Geography of Africa. Geographical description of Africa. Natural objects of the earth. Africa: Geographical Nomenclature and Guidelines Significant Geographical Features of South Africa
Detailed solution paragraph § 27 on geography for 7th grade students, authors Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. 2017
Questions and tasks
1. Name the most significant geographical features South Africa.
Zambezi, Kalahari Semi-Desert, Drakensberg and Cape Mountains.
2. Using a comprehensive map, highlight the main types of economic activities in the countries of Southern Africa.
Agriculture and mining.
3. Name the main features of the nature and economy of South Africa.
South Africa is a country of diversity natural complexes and enormous natural resources. Most of the country is a flat plateau, which gradually rises in steps to the south and east, giving way to mountains. The country's territory is dominated by savannas. Natural conditions, as throughout South Africa, change not only from north to south, but also from east to west.
South Africa, with its wide variety of landscapes, has a very rich fauna. In many areas, hunting and fishing are still the main occupation of the local population. But with the arrival of Europeans, the number of wild animals decreased noticeably and many species almost disappeared. The number of herbivores has especially decreased - antelopes, zebras, giraffes, elephants, large black buffalos, and rhinoceroses. Lions and leopards have almost completely disappeared.
In order to preserve wild animals from complete extermination, as well as natural complexes in general, nature reserves and national parks have been created in South Africa. In the largest of them - national park Kruger - collected all species of animals found on the mainland.
Territories with fertile lands in the country belong to white farmers - owners of private agricultural enterprises. Farms widely use machinery and fertilizers and therefore receive high yields. They grow corn, wheat, beans, sugar cane, citrus fruits, cotton and other crops. Sheep and cattle farms are located on high plateaus with good pastures. Pasture farming occupies a very important place in agriculture.
The subsoil of South Africa is rich in a variety of minerals. This country is called a geological miracle. South Africa ranks one of the first places in the world in reserves and production of diamonds, gold, platinum, uranium and iron ores. The country's economy is dependent on British and American monopolists, who lead the development of mineral resources and receive huge profits.
There are many factories and factories in the country, and industry is developing rapidly.
4. Compare nature, population and its economic activity North and South Africa. What are the similarities and differences? Explain the reasons for the differences.
North Africa is part of the Middle East and is even sometimes included in it. North Africa is an undoubted and inseparable part of the Muslim Arab world, mostly desert territories and it is inhabited mainly by Arabs, Berbers and other Semitic-Hamitic tribes, along with the traditional African population of Africa. South Africa is classic Africa except that it is more developed, along with North Africa, than other parts of Africa due to the greater white population there due to its mineral-rich lands.
GENERALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC
1. Name the main features of the structure of the surface of Africa. What explains them?
Based on the type of relief, Africa can be divided into two parts: low in the north and west, high in the east and south. The relief of the continent is dominated by plains and plateaus with heights from 200 to 1000 m, the largest territory of which is occupied by East African and South African plateau. Elevated areas of the continent alternate with basins, the largest of which are the Congo Basin and the Kalahari Basin. The highest parts of the mainland are the Ethiopian Highlands (up to 4500 m) and the Drakensberg Mountains (over 3000 m). Such features of the African relief can be explained by the fact that most of the continent was formed on the ancient Arabian-African platform; within the platforms, the relief is represented by plains. The Atlas, Cape and Drakensberg Mountains are confined to fold belts of different ages. In eastern Africa there is a large fault in the earth's crust - the continental rift. In the rift zone, heat flows escape and matter rises from the mantle; the resulting basins are occupied by lakes, along which volcanic cones rise. It is here that the highest peak in Africa is located - the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m).
The well-known statement “Africa is the hottest continent” can be explained by the fact that the continent is located in the warmest climatic zones of the Earth (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical). Africa is located on both sides of the equator, within latitudes that receive significant amounts of solar radiation from 160 kcal/cm² to 200 kcal/cm². The temperature on the mainland is above +20⁰С throughout the year. Largest quantity precipitation falls on the equator, because a belt of low atmospheric pressure is formed here, in which rising air currents form clouds saturated with moisture. The least amount of precipitation occurs in the tropical zone, where, on the contrary, in the zone of high atmospheric pressure the formation of clouds does not occur. The climate of the continental coasts is influenced by warm and cold currents.
2. What are the characteristics of the African climate? What do they depend on?
The climate features of Africa were formed as a result of the action of a system of various factors. Most of the continent is located between the tropics, and therefore the climate of Africa is characterized by high values of total solar radiation. Accordingly, a significant part of the continent has high temperatures, and therefore Africa is considered the hottest continent. There are areas where the air temperature sometimes exceeds 50° C.
In the latitudes of Africa, constant winds, the Trade Winds, dominate over the ocean, which significantly influence the distribution of precipitation. The southeast trade wind blows from Indian Ocean, therefore brings moist air masses. The Northeast Trade Wind is from Eurasia and causes dry weather. The southwestern ones are delayed by the Cape Mountains, which affect the redistribution of precipitation: coastal areas receive a large amount of it, while behind the mountains there is little precipitation.
Sea currents play a significant role in shaping the climate of the African coast. Therefore, low humidity is typical for the northwestern coast (due to the cold Canary Current), southwestern, eastern (Somalia). On the contrary, the western and southeastern coasts are well moistened due to warm currents (Guinea and Mozambique, respectively).
In the central part of the continent, the air warms up evenly throughout the year. Temperature fluctuations are clearly visible only in tropical and especially subtropical latitudes. The climate differs mainly in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Their largest number occurs in the Equatorial regions: the Congo River basin (Zaire) and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea - 2000–3000 mm per year, and on the mountain slopes - up to 9000 mm. North of 20° Mon. w. and south of 18° S. w. The climate in Africa is tropical, in the Northern Hemisphere it is deserted and very dry. In the Sahara, precipitation decreases to 100 mm or less per year; Eastern Sahara is the driest region in Africa (10–20 mm of precipitation per year).
Africa lies within seven climate zones. Due to the fact that the equator cuts the continent in half, climatic conditions are mirrored from the equator to the edges of the continent. In Africa there are equatorial, two subequatorial and two tropical zones. The extreme southern and northern parts of the continent are located in subtropical zones.
The equatorial belt extends in a narrow strip along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and further inland to east coast Lake Victoria. In this zone, constantly humid and uniformly hot equatorial air reigns all year round. The air temperature here is high throughout the year: 26°С – +28°С. The total annual precipitation is more than 2000 mm, which is distributed evenly throughout the year.
3. List the main features of African rivers. Which of them depend on the terrain, which on the climate?
The most long river world - Nile (6671 km). It begins on the East African Plateau and flows through Lake Victoria. In the upper reaches, the river, rushing down the gorges, forms rapids and waterfalls. Having reached the plain, it flows slowly and calmly and is called the White Nile. Near the city of Khartoum, the river merges with the waters of the largest tributary, the Blue Nile, flowing from the Ethiopian Highlands. After the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the river becomes twice as wide and receives the name Nile. In the middle course, the Nile cuts through a plateau composed of hard rocks, so there were rapids that interfered with navigation. Now, thanks to the dam built near Aswan, navigation conditions have been improved. In the lower reaches the river flows calmly. When it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, it forms a large delta, in the place of which several tens of thousands of years ago there was a bay of the Mediterranean Sea. The deepest and second longest river in Africa is the Congo (Zaire) (4320 km). In terms of water content and basin area, it is second only to the Amazon. The river crosses the equator in two places and is full of water all year round. Congo (Zaire) flows along the ledges of plateaus, so it has many rapids and waterfalls. Navigation is possible only in certain areas. The river, in contrast to the Nile, does not form a delta; its muddy fresh waters extend far into the Atlantic Ocean in a wide stream. The third largest river in Africa by length and basin area is the Niger. In its middle reaches it is a flat river, and in its upper and lower reaches there are many rapids and waterfalls. A significant part of the river crosses arid areas, so it is of great importance for irrigation; for this purpose, dams and irrigation canals were built on the river. The Zambezi is the largest of Africa's rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean. Here is one of the world's largest waterfalls - Victoria Falls. The river falls in a wide stream (1800 m) from a ledge 120 m high in a narrow gorge that crosses its bed.
The river's source is in the black swamp region of northwestern Zambia, among forested hills at an altitude of about 1,500 meters above sea level. To the east of the source there is a belt of hills with rather steep northern and southern slopes, lying between 11 and 12 degrees south latitude. The watershed between the Congo and Zambezi river basins runs along this belt. It clearly separates the Luapala River basin (the main tributary of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. In the vicinity of the source, the watershed is not clearly defined, but the two river systems are not connected. The Zambezi is a powerful river. Although the Zambezi ranks only fourth in Africa in terms of length, it ranks second in terms of annual flow and is second only to the Congo River. The Zambezi mainly receives its nutrition from heavy summer rains (at these latitudes, summer lasts from November to March). At other times of the year the river is much less full. The river regime is characterized by a rapid decrease in water level in March and a subsequent rise in November. In order to prove the relationship that exists between inland waters and relief, it is necessary to trace the nature of the flow of rivers and the shape of lakes. Mountain rivers They differ from the plains in their fast flow, high banks, and the presence of rapids and waterfalls. Lake Tanganyika, located along the line of the Great African Rift, has a shape elongated in the meridional direction. The length of the lake is almost 10 times its width. The full flow of rivers and lakes and the regime of their filling with water depend on the nature of the climate. One of the main sources of nutrition for rivers and lakes is precipitation. Therefore, we can safely say that rivers and lakes located in the equatorial climate area are more full-flowing compared to rivers and lakes located within the tropical desert climate. Shallow Lake Chad, located within the subequatorial climate zone, periodically changes its shape, increasing and decreasing by half. This transformation is associated with the frequency of incoming water from the rivers flowing into the lake. Thus, we see a clear relationship that exists between relief, climate and inland waters.
Full water all year round (Congo), or dependence on rains in the lower reaches and high floods (Nile).
4. What natural areas predominate in Africa? What are their features and how do they explain them? Which zones have the most favorable nature for agriculture?
Africa is predominantly a flat continent. Mountain systems occupy only the northwestern (Atlas Mountains) and southern (Cape Mountains) outskirts of the continent. Eastern Africa ( High Africa) is occupied by the East African Plateau, which is highly elevated and fragmented by shifts in the earth’s crust. Here are the highest peaks of the continent - giant extinct and active volcanoes Kilimanjaro, Kenya, etc. The peculiarities of the development of Africa determined the main features of the structure of its surface. Most of the continent is characterized by a flat topography with a wide development of planation surfaces from Permian-Carboniferous and Triassic to Neogene and even Quaternary with blocky and volcanic mountains. Due to its geographical location (mostly in the hot zone of illumination), Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. Due to its geographical location (mostly in the hot zone of illumination), Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. It receives more solar heat and light than any other continent. It is the only continent that extends approximately equal distances from the equator into the northern and southern hemispheres. The sun stands high above the horizon throughout the year between the tropics, and twice a year it is at its zenith at any point. The main features of the climate are determined primarily by the position of the main part of the continent in tropical and equatorial latitudes. Against the backdrop of constantly high air temperatures, the main differences in the climate of individual regions are determined by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season. In tropical latitudes there are huge deserts, closer to the equator there are areas of summer rains, in the equatorial zone precipitation falls throughout the year. Vast spaces experience an acute lack of moisture. The continental climate is especially pronounced in the northern part of Africa due to its large size and close proximity to Eurasia. The western shores of the continent in tropical latitudes are washed by cold currents - the Canary and Benguela, which cool the air above them so much that its lower layers to a height of about 500 m become noticeably colder than the overlying ones. This eliminates the possibility of the development of rising currents and precipitation. Therefore, along the western coasts in tropical latitudes lie oceanic deserts. South East Coast, on the contrary, is washed by the warm Mozambique Current, which increases the instability of air masses and contributes to precipitation on the mountain slopes of Eastern and Southern Africa. Most of Africa is influenced by the trade wind circulation of both hemispheres. The northern hemisphere trade winds coming from land carry continental air with low relative humidity. The trade winds of the southern hemisphere, coming from the Indian Ocean, carry masses of moist, unstable air to the eastern edge of the continent. The distribution of the river network and flow across the continent is extremely uneven, which depends mainly on the difference climatic conditions, relief and nature of the rocks of certain areas. Along with areas with a dense hydrographic network and large lakes, vast areas of Africa are almost or completely devoid of local river networks. Many rivers do not reach the ocean and end in inland drainage basins. Almost all the continent's rivers are fed by rain. Only in deserts and semi-deserts are they fed by groundwater, and on the high peaks of the Atlas and East Africa mountains the sources of rivers are also fed by meltwater from snow and glaciers. In the far north and south there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, followed by zones of semi-deserts and deserts, savannas, variable and permanent wet forests. Latitudinal zoning is violated only in the mountains and highlands, but there are few of them on the mainland.
The nature of savannas is most favorable for agriculture. A distinctive feature of savannas is the alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take approximately six months, replacing each other.
5. Name some of the most outstanding natural sites in Africa.
Sahara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls, Nile River.
6. What natural resources does Africa have?
Crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, copper, diamonds, gold. chrome ore, tungsten, mica, silver, hydropower resources, fish, salt.
7. Give examples of changes in the nature of Africa by humans. What do you propose to stop the advance of deserts into savannas?
Back in the 19th century. Africa was presented as a continent of virgin nature. However, even then the nature of Africa was significantly changed by man. The area of forests, which had been uprooted and burned for arable land and pastures for centuries, has decreased. Especially great damage to the nature of Africa was caused by European colonialists. Hunting, carried out for profit, and often for sport, led to the mass extermination of animals. Many animals were completely destroyed (for example, some species of antelope, zebra), and the number of others (elephants, rhinoceroses, gorillas, etc.) was greatly reduced. Europeans exported expensive wood to their countries. Therefore, in a number of states (Nigeria, etc.) there is a danger of complete disappearance of forests. The territories in place of cleared forests were occupied by plantations of cocoa, oil palm, peanuts, etc. Thus, savannas were formed in place of equatorial and variable-humid forests (Fig. 59). The nature of primary savannas has also changed significantly. There are huge areas of plowed land and pastures here. Due to poor agricultural practices (burning, overgrazing, and cutting down trees and shrubs), savannas have been giving way to deserts for many centuries. Over the last half century alone, the Sahara has moved significantly south and increased its area by 650 thousand km2. The loss of agricultural land leads to the death of livestock and crops, and to starvation of people.
Stop cutting down forests, start planting vegetation, watering deserts, and streamline economic activities.
8. What do you think will happen to the boundaries of natural areas if measures are not taken to protect the nature of Africa?
The area of savannas and equatorial forests will decrease, and deserts, including the Sahara, will expand.
9. What maps will you use to describe the nature of Madagascar? What data can be obtained from each card?
Physical (relief), climatic (precipitation, average temperatures in January and July, currents), map of natural zones (vegetation, animals).
10. What peoples inhabit Africa and how are they distributed on the continent?
Africa is inhabited by a variety of peoples. Over the course of a long history, other peoples have been added to the indigenous inhabitants, whose origins are not connected with this continent. The colonization of Africa contributed to the resettlement of peoples living in Asia, Europe, and America. Arab peoples inhabit the north of the continent. The central and southern regions are inhabited by peoples of the Negroid race. Descendants of Europeans live in the north and south of the continent: the French, the English, the Dutch.
11. What changes have occurred on political map Africa over the last 40–50 years? What do these changes indicate?
Many of the countries gained sovereignty. This indicates that peoples have received a chance to build their own states.
12. Name the African states you know and their capitals.
Algiers, capital Algiers. Ghana, capital Accra. Nigeria, capital Abuja. Ethiopia, capital Addis Ababa. Republic of South Africa, capital Pretoria. Egypt, capital Cairo, Tunisia, capital Tunisia.
13. Among the countries of Africa, distinguish those that are located on the plains and those that lie in the mountains.
On the plains are located: Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Algeria. The mountains are located in: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.
14. Which parts of Africa would you like to travel to? Why?
I would like to travel across the entire continent of Africa to see with my own eyes all the features, similarities and differences.
The people who lived not far from ancient Carthage were called “Afri” by the inhabitants of the city. From Phoenician the word afar means “dust”, and it is to this language that this name is attributed. When the Romans conquered Carthage, they named the province Africa. Later, regions that were known on this continent began to be called this way. And then the entire continent.
Another version says that the word has roots in the Berber word ifri, i.e. cave. This meant cave dwellers, the Afri people. Also, the Muslim province called “Ifriqiya”, which later arose in this place, also had the same root in its name.
I. Efremov, a famous writer and scientist, believed that the word “Africa” has roots in the ancient language Ta-Kem (“Afros” - foamy country, Egypt). This is due to the fact that when approaching the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea, several currents collide.
Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects of Africa
Gulf of Aden
. Indian Ocean Gulf. It got its name from the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on an Arabic root meaning “settled life.” According to another interpretation, the name was formed by a term from the ancient Semitic-Hamitic languages edinu - plain, steppe, which clearly reflects natural features.
Azores. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese named Ilhas dos Azores - "islands of hawks" for the abundance of these birds off the coast and in the archipelago.
Amirant Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by Admiral Vasco's expedition to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "admiral's islands".
Augrabis.Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".
Ahaggar.Mountain range in Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Ahaggar. The ethnonym is apparently based on the Arabic term “akhgar” - cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "dwellers of caves", "spirits of caves".
Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separates Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the Arabic words “bab” - gate, “mandib” - tears, i.e. means "gate of tears". The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.
White Nile.The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Blue River. The Arabic name for the Bahr el-Abyad river is “white river”. According to experts, the definition of "white" refers either to the cloudy color of the water or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.
Benguela Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given from the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means “land of reeds.”
Benue.Left tributary of the river Niger. The name comes from the Batta language, where be - “water”, nue - “mother”, i.e. means"mother of waters"
Bioko.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The Portuguese, having discovered Bioko, called it Formosa - “Beautiful” for the abundance of lush vegetation and the presence of fresh water. Later, the island was called Fernando Po in honor of the Portuguese discoverer, and in the 70s of the 20th century, Macias Nguema Biogo in honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.
Vaal. River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch colonists Boers for the color of the water: vaal - “muddy”, “gray”. The toponym is included in the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal - “beyond the Vaal”.
Wadi, wadi. The general name for the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - dry riverbed, valley.
Veld.The name of the arid plateaus in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of the Afrikaners), veld is a folk geographical term meaning "field".
Victoria.A lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingston in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speke. Therefore, at present, in young African countries located on the shores of the lake, other names are proposed: Umoja - “unity”, Uhuru - “freedom”, Shirikisho - “unification”, Uhuru na Umoja - the state motto of Tanzania, inscribed on the state coat of arms.
Victoria.Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named by him in honor of the Queen of Great Britain. Locals The waterfall is called Mosi-oa-Tunya - “thundering smoke”, or Seongo - “place of the rainbow”.
Virunga.Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name means "volcano" in the Nyoro language.
Volta.River in West Africa. The name Rio-da-Volta - "river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because... in the 15th century Their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. The Volta reservoir was created with the same name - one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2 ).
Guardafui.Cape in the east of the Somali Peninsula. Scientists believe that the name is derived from the Arabic corruption of the Portuguese word guardafu - “beware”, which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that there is a magnetic mountain at the very eastern tip of the Somali peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, ships approaching it crashed against the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. With strong winds, high waves, and poor visibility, ships were often carried onto the peninsula and crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "guardafuy" was a warning to sailors who sailed past this cape.
Gulf of Guinea.Bay Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. Named after the historical and geographical region of Guinea, washed by it. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is based on the name of the Berber tribe Kinawa (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the Kinawa region in the 13th century). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym is formed by the Berber words “agwinau” - “black” or “iguaven” - “dumb” (i.e. not knowledgeable of the language Berbers) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later Europeans corrupted the original word into Gunua, Ginua and finally Guinea.
Strait of Gibraltar.Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named after the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side of the strait. The modern form of the name of the rock arose as a result of centuries of use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - “mountain of Tariq”.
Blue Nile.The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbay - “father of waters”, and in Arab countries Bahr el-Azraq - “blue river”. The color name, according to some scientists, reflects the color of the water in the river, carrying bluish silt.
Good Hope . Cape in southern Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named by him Cabo Tormentoso - “Cape of Storms”. King João II of Portugal did not like the name and, at his behest, the cape was renamed Cabo da Bona Esperanza - “Cape of Good Hope”, meaning the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that B. Dias immediately named the cape after Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, this hypothesis cannot be proven or refuted due to the lack of sources contemporary with Dias’ voyage.
Drakensberg Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonialists, Harrow Drakenstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - “dragon”, stein - “stone”.
Zambezi.River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on maps was conveyed in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local Bantu languages means “big river”. The name of the river in the middle reaches in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym, has the same meaning.
Zanzibar.Island in the Indian Ocean eastern shore Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian term “bar” - “shore”, “edge” and the ethnonym “zinj”, which is based on the Arabic or Persian “zang”, “zeng” - “black”. Zinji is the collective name for the Negroid tribes of East Africa in medieval Muslim literature.
Cape Verde. Located on the peninsula of the same name east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - “Cape Verde”, because. was the first land that sailors saw covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.
Cape Verde Island.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after metro Zeleny, opposite which it is located. The transfer of the name of the islands into other languages is accepted in the form of translation, in contrast to the name of the state located on them.
Needle.Cape, the southernmost tip of Africa. Discovered in 1488 by B. Dias and named by him Cabo Sao Brandao - Cape St. Brandan, because. the discovery took place on this saint's day. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was put on maps under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the basis of the name as the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha meaning “peak”, “peak”. Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as “Cape of Peaks”, and the reason is a rocky cape.
Idi-Amin-Dada; Edward.Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Edward after the Crown Prince of Great Britain. In 1971, President Idi Amin Dada came to power in Uganda, and the lake was named after him. To this day, both names have been preserved for the reservoir.
Canary Islands.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Spain. The islands were known in ancient times under the Latin name Insulas Fortunatae. The Spaniards who visited the archipelago at the beginning of the 15th century called them islas Canarias - “islands of dogs”. According to one version, sailors saw a large number of dogs on the shores of the islands, which was the reason for the appearance of the toponym. According to another version, the archipelago was named after the main island of Gran Canaria. and the island is based on the fabulous country of Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.
Kenya.Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Maasai term “kee-niya” - “white mountain” as the basis of the toponym, which is associated with the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.
Livingston Falls. Located in the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scotsman by birth, D. Livingston.
Limpopo.River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch Boer colonists called the river Krokodil River - “Crocodile River” for the abundance of these reptiles in its waters.
Madeira.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because. was indeed covered with forests, which were later completely cut down. The earliest names for the archipelago: among the Carthaginians Al-Agnam - “island of goats” (for the abundance of these animals), among the Romans Insulae Purpurinae - “islands of purple” (for the dye mined there).
Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distortion by the Portuguese and other Europeans of the Berber name of the river N "Egiren - "river". In different parts of the flow it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Jolib - "big water"; in the middle and lower Kuara - "river", Issa Bari - “great river”; Mayo - “river”. The explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning of “black” from European languages is considered incorrect by modern toponymists.
Nile.The longest river in Africa. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is “hidden” (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called it Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "the river". The toponym Nile in the form Neilos was first found among the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one version, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term “nagal” - “river”, modified by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed the word lil - “water” from the Libyan tribes, distorting it into nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.
Nubian desert. Located in northeast Africa. Named after historical region Nubia, located between the Nile rapids. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word “nuba” - “gold”. In ancient times, there were the largest mines here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.
Orange.River in South Africa. The Hottentots called her Kai Garib - big river, Dutch Boer settlers of Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often named objects (rivers, lakes) based on the color of the water or shore. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to it by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland), the Boers, in honor of the Princes of Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. With someone's light hand, and perhaps through transformation, the name Oranskaya turned into Orange.
Sao Tome.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It was discovered by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (St. Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.
Somalia.Peninsula in eastern Africa. Named after the Somali people, who live in large parts of it. The ethnonym comes from the Cushitic languages and means “dark”, which is associated with the skin color of the people. Ptolemy (2nd century) called the peninsula the Southern Horn (nowadays the Horn of Africa is sometimes found). The cold current in the Indian Ocean is named after the peninsula - the Somali.
Tristan da Cuña.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Tristan da Cunha and named after him.
Africa Objects of geographical nomenclature. 7th grade Authors and compilers: Team “Astyr” (Astyrov Secondary School), team “Researchers” (Secondary School 118), team “Seeker” (Siberian Secondary School), team “Positiff” (Sherbakul Secondary School 1), organizers of the project “Fascinating Toponymy”
List of objects of nomenclature Seas: Mediterranean, Red.MediterraneanRed Gulfs: Guinea, Aden.GuineaAden Straits: Gibraltar, Bab el-Mandeb, Mozambique, Suez Canal.GibraltarBab el-Mandeb MozambiqueSuez Canal Islands: Madagascar, Canary.MadagascarCanary Peninsula ditch: Somalia. Somalia Landforms: mountains: Atlas, Drakensberg, Cape; East African Plateau, Ethiopian Highlands; volcanoes: Kilimanjaro, Kenya.AtlasDraconic CapeEast African PlateauEthiopian HighlandsKilimanjaro Kenya Rivers: Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi, Victoria Falls, Orange, Limpopo, Senegal.NileCongo NigerZambezi Victoria FallsOrangeLimpopoSenegal Lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika, Chad. VictoriaNyasaTanganyika Chad
Red Sea Sea of the Indian Ocean, between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The name is associated with the color orientation of the peoples of the East, according to which the southern side was designated red. For ancient Assyria and Babylon, in the south was the entire western part of the Indian Ocean, which was called Rubrugi, i.e. "Red Sea". Content
Strait of Gibraltar Strait between the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern part of Africa, connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Phoenicians were known as the “pillars of Hercules.” In the 8th century The rock on the shore of the strait began to be called Gibraltar in Spanish - “Mount Tariq”, and in Russian - Gibraltar. The strait is named after her. Content
The Orange River in southern Africa flows into the Atlantic Ocean. He examined the river and put it on the map in 1777 - 1779. Scottish officer R. Gordon. He also assigned the name in honor of the Dutch Oran dynasty - “Oran River”, but the Dutch oranje also means “orange”. Therefore, when translating the name into Russian, a mistake was made. This name has taken root in Russia. Content
Geography of Africa
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In the south, Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast Sinai Peninsula washed by the waters of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, in the east and southeast the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Geographical features of Africa
Atlas
The Atlas Mountains system extends from southwestern Morocco along the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain ranges, namely: High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Coastal Atlas. The most high point– Mount Toubkal, located in the western part of Morocco, with a height of 4,167 meters.
Congo River Basin
The Congo River Basin, located in central Africa, covers most of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the neighboring Republic of the Congo. It also covers Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of this fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 sq. km., and about 20% of all tropical forests in the world grow on its territory. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and its network of tributaries and streams serves as a transport function for the population internal countries Africa.
Great Rift Valley
A sharp depression of the Earth's surface, approximately 6,400 km long, extending from the Red Sea, near the border with Jordan in the Middle East, south to Mozambique. Essentially, this valley is the result of a series of geological faults caused by large volcanic eruptions many centuries ago. The result of these same faults were numerous sheer cliffs, mountain ranges, rocky valleys, and very deep lakes, located throughout the considerable length of this valley. In close proximity to the valley are many of Africa's highest mountains, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.
Ahaggar Highlands
Ahaggar is a highland region in the central part of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km away. south of the country's capital, and west of the city of Tamanrasset. The region is mostly rocky desert, with an average altitude of over 900 m above sea level. The highest point is Mount Takhat (3,003 m).
Kalahari Desert
The desert area is about 259,000 sq. km., it covers most of Botswana, south-west western part South Africa, and the entire western part of Namibia. This desert plateau is dotted with dry river mouths and has an abundance of dense bushes. There are several small mountain ranges in this area, including Karas and Hans. The Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park, located in South Africa, bordering Namibia, is home to large herds of wild animals.
Namib Desert
The Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, stretching over 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast. The desert begins in Angola, runs through Namibia, and ends at the Olifants River in the Western Cape in South Africa. To the east of the Atlantic coast, the desert gradually gains height, up to 200 km. at the foot of the Big Ledge Mountains.
Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm. in the driest areas of the desert up to 200 mm. at higher elevations, which is why the Namib can be considered the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically it consists of dune (sand) seas in the coastal areas, while the inland areas are dominated by gravel plains and rock formations.
Desert sand dunes, some of which reach 300 m in height and 32 km. in length, are the second largest in the world, second only to the dunes of Badin Jaran in China.
Sahara Desert
Covering almost one third of the entire African continent, the Sahara is largest desert in the world, with approx. total area in 9,065,000 sq. km. Topographically, the desert includes flat areas strewn with stones, mobile sand dunes, and numerous dune (sand) seas.
Desert altitude varies from 30 m below sea level to 3,350 m above sea level ( mountain peaks in Ahaggar and Tibesti). At the regional level, the Sahara is divided into the Libyan Desert, the Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, west of the Nile.
There is virtually no precipitation in the Sahara, but several underwater rivers flow through its territory, originating in the Atlas Mountains, which help irrigate isolated oases. In the east, the Nile waters help fertilize small areas of the desert.
Sahel
The Sahel is a broad strip of land stretching across the entire width of northern central Africa, southern region the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is a transition zone between the dry regions of the north and the tropical regions of the south. This area receives very little rainfall (15–20 cm per year), and the vegetation here is represented mainly by sparse grass and shrubs.
Nile River System
Africa is a part of the world with an area of 30.3 million km 2 with islands, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.
Geographical location
Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most of it), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient continent, Gondwana has a massive outline, with no large peninsulas or deep bays. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, and from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.
Main geographical characteristics
Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are small lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost entirely occupied by the Sahara Desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, the southeast is the East African Plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Drakensberg mountains The highest point in Africa is the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the world's largest crustal fault stretches, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.
The following rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger ( West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi (South Africa), as well as one of the deepest and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from south to north (its sources are located on the East African plateau, and it flows into delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). Rivers are characterized by high water content exclusively in the equatorial belt, due to precipitation there large quantity precipitation, most of them are characterized by high flow rates and have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake Africa and the second largest area after Lake Superior ( North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, maximum depth - 83 m), the largest salt closed lake- Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern edge of the world's greatest desert, the Sahara).
Due to Africa's location between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in Al-Aziziya (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shade).
On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo basin), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannas and woodlands, extending to Sudan, East and South Africa, to In northern and southern Africa, savannas give way to semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, 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 there is a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural zones of mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.
African countries
The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 are independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic(SADR). For a long time, Asian countries were foreign colonies of various European countries and only by the middle of the last century gained independence. Depending on geographical location Africa is divided into five regions: Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.
List of African countries
Nature
Mountains and plains of Africa
Most of the African continent is plain. Available mountain systems, highlands and plateaus. They are presented:
- the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
- the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands in the Sahara Desert;
- Ethiopian Highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
- Drakensberg Mountains in the south.
The highest point of the country is the Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the continent...
Deserts and savannas
The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwest side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from there into the continent to the east there is the Kalahari Desert.
The savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. In area it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical of savannas, low bushes and trees. The height of herbaceous vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. These can be practically desert savannas or tall grasses, with a grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...
Rivers
The longest river in the world, the Nile, is located on the African continent. The direction of its flow is from south to north.
The list of major water systems of the mainland includes the Limpopo, Zambezi and Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through Central Africa.
Located on the Zambezi River famous waterfall Victoria, 120 m high and 1,800 meters wide...
Lakes
On the list large lakes On the African continent there is Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square km. Two more large lakes continent: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in faults of lithospheric plates.
There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the world's oceans...
Seas and oceans
The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans at once: the Indian and Atlantic. Also off its shores are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part, the waters form the deep Gulf of Guinea.
Despite the location of the African continent, the coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the Indian Ocean, the currents are warm. The largest are Mozambique, in northern waters, and Agulhas, in southern...
Forests of Africa
Forests make up just over a quarter of the entire African continent. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, arbutus etc. Coniferous plants grow high in the mountains, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.
Closer to the coast there are cork oak forests; in the tropical region, evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...
Nature, plants and animals of Africa
The vegetation of the equatorial forests is diverse, with about 1000 species of various types of trees growing here: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, oil palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects live here, living directly on the trees. On the ground live: brush-eared pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes - gorillas...
40% of Africa's territory is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with forbs, low, thorny bushes, milkweed, and isolated trees (tree-like acacias, baobabs).
Here there is the largest concentration of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are herbivores such as: hartebeest (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-footed antelope, various types gazelles (Thomson's, Grant's), blue wildebeest, and in some places there are also rare jumping antelopes - springboks.
The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness; these are small thorny bushes and separately growing tufts of herbs. The unique Erg Chebbi date palm grows in the oases, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and salt formation. In the Namib Desert, unique plants such as Welwitschia and Nara grow, the fruits of which are eaten by porcupines, elephants and other desert animals.
Animals here include various species of antelopes and gazelles, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling vast distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among the mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Dorcas gazelle, sabre-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian ass, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are resident and migratory birds.
Climatic conditions
Seasons, weather and climate of African countries
The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is in an area of low pressure and receives sufficient moisture; the territories north and south of the equator are in subequatorial climatic zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisture and arid desert climate. The far north and south are in the subtropical climate zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has minimal precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the peculiarities of the movement of trade winds, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara, where the amount precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall at all...
Resources
Natural Resources of Africa
In terms of water resources, Africa is considered one of the poorest continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only sufficient to satisfy primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.
Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible lands are cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of adequate water volume, soil erosion, etc.
African forests are a source of timber, including valuable species. The countries in which they grow, export raw materials. Resources are being used unwisely and ecosystems are being destroyed little by little.
In the depths of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.
Energy-intensive resources are widely available on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investment...
Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, the following can be noted:
- the mining industry, which exports minerals and fuels;
- the oil refining industry, distributed mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
- chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
- as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.
The main agricultural products are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. Oil palm is grown in tropical regions of Africa.
Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total agricultural output. Livestock production indicators are also not high and the reason for this is the infection of livestock by the tsetse fly...
Culture
Peoples of Africa: culture and traditions
There are approximately 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups living across 62 African countries, totaling approximately 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization; it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.
Most peoples in Africa can number several thousand people or several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 nations, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with a population of more than 5 million people, 1/3 are peoples with a population of more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...
There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:
- West Africa. Peoples speaking the Mande languages (Susu, Maninka, Mende, Vai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zaghawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages (Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, Nupe, Gbari, Igala and Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, Kambari, Birom and Jukun, etc.);
- Equatorial Africa. Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandans), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Komo, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
- South Africa. Rebellious peoples and speakers of Khoisani languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
- East Africa . Bantu, Nilotes and Sudanese people groups;
- Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra), Cushitic (Oromo, Somali, Sidamo, Agaw, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages (Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
- Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.
In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the southern European minor race, mainly professing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.
