NSF SESSION 5

Overview Africa, the world’s second largest continent by area and population, is comprised of 54 countries, plus western Sahara. Africa’s newest nation is South Sudan, which gained independence July 9, Borders North – Mediterranean Sea Northeast – Suez Canal and Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula Southeast - Indian Ocean West – Atlantic Ocean

Political Map of Africa

Physical Features Equator bisects the continent two nearly equal halves, creating an equatorial climate across most of the continent. Geographic features include Coastal Plains, the Atlas Mountains, the Ethiopian Highlands. The Sahara desert, the third largest in the world covers most of North Africa. In south, the Kalahari desert has similar conditions. The Atlas Mountains traverse northwestern Africa through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Physical Map

Landforms of Africa Atlas Mountains – runs from southwestern Morocco along the Mediterranean Coastline to the eastern edge of Tunisia. Congo River Basin – stretches into DRC, Congo, Angola, Cameroon, the central Africa Republic and Zambia. Congo River is second largest river in Africa. Ethiopian Highlands – These are rugged mass of Mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea and the northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Great Rift Valley – A dramatic depression on the Earth’s surface extending from Red Sea near Jordon to the south of Mozambique. It is series of geological faults caused by huge volcanic eruptions centuries back. Hoggar (Ahaggar)Mountains – It is a highland region in central Sahara along the Tropic of Cancer. Kalahari Desert – it covers much of Botswana, the southwestern region of South Africa and all of western Namibia. Namib Dessert – It is a coastal desert in southern Africa that stretches along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Nile River System – The longest river in the world rising from the highlands of southeastern Africa and then drain in the Mediterranean Sea..

Continued Sahel – The Sahel is a wide stretch of land running completely across north-central Africa expanding into Sahara Desert. This is transition zone between the dry areas of the North and the Tropical areas of the South. Sahar Desert – Covering almost one-third of the continent, the SAHARA is the largest desert in the world.

Countries of Africa

Major Cities

A look at some countries Egypt South Africa Guinea Ethiopia DRC

Ethiopia

Map of Ethiopia

Ethiopia Facts Land Area – 432,310 sq. mi Population - 93,815,992 Capital and Largest City – Addis Ababa Languages – Amharic, Tigrigna, Orominga, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, English Ethnicity - Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32 % Religion – Islam, Ethiopian orthodox Currency – Birr.

South Africa

Map of South Africa

South Africa Facts Area – 471,008 sq. mi Population – 48,375,645 Administrative capital – Pretoria Legislative Capital and Largest city – Cape Town Judicial Capital – Bloemfontein Other large cities – Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Durban Currency – Rand Languages – IsiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English Exports – Gold, Diamond, platinum and other metals

Guinea Population million Capital – Conakry Official Language – French

Guinea Facts Borders – Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Cote’ d”Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone. Physical features include Coastal plain, Mountanious Region, savanna interior and aforest area in the guinea highlands. Highest Peak – Mount Nimba. Currency – Guinean Franc Ethnicity – Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30 %, Soussou 20% and other. Religion – Islam 85%,Christian 8 % Exports – Bauxite, Alumina, Gold, Diamonds, Coffee and Fish.

Ethiopia Population – 93,815,992 Area – 432,310 Sq.Mi Capital and largest City – Addis Ababa Currency – Birr Languages – Amharic, Tigrigna, Orominga, Guaragigna Ethnicity – Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32% and others Religions – Islam 50%, Ethiopian orthodox 40%

Continued Borders – Sudan to west, Somalia and Djibouti to East, Kenya to South, Eritrea to NorthEast. Exports – Coffee, Qat, Gold, Leather products

Democratic Republic Of Congo Population - 60,764,000 Capital – Kinhasa Area – 2,344,855 Sq.Km Language – French, Lingaia, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba Religion – Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim Currency – Congolese franc

Continued Old name – Republic of Zaire Borders – Republic of Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Zambia to the southeast, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda to the east, Angola to the southwest, Sudan to the northeast and the Central African Republic to the north Largest Ethnic Group – Bantu Exports – Cobalt, Coffee, Copper and Diamonds

Map of DRC

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