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Natural areas of Africa. Plains in Africa in which countries are East African Plateau

East African Plateore is located south-west of the "African horns" - Somalia Peninsula, south of Ethiopian Highlands. The relief of this extensive territory is very disseminated. Here, the highest mountain peaks are adjacent to the deep wpads of the Great Rift Valley. accompanied by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Almost all the territory is in the sub-screen climatic belt.

East African Plateau: Studies in the XIX century

The sublime part of the continent over the centuries was poorly understood. Although the Kilimanjaro array on the cards caused Ptolemy (II-III century AD). Reported on snowy mountain top Near the Equator, marigors and merchants in the Middle Ages. Colonial fragmentation made it difficult for a systematic study of the region.

Initially, part of the territory where the highest peaks of Africa belonged to Great Britain. There is a version that in 1889, the English Queen Victoria presented the Emperor of Germany Wilhelm II (his nephew) The largest extinct volcano Africa - Kilimanjaro. Up until 1918 in Europe, there was another name of his cone - "Peak Kaizer Wilhelm". The scientific elite has shown interest in the study of this area in recent decades of the XIX century, when the German Hans Meier rose at Cybo. Since then, the stream of scientists and tourists who want to see gigantic volcanoes, picturesque lakes, unusual corners of nature. In Tanzania, Kenya and other countries of East Africa, tourism is developing income.

Geological structure of East Africa

Unlike Asia and America, there are no extended ridges in this part of the world, which is explained by the geological history and the most elevated above the level of the world ocean, fragmented and mobile block - East African plateau. The height of most of the territory is from 500 to 1500 m. The foundation is complicated with ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks, their age is more than 2 billion years. At the base there is a Precambrian platform, a fragment of Pramaterics Gondwan. A sedimentary case was formed on the surface. In the Cenozoic Era, there were significant movements of the earth's crust here, and at the last stage of the property there was the greatest zone of faults and raising in the world.

The absolute height of the East African Plateau is more than 1000 m. For the entire territory, high seismicity is characterized, earthquakes occur, modern volcanic activities are observed. The total length of the most significant on the planet of tectonic violations from north to south is more than 6,000 km. Frails go from anterior Asia along the bottom of the Red Sea. In Africa, they begin in the north-east of the Danakyl's northeast, and end in the south in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mouth of the river. Zambezi.

Geographical position

High Plain - East African Plateau - on the map It takes an extensive region of the mainland, which in the northern part crosses the equator. In the West there is a Wpadina Congo.

Termitic buildings rise in Savannaps, snakes, lizards, land turtles are often found. In the north of Tanzania, extensive volcanic Highlands and the famous crater (caldra) of NGoronoro with a diameter of 22 km stretched for the whole world. At his day - Lake Magadi, the savannah of the same name of the biosphere reserve. In this part of the mainland (west of the crater Highland Ngoronoro) is the Gorge of Oldayvay, where the remains are found ancient manhaving lived 2 million years ago, the skeletons of animals killed them, primitive stone axes and scrapers.

Volcanoes and savannah Africa attract a large number of tourists from all over the world. The largest stream of entering happens from June to September. To explore and preserve the entire variety of nature, the organization of ecotourism in the territory of East African Plateau created large national parks and reserves.

see also nature Photos of South African Plateau (with geographic and biological signatures for photographs) from the section Natural world landscapes:

On the gentle slopes of the Oriental Plateau, addressed inside the continent, the precipitation falls quite quite a lot, there is a brazed terrain with a thick cover of high herbs (). Such a landscape in South Africa is called "Veld".

As we move to the West, the amount of precipitation decreases and vegetation takes an increasing xerophytic appearance. It consists of various bully, which are green and flourished only during a short period of rain, low-spirited barbed acacias, numerous types of aloe. In Kalahari, there are completely fruitless stony areas, where the plants do not form solid cover (). Wild watermelons are very characteristic of Calahari, whose vacuums cover large areas. From here occur, obviously, all the well-known cultural types of watermelons. With a large lack of moisture, watermelons with their water reserves save from the thirst for people and animals.

Another poorer the vegetation of the desert Namib, where there are only individual velvecia copies, fixing in the sands with powerful roots, and low-spirited spiky shrubs ().

The shores of the drying lakes and the swamps in the calahari collar and the top flow of zambezi are covered with more moisture vegetative vegetation (), which serves as a refuge for wild animals.

These are wet forests with a thick network full-water rivers. The eastern part is highlighted in the sublime, southern - endless.

North Africa - the most extensive part of the continent. It is based on the plate of the African Arabian ancient platform. The relief of the plateau and elevations with a height of 300-400 m is prevailing. Rocky Highlands of Ahaggar rose between them, Tibesti, Darfur, Jos, formed on the crystal shields of an ancient platform. In the north-west, folded atlas mountains are adjacent to the platform.

Atlas Mountains - a mountainous country consisting of a system of mountain ranges, intergountain plateau and pripadines. Here on the seaside plains and the windy slopes of the mountains with dry hot summer and soft wet winter, and on the intermountain plateau and the inner slopes of the ridges - arid and stern due to the high height. The nature of the Atlas is strongly changed by man.

The world's greatest tropical desert, its length of 6000 km from west to east and 2000 km from north to south. With its existence, it is obliged to continental tropical climate with precipitation less than 50 mm per year and high temperatures.

Due to the different composition of rocks, different types of desert are formed here: rocky-crubstone, pebble, sandy, clay. Sand deserts With barren relief, only about 20% of Sugara Square occupy.

There are almost no surface waters in the Sahara. The only large, intersecting, is powered by its limits.

Sudanese plains Lying south of the Sahara. They are located in the zone of the subequatorial climate. The duration of the rainy season decreases from the south to the north from 10 to 2 months. In the western and eastern parts of Sudanese plains many rivers. The largest of them are white Nile ,. central part Plains - an area in a lake that changes its sizes and outlines depending on precipitation.

The natural conditions of Sudanese plains are most favorable for the lives of people. The population has long been engaged here and cattle breeding.

Central Africa Encompasses the Gulf Coast and the Basin. Equatorial climate is dominated here, there is a thick network of full-flower rivers.

The north coast of the Guinean Gulf form hills and plateau, steps descending to coastal lowlands. In the east of the district there is a valid volcano (4100 m). On his slopes facing the bay, the amount of precipitation for Africa drops 9000 mm per year. The largest Niger River forms with a large delta in the Guinean. Nature is strongly changed by a person, as the area has a long history of development and high population density.

The central part of the Congo brand is busy with wet equatorial forests. They consist of hundreds of trees, lian, shrubs and herbs. Multiple and animal world: dwarf giraffes of okapi, water deer, elephants, hippos, a variety of monkeys, birds. Along the coast of the Guinean Bay due to cutting and burning, forest areas were greatly reduced by giving way to gentlemen and savannaments or plantations of tropical crops.

South Africa Located south of the Congo and Zambezi Water Building. divided into three natural areas.

South African Plateau is a plateau system formed by the platform basement. The plateore rises to the outskirts of the mainland, and in the inner parts there are depressions. Among them are the largest -. In the south-east, the dragons of the mountains are adjacent to the plateau. The plateore is located in, but the temperatures here because of the considerable height is not so great as in North Africa. Natural zones in accordance with the decrease in the amount of precipitation are replaced from the east to the west. In the east, highly harvested savannahs are common. These are wonderful pastures and fertile plains. Acacia, Aloe, Mokhodi, Herbs with powerful rhizomes are growing here, brightly blooming during the rainy period. The west predominates the deserted savannahs, occupying and most of Kalahari. Fancy stony areas are encountered in Kalahari. On the coast of the coast is a desert Namib.

There are few rivers with constant water flow, justifiable only. It is located magnificent. On the South African Plateau is a rich animal world. In many areas, hunting is the main occupation of the population.

Cape Mountains - These are low and medium height ridges suitable in the southwestern of the mainland to the coast raised by comfortable bays. Here, subtropical and bushes with a large number of endemic species took place in the past. From here all over the world, a variety of decorative plants spread. However, natural vegetation is almost preserved.

Madagascar - Island district, relief and climate of which have a lot in common with the relief and climate of the neighboring areas of the continent. The organic world is characterized by a great originality due to long-term development under insulation conditions. Among wild animals there are almost no empty and predators, poisonous snakes,

East Africa - The highest part of the continent, called the "Roof of Africa". Here are two natural areas -

East Africa - a dense settlement area, and land for agriculture here is used for a long time. On Ethiopian Highlands, the most favorable for the life of the people's belt of mountain savannas to a height of 2.5 km. This belt is considered to be homey coffee tree, solid wheat, rye, barley and some other cultivated plants.

Nowhere in the world there is no such diversity of large animals, as in East Africa. However, a long extermination caused a decrease in their number, therefore National Parks have been created in many countries. Worldwide, Kaghera, Mnunk Kenya, Serengeti, Kivu are enjoyed. Exotic nature and the possibility of sports hunting attract a large number of foreign tourists in the parks, which brings income to the countries of this area.

East Africa is a subcontinent located in the east of the mainland, unites two physical and geographic countries: Ethiopian Highlands and Somalia Peninsula and East African Highlands (Plogradier). The region is pulled out in the submeridional direction (between 18 ° Northern and South latitude). It begins in the north of the southeastern outskirts of the Sahara, in the West has pretty clear orographically caused borders with the regions of Northern and Central Africa, in the south, the fault system is separated from similar structures of South Africa, reaching the tectonic valley of the lower flow r. Zambezi. In the east, the subcontinent goes to the Indian Ocean and its seas.

The subcontinent is located in the most tecthonically active part of the African platform in the development zone of the grandiose complex system of continental rifts, which has no equal to both the length and amplitudes of vertical movements.

East African rifted zones occupy a special place in the formation of the nature of the region. Features of the relief, mainly mountain and flat, widespread development of volcanism, including modern, increased seismicity are connected with them. Rifts are expressed by rabbenas, the bottoms of which are often engaged in lakes.

The region is located in the range of equatorial monsoons of both hemispheres. The characteristic feature of its climates is the extreme differentiation of moisturizing conditions not only for the seasons, but also within the territory. To a large extent, it depends on the relief fragmentation and the coastline configuration.

  • East Africa is characterized by a large variety of soil and vegetable cover - from evergreen wet rainforests on the winding mountain slopes to the desert landscapes of Afar's depressions.
  • Large squares are occupied by savannas of different types. In the mountains expressed high-rise explanation.
  • East Africa is the main watershed of the mainland. From here they take the beginning of the river of the pools of the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the river system of the Congo carrier in the Atlantic.
  • Animal world The subcontinent is very rich and diverse: all major representatives of the fauna of African Savannan live here.
  • East Africa is a rather dense settlement area and a long-standing agricultural use of lands.
  • The subcontinent has great reserves of minerals. In connection with the activities of people, the nature of the subcontinent is significantly changed.
  • Eastern Africa is considered as a manproodine. Perhaps it was here that the view of Homo Sapiens as a result of the evolution of ancient primates.

Ethiopian Highlands and Somalia Plateau

This physico-geographical country includes Ethiopian Highlands, Afar, plateau and coastal lowland Somalia Peninsula. In the West, the region borders on the White Nile, in the south - with East African Highlands, in the north and east comes to the Red Sea, the Aden Bay and directly to the Indian Ocean. Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti are located on its territory, and Eritrea was separated from Ethiopia.

As a result of active tectonic movements, it was formed very diverse and even contrast in height and formations of relief. The main part of the region is Ethiopian Highlands, which is a highly elevated block of the African platform within the eritrean antext (Nubian-Arabian arch), almost from all sides limited discharges.

The height reaches 3000-4000 meters, the highest point is Ras-Dashan (4623 meters). Steep stepped slopes of the highland make it difficult to reach, so it is often referred to as an array-bastion. On fault lines, fractured outpacing of the foil and basalt lava took place. Caps that have places power up to 2000 meters have been formed. Step lava plateaus - Amp is characteristic of the relief of the Highlands. Digitable in all directions of deep erosion-tectonic valleys-canyons, Ampbi have a form of flat-axle remains with separate volcanoes. Some of them showed activity in historical time. Faults determine the lines of the shores of the Red Sea and the Aden Bay, limit the omensions zone - the collapper of the Afar. Her bottom covered with lavamas is a low plateau with isolated volcanic cones. Separate basins are below sea level. Lake Assal - the lowest place of African mainland (-153 meters). Ethiopian Graben in southern Highlands is separated from Somalia Peninsula Plateau, they are descended to the southeast to the Indian Ocean. Lower step - a wide low-lying coastal plain. The eastern outskirts of the peninsula is also limited to the fault, which occurred the bottom of the ocean.

In general, the climate of the country is a subequatorial variable wet, but the fragmentation of relief determines the diversity and contrast of the climatic conditions of the region. Local climate formation factors play no less role than common patterns.

The fallout of precipitation is mainly due to the summer equatorial monsoon of the south-western direction. Most of the moisture (1000 mm per year or more) is obtained by the onward south-western and western slopes of Ethiopian Highlands. Northern slopes are influenced by tropical air. They are dry. Little precipitation receives most of the Somalia Peninsula (250-500 mm per year). Even on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the climate is arid, as the stream of the south-west monsoon is moving along the coastline. The most dry areas are Ethiopian Graben, the coast of the Red Sea and the Aden Bay and especially the Afar Vadina. For the entire region, except for mountainous areas, high air temperatures are characterized by high air temperatures: average monthly - not lower than 20 ° C, maximum - up to 40-50 ° C. The Afar Vpadina is one of the hottest places: the Middle Allbalian there - 24 ° C, the middle of July - 36 ° C. On Ethiopian Highlands is much cooler. Here is a high-rise climatic explanation:

  • talla belt (hot) - up to a height of 1500-1800 meters; The average monthly temperatures - 20 ° C and higher, the amount of precipitation on the winding slopes - 1000-1500 mm per year;
  • war-degas belt (moderate) - up to a height of 2400-2500 meters; Small seasonal temperature fluctuations: In December - not lower than 13 ° C, in April (the most warm month) - not higher than 16-18 ° C; precipitation - 1500-2000 mm per year;
  • degas belt (cold) - on high mountain ranges; The average monthly temperatures do not exceed 16 ° C, in winter there are severe frosts, snow falls out; However, there are no glaciers.

Thus, in the region, dry and hot climates are combined with low plains, wet and cool - nourge and plateau, wet and hot-mountain belts of a call and adjacent equible places.

The river network is well developed on Ethiopian Highlands. Here are the beginning of one of the origins of the Nile - Blue Nile, the right tributaries of the White Nile - Sobat and Nile - Atbara, Omo. Blue Neal carries the main river twice as much water than white. It is regulated by the Tana Lake. Small lakes are at the bottom of Ethiopian Graben. On the Somalia Peninsula, the river network is poorly developed, most of the rivers dry up, and in the Afraire depression, the surface runoff is practically absent, there are only a few small salted lakes. In one of them flows p. Avash flowing from Highlands.

The complex structure of the relief and contrasts of climatic conditions determine the diversity of the vegetation cover of the Ethiopian-Somali region. On Ethiopian Highlands is extremely pronounced high-rise lower.

On the wet western slopes in the belt and in deep valleys with good moisturizes, thick evergreen rainforests are growing, according to the composition and structure close to equatorial. Waterproof plateau are occupied by Savannes. Barbed shrubs and xerophytic handicrafts were dominated on dry leveled slopes. In the belt-degas belt once dominated forests of cedars and tees, which are largely cut down. It is better to survived the thickets of the tree juniper and a parel of leaf falling - wild oily and fig tree. The main part of the belt is currently engaged in a mountain savanna with candeja-like milk, umbrella acacias, giant sykomoras and rich herbal cover from cereals. In the lower part of the degious belt, coniferous forests of juniper, gymnasium and others are growing. The mountain meadows are dominated. Extremely appeared giant hunters, tree-like hereshi, copserophytic herbs communities. The topmost parts of the mountains are covered with stony stamps, which in winter fall asleep in the snow. In the Wpadine Afar and on the coasts of the Red Sea, the Aden Bay and the Indian Ocean are developed semi-desert and desert vegetation. The landscapes of deserted savannes are dominated on the inner plateaus of Somalia Peninsula.

Fauna is common for savannah and rainforest Africa, including for mountain.

In the War-Deugean belt, monkeys, non-permanent heat, are gamadrils, Glevers, Gelad. The animal world of the region has a relatively high degree Conservation even outside protected areas. So, in the forests of the lower belt of the mountains, elephants live, and this is one of the few places where they do not live in reservations.

Ethiopian Highlands has significant agroclimatic and land resources. Its territory as a whole gets sufficient precipitation for agriculture. Especially favorable conditions for growing valuable cultures and for the lives of people in the belt-degas belt with its relatively cool constantly wet climate and fertile dark red and chernozem soils.

Most of the population of Ethiopia live here. This is one of the ancient agricultural centers. Grain crops, tobacco, oilseeds, citrus, grapes grow. The name of the belt translated from the language of local peoples means the "grape zone". This belt is the birthday of the coffee tree. In the south and southwest, coffee plantations rise to 2000 meters. From here, it also knows some grains - solid wheat, rye, barley, etc. Only some flat valleys were moistened, wetched and unfavorable for life. In the belt of a call with a hot humid climate, the population is rare, however, there are plantations of coffee, cotton, sugar cane. In dry areas developed cattle breeding. Cattle breeding (zebu, sheep, goats) and residents of the degasive belt are also engaged in and only in its lower part to the height of 2,800 meters they grown by the local cerebral teff. At the lower boundary of this belt at an altitude of 2440 m is the capital of Ethiopia - Addis Ababa.

Arid territories of Somalia Peninsula are little suitable for agriculture. The population is concentrated in the valleys of rivers and oasises, where commodity tropical cultures are grown on irrigated lands: bananas, sugar cane, cotton, palm palm trees, and for their own consumption - grain and legumes. Most people are engaged in cattle breeding. In many places of Afar, deserted coasts, the inner parts of the Somalia Plateau, even in the wells, water brass. There is practically no settled population. In the arid areas of this region, well-preserved bone residues of animals are found, including ancient primates, which are considered to be the ancestors of a person.

Large reserves of ore minerals are concentrated in the depths of the region. There are gold, platinum, copper, nickel, manganese, iron, niobium, uranium and thorium. There are also deposits of piezochetar, potash and cook salts, sulfur sulfur, mica, gypsum. But only a small part of these wealth is used.

The main problem in the region is a lack of water in many parts. There are brutal droughts that cause hunger. Drought 70s. XX century In Somalia led to a huge reduction in the livestock and death of a large number of people. Fighting drought is one of the most acute problems of the region. Despite the pretty good preservation of the fauna, many species of animals are very exterminated and even on the verge of destruction. Several national parks and reserves in Ethiopia and reserves in Somalia have been created for their protection. They are protected by not only animals, but also typical and interesting landscapes, for example, on the territory of the Avash Park, where there are manifestations of volcanic activity. Palm forests are subject to protection around hot springs and pruring gallery forests.

East African Highlands

Most of this physico-geographical country is located in the southern hemisphere. In the north, East African Highlands borders with Ethiopian fakes in the area of \u200b\u200bLake Rudolf, south stretches to the valley. Zambezi. The western border with the Bore Congo takes place on the watershed between the rivers of the Congo pools and the Great African lakes. In the East, the region goes to the Indian Ocean. Within its limits, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania and North Mozambique are located. In many ways, this physico-geographical country is similar to Ethiopian Highlands. Tectonic mobility, fragmentation of relief, manifestations of ancient and modern volcanism, a subequatorial climate with sharp internal differences, a variety of landscapes with the dominance of savannah formations determine the similarities of these regions. Rift zones of East African Highlands are genetically connected with Ethiopian Graben, which is essentially their continuation to the north. However, the region has a number natural featureswho distinguish him from the Ethiopian-Somali country.

With no less than on Ethiopian Highlands, tectonic mobility on East African Highlands is not so great area of \u200b\u200blava cover. There are volcanic arrays, often having a considerable height: Kilimanjaro (Top Cybo - 5895 meters, the highest point of the mainland), Kenya (5199 meters), measure (4567 meters), Carisimby (4507 meters), Algon (4322 meters) and others. Among the major And small volcanoes have many acting.

Highlands is located within the antellize an ancient African platform with the yields of crystalline rocks, places overlapped by continental precipitation and lavva cover. In the Cenozoic, the rising set of the antellize was broken by rifed faults. There are three branches of continental rhyps. Western Rift runs along the entire western outskirts of Highlands. It has formed a system of grabens - from Grabena, busy valley p. Albert Nile, in the north, to the tectonic valley of the lower flow r. Zambezi. Most of them is a chain of narrow, long and deep lake Kotlovin (bottom of Lake Tanganyika lies more than 600 meters below sea level). Between them and along the sides of rabes are mountainous and high rise raising by an average of 1000-3000 meters high. The acting volcanoes are committed to them. Between Lakes Albert, and Edward rises Massif Ruvenzori (lunar mountains), reaching at its highest point - the peak of Margherita - 5109 meters. The whole zone is characterized by high seismicity. The central rift begins in the north of the Lake Rudolph and in the south of the Nyas Lake Basin closes with the Western branch. Here, a flat-bottomed valley (Great Valley, or Rift Valley) with steep slopes ("shoulders of rift") was formed in Graben. At the bottom of her many small salted lakes. Within the limits of this zone, the outpouring of Love occurred, and then the central type was formed, which, including the highest highlands arrays, rose along the tectonic cracks. Calders are also characteristic of this zone, including the famous NGoronoro Crater with a diameter of 22 km. The eastern zone of faults by discharge steps is descended towards the Indian Ocean and determines the rectilinear outlines of the coastline. On spaces between the rhythic zones, a flat relief is dominated, more or less aligned, with the remaining mountains and hills.

The sub-screen climate of Highlands has its own characteristics.

In the southern part, the winds with the eastern component dominate the entire year, since the northeast winter monsoon of the northern hemisphere during the transition through the equator does not change the directions, tightening into a south african bary minimum. In the north in the summer, the southwest monsoon dominates. The sediments of the winter period are orographic, so only the windy slopes of the mountains are irrigated. Moisturizing of different areas within the highland unenochnakovo. The greatest amount of precipitation (up to 2000-3000 mm per year) is obtained mountain arrays. In the north-west and south-west of the country and on the mountainous coast south of 5 ° sh. drops 1000-1500 mm. On the rest of the highland, the annual amount of precipitation is 700-1000 mm, and in closed depressions and in the extreme northeast - no more than 500 mm. Due to the common high plasterometric level of East African Highlands, most of its air temperature is relatively low (average monthly not higher than 19-20 ° C). Only at small altitudes, mainly on the coast they rise to 23-28 ° C. Annual amplitudes of average monthly temperatures - up to 5-6 ° C. In the mountains above 2,000 meters there are frosts, at an altitude of 3,500 meters snow drops, the most high peaks (Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Ruvenzori) have ice hats.

East African Highlands - "Roof of Africa" \u200b\u200b- the highest area of \u200b\u200bthe mainland and the main watershed of the indian pools, the Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Here takes the beginning of the r. Neil, from here flows numerous tributaries r. Congo (Lualaby), r. Zambezi, a large number of rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean. Highlands is different by one of the largest cluster lakes on Earth. The great African lakes occupying rabes in the western rift zone have an elongated shape and high depths (Tanganyika - up to 1435 meters). They are usually flowing and fresh. In an extensive tectonic bowl outside the rift zones lies the second largest freshwater reservoir area - Lake Victoria. Large masses of water large lakes have a significant impact on local climatic. On the bottoms of rabes in the central rift, many salted lakes - Natron, Nakuru, etc.

Most of the highland occupy typical savannahs and gentlemen.

In the most arid northeastern regions, the same plant groups are common as on the Somali Peninsula (deserted savannah). Salt lakes are surrounded by salt marshes with halophytic vegetation. In Western regions with a wet climate, the lower slopes of the mountains and the coast of the lakes were occupied by the Gileses that are now on large squares Replaced by mixed forests with an admixture of deciduous rocks and highly harvested savannas. In the mountains expressed high-rise explanation. Among the belts are allocated "belt belt" with mountain giley (2300-2500 meters) and a belt of mountain meadows with giant lobels and tree-like conductors. The nival belt begins with a height of 4,800 meters.

Nowhere in the world there is no such diversity of large animals, especially the inhabitants of Savann.

Antelope, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and other herbivores once densedly inhabited Highlands. Large predators (lions, leopards, cheetahs, etc.) hunted on them. There were many elephants, rhinos, hippopots, different monkeys. A long extermination caused a strong decrease in the number of animals, some of the species stand on the verge of extinction. In the countries of the region, numerous national parks and reserves were created, in which the number of animals is regulated. Among the parks by world fame, Virunga, Kaghera, Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro (Natural "Woller", limited by the slopes of caldera), Nakuru, where the lake lives 370 species of birds, including there are giant flamingos colonies. Mountain gorillas inhabit the southern protected part of the Kiviv Park.

Scientific research is undergoing in protected areas. The countries of the region receive solid revenues from foreign tourists who are attracted here Exotic fauna and flora, unusual landscapes, the possibility of sports hunting under licensees

In addition to land, agricultural and biological resources, the East African Highlands has unique freshwater reserves focused on the Great African lakes, which are used for water supply, and as transport highways, and as a source of fish. Rich in the region's subsoil: there is gold, diamonds, different ores, extracted salts, including the anemnium - Natron.

The region is pretty thick, but uneven. Most people live on the shores of fresh lakes. Masai's cattle products are caught by Kenya and Tanzania Savannes. Anthropogenic changes were almost all landscapes of East African Highlands.

Africa is part of the light, which has the area with Islands 30.3 million km 2, is second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% sushi.

Geographical position

Located Africa in the northern and eastern hemisphere (most), a small part in southern and western. Like all major fragments of the ancient mainland Gondwan, has massive outlines, large peninsula and deep bays are absent. The length of the continent from the north to the south is 8 thousand km, from the west to the east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast of the Red Sea in the south-east of the Indian Ocean, in the West - the Atlantic Ocean. Africa from Asia separates the Suez Canal, from Europe - Gibraltar Strait.

Main geographical characteristics

Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which cuts into the deep valleys of rivers. On the coast of the mainland, small lowlands are located, North-West - the location of the Atlas Mountains, northern part, practically fully occupied by the desert sugar, - Nagrai Ahaggar and Tibetse, East - Ethiopian Highlands, Southeast - East African Plateau, Last South - Caps and Dragon Mountains. The highest point of Africa is Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai's plateore), the lowest - 157 meters below the ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, on the territory of Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the River Zambezi, the largest rode in the world of the earth's crust, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.

Africa rivers flow: Congo (Central Africa), Niger ( West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi (South Africa), as well as one of the most free and extended rivers in the world - Nile (6852 km), current from the south to the north (its origins are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming Delta, in the Mediterranean Sea). The rivers are distinguished by multi-way in the equatorial belt, thanks to the falling out of a large amount of precipitation there, most of them differ in high flow rate, have many thresholds and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyik, the largest freshwater lake of Africa and the second in the area after the Lake Upper (North America) - Victoria (its area 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, Max depth - 83 m), the largest salted faceless lake - Chad (its area of \u200b\u200b1.35 thousand km 2, is located on the southern outskirts of the greatest desert peace of Sahara).

Due to the arrangement of Africa between two tropical belts, it is characterized by high total indicators of solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent of the Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was registered in 1922 in El Azizia (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shadow).

On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergative equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinean, Wpadina Congo), in the north and south passing into mixed leaf full-time-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of Savannan and a parel, spreading to Sudan, Eastern and South Africa, Sevra and South Africa Savannah are replaced by semi-deserts and deserts (sugar, Kalahari. Namib). In the southeastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains - the zone of severe evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural zones of mountains and flatbed are susceptible to the laws of high resistance.

African countries

The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 - independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories related to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahakkaya Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, Asia countries were foreign colonies of various European states and only by the middle of the last century were independence. Depending on the geographical position, Africa is divided into such five regions as Northern, Central, Western, East and South Africa.

List of African countries

Nature

Mountains and Plains of Africa

Most of the African continent is a plain. Available mountain systems, Highlands and plateau. They are presented:

  • Atlas mountains in the north-western part of the continent;
  • highlands Tibest and Ahaggar in the Sahara desert;
  • Ethiopian highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
  • Dragon Mountains in South.

SAMI high Point Countries are a Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to East African plateau in the southeastern part of the mainland ...

Desert and savanna

The largest deserted zone of the African continent is in the northern part. This is a sugar desert. In the south-western side of the continent there is another desert of a smaller area, Namib, and the Kalahari desert is available on the East of the continent.

The Savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. On the area it is much more than the northern and southern part of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures characteristic of savannah, low shrubs and trees. The height of herbal vegetation varies, depending on the number of drop-down precipitation. It can be practically desert savannahs or high-colored, with herbal cover from 1 to 5 m in height ...

River

On the territory of the African continent there is the most extended river of the world - Nile. Direction of its current from the south to the north.

In the list of large water systems, the mainland, Limpopo, Zambezi and an orange river, as well as the Congo, flowing through the territory of Central Africa.

On the Zambezi River there is a famous Victoria Waterfall, 120 m high and 1,800 meters wide ...

Lakes

In the list of large lakes of the African continent there is a lake Victoria, which is the second in the world in the area of \u200b\u200bfreshwater reservoir. Its depth reaches 80 m, and the area is 68,000 km square. Two more large lakes Continent: Tanganica and Nyasa. They are located in the faults of lithospheric plates.

There is a lake of Lake Chad on the territory of Africa, which is one of the world's largest interconnect relic lakes, not having connections with the world ocean ...

Seas and oceans

The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans at once: Indian and Atlantic. Also, his shores are the Red and Mediterranean Sea. From the side of the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part of the water form a deep Guinea Bay.

Despite the location of the African continent, coastal waters are cool. Influence this cold flow of the Atlantic Ocean: Canary in the north and Bengal in the south-west. From the side of the Indian ocean the flow is warm. The largest is Mozambique, in the northern waters, and needle - in the southern ...

Forest Africa

Forest arrays from the entire territory of the African continent make up a little more than a quarter. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the Valley Valleys. Here you can meet a stone oak, pistachio, strawberry tree, etc. Highly in the mountains grow coniferous plants, represented by Alepopian pine, atlask cedar, juniper and other types of trees.

Closer to the coast there are forests from cork oak, in a tropical area evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, a red tree, sandalwood, ebony, etc.

Nature, Plants and Animals Africa

The vegetation of equatorial forests is distinguished by variety, about 1000 species of various types of trees grow here: ficuses, saba, wine tree, oil palm tree, wine palm, banana palm trees, tree fern, sandalwood, red wood, rubberous trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects living right on the trees live here. On Earth lives: cystheuhi pigs, leopards, African deer - relatives Girafa Ogapi, major man-like monkeys - Gorillas ...

40% of the territory of Africa is occupied by savannahs, which are huge steppe spaces covered with disintegration, low, spiny shrubs, rustic, and separately standing trees (tree acacias, baobabs).

It has the most huge cluster of such large animals as: rhino, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals are savannahs are such herbivores like: Bubal (Antelope family), Giraffe, Impala, or Corropean Antilope, various types of gazelles (Thomson, Grant), Blue GNU, Somewhere else there are rare jumpers - Springboki.

The vegetation of deserts and semi-desert is distinguished by poverty and unpretentiousness, these are small spiky shrubs, separately growing herbs beams. In oases, the unique palm palm trees Erg-Shebbi, as well as plants resistant to the conditions of drought and salting formation conditions. In the desert, Namib grows unique plants of Velvichia and Nara, the fruits of which dickelings, elephants and other wilderness animals feed.

From animals there are various types of antelope and gazelles adapted to hot climate and capable of searching for food to overcome huge distances, many types of rodents, snakes, turtles. Lizards. Among mammals: Spotted hyena, ordinary jacal, grivy ram, capsky hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Gazelle-Dorcas, Saberloogaya antilope, Babian Anubis, Wild Nubian Donkey, Cheetah, Jackal, Fox, Mouflon, there are constantly living and migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of Africa

The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is located in the low pressure area and receives sufficient moisturizing, territory north and south of the equator are located in a sub-screen climatic belt, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisturizing and arid desert climate. The extreme north and south are in the subtropical climatic belt, the south receives precipitation, brought by the air masses from the Indian Ocean, is the desert of Calahari, the north is the minimum amount of precipitation, due to the formation of the field of high pressure and the peculiarities of the movement of the traffic cops, the largest desert of the world - sugar, where the number precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall out at all ...

Resources

Natural resources of Africa

By the reserves of water resources, Africa is considered one of the least secured continents of the world. The average annual volume of water is enough only to meet the priority needs, but this concerns not all regions.

Land resources are represented by significant territories with fertile land. You are treated with only 20% of all possible land. The reason for this is the absence of due water, soil erosion, etc.

Africa forests are the source of wood, including the breeds of valuable varieties. Countries, in the territory of which they grow, the raw materials goes on export. Resources are used unwise and ecosystems gradually destroyed.

In the depths of Africa there are mineral deposits. Among the export departed: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Energy-intensive resources are widely represented on the continent, but they are not used, due to the lack of proper investments ...

Among the developed industrial areas of the countries of the African continent can be noted:

  • mining industry, departing mineral raw materials and fuel for export;
  • the oil refining industry common in the territory of South Africa and North Africa;
  • chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
  • as well as the metallurgical and engineering industry.

The main products of agriculture are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. In the tropical regions of Africa is grown by oil palm tree.

Fisheries developed slightly and constitute only 1-2% of the total volume of agriculture. Livestocking indicators are also not high and the reason for the infection of livestock Tsetz ...

Culture

Peoples of Africa: Culture and Traditions

About 8,000 nations and ethnic groups live in 62 African countries, which is in general about 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered a cradle and pranodina of human civilization, it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which according to scientists are considered to be ancestors of people.

Most of the peoples in Africa can have both several thousand people, and a few hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 peoples, their number of more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them - peoples with more than 5 million people, 1/3 - nations with more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , House, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulusi ...

Two historical and ethnographic provinces are distinguished: the North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and the tropical African (most population are a Negroid Race), it is divided into such areas as:

  • West Africa. Peoples speaking Mande languages \u200b\u200b(Susu, Maninka, Mende, Vai), Chadsky (Haus), Nilo-Sakhai (Songai, Canoruri, Tuba, Zagava, Mava, etc.), Nigero-Congolese languages \u200b\u200b(Yoruba, igboo, Bini, NUPU, GBARY, IHAL AND IDOMA, IBIBIO, EFIC, CAMBARI, BIR AND JUKUN, etc.);
  • Equatorial Africa . Inhabited by buano-tasked nations: Douala, Fong, Bubi (Fern Dernants), MPonongwe, Teca, Mboši, Ngala, Como, Mongo, Tetla, Cuba, Congo, Ambund, Ovimbundum, Chokwe, Luen, Tonga, Pigmey, etc.;
  • South Africa. Buntery peoples, and speakers in Koysansky languages: Bushmen and Gottentotes;
  • East Africa. Groups of nations bowls, nilots and sudanents;
  • Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ether (Amhara, Tiger, Tiger.), Kushytsky (Oromo, Somalis, Sidamo, Agau, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages \u200b\u200b(Otter, Himirra et al.);
  • Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.

In the North African province, the main peoples are the Arabs and Berbers belonging to the South-European Small Rasse, which are mainly confessing the Islam of the Sunni sense. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, which are direct descendants of the ancient Egyptians, they are Christian monophysites.