All countries of the African continent. Geography of Africa

Beautiful and vibrant Africa is the second largest continent in the world. More than 1 billion people live in its open spaces. And its lands are conditionally divided into 5 regions. Traditionally, the countries of Africa, the list of which consists of 62 items, belong to the following regions:

  • South.
  • Western.
  • Northern.
  • East.
  • And Central.

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

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

African countries: list of states of the southern region

South Africa keeps memories of the colonization period in his memory. On its territory, it was developed nuclear weapon which the government then abandoned. It includes countries such as:

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

The largest country on this earth - Republic of South Africa(SOUTH AFRICA). Almost the entire population of the Southern Region lives and works there. There are 11 official languages ​​in this territory. Ethnic composition South Africa is a diverse group of many religious communities.

proximity to the Atlantic and indian ocean make South Africa attractive for tourism. In the southern part of the continent all year round warm and humid. But the climate is temperate, so the heat is tolerated quite easily.

African countries: list of states of the Western region

Wet and windy climate West Africa directly depends on 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;
  • Ivory Coast;
  • Saint Helena.

The Western region is the birthplace of many African languages. Even today oral folklore is valued on its territory. And ceremonial dances are included in the program of every significant holiday.

The Cameroon Mountains are the natural boundary of this land in the east. In the south of the region itself begins legendary desert Sahara. And in the west natural border forms the Atlantic Ocean.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria a few years ago received the status the largest manufacturer oil. Most of the population speaks several dialects at once. 527 languages ​​are officially recognized 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 states of 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 on the endless sandy sea:

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

mediterranean natural area considered very comfortable to live in. Therefore, there are large tourist sites of the African continent, which are known throughout the world.

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

Tunisia is the country that has the most competitive economy among all African countries. About 10 million people live in Tunisia, most of of which speaks Arabic. Almost the entire population northern state professes Islam. The Mediterranean climate makes Tunisia an important tourism sector. The culture of the country contains a wide variety of trends that are organically woven into everyday life Tunisian people.

African countries: list of countries in the Eastern region

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

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

The climate of East Africa is arid central regions. But on the coast, it quickly changes to tropical. Former colonists set the borders of states rather arbitrarily. Due to the fact that cultural and religious directions were not taken into account, the development of the Eastern region is taking place at a very slow pace.

Kenya is not only favored by tourists corner, but also a place that possesses amazing flora and fauna. In Kenya, there is a large number of nature reserves, which are protected by the international organization UNESCO.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, people speak English and the local language, Swahili. Long time This country was a British colony.

African countries: list of states of the Central region

In the heart of Africa are the following states:

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

These countries are endowed subequatorial climate. Thanks to extensive river system that's where you can see endless forests consisting of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The Republic of the Congo is extremely rich in minerals. This circumstance several centuries ago contributed to the emergence of the African "gold" rush in the country.

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

All countries in Africa, 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 so far are not real states. But still they have conventions borders on some maps.

Anthropologists call Africa the cradle of civilization. According to research, human culture first appeared there. Paradoxically, in the place of origin of all living things, there are still corners where no human foot has set foot. Out of 29 million square meters only a small part is inhabited by people. The rest of the space is deserts and rainforests. African fauna is unique. this continent is not found anywhere else.

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

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Books

  • Atlas of the world. Political and physical maps, Sharonov A. (ed.). Detailed color illustrated encyclopedia contains physical and political maps all countries of the world, indicating their administrative division into regions, provinces and regions .. Edition ...



brief information

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 "Black Continent" do not always understand the traditions, customs and cultural characteristics of African peoples.

It should be concluded that Africa is as mysterious to modern Western people as the continent itself, 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" northern part 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). On the this moment 220 pyramids discovered in Sudan.

Geography of Africa

Africa from the east and south is washed 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 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. There are many deserts in northern Africa (for example, the world's largest desert, the Sahara), and in the central and southern regions of this continent there are savannah plains and jungles. The most heat in Africa it was registered in 1922 in Libya - +58C.

Despite the fact that in the mass consciousness Africa is considered a "hot land where never it's raining”, there are a lot of rivers and lakes on this continent.

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

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

Africa has several mountain systems- Aberdar Range, Atlas Mountains and Cape Mountains. The most high point of this continent is the extinct volcano Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters). Slightly lower heights are at Mount Kenya (5199 m) and Margarita Peak (5109 m).

African population

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

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

African countries

There are currently 54 in Africa independent states, as well as 9 "territories" and 3 more unrecognized republics.

The largest African country is Algeria (its territory occupies 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).

Regions

Africa is divided into 5 geographical regions:

North 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 CAR);
- South Africa - Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Madagascar and South Africa).

On the African continent, cities began to appear thanks to the ancient Romans. However, many cities in Africa cannot boast a long history. However, some of them are considered among the most densely populated in the world. Now the most populous cities in Africa are Lagos in Nigeria and Cairo in Egypt, with 8 million people each.

Other Largest cities Africa - Kinshasa (Congo), Alexandria (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Kano (Nigeria).

In the east - the Cameroon mountains, in the south and west - the waves of the Atlantic, where the most western point Africa - Cape Almadi in Senegal. Such natural boundaries are delineated West Africa, which is conditionally divided into two regions: the arid Sahel, which merges with the desert, and Sudan, which is more comfortable for living. Sixteen states are located in this part of the continent, the largest of which are Niger, Mali and Mauritania, and the smallest are Cape Verde (Cape Verde Islands).

Climate features, vegetation and animal world

The hardest climatic conditions- in the north of the Sahel, which captures the 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 around +40 °C. At this time, all vegetation dies here, 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 verge of disaster due to a monstrous drought that can last up to five to six years. But in Sudan, agriculture is much better developed. Coffee, cocoa beans and cotton are grown and exported in Togo, peanuts and corn in Gambia, dates and rice in Mauritania.

Much more precipitation falls on the territory of Sudan than in the Sahel - they are brought by the summer monsoons. In addition, there are many rivers flowing here, so closer to the Atlantic the vegetation is more abundant (up to lush rainforest), and the animal world is much richer.

History and modernity

Western Africa attracted European colonizers as early as the 15th century - the British, Portuguese, French created fortified outposts on the coast, imposing their conditions on local tribes. Most states succeeded in completely freeing themselves from the tutelage of metropolitans only in the second half of the last century.

As a legacy of such total dependence, the countries of West Africa received deep-seated enmity with neighbors who were ruled by other European "patrons". The region is notorious for political instability - military coups are not uncommon here, mass riots and civil wars.

The western part of Africa is rich in minerals. Ghana is one of the leading suppliers of gold, Nigeria's budget is 80% dependent on oil trade, diamonds are mined in Sierra Leone, and uranium is mined in Niger. At the same time, only raw materials enter the world market, processing industry undeveloped. Almost all countries of the region are included in the list of the poorest countries on the planet with a very unfavorable epidemiological situation and low level healthcare.

List of West African countries

Africa is the second largest continent in the world, while Eurasia holds the lead.

In the territory African continent there are 55 countries that are washed by:

  1. Mediterranean sea.
  2. by the 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, then the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthis continent increases to 30.3 million square kilometers.

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

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

Table. Major states in Africa:

List of the most major cities by population:

  1. Nigeria - 166,629,390 people. In 2017, it was the most populated 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. In 2017, 50,586,760 people lived in South Africa.
  6. Tanzania. 47,656,370 people live in this African country.
  7. Kenya. In this African country the population is 42,749,420.
  8. Algeria. In this country tropical Africa 36,485,830 people live.
  9. Uganda - 35,620,980 people.
  10. Morocco - 32,668,000 people.

African development and economy

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

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

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

The industry of African countries is developed very well. This is especially true for the mining industry. So, 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 a large amount of gold and cobalt ores. On average, about 76% of gold and 68% of cobalt ores from the entire world volume are mined on the continent.

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

35% of the world's uranium ores and 24% of copper are located and mined in Africa. The African continent is an exporter of 31% of the world's phosphate rock and 11% of oil and gas.

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

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


Intensively developing and rich in the mining industry is South Africa. This country has deposits of all kinds of resources, except for oil, gas and bauxite. According to statistics, it is in South Africa that about 40% of the total export volume of the continent is 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.

Industry Agriculture ranks second in African economies. The sphere of agriculture is represented by tropical and subtropical agriculture. Most of the products are exported. Thus, the African continent is an exporter of 60% of the total cocoa beans. And also Africa exports peanuts in the amount of 27% of the total world volume, coffee - 22% and olives - 16% of the total.

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

Animal husbandry in the countries of the African continent is very poorly developed due to water shortages and the spread of a disease that is dangerous for 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. The presence of minerals.
  2. Gross domestic product (GDP).

richest countries in africa:

  1. These islands are part of Africa, although they are indirectly located 1600 kilometers from the coast of the continent. Seychelles is a very popular place among tourists, so the main income of the country is tourism.

The level of GDP per capita 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 main part of the GDP is formed precisely from the export of diamonds. GDP level - 15 450 USD.

  1. Gabon. Given country known in Africa for the extraction of oil, gas, manganese and uranium.

GDP is 14,860 USD.

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

The level of GDP 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 countries. South Africa has established itself as an exporter of food, equipment and vehicles. South Africa also exports to large quantities oil, gas, diamonds, platinum, gold and chemicals.

South Africa is the only one on the continent that is not part of the third world countries.

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. In addition to agricultural products, Tunisia exports oil. Half of the GDP is generated by the tourism industry.

GDP level - 9488 USD.

  1. - country in North Africa, better known as the world's oil and gas exporter.

The GDP indicator is 7103 USD.

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

GDP level - 6945 USD.




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