Africa

Africa is the second largest continent. It has a geographical land area of about 30.2million km² (11.7million square miles). The continent is generally surrounded by oceans and seas on all sides. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, the Suez Canal and Red Sea to the Northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the West and the Indian Ocean to the Southeast. There are also various Islands associated with the continent.

Africa’s unique geographical position gives it a range of climatic conditions from Tropical to Subarctic or Temperate climates. The continent, which is rich in sunlight, has the  equator running through it from the West to the East almost dividing it into two halves around the tropics. The Tropical area comprise of dense rainforests with high humidity. The rainforests then give way to the savannahs towards the North and South.

The Sahara Desert dominates much of Northern Africa making most of the region dry and hot for most of the year with little or no rain. However, climatic condition in the South ranges from forests and grasslands to desert.

Africa is home to various peoples and cultures. It has a predicted population of 973 million in 2008 and an amazing conglomeration of tribes and cultures spread across its 53 countries and 7 dependent territories. Due to different cultural and historical experiences, the continent has a wide range of religions and religious practices which include major world religions as well as traditional African religions.

From The desert regions of the North, through the rain forests across the West and East, to the savannah towards the South, Africa is rich with abundant natural resources. Across the continent, are some of the world’s largest reserves of Oil and Natural gas, Platinum, Uranium, titanium, gold, iron and diamond. There are also wide variety of crops, timber and other raw materials which can be very useful in various industrial productions.

The continent has what is possibly the world’s widest diversity and population of wild animals. Large carnivores like lions, tigers, cheetahs and leopards, as well as, herbivores like elephants, zebras, giraffes and buffalos range freely on open plains. It is also home to Jungle creatures and reptiles, as well as, aquatic life and amphibians.

>>for more information about countries and territories please browse the list on the left.