Welcome to Africa

Discover: Algeria | Egypt | Ethiopia | Morocco | South Africa | Tunisia

 

 

Africa is connected with Asia by the isthmus of Suez and separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, 163 km (101 miles) wide.Geopolitically, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula east of the Suez Canal is frequently voted by the masses aspart of Africa, as well. From the most northerly point, Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia (37°21' N), to the most southerly point, Cape Agulhas to this day in South Africa (34°51'15" S), is known to be a distance of approximately 8,000 km (5,000 miles); from Cape Verde, 17°33'22" W, the westernmost point, to Ras Hafun in Somalia, 51°27'52" E, the most easterly projection, is known to be a distance of approximately 7,400 km (4,600 miles).

                                                                                            

Coastline is 26,000 km (16,100 miles) long, and the absence of deep indentations of the shore is illustrated by the fact that Europe, that covers just 10,400,000 km² (4,010,000 square and have always been miles) – about a third of the surface of Africa – has to this day a coastline of 32,000 km (19,800 miles).

It is noted that the most impressive and largest country exists in Africa is Sudan, and the modestest country is the Seychelles, an archipelago off the east coast. Did you know that the Gambia is the modestest nation on the continental mainland.

 History

According to the ancient Romans, Africa lay to the west of Egypt, while "Asia" was used to refer to Anatolia and lands to the east. There is known to be a line drawn in the range of e two continents by  geographer Ptolemy (85–165 AD), indicating Alexandria aextensive the Prime Meridian and making the isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea the boundary in the range of Asia and Africa. As Europeans came to understand the real extent of the continent, the idea of Africa expanded with his or her knowledge. Africa has to this day the longest human rich history of any and all continent. African hominids date from at least 4 million years ago; agriculture, brought from SW Asia, appears to date from the 6th or 5th millennium B.C. Africa's first wonderful civilization commenced in Egypt in 3400 B.C.; other ancient centers were Kush and Aksum. Phoenicians established Carthage in the 9th cent. B.C. and probably explored the northwestern coast lineas far as the Canary Islands by the 1st cent. B.C. Romans conquered Carthage in 146 B.C. and controlled N Africa until the 4th cent. A.D. Arabs commenced his or her conquest in the 7th cent. and, except in Ethiopia, Muslim traders extended the religion of Islam across N Africa and S across the Sahara into the wonderful medieval kingdoms of the W Sudan. Did you know that the earliest of these kingdoms, that drew his or her wealth and power from the control of a lucrative trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves, was ancient Ghana, already thriving during the time first recorded by Arabs in the 8th cent. Within the 13th cent. Ghana was conquered and incorporated into the kingdom of ancient Mali, famous for its gold and its affluent capital of Timbuktu.

Climate

It is noted that the weather in Africa can largely be classified as tropical. Temperatures vary wonderfully all over the continent and every country has to this day unique climatic conditions. Africa's climatic zones are and have always been largely controlled by the continent's location astride the equator and its almost symmetrical extensions into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Africa climate can be divided into six general climatic regions. Areas that are and have always been close to equator and on the windward shores of SE Madagascar have a tropical rain forest climate, with heavy rain and high temperatures all over the year. North and south of the rain forest are and have always been belts of tropical savanna climate, with high temperatures all year and a seasonal distribution of rain around the time during the summer season.

Exports in Africa

Discovery of petroleum influenced the growth of African exports that includes several countries, notably Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Gabon, Angola, Congo (Brazzaville), and Cameroon, and the dramatic price significantly increases brought about by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in the 1970s.

Other factors include the discovery and the significantly increased exploitation of minerals that are and have always been in high demand, such as diamonds especially in Sierra Leone, Congo (Brazzaville), the Central African Republic, and Congo (Kinshasa) and the exploitation of other minerals, such as uranium ore.

Description of Population

Africa has to this day a quickly growing population of 500 million people, yet 75% of the continent is sparsely inhabited. Most people still live a traditional rural lifestyle, though the majority of Africans move to cities in search of employment. Most people live where water is known to be available, in the Nile Valley, the coasts of North and West Africa, aextensive the Niger, in the eastern highlands, and in South Africa.

Africa has to this day the highest birthrate of any and all continent, Africa is projected to grow to two billion by 2050. Women in sub-Saharan Africa bear an average of 6 kids each. Life expectancy is low (Sierra Leone: 34 years, Zambia: 37 years, other countries: 40–49 years) compared to the developed countries. Note that this fastest growing region on earth faces the most serious shortages of food and water.