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Africa

 is the world's second-largest and second most-populous 

continent. There are 53 countries, over a bill

ion people and more than 1000 indigenous languages 

on the continent! What an incredible place! Africa is a place of breathtaking beauty and vast natural 

resources, but it is also a place where most of the 

continent is in dire poverty – living on less than $2 

a day – and disease ravages the population. In this 

unit we will explore the natural wonders of this 

great continent as well as look at the struggle 

this continent has undergone in history and continues 

to struggle with to this very day. Ar

e you ready to learn more? Let’s go! 

 Northern Africa - The most notable aspect of the geography of Northern Africa is the Sahara Desert. The countries of North Africa generally include Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.

Eastern Africa – East Africa is a large area comprising 19 territories! East Africa is known for its stunning landscapes and incredible animals. Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria are both found in Eastern Africa. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are often the countries considered to be part of Eastern Africa.

Southern Africa – Southern Africa has the world’s largest resources of platinum. It is also a source for diamonds, uranium, gold, and other minerals. The United Nations considers the following five nations to be part of Southern Africa – Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.

Western Africa – West Africa is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Sahara Desert. Historically, Western Africa was known for having a series of corrupt and oppressive governments plagued by political unrest, ethnic rivalries, and brutal civil wars. Sixteen countries are part of the region known as Western Africa – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Central Africa – The central region of Africa is sometimes referred to as Central Africa or Middle Africa. The Atlantic Ocean borders Central Africa to the west. The climate is mainly a humid tropical climate that supports a large tropical rain forest. The United Nations classifies the following nine countries as part of Middle Africa – Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

The Sahara covers huge parts of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia. It is one of three distinct physiographic provinces of the African massive physiographic division. The Sahara is expanding south by as much as 30 miles (48 km) per year, overwhelming degraded grasslands.

The area north of the Sahara is mostly thought of as part of the Arab World. The area includes geographical features such as the Atlas Mountains. Good farming land can be found in Northern Africa in the valleys of the Atlas Mountains as well as the Nile Valley and Nile River delta. Sub-Saharan Africa, the area below the Sahara Desert, is a much larger area. The Sub-Saharan region is sometimes referred to as “Black Africa” due to its "black" populations. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the poorest people of the world. Countries of Sub-Saharan Africa are among the least-developed countries in the world, with high infant mortality rates and low life expectancies.

Within the region of Sub-Saharan Africa can be found a region sometimes referred to as Equatorial Africa. Equatorial Africa is a relatively vague term that could be used to refer to the tropical region of Africa or the region of Sub-Saharan Africa crisscrossed by the equator.

Small countries such as Equatorial Guinea and large countries such as Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are located along the equator. Lake Victoria – the largest body of water on the continent – is also found along the equator.

The Nile River is the longest river in Africa – and, in fact is thought to be the longest river in the world!

Victoria Falls, located at the base of the Nile River, is located in Lake Victoria between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Lake Victoria is the largest body of water in Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, is located in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano with three cones. Due to Kilimanjaro's equatorial location and high elevation, almost every climate type on earth is represented, including a year-round snow-topped summit!

The Congo River runs roughly down the middle of Zaire – the Congo River is also sometimes referred to as the Zaire River. The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa and the deepest river in the world.