after Eurasia, washed by the Mediterranean Sea from the north, the Red Sea from the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south. Africa is also the name given to the part of the world consisting of the continent of Africa and adjacent islands. Africa has an area of ​​29.2 million km², with islands about 30.3 million km², thus covering 6% of the total surface area of ​​the Earth and 20.4% of the land surface. In Africa there are 54 states, 5 unrecognized states and 5 dependent territories (island).

Africa's population is about a billion people. Africa is considered the ancestral home of humanity: it is here that the oldest remains of early hominids and their probable ancestors have been found, including Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Australopithecus africanus, A. afarensis, Homo erectus, H. habilis and H. ergaster.

The African continent crosses the equator and several climate zones; it is the only continent that stretches from the northern subtropical climate zone to the southern subtropical one. Due to the lack of constant precipitation and irrigation - as well as glaciers or the aquifer of mountain systems - there is practically no natural regulation of climate anywhere except the coasts.

The science of African studies studies the cultural, economic, political and social problems of Africa.

Extreme points

• Northern - Cape Blanco (Ben Sekka, Ras Engela, El Abyad)
• South - Cape Agulhas
• Western - Cape Almadi
• Eastern - Cape Ras Hafun

origin of name

Initially, the inhabitants of ancient Carthage used the word “Afri” to refer to people who lived near the city. This name is usually attributed to the Phoenician afar, meaning "dust". After the conquest of Carthage, the Romans called the province Africa (lat. Africa). Later, all known regions of this continent, and then the continent itself, began to be called Africa.

Another theory is that the name "Afri" comes from the Berber ifri, "cave", referring to cave dwellers. The Muslim province of Ifriqiya, which later arose in this place, also retained this root in its name.

According to historian and archaeologist I. Efremov, the word “Africa” came from the ancient language of Ta-Kem (Egypt. “Afros” - foamy country). This is due to the collision of several types of currents that form foam when approaching the continent in the Mediterranean Sea.

There are other versions of the origin of the toponym.

• Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, argued that the name was derived from Abraham's grandson Ether (Gen. 25:4), whose descendants settled Libya.
• The Latin word aprica, meaning "solar", is mentioned in the Elements of Isidore of Seville, volume XIV, section 5.2 (6th century).
• A version of the origin of the name from the Greek word αφρίκη, which means “without cold,” was proposed by the historian Leo the African. He assumed that the word φρίκη (“cold” and “horror”), combined with the negative prefix α-, denotes a country where there is neither cold nor horror.
• Gerald Massey, a poet and self-taught Egyptologist, put forward a theory in 1881 about the origin of the word from the Egyptian af-rui-ka, “to face the opening of Ka.” The Ka is the energy double of each person, and the "Ka hole" means the womb or place of birth. Africa thus means "homeland" to the Egyptians.

History of Africa

Prehistoric period

At the beginning of the Mesozoic era, when Africa was part of the single continent of Pangea, and until the end of the Triassic period, theropods and primitive ornithischians dominated in this region. Excavations dating back to the end of the Triassic period indicate that the south of the continent was more populated than the north.

Human Origins

Africa is considered the birthplace of man. The remains of the oldest species of the genus Homo were found here. Of the eight species of this genus, only one survived - Homo sapiens, and in small numbers (about 1000 individuals) began to spread throughout Africa about 100,000 years ago. And from Africa people migrated to Asia (about 60 - 40 thousand years ago), and from there to Europe (40 thousand years), Australia and America (35 -15 thousand years).

Africa during the Stone Age

The oldest archaeological finds indicating grain processing in Africa date back to the thirteenth millennium BC. e. Cattle raising in the Sahara began ca. 7500 BC e., and organized agriculture in the Nile region appeared in the 6th millennium BC. e.

In the Sahara, which was then a fertile territory, groups of hunters and fishermen lived, this is evidenced by archaeological finds. Throughout the Sahara (present-day Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Chad, etc.), many petroglyphs and rock paintings dating back to 6000 BC have been discovered. e. until the 7th century AD e. The most famous monument of primitive art in North Africa is the Tassilin-Ajjer plateau.

In addition to the group of Sahrawi monuments, rock art is also found in Somalia and South Africa (the oldest drawings date back to the 25th millennium BC).

Linguistic data show that ethnic groups speaking Bantu languages ​​migrated in a southwestern direction, displacing the Khoisan peoples (Xhosa, Zulu, etc.) from there. Bantu settlements contain a distinctive range of grain crops suitable for tropical Africa, including cassava and yams.

A small number of ethnic groups, such as the Bushmen, continue to lead a primitive hunting-gathering lifestyle, like their ancestors several thousand years ago.

Ancient Africa

North Africa

By the 6th-5th millennia BC. e. In the Nile Valley, agricultural cultures were formed (Tassian culture, Fayum culture, Merimde), on the basis of which in the 4th millennium BC. e. Ancient Egypt arose. To the south of it, also on the Nile, under its influence the Kerma-Cushite civilization was formed, which was replaced in the 2nd millennium BC. e. Nubian (state formation of Napata). On its ruins, Aloa, Mukurra, the Nabataean kingdom and others were formed, which were under the cultural and political influence of Ethiopia, Coptic Egypt and Byzantium.

In the north of the Ethiopian Highlands, under the influence of the South Arabian Sabaean kingdom, the Ethiopian civilization arose: in the 5th century BC. e. The Ethiopian kingdom was formed by immigrants from South Arabia; in the 2nd-11th centuries AD. e. There was an Aksumite kingdom, on the basis of which Christian Ethiopia was formed (XII-XVI centuries). These centers of civilization were surrounded by pastoral tribes of Libyans, as well as the ancestors of modern Cushitic and Nilotic-speaking peoples.

As a result of the development of horse breeding (which appeared in the first centuries AD), as well as camel breeding and oasis farming, the trading cities of Telgi, Debris, and Garama appeared in the Sahara, and Libyan writing arose.

On the Mediterranean coast of Africa in the 12th-2nd centuries BC. e. The Phoenician-Carthaginian civilization flourished. The proximity of the Carthaginian slave-holding power had an impact on the Libyan population. By the 4th century. BC e. Large alliances of Libyan tribes formed - the Mauretanians (modern Morocco to the lower reaches of the Muluya River) and the Numidians (from the Muluya River to the Carthaginian possessions). By the 3rd century BC. e. the conditions for the formation of states developed (see Numidia and Mauretania).

After the defeat of Carthage by Rome, its territory became the Roman province of Africa. Eastern Numidia in 46 BC was turned into the Roman province of New Africa, and in 27 BC. e. both provinces were united into one, governed by proconsuls. The Mauretanian kings became vassals of Rome, and in 42 the country was divided into two provinces: Mauretania Tingitana and Mauretania Caesarea.

The weakening of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century caused a crisis in the provinces of North Africa, which contributed to the success of the barbarian invasions (Berbers, Goths, Vandals). With the support of the local population, the barbarians overthrew the power of Rome and formed several states in North Africa: the kingdom of the Vandals, the Berber kingdom of Djedar (between Mulua and Ores) and a number of smaller Berber principalities.

In the 6th century, North Africa was conquered by Byzantium, but the position of the central government was fragile. African provincial nobility often entered into allied relations with barbarians and other external enemies of the empire. In 647, the Carthaginian exarch Gregory (cousin of Emperor Heraclius I), taking advantage of the weakening of imperial power due to Arab attacks, broke away from Constantinople and proclaimed himself emperor of Africa. One of the manifestations of the population's dissatisfaction with the policies of Byzantium was the widespread spread of heresies (Arianism, Donatism, Monophysitism). Muslim Arabs became allies of heretical movements. In 647, Arab troops defeated Gregory's army at the Battle of Sufetula, which led to the separation of Egypt from Byzantium. In 665, the Arabs repeated the invasion of North Africa and by 709 all the African provinces of Byzantium became part of the Arab Caliphate (for more details, see Arab conquests).

Sub-Saharan Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa in the 1st millennium BC. e. Iron metallurgy spread everywhere. This contributed to the development of new territories, primarily tropical forests, and became one of the reasons for the settlement of Bantu-speaking peoples throughout most of Tropical and Southern Africa, displacing representatives of the Ethiopian and Capoid races to the north and south.

The centers of civilizations in Tropical Africa spread from north to south (in the eastern part of the continent) and partly from east to west (especially in the western part).

The Arabs, who penetrated North Africa in the 7th century, until the arrival of Europeans, became the main intermediaries between Tropical Africa and the rest of the world, including through the Indian Ocean. The cultures of Western and Central Sudan formed a single West African, or Sudanese, cultural zone, stretching from Senegal to the modern Republic of Sudan. In the 2nd millennium, most of this zone was part of the large state formations of Ghana, Kanem-Borno Mali (XIII-XV centuries), and Songhai.

South of the Sudanese civilizations in the 7th-9th centuries AD. e. the state formation of Ife was formed, which became the cradle of the Yoruba and Bini civilization (Benin, Oyo); neighboring peoples also experienced their influence. To the west of it, in the 2nd millennium, the Akano-Ashanti proto-civilization was formed, the heyday of which occurred in the 17th and early 19th centuries.

In the region of Central Africa during the XV-XIX centuries. various state entities gradually emerged - Buganda, Rwanda, Burundi, etc.

In East Africa, since the 10th century, Swahili Muslim culture flourished (the city-states of Kilwa, Pate, Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi, Sofala, etc., the Sultanate of Zanzibar).

In Southeast Africa - the Zimbabwean (Zimbabwe, Monomotapa) proto-civilization (X-XIX centuries); in Madagascar, the process of state formation ended at the beginning of the 19th century with the unification of all the early political formations of the island around Imerina.

The appearance of Europeans in Africa

The penetration of Europeans into Africa began in the 15th-16th centuries; The greatest contribution to the development of the continent at the first stage was made by the Spaniards and Portuguese after the completion of the Reconquista. Already at the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese actually controlled the western coast of Africa and in the 16th century launched an active slave trade. Following them, almost all Western European powers rushed to Africa: Holland, Spain, Denmark, France, England, Germany.

The slave trade with Zanzibar gradually led to the colonization of East Africa; Moroccan attempts to take over the Sahel have failed.

By the beginning of the 17th century, all of North Africa (except Morocco) became part of the Ottoman Empire. With the final division of Africa between European powers (1880s), the colonial period began, forcing Africans into industrial civilization.

Colonization of Africa

The process of colonization became widespread in the second half of the 19th century, especially after 1885 with the beginning of the so-called Race or Scramble for Africa. Almost the entire continent (except for Ethiopia and Liberia, which remained independent) by 1900 was divided between a number of European states: Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy; Spain and Portugal retained their old colonies and somewhat expanded them.

The most extensive and richest possessions were those of Great Britain. In the southern and central part of the continent:

• Cape Colony,
• Natal,
• Bechuanaland (now Botswana),
• Basutoland (Lesotho),
• Swaziland,
• Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe),
• Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).

In the east:

• Kenya,
• Uganda,
• Zanzibar,
• British Somalia.

In the north-east:

• Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, formally considered a co-ownership of England and Egypt.

In the West:

• Nigeria,
• Sierra Leone,
• Gambia
• Golden shore.

In the Indian Ocean

• Mauritius (island)
• Seychelles.

The colonial empire of France was not inferior in size to the British, but the population of its colonies was several times smaller, and its natural resources were poorer. Most of the French possessions were located in Western and Equatorial Africa and a considerable part of their territory was in the Sahara, the adjacent semi-desert Sahel region and tropical forests:

• French Guinea (now the Republic of Guinea),
• Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast),
• Upper Volta (Burkina Faso),
• Dahomey (Benin),
• Mauritania,
• Niger,
• Senegal,
• French Sudan (Mali),
• Gabon,
• Middle Congo (Republic of the Congo),
• Ubangi-Shari (Central African Republic),
• French coast of Somalia (Djibouti),
• Madagascar,
• Comoros Islands,
• Reunion.

Portugal owned Angola, Mozambique, Portuguese Guinea (Guinea-Bissau), which included the Cape Verde Islands (Republic of Cape Verde), Sao Tome and Principe.

Belgium owned the Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in 1971-1997 - Zaire), Italy - Eritrea and Italian Somalia, Spain - the Spanish Sahara (Western Sahara), Northern Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, the Canary Islands; Germany - German East Africa (now mainland Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi), Cameroon, Togo and German South-West Africa (Namibia).

The main incentives that led to the heated battle of European powers for Africa are considered economic. Indeed, the desire to exploit Africa's natural resources and people was of paramount importance. But it cannot be said that these hopes were immediately realized. The south of the continent, where the world's largest deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered, began to generate huge profits. But before income could be received, large investments were first necessary to explore natural resources, create communications, adapt the local economy to the needs of the metropolis, suppress the protest of the indigenous people and find effective ways to force them to work for the colonial system. All this took time. Another argument of the ideologists of colonialism was not immediately justified. They argued that the acquisition of colonies would open up many jobs in the metropolises themselves and eliminate unemployment, since Africa would become a large market for European products and enormous construction of railways, ports, and industrial enterprises would begin there. If these plans were implemented, it was more slowly than expected and on a smaller scale. The argument that Europe's surplus population would move to Africa turned out to be untenable. The migration flows turned out to be smaller than expected and were mainly limited to the south of the continent, Angola, Mozambique, and Kenya - countries where the climate and other natural conditions were suitable for Europeans. Dubbed “the white man’s grave,” the Gulf of Guinea countries have seduced few people.

Colonial period

African theater of World War I

The First World War was a struggle for the redistribution of Africa, but it did not have a particularly strong impact on the lives of most African countries. Military actions covered the territories of the German colonies. They were conquered by the Entente troops and after the war, by decision of the League of Nations, were transferred to the Entente countries as mandated territories: Togo and Cameroon were divided between Great Britain and France, German South-West Africa went to the Union of South Africa (SA), part of German East Africa - Rwanda and Burundi - was transferred to Belgium, the other - Tanganyika - to Great Britain.

With the acquisition of Tanganyika, an old dream of the British ruling circles came true: a continuous strip of British possessions arose from Cape Town to Cairo. After the end of the war, the process of colonial development in Africa accelerated. Colonies increasingly turned into agricultural and raw materials appendages of the metropolises. Agriculture became increasingly export-oriented.

Interwar period

During the interwar period, the composition of agricultural crops grown by Africans changed dramatically - the production of export crops increased sharply: coffee - 11 times, tea - 10 times, cocoa beans - 6 times, peanuts - more than 4 times, tobacco - 3 times, etc. etc. An increasing number of colonies became monoculture countries. On the eve of World War II, in many countries between two-thirds and 98% of the value of all exports came from a single crop. In Gambia and Senegal, groundnuts became such a crop, in Zanzibar - cloves, in Uganda - cotton, on the Gold Coast - cocoa beans, in French Guinea - bananas and pineapples, in Southern Rhodesia - tobacco. Some countries had two export crops: on the Ivory Coast and in Togo - coffee and cocoa, in Kenya - coffee and tea, etc. In Gabon and some other countries, valuable forest species became a monoculture.

The emerging industry - mainly mining - was designed to an even greater extent for export. She developed quickly. In the Belgian Congo, for example, copper mining increased more than 20-fold between 1913 and 1937. By 1937, Africa occupied an impressive place in the capitalist world in the production of mineral raw materials. It accounted for 97% of all mined diamonds, 92% of cobalt, more than 40% of gold, chromites, lithium minerals, manganese ore, phosphorites and more than a third of all platinum production. In West Africa, as well as in most parts of East and Central Africa, export products were produced mainly on the farms of Africans themselves. European plantation production did not take root there due to climatic conditions difficult for Europeans. The main exploiters of African producers were foreign companies. Exported agricultural products were produced on farms owned by Europeans located in the Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, parts of Northern Rhodesia, Kenya, and South West Africa.

African Theater of World War II

The fighting during the Second World War on the African continent is divided into two directions: the North African campaign, which affected Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and was an integral part of the most important Mediterranean theater of operations, as well as the autonomous African theater of operations, the battles in which were of secondary importance.

During the Second World War, military operations in Tropical Africa were carried out only on the territory of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia. In 1941, British troops, together with Ethiopian partisans and with the active participation of the Somalis, occupied the territories of these countries. There were no military operations in other countries of Tropical and Southern Africa (with the exception of Madagascar). But hundreds of thousands of Africans were mobilized into the metropolitan armies. Even more people had to serve the troops and work for military needs. Africans fought in North Africa, Western Europe, the Middle East, Burma, and Malaya. On the territory of the French colonies there was a struggle between the Vichyites and supporters of the Free French, which, as a rule, did not lead to military clashes.

Decolonization of Africa

After World War II, the process of decolonization in Africa began rapidly. 1960 was declared the Year of Africa - the year of liberation of the largest number of colonies. In this year, 17 states gained independence. Most of them are French colonies and UN trust territories under French administration: Cameroon, Togo, Malagasy Republic, Congo (formerly French Congo), Dahomey, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Mali. The largest country in Africa in terms of population, Nigeria, which belonged to Great Britain, and the largest in terms of territory, the Belgian Congo, were declared independent. British Somalia and Italian Trust Somalia were united and became the Somali Democratic Republic.

The year 1960 changed the entire situation on the African continent. The dismantling of the remaining colonial regimes has become inevitable. The following were declared sovereign states:

• in 1961, the British possessions of Sierra Leone and Tanganyika;
• in 1962 - Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda;
• in 1963 - Kenya and Zanzibar;
• in 1964 - Northern Rhodesia (which called itself the Republic of Zambia, after the Zambezi River) and Nyasaland (Malawi); that same year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to create the Republic of Tanzania;
• in 1965 - Gambia;
• in 1966 - Bechuanaland became the Republic of Botswana and Basutoland - the Kingdom of Lesotho;
• in 1968 - Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea and Swaziland;
• in 1973 - Guinea-Bissau;
• in 1975 (after the revolution in Portugal) - Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as 3 of the 4 Comoros Islands (Mayotte remained a possession of France);
• in 1977 - Seychelles, and French Somalia became the Republic of Djibouti;
• in 1980 - Southern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zimbabwe;
• in 1990 - Trust Territory of South West Africa - by the Republic of Namibia.

The declaration of independence of Kenya, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique and Namibia was preceded by wars, uprisings, and guerrilla warfare. But for most African countries, the final stage of the journey was completed without major bloodshed, it was the result of mass demonstrations and strikes, the negotiation process, and, in relation to the trust territories, decisions of the United Nations.

Due to the fact that the borders of African states during the “Race for Africa” were drawn artificially, without taking into account the settlement of various peoples and tribes, as well as the fact that traditional African society was not ready for democracy, civil wars began in many African countries after gaining independence. war. In many countries, dictators came to power. The resulting regimes are characterized by disregard for human rights, bureaucracy, and totalitarianism, which, in turn, leads to an economic crisis and growing poverty.

Currently under the control of European countries are:

• Spanish enclaves in Morocco Ceuta and Melilla, Canary Islands (Spain),
• St. Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and Chagos Archipelago (UK),
• Reunion, Eparce and Mayotte Islands (France),
• Madeira (Portugal).

Changing the names of states

During the period of African countries gaining independence, many of them changed their names for various reasons. This could be secession, unification, regime change, or the country gaining sovereignty. The phenomenon of renaming African proper names (names of countries, personal names of people) to reflect African identity has been called Africanization.

* The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire did not change its name as such, but demanded that other languages ​​use the French name of the country (French: Côte d'Ivoire), rather than its literal translation in other languages ​​(Ivory Coast, Elfenbeinküste, etc.).

Geographical studies

David Livingston

David Livingston decided to study the rivers of South Africa and find natural passages deep into the mainland. He sailed the Zambezi, discovered the Victoria Falls, and identified the watershed of Lake Nyasa, Taganyika and the Lualaba River. In 1849, he was the first European to cross the Kalahari Desert and explore Lake Ngami. During his last journey, he tried to find the sources of the Nile.

Heinrich Barth

Heinrich Barth established that Lake Chad is drainless, was the first European to study the rock paintings of the ancient inhabitants of the Sahara and expressed his assumptions about climate change in North Africa.

Russian explorers

Mining engineer and traveler Yegor Petrovich Kovalevsky helped the Egyptians in search of gold deposits and studied the tributaries of the Blue Nile. Vasily Vasilyevich Juncker explored the watershed of the main African rivers - the Nile, Congo and Niger.

Geography of Africa

Africa covers an area of ​​30.3 million km². The length from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east in the northern part - 7.5 thousand km.

Relief

For the most part it is flat, in the north-west there are the Atlas Mountains, in the Sahara - the Ahaggar and Tibesti highlands. In the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, to the south of it is the East African Plateau, where the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m) is located - the highest point of the continent. In the south are the Cape and Drakensberg Mountains. The lowest point (157 meters below sea level) is located in Djibouti, this is the salt lake Assal. The deepest cave is Anu Ifflis, located in the north of Algeria in the Tel Atlas Mountains.

Minerals

Africa is known primarily for its rich deposits of diamonds (South Africa, Zimbabwe) and gold (South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Republic of Congo). There are large oil deposits in Nigeria and Algeria. Bauxite is mined in Guinea and Ghana. Resources of phosphorites, as well as manganese, iron and lead-zinc ores are concentrated in the area of ​​the northern coast of Africa.

Inland waters

Africa is home to one of the longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from south to north. Other major rivers are the Niger in the west, the Congo in central Africa and the Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange rivers in the south.

The largest lake is Victoria. Other large lakes are Nyasa and Tanganyika, located in lithospheric faults. One of the largest salt lakes is Lake Chad, located on the territory of the state of the same name.

Climate

Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. The reason for this is the geographical location of the continent: the entire territory of Africa is located in hot climate zones and the continent is intersected by the equator line. It is in Africa that the hottest place on Earth is located - Dallol, and the highest temperature on Earth was recorded (+58.4 °C).

Central Africa and the coastal regions of the Gulf of Guinea belong to the equatorial belt, where there is heavy rainfall throughout the year and there is no change of seasons. To the north and south of the equatorial belt there are subequatorial belts. Here, in summer, humid equatorial air masses dominate (rainy season), and in winter, dry air from tropical trade winds (dry season). North and south of the subequatorial belts are the northern and southern tropical belts. They are characterized by high temperatures and low precipitation, which leads to the formation of deserts.

In the north is the largest desert on Earth, the Sahara Desert, in the south is the Kalahari Desert. The northern and southern ends of the continent are included in the corresponding subtropical zones.

Fauna of Africa, Flora of Africa

The flora of the tropical, equatorial and subequatorial zones is diverse. Ceib, pipdatenia, terminalia, combretum, brachystegia, isoberlinia, pandan, tamarind, sundew, bladderwort, palms and many others grow everywhere. Savannas are dominated by low trees and thorny bushes (acacia, terminalia, bush).

Desert vegetation, on the contrary, is sparse, consisting of small communities of grasses, shrubs and trees growing in oases, high-altitude areas, and along water. Salt-tolerant halophytic plants are found in the depressions. On the least water-supplied plains and plateaus, species of grasses, small bushes and trees grow that are resistant to drought and heat. The flora of desert areas is well adapted to irregular rainfall. This is reflected in the wide variety of physiological adaptations, habitat preferences, establishment of dependent and kinship communities, and reproductive strategies. Perennial drought-resistant grasses and shrubs have an extensive and deep (up to 15-20 m) root system. Many of the grass plants are ephemerals that can produce seeds in three days after sufficient moisture and are sown within 10-15 days thereafter.

In the mountainous regions of the Sahara Desert, relict Neogene flora is found, often related to the Mediterranean, and there are many endemics. Among the relict woody plants growing in mountainous areas are some types of olives, cypress and mastic tree. Also presented are types of acacia, tamarisk and wormwood, doum palm, oleander, palmate date, thyme, and ephedra. Dates, figs, olive and fruit trees, some citrus fruits, and various vegetables are cultivated in the oases. Herbaceous plants growing in many parts of the desert are represented by the genera triostia, bentgrass and millet. Coastal grass and other salt-tolerant grasses grow on the Atlantic coast. Various combinations of ephemerals form seasonal pastures called ashebas. Algae are found in reservoirs.

In many desert areas (rivers, hamadas, partial accumulations of sand, etc.) there is no vegetation cover at all. Human activity (grazing livestock, collecting useful plants, storing fuel, etc.) has had a strong impact on the vegetation of almost all areas.

A notable plant of the Namib Desert is tumboa, or Welwitschia mirabilis. It produces two giant leaves that grow slowly throughout its life (more than 1000 years), which can exceed 3 meters in length. The leaves are attached to a stem that resembles a huge conical radish with a diameter of 60 to 120 centimeters, and protrudes 30 centimeters from the ground. Welwitschia's roots extend up to 3m deep into the ground. Welwitschia is known for its ability to grow in extremely dry conditions, using dew and fog as its main source of moisture. Welwitschia - endemic to the northern Namib - is depicted on the national coat of arms of Namibia.

In slightly wetter areas of the desert, another famous Namib plant is found - the nara (Acanthosicyos horridus), (endemic), which grows on sand dunes. Its fruits constitute the food supply and source of moisture for many animals, African elephants, antelopes, porcupines, etc.

Since prehistoric times, Africa has preserved the largest number of megafauna. The tropical equatorial and subequatorial belt is inhabited by a variety of mammals: okapi, antelopes (dukers, bongos), pygmy hippopotamus, brush-eared pig, warthog, galagos, monkeys, flying squirrels (spine-tailed), lemurs (on the island of Madagascar), civets, chimpanzees, gorillas, etc. Nowhere in the world is there such an abundance of large animals as in the African savannah: elephants, hippopotamuses, lions, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, antelopes (elands), zebras, monkeys, secretary birds, hyenas, African ostriches, meerkats. Some elephants, Kaffa buffaloes and white rhinoceroses live only in nature reserves.

The predominant birds are gray fowl, turaco, guinea fowl, hornbill (kalao), cockatoo, and marabou.

Reptiles and amphibians of the tropical equatorial and subequatorial zone - mamba (one of the most poisonous snakes in the world), crocodile, python, tree frogs, dart frogs and marbled frogs.

In humid climatic zones, the malaria mosquito and the tsetse fly are common, causing sleeping sickness in both humans and mammals.

Ecology

In November 2009, GreenPeace published a report indicating that two villages in Niger near the uranium mines of French multinational Areva had dangerously high levels of radiation. The main environmental problems of Africa: Desertification is a problem in the northern part, deforestation is a problem in the central part.

Political division

Africa is home to 55 countries and 5 self-proclaimed and unrecognized states. Most of them were colonies of European states for a long time and gained independence only in the 50-60s of the 20th century. Before this, only Egypt (since 1922), Ethiopia (since the Middle Ages), Liberia (since 1847) and South Africa (since 1910) were independent; in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), until the 80-90s of the 20th century, the apartheid regime, which discriminated against the indigenous (black) population, remained in place. Currently, many African countries are ruled by regimes that discriminate against the white population. According to the research organization Freedom House, in recent years, many African countries (for example, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (Kinshasa) and Equatorial Guinea) have seen a trend of retreat from democratic achievements towards authoritarianism.

In the north of the continent are the territories of Spain (Ceuta, Melilla, Canary Islands) and Portugal (Madeira).

Spanish and Portuguese territories in North Africa:

In the east are the Cameroon mountains, in the south and west are the waves of the Atlantic, where the westernmost point of Africa is located - Cape Almadi in Senegal. Such natural boundaries are outlined West Africa, which is conventionally divided into two regions: the arid Sahel adjacent to the desert and Sudan, which is more comfortable for living. This part of the continent is home to sixteen countries, the largest of which are Niger, Mali and Mauritania, and the smallest is Cape Verde (Cape Verde).

Climate features, flora and fauna

The most difficult climatic conditions are in the northern Sahel, which is covered by desert year after year. The region is officially recognized as one of the hottest on the planet - in winter the temperature rarely drops below +20 °C, and in summer it confidently stays at +40 °C. At this time, all the vegetation here dies, and the herbivorous inhabitants of the savannah (mainly antelopes and gazelles) migrate south.

West African countries, located in the Sahel, periodically find themselves on the brink of disaster due to monstrous droughts that can last up to five to six years. But in Sudan, agriculture is much better developed. In Togo, coffee, cocoa beans and cotton are grown and exported, in Gambia - peanuts and corn, in Mauritania - dates and rice.

Sudan receives much more rainfall than the Sahel - it is brought by the summer monsoons. In addition, many rivers flow here, so closer to the Atlantic the vegetation is more abundant (even lush tropical forests), and the animal world is much richer.

History and modernity

European colonialists were attracted to West Africa back in the 15th century - the British, Portuguese, and French created fortified outposts on the coast, imposing their conditions on the local tribes. Most states managed to completely free themselves from the tutelage of metropolises only in the second half of the last century.

As a legacy of such total dependence, the countries of West Africa received deep-rooted enmity with their neighbors, who were under the control of other European “patrons.” The region is famous for political instability - military coups, riots and civil wars are common here.

Western Africa is rich in mineral resources. Ghana is one of the leading suppliers of gold, Nigeria's budget is 80% dependent on oil trade, Sierra Leone produces diamonds, and Niger produces uranium. At the same time, only raw materials are supplied to the world market; the processing industry is underdeveloped. Almost all countries in the region are included in the list of the poorest countries on the planet with a very unfavorable epidemiological situation and a low level of healthcare.

List of West African countries

Even in the 21st century, Africa is an incomprehensible and mysterious continent for many travelers from Europe. North America and Asia. Indeed, even scientists who have lived for many years on the “Dark Continent” do not always understand the traditions, customs and cultural characteristics of African peoples.

It should be concluded that Africa is as mysterious a continent for modern Western people as its name itself. Scientists still cannot say with certainty where the word “Africa” came from. Most historians believe that the ancient Romans called “Africa” the northern part of modern Africa, which was once part of the Roman Empire.

We all know about the famous ancient Egyptian pyramids. However, it turns out that there are even more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt (and some of them are more beautiful than the Egyptian pyramids). There are currently 220 pyramids open in Sudan.

Africa is washed from the east and south by the waters of the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the northeast by the Red Sea, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. The continent of Africa includes numerous islands. The total area of ​​Africa is 30.2 million square meters. km, including the adjacent islands (this is 20.4% of the Earth’s territory). Africa is the second largest continent on Earth.

Africa lies on both sides of the equator and has a hot climate that ranges from tropical to subtropical. Northern Africa has many deserts (for example, the world's largest desert, the Sahara), and the central and southern regions of this continent are home to savannah plains and jungles. The highest temperature in Africa was recorded in 1922 in Libya - +58C.

Despite the fact that in the popular consciousness Africa is considered “a hot land where it never rains,” there are a lot of rivers and lakes on this continent.

The longest river in Africa is the Nile (6,671 km), flowing through Sudan, Uganda and Egypt. In addition, some of the largest African rivers include the Congo (4,320 km), Niger (4,160 km), Zambezi (2,660 km) and Ouabi-Shabelle (2,490 km).

As for African lakes, the largest of them are Victoria, Tanganyika, Nyasa, Chad and Rudolf.

Africa is home to several mountain systems - the Aberdare Range, the Atlas Mountains and the Cape Mountains. The highest point of this continent is the extinct volcano Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters). Slightly lower altitudes are found at Mount Kenya (5,199 m) and Margarita Peak (5,109 m).

Africa's population already exceeds 1 billion people. This is about 15% of the total population of the Earth. According to official data, Africa's population increases by about 30 million people every year.

Almost the entire population of Africa belongs to the Negroid race, which is divided into smaller races. In addition, there are several more African races - Ethiopians, Capoid race and Pygmies. Representatives of the Caucasian race also live in northern Africa.

At the moment, there are 54 independent states in Africa, as well as 9 “territories” and 3 more unrecognized republics.

The largest African country is Algeria (its territory covers 2,381,740 sq. km), and the smallest are the Seychelles (455 sq. km), Sao Tome and Principe (1,001 sq. km) and The Gambia (11,300 sq. km). km).

Africa is divided into 5 geographical regions:

Northern Africa (Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Western Sahara, Morocco and Mauritania);
- East Africa (Kenya, Mozambique, Burundi, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti, Seychelles, Eritrea and Djibouti);
- West Africa (Nigeria, Mauritania, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Benin, Gambia, Cameroon and Liberia);
- Central Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Chad, Gabon and Central African Republic);
- South Africa - Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Madagascar and South Africa).

Cities began to appear on the African continent thanks to the ancient Romans. However, many cities in Africa do not have a long history. However, some of them are considered among the most densely populated in the world. Currently, the most populous cities in Africa are Lagos in Nigeria and Cairo in Egypt, each home to 8 million people.

Other largest cities in Africa are Kinshasa (Congo), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Kano (Nigeria).

Africa is the second largest continent in the world, followed by Eurasia.

On the territory of the African continent there are 55 countries that are bordered by:

1. Mediterranean Sea.
2. Red Sea.
3. Indian Ocean.
4. Atlantic Ocean.

The area of ​​the African continent is 29.3 million square kilometers. If we take into account the islands near Africa, the area of ​​this continent increases to 30.3 million square kilometers.

The African continent occupies approximately 6% of the total area of ​​the globe.

The largest country in Africa is Algeria. The area of ​​this state is 2,381,740 square kilometers.

Table. Largest states in Africa:

List of largest cities by population:

1. Nigeria - 166,629,390 people. In 2017, it was the most populous country in Africa.
2. Egypt - 82,530,000 people.
3. Ethiopia - 82,101,999 people.
4. Republic of the Congo. The population of this African country is 69,575,394 inhabitants.
5. Republic of South Africa. There were 50,586,760 people living in South Africa in 2017.
6. Tanzania. This African country has a population of 47,656,370 people.
7. Kenya. This African country has a population of 42,749,420 people.
8. Algeria. This tropical African country is home to 36,485,830 people.
9. Uganda - 35,620,980 people.
10. Morocco - 32,668,000 people.

African Development and Economy

If you take the corresponding maps of Africa, the countries differ not only in their varied weather conditions, but also in the abundance of land resources and minerals.

The African continent ranks 1st in the world in reserves of the following breeds:

• manganese;
• chromite;
• gold;
• platinoid;
• cobalt;
• phosphorite

The industry of African countries is very well developed. This is especially true in the mining industry. Thus, last year, 96% of the total volume of diamonds was mined on the African continent. The resources of African countries make it possible to extract large quantities of gold and cobalt ores. On average, about 76% of gold and 68% of cobalt ores of the total world volume are mined on the continent.

Chromites are mined in the amount of 67% of the total, and the share of manganese ores is 57% of the total.

Africa contains and produces 35% of the world's total uranium ore and 24% of copper. The African continent exports 31% of the world's total phosphate rocks and 11% of oil and gas.

Despite the small volumes of oil and gas supplies, 6 African countries are members of OPEC, the international organization of oil exporting states.

If we take the most developing countries in Africa in the field of mining, these will be:

South Africa is rapidly developing and rich in the mining industry. This country has deposits of all types of resources, except oil, gas and bauxite. According to statistics, it is in South Africa that about 40% of the continent’s total exports are produced.

South Africa is recognized not only on the African continent. This republic ranks first in the world in gold mining and second in diamond mining.

The manufacturing industry is in its infancy, but it is most developed in South Africa.

The agricultural sector ranks second in the African economy. The agricultural sector is represented by tropical and subtropical agriculture. The main part of the products is exported. Thus, the African continent exports 60% of the total volume of cocoa beans. Africa also exports peanuts in the amount of 27% of the world's total, coffee - 22% and olives - 16% of the total.

Peanut cultivation is concentrated in Senegal, the largest amount of coffee is grown in Ethiopia, and the Republic of Ghana is popular for large volumes of cocoa bean cultivation and harvesting.

Livestock farming in the countries of the African continent is very poorly developed due to water shortages and the spread of a disease dangerous to livestock, spread by tsetse flies.

Features of the African continent

Features of African countries:

The richest states of the African continent

The development of a country is determined by two criteria:

1. Availability of minerals.
2. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The richest countries in Africa:

1. These islands are part of Africa, although indirectly they are located 1,600 kilometers from the coast of the continent. Seychelles is a very popular destination among tourists, so the country's main income is tourism.

The GDP per capita level is 24,837 USD.

GDP - 18,387 USD.

1. Botswana is located in the southern part of the mainland. Despite the fact that more than 70% of the country's area is occupied by the Kalahari Desert, Botswana is distinguished by large deposits of many mineral resources.

The bulk of GDP comes from the export of diamonds. GDP level - 15,450 USD.

1. Gabon. This country is known in Africa for the production of oil, gas, manganese and uranium.

GDP is equal to 14,860 USD.

1. Tourism is very well developed on this island. But this is not the country's only income. GDP is provided by the production of sugar and textiles.

The GDP level is 13,214 USD.

1. SOUTH AFRICA. This republic is the only African state recognized as developed. The remaining countries of this continent are classified as developing. South Africa has established itself as an exporter of food, equipment and cars. South Africa also exports large quantities of oil, gas, diamonds, platinum, gold and chemical goods.

South Africa is the only one on the continent that is not a third world country.

GDP - 10,505 USD.

1. - one of the few countries that managed to enter the world market and take a leading position in the agricultural sector there. In addition to agricultural products, Tunisia exports oil. Half of GDP is generated by the tourism industry.

GDP level - 9488 USD.

1. is a country in North Africa, best known as a global exporter of oil and gas.

The GDP indicator is 7103 USD.

1. . This state is known for its development of copper, gold, lead and tin.

GDP level - 6945 USD.

Updated:

African countries are very heterogeneous. The total number of states that were formed here at different times today amounts to 62 countries, the vast majority of which - more than fifty - have independent status. There are fifteen countries within the continent, 37 have an ocean or sea coast, ten are islands. The African continent is geographically divided into four parts according to the location of the parts of the world: Southern, Northern, Western, Eastern. The continent is washed by two oceans - the Indian and the Atlantic, of the seas - the saltiest Red and the warmest Mediterranean, as well as the Suez Canal.

• Central Africa
• South Africa
• Northern part of the mainland
• West Africa
• East Africa

Central Africa

In the center of the continent there is the Congo Basin, the Andola and Azande plateaus, and the Luanda plateau. The central part of the continent includes coastal areas washed by the Gulf of Guinea and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The list of states that are located in the central subregion includes the following:

• the republics of Gabon, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic;
• Democratic Republic of the Congo;
• public education Chad;
• the islands of Sao Tome and Principe;

The overseas territory of Britain - the famous island of St. Helena - is usually geographically classified as the central subregion.

South Africa

The southern subregion consists of five countries: the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Swaziland, the Republic of Namibia, Botswana, and the Kingdom of Letoso. This list reflects the existence of a regional association: all of these are members of the South African Customs Union. The rich African countries that are part of it are engaged in the extraction of diamonds, oil, and other natural resources.

There is another list related to the South African subregion:

• the republics of Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi;
• island states Mauritius, Madagascar;
• island group of Mayotte.

Geographically adjacent to the region is the island part of the French overseas possessions of Reunion. Sometimes the southern African continent includes Central African Angola, DR Congo, and East African Tanzania.

Northern part of the mainland

The list of North African countries is small. In the north of the continent are the African countries closest to European countries:

• Arab Republic of Egypt;
• Algerian People's Democratic Republic;
• State of Libya;
• Republic of Sudan.

These are the largest African countries, which also have the most developed economies. In addition to them, the Canary Islands are included in the northern subregion. Most of the region is occupied by the Sahara Desert.

West Africa

The list of countries in the West African region is quite large:

• the republics of Benin, Niger, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Togolese Republic;
• State of Burkina Faso;
• Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
• Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Despite its natural resource reserves, this part of the continent is considered one of the poorest.

East Africa

The East African subregion is made up of small countries, about two hundred nationalities:

• Republics of Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia;
• Union of the Comoros;
• Seychelles;
• State of Eritrea.

The entire continent represents a huge number of linguistic groups and tribal associations. The eastern part of the hottest continent on the planet exports precious metals,

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