Read more about the world's deserts here. There are sixteen landlocked countries in Africa. These countries are all located in the interior of the continent and have neither access to the Atlantic Ocean nor to the Indian Ocean. Two of these landlocked countries, the tiny countries of Eswatini and Lesotho , are located within South Africa. History: Africa is the 'cradle of humankind', the place where the first hominids, human beings and their closest relatives the gorilla and chimpanzees, evolved.
Fossils found in Africa, show that the modern human evolved there about 5 to 10 million years ago and spread from this continent. One of the earliest evidences of human life were found in South Africa. Many powerful kingdoms existed on the African continent in the early history and the Middle Ages.
Between the 5th and 15th century, African slaves were traded mainly by Arab traders and later sent overseas. In the late 19th century Europeans started conquering Africa which was then colonised in the 19th and 20th century mainly from Portugal, Britain and France, but also from the Dutch, Italian, Germans and Belgians.
People of Africa : There are more than 3, different groups of indigenous people living in Africa. They all have their own language and culture. As Africa was colonised and suppressed until the last century, the majority of Africans is still poor. Languages in Africa : It is estimated that about 2, different languages are spoken on the African continent!
Many Africans speak several African languages and also often another 'European' language. In many countries, people speak English, French or Portuguese as an additional language, as these languages are often used in official communication and business.
English is widely spoken in Africa as many countries were formerly British colonies. Arabic, spoken in northern Africa, is also used in many North African countries as official language.
Swahili, spoken in many East African countries has the most native speakers in Africa. Religion : Most of the African people are either Christians or Muslims. In North Africa and many West African countries, people follow mainly the Islam, while in southern and eastern Africa the Christian faith dominates. Tourist attractions in Africa: The most popular African tourist attractions are:. Biggest Cities : The most populous city in Africa is Lagos with more than 22 million people Cairo in Egypt is the second largest city in Africa with 21 million people.
Africa Facts - Did you know? With about 5 million inhabitants it is also one of the most populous cities in the world. Animals: In Africa, you will find some of the largest mammals on this planet. Africa is also home to many endangered animals such as the White and Black Rhinoceros.
Kruger National Park where one can admire the beautiful African wildlife is one of the biggest national parks and wildlife conservation areas in the world. Main natural resources in Africa are minerals such as oil, copper, gold, diamonds, platinum and agricultural produce such as corn, coffee, wheat and fruits. The kidney s of the jerboa, a type of rodent, produce highly concentrated urine that minimizes water loss.
A dromedary camel conserve s water by changing its body temperature so it doesn't sweat as the day gets hotter. The scorpion limits its activities to night, burrowing into the cooler sands beneath the surface during the day. The scorpion, a predator , also absorbs water from the flesh of its prey.
Saharan plants survive thanks to root systems that plunge as far as 24 meters 80 feet underground. In parts of the Sahara, plants cannot take root at all. In the southern Libyan Desert, for instance, no greenery exists for more than kilometers miles.
Sahel The Sahel is a narrow band of semi- arid land that forms a transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the savannas to the south.
It is made up of flat, barren plain s that stretch roughly 5, kilometers 3, miles across Africa, from Senegal to Sudan. The Sahel contains the fertile delta of the Niger, one of Africas longest rivers. Unfortunately, the Sahels fertile land is rapidly becoming desert as a result of drought , deforestation , and intensive agriculture.
This process is known as desertification. The Sahel's animal communities are constantly scavenging for scarce water and vegetation resources.
The Senegal gerbil, the most common mammal in the Sahel and measuring only a few centimeters, consumes as much as 10 percent of the Sahel's plants. The Sahel's green vegetation only emerges during the rainy season, but is often quickly harvested by farmers or consumed by animals. Baobabs are drought- and fire-resistant trees with trunks that are often 15 meters 50 feet wide and as tall as 26 meters 85 feet.
Acacia, whose deep root systems are ideal for semi-arid climates, are among the most common trees found in the Sahel. Cram-cram, a prickly grass, is the primary fodder for Sahel herds such as zebu cattle. Ethiopian Highlands The Ethiopian Highlands began to rise 75 million years ago, as magma from Earths mantle uplifted a broad dome of ancient rock.
This dome was later split as Africa's continental crust pulled apart, creating the Great Rift Valley system. Today, this valley cuts through the Ethiopian Highlands from the southwest to the northeast. The Ethiopian Highlands are home to 80 percent of Africas tallest mountains. The highlands craggy landscape is perfect for nimble animal species.
Native species such as the Walia ibex, an endanger ed wild goat, and the gelada baboon live in the ledges and rocky outposts of the Simien Mountains. The most emblematic highlands species is probably the Ethiopian wolf, which is now on the brink of extinction.
Important plant species native to the Ethiopian Highlands include the Ethiopian rose, Africas only native rose, and the ensete, a tall, thick, rubbery plant that is a close relative of the banana. Savanna Savannas, or grassland s, cover almost half of Africa, more than 13 million square kilometers 5 million square miles. These grasslands make up most of central Africa, beginning south of the Sahara and the Sahel and ending north of the continents southern tip.
Among Africas many savanna regions, the Serengeti or Serengeti Plains is the most well-known. The Serengeti is a vast, undulating plain that stretches 30, square kilometers 11, square miles from Kenya's Maasai-Mara game reserve to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti is home to one of the continents highest concentrations of large mammal species, including lions, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and elephants. Each year, more than 1 million wildebeest travel in a circular migration , following seasonal rains, across the Serengeti Plains.
Their grazing and trampling of grass allows new grasses to grow, while their waste helps fertilize the soil. The nearby coral reef s and barrier island s protect the coast from severe weather. There is not a lot of animal life on the sandy Swahili Coast. The golden-rumped elephant shrew, an insect-eating rodent with a long snout , is common. A small, primitive species of primate known as the bush baby inhabits vegetated areas of the Swahili Coast.
Bush babies, which have enormous eyes for hunting at night, feed primarily on insects, fruit, and leaves. These more vegetated areas are located on a narrow strip just inland from the coastal sands.
Heavy cultivation has diminished the diversity of plant species in this interior area of the Swahili Coast. Mangrove forests are the most common vegetation. Mangroves have exposed root systems. This allows the trees to absorb oxygen directly from the air, as well as from the nutrient -poor soil. Rain Forest Most of Africas native rain forest has been destroyed by development , agriculture, and forestry.
Today, 80 percent of Africas rain forest is concentrated in central Africa, along the Congo River basin. Africas rain forests have a rich variety of animal life; a 6-kilometer 4-mile patch could contain up to bird species, butterfly species, and 60 species of amphibians. Important mammals include African forest elephants, gorillas, the black colobus monkey, and the okapi, a donkey-like giraffe. The driver ant is one of Africas most aggressive rain forest species.
In This Article Stereotypes are all too common when it comes to the continent and people of Africa. The truth is that Africa's 54 countries defy generalization. The continent is home to countless unique cultures, languages and landscapes. Defy the misconceptions you hear about this vibrant continent by learning more. The most important thing to know — and we know you know this, but it must be said —is that Africa is not a country.
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