Geography of Africa

Africa is a massive continent that stands out as the largest southward projection from the main mass of Earth's surface. It is made up of 63 different political territories. The continent is bordered by several major bodies of water. The Mediterranean Sea separates Africa from Europe to the north. The Red Sea sits to the northeast, near Asia. Africa connects to Asia at a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Suez. The Suez Canal runs through this isthmus.

The shape and structure of Africa are quite unique. The continent is mainly composed of two segments at right angles. The northern segment runs from east to west. The southern segment runs from north to south. The distance from the northernmost point, Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia, to the southernmost point, Cape Agulhas in South Africa, is about 8,000 kilometers. From the westernmost point at Cap-Vert to the easternmost point at Ras Hafun in the Somali Puntland, the distance is about 7,400 kilometers.

Africa's landscape is defined by its elevation. The average elevation is about 750 meters above sea level. This is similar to North and South America. However, it is much lower than Asia. Unlike other continents, Africa does not have much very high or very low ground. Instead, the continent is characterized by moderately elevated tablelands called plateaus. These plateaus are often broken by isolated peaks and ridges. In Germany, experts use the term Inselberg-Landschaft to describe this landscape. This term means "island mountain landscape." These mountains look like islands in a sea of flat land.

The plateaus are divided into different regions. The high southern and eastern plateaus rarely fall below 1,000 meters. The South African plateau looks like an inverted saucer. It is bounded by high ground that falls steeply to the coasts. To the south, the plateau rim has three parallel steps. The largest level area is the Great Karoo, which is dry and barren. Nearby is the Kalahari Desert, which is even more arid. The East African plateau is connected to the South African plateau. It has a slightly higher average elevation.

A major feature of East Africa is the existence of two great lines of depression. These are caused by the subsidence of segments of the Earth's crust. Subsidence is when the ground sinks downward. These depressions are occupied by vast lakes. The western hollow is known as the Albertine Rift. It contains the Great Lakes of Tanganyika, Kivu, Lake Edward, and Lake Albert. Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world. The eastern branch of the East African Rift contains smaller, often brackish lakes. Brackish water is slightly salty.

Volcanic activity has shaped much of the high ground. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point on the continent. It has two peaks named Kibo and Mawenzi. Mount Kenya is another massive peak at 5,199 meters. The Ruwenzori Range also rises over 4,000 meters. Some volcanic groups, like the Kirunga group, are still partially active. Active volcanoes can release lava and ash. In the west, Mount Cameroon sits at the head of the Gulf of Guinea. The Ethiopian Highlands form the largest continuous area of high altitude. These mountains reach heights between 4,400 and 4,550 meters.

Plains and deserts cover large parts of the continent. The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. It covers 9 million square kilometers. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. South of the desert is a plain region known as the Sahel. The Congo Basin is another major feature. It is a circular area bisected by the equator. It may have once been an inland sea. Much of the continent consists of etchplains. These are plains formed by long periods of erosion.

Water moves across the continent through complex drainage systems. Most drainage flows toward the north, the west, or the Atlantic Ocean. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. The Congo River has the highest water discharge on the continent. The Niger River is also important, though it flows through arid areas for half its length. Many large lakes exist, such as Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi. Humans have built large water dams to manage these resources. Examples include the Aswan Dam on the Nile and the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River.