African platform landform. Relief and minerals of africa

Everyone remembers that Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. But few people know that Africa is also the "highest" of the continents, since it has the highest average height above sea level. The relief of Africa is different great variety and complexity: there are mountain systems, plateaus, large plains, active and extinct volcanoes.

The relief of any region, as is known, is closely connected with the tectonic and geological structure of the territory. The relief of Africa and the minerals of this continent are also associated with the tectonics of the mainland. Let's consider this question in more detail.

Plan for describing the relief of the territory of Africa

The relief of any continent is characterized according to a specific plan. The relief of Africa is described according to the following algorithm:

1. characteristics of the mainland.
2. Analysis of the history of the development of the earth's crust.
3. Characterization of external and internal (exogenous and endogenous) factors of relief formation.
4. Description common features relief of the continent.
5. Highlighting the maximum and minimum height.
6. Minerals and their distribution on the territory of the mainland.

Low and High Africa

The description of the relief of Africa should begin with the fact that the mainland, from an orographic point of view, is divided into two parts: High and Low Africa.

Low Africa occupies more than 60% of the entire area of ​​​​the continent (geographically, these are the northern, western and central parts of Africa). Heights up to 1000 meters prevail here. High Africa covers the southern and eastern parts of the mainland, where the average heights are 1000-1500 meters above sea level. Here are the highest points - Kilimanjaro (5895 meters), Rwenzori and Kenya.

General characteristics of the African relief

Now consider the main features of the relief of Africa.

The main feature is that the relief of the mainland is mostly flat. Mountain ranges border the mainland only in the south and northwest. In East Africa, the relief is predominantly flat.

Such landforms of Africa predominate: plateaus, plains, highlands, plateaus, remnant peaks and volcanic massifs. At the same time, they are located on the territory of the mainland very unevenly: inside it there are mostly leveled surfaces - plains and plateaus, and along the edges - hills and mountain ranges. This feature is associated with the tectonic structure of Africa, most of which lies on the ancient platform of the Precambrian age, and along its edges there are areas of folding.

Of all the mountain systems in Africa, only the Atlas is young. In the east of the mainland, the huge East African Rift Valley stretches for more than 6,000 kilometers in length. Grandiose volcanoes formed in the places of its faults, and very deep lakes formed in the depressions.

It is worth listing the largest landforms in Africa. These include the Atlas, Draconian and Ethiopian highlands, the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands, the East African plateau.

atlas mountains

The mountainous landforms of Africa are, as already mentioned, only in the south and northwest of the mainland. One of the African mountain systems is the Atlas.

The Atlas Mountains arose 300 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and African plates. Later, they were raised to considerable heights due to neotectonic movements that took place at the end of the Paleogene. It is worth noting that earthquakes occur in this area even now.

The Atlas is composed mainly of marls, limestones, and also ancient volcanic rocks. The bowels are rich in metal ores, as well as phosphorites and oil.

This is the largest mountain system Africa, which includes several almost parallel mountain ranges:

• High Atlas.
• Rif.
• Tel Atlas.
• Middle Atlas.
• Sahara Atlas.
• Antiatlas.

The total length of the mountain range is about 2400 kilometers. The maximum heights are located on the territory of the state of Morocco (Mount Toubkal, 4165 meters). The average heights of the ridges range from 2000-2500 meters.

dragon mountains

This mountain system in the south of the mainland is located on the territory of three states - Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland. The highest point of the Dragon Mountains is Mount Thabana-Ntlenyana with a height of 3482 meters. The mountains formed 360 million years ago, during the Hercynian era. They got such a formidable name due to their inaccessibility and wild appearance.

The territory is rich in minerals: platinum, gold, tin and coal. Unique and organic world Dragon Mountains, which has several endemic species. The main part of the mountain range (Drakensberg Park) is a UNESCO site.

The Drakensberg Mountains are the watershed boundary between the Indian Ocean basin and the upper reaches of the Orange River. They have a unique shape: their tops are flat, table-like, separated by erosion processes into separate plateaus.

Ethiopian highlands

The relief of Africa is strikingly diverse. Here you can find high mountain ranges of the Alpine type, hilly plateaus, vast plains and deep depressions. One of the most famous mainland is the Ethiopian Highlands, within which not only Ethiopia is located, but also 6 other African states.

This is a real mountain system with average heights of 2-3 kilometers and the highest point of 4550 meters (Mount Ras Dashen). Due to the specific features of the relief of the highlands, it is often called the "roof of Africa". In addition, this "roof" often shakes, seismicity remains high here.

The highlands formed only 75 million years ago. It consists of crystalline schists and gneisses overlain by volcanic rocks. Quite picturesque are the western slopes of the Ethiopian Highlands, indented by the canyons of the Blue Nile River.

Within the highlands there are rich deposits of gold, sulfur, platinum, copper and in addition, it is also an important agricultural region. It is considered the birthplace of coffee, as well as some varieties of wheat.

Mount Kilimanjaro

This volcano is not only the highest point of the mainland (5895 meters), but also a kind of symbol of all of Africa. The volcano is located on the border of two states - Kenya and Tanzania. From the Swahili language, the name of the volcano is translated as "sparkling mountain".

Kilimanjaro rises above the Masai plateau at a height of 900 meters, so visually it seems that the volcano is unrealistically high. Scientists do not predict the activity of the volcano in the near future (apart from the possible release of gases), although it was recently found that the lava is located 400 meters from the Kibo crater.

According to local legends, the volcano erupted about two centuries ago. Although there is no documentary evidence for this. The highest point of Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Peak - was first conquered in 1889 by Hans Meyer. Today, the speedy conquest of Kilimanjaro is practiced. In 2010, the Spaniard Kilian Burgada set a kind of world record by climbing to the top of the volcano in 5 hours and 23 minutes.

Relief of Africa and minerals

Africa is a continent with huge economic potential, which is characterized by huge reserves of various minerals. In addition, a more or less even, slightly dissected topography of the territory contributes to the development of industry and the construction of roads and other means of communication.

Africa is rich in minerals, on the basis of which metallurgy and petrochemistry can develop. Thus, the continent holds the absolute leadership in the world in terms of total reserves of phosphorites, chromites and tantalum. Africa also has large deposits of manganese, copper and uranium ore, bauxite, gold and even diamonds. On the mainland, they even distinguish the so-called "copper belt" - a belt of high mineral and raw material potential, stretching from Katanga to (DRC). In addition to copper itself, gold, cobalt, tin, uranium and oil are also mined here.

In addition, such regions of Africa as North Africa and West Africa (its Guinean part) are also considered very rich in the presence of minerals.

So you got acquainted with the features of the relief of the hottest continent on Earth. The relief of Africa is unique and diverse, here you can find all its forms - mountain ranges, plateaus and plateaus, highlands, hills and depressions.

”, “minerals”. They are considered in the physical and geographical characteristics of any region.

Definition 1

Geological structure - this is the structure of a section of the earth's crust, the features of the occurrence of rock layers, their mineralogical composition, and origin.

When studying the geological structure of the continents, the concepts of "platform", "folded area" are encountered.

Definition 2

Platform is a large, relatively immobile area of ​​the earth's crust.

Platforms underlie every continent. In the relief, the platforms correspond to plains.

Definition 3

Fold area - a mobile section of the earth's crust, where active mountain-building processes (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions) take place.

In the relief, folded areas are represented by mountain systems.

Definition 4

Relief is a set of irregularities in the earth's surface.

Definition 5

Minerals - this is the wealth of the earth's interior, which can be used by man to meet his needs.

Features of the geological structure of Africa

About $180 million years ago, the territory of Africa was integral part ancient supercontinent Gondwana. When Gondwana split, the African lithospheric plate separated. At the heart of the modern territory of Africa lies a part of this plate, namely the ancient (Precambrian) African-Arabian platform .

In most of the territory, active mountain building stopped as early as $1000 - $500 million years ago. Later, the rigid core of the mainland did not experience folded processes.

The lower part of the platform, that is, its foundation, is made up of crystalline rocks – basalts and granites having igneous and metamorphic origin. They are very ancient in age. Due to weathering, continental sedimentary deposits accumulated on the basement, and marine sedimentary deposits accumulated in depressions. Over millions of years, they formed a powerful sedimentary cover on the platform. It should be noted that the sedimentary cover covers the foundation unevenly, because the platform experienced several slow ups and downs over a long period of time. In those areas where a long process of uplift took place, the ancient crystalline rocks of the basement appeared on the surface, thus forming shields.

Definition 6

The shield is the place where the crystalline foundation of the platform comes out to the surface.

On other parts of the platform, the processes of subsidence and flooding by the waters of the ancient seas took place. In these places, the foundation was covered by a huge thickness of marine sedimentary deposits, and slabs formed in such areas of the platform. Millions of years later, the platform in its northwestern and southern parts was “completed” with parts of the ocean floor, while its sedimentary rocks were crumpled into folds and formed folded areas (area Atlas and Cape mountains ). More than $60 million years ago, the African-Arabian platform began to rise intensively. This rise was accompanied by giant faults in earth's crust. During these faults, the largest system on land was formed East African faults (rifts) . It stretches for $4,000$ km from the Isthmus of Suez along the bottom of the Red Sea and overland to the Zambezi River. The width of the rifts in some places reaches up to $120$ km. The above faults, like a knife, cut through the African-Arabian platform. Along them there are earthquakes, manifestations of volcanism.

Relief of Africa

The relief of Africa is dominated by flat areas. This is due to the fact that almost the entire continent is based on a platform. A feature of the African plains is the predominance of high plains:

• hills,
• plateau,
• plateaus.

This can be explained by the general uplift of the entire territory of Africa in the Cenozoic. The lowlands extend only in narrow strips, mainly along the sea coasts.

The largest plains are located in the northern and western parts of the mainland. Their surface is very heterogeneous. At the same time, the alternation of highlands with lowlands and plateaus is characteristic of Africa. In places where the crystalline rocks of the foundation rise to the surface, Ahaggar and Tibesti highlands , with a height of more than $3000$ m. Among the high plateaus (up to $1000$ m) lies the marshy depression of the Congo. The Kalahari Basin is also surrounded on all sides by plateaus and plateaus.

Relatively small area in Africa is occupied by mountains. Has the highest scores East African plateau . On it are extinct volcanoes Kenya ($5199$ m) and kilimanjaro ($5895$ m) is the highest point in Africa.

These volcanic mountains are confined to the East African Rift Zone. Ethiopian highlands with numerous extinct volcanoes, it is uplifted by $2,000-3,000 m. In the northwestern part of the mainland rise atlas mountains (or the Atlas Mountains), formed at the junction of two lithospheric plates, in a place where the earth's crust was crumpled into folds. In the south of the mainland, low and flat-topped cape mountains . They look like cups turned upside down (hence the name). dragon mountains - higher, from the coast in giant ledges they descend to the hinterland of the mainland.

Minerals

The bowels of Africa are rich in a variety of minerals, their placement is closely related to the geological structure of the mainland. Deposits of ore minerals are confined to the ancient foundation of the platform. In particular, this applies to gold and ores such as:

• iron,
• copper,
• zinc,
• tin,
• chrome.

The largest deposits are concentrated in the south and east of Africa, in places where the basement is shallow. In particular, there are significant deposits gold and copper , in terms of the number of their reserves, Africa ranks first and second in the world, respectively. The bowels of the mainland are rich and uranium ores . Africa is famous for its deposits diamonds - Valuable gems.

Remark 1

They are used not only for the manufacture of expensive and exquisite jewelry, but also as materials unsurpassed in their hardness. Half of the world's diamonds are mined in Africa.

Their deposits are found on the southwestern coast and in the center of the mainland. Deposits of non-metallic minerals occur in sedimentary rocks, which cover the low areas of the platform with a thick cover. Such breeds in Africa include:

• coal,
• natural gas,
• oil,
• phosphorites and others.

There are huge deposits in the north of the Sahara and on the shelf of the Gulf of Guinea. The developed deposits of phosphorites, widely used in the production of fertilizers, are located in the north of the mainland. There are also ore minerals in the sedimentary strata, which were formed as a result of weathering processes of igneous and metamorphic rocks. For example, in the southern and western regions of Africa, deposits are known iron, copper, manganese ores and gold that are of sedimentary origin.

Creating a Majority modern forms relief of Africa occurred in the Neogene and at the beginning Quaternary period, when differentiated tectonic movements formed the inland basins and the uplifts separating them, the highest eastern margin of Africa was fragmented, and the formation of the Atlas Mountains was basically completed in the North-West.

The flat relief of a large part of Africa is the result of a long peneplenization. AT modern era the leveling surfaces created in the Neogene are most developed; the levels of these surfaces - vast plains and plateaus, composed mainly of sedimentary rocks, rise from North to South, from Low Africa to High Africa. Most of the plateaus and highlands, rising in steep ledges above the Neogene leveling surfaces, are remnant massifs preserved from destruction, mainly crystalline, often also flat-topped, leveled by previous cycles of peneplenization up to the Early Mesozoic.

In modern and past geological epochs, the dissection of the surface of Africa was hampered by the widespread development of armoring "shells" - lateritic crusts in areas of hot and variable humid climates and salt crusts in areas of a desert climate. Therefore, Africa is a continent with a predominance of table landforms, alternating in places with cuest ledges of monoclinal sedimentary suites. Only in the zones of manifestation of fault tectonics (mainly along the eastern margin of the mainland), Hercynian and Alpine folding (in the Cape and Atlas mountains), does the relief acquire a mountainous character with alternating ridges, intermountain valleys and basins.

The relief of Africa is very characteristic of stepped plains, plateaus and plateaus, crowned with numerous remnant peaks. Plains and plateaus lie mainly inside the mainland, most of the hills and ridges are located on its outskirts, lowlands - mainly along the coasts of the oceans and seas.

The Atlas Mountains frame Low Africa from the North-West. They form complex system ridges with an average height of 1200-1500 m, mainly folded in the North, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and folded-blocky in the South. They reach their highest height in the West, in the High Atlas (Tubkal, 4165 m). The northern ridge of the Rif and the High Atlas frame the plateau of the Moroccan Meseta, stepwise descending to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Numerous spurs extending from the ridges to the East of the High Atlas surround high mountain basins, united by the name High Plateaus.

Most of Low Africa is occupied by the plains and plateaus of the Sahara and Sudan, extending in the South to the North Guinea Upland and the Azande Upland. These plains and plateaus surround the highlands of Ahaggar (Tahat, 3003 m) and Tibesti (Emi-Kusi volcano, 3415 m) in the Central Sahara, where the ancient base of the mainland, raised to the highest height for Low Africa, is blocked by lava flows and crowned with cones extinct volcanoes. Ahaggar and Tibesti are surrounded by cuesta ridges, reaching a height of 1000 m and framed by a ring of lower (500-1000 m high) plateaus (Tanezruft, Hamada-el-Hamra, Tademait, etc.). The plateau is adjoined by accumulative plains in the Western, Northern and Eastern Sahara, as well as in Sudan, lying in the troughs of the ancient basement of the African Platform. Most of the Pre-Atlas trough (in the northwestern part of the Sahara) is filled with demolition products from the Atlas Mountains and is expressed in relief as piedmont plains. Wide strips of lowlands go to the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition to Ahaggar and Tibesti, the crystalline base of the platform is exposed in the Etbay Ridge (Oda, 2259 m), which rises steeply (along the fault line) above the Red Sea, on the Darfur plateau, which separates the White Nile and Chad depressions, and on the El-Eglab plateau, which separates the El-Dzhuf basin from the Atlantic lowland.

On the plains of the Sahara and Sudan, differences in relief associated with exogenous processes are clearly manifested. In the Sahara, where physical weathering dominates, gravelly deserts (hamads), pebble (regs) and clayey (serirs) are classically represented, occupying most of its area. Sands cover about 1/5 of the surface of the Sahara and stand out as a special type of sandy deserts (ergs). At the same time, traces of the impact of the humid climate of the pluvial epochs of the Quaternary period have been preserved in the relief of the Sahara - dry channels (oueds), lake basins, the bottoms of which are now occupied by solonchaks, etc.

To the south of the Sahara, in conditions of a variable humid climate, both physical weathering (mainly in the dry season) and water erosion (mainly in the wet season) take part in the formation of the relief. Plateaus and plateaus rise above the plains of Sudan - Air (1900 m), Ennedi (1450 m), Darfur (3088 m) and others. The plateaus of southern Sudan are dissected by wide, slightly incised valleys of permanent rivers carrying a large number of alluvium deposited during spills in depressions of the Nigerian depression (in the area of ​​the so-called mainland Niger Delta), around Lake Chad and in the depression of the White Nile.

The North Guinea Upland, rising along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, is a protrusion of the ancient crystalline foundation, dissected by tectonic troughs and faults into separate massifs, reaching greatest height in the East (Joe Plateau, 1735 m) and in the West (Bintimani, 1948 m). In the extreme South of Low Africa, in the closed syneclise of the African platform, lies the Congo depression, the bottom of which is bordered by an amphitheater of terrace-like plateaus from 500 to 1000 m high. The depression is surrounded on all sides by protrusions of an ancient crystalline foundation: in the North - Azande Plateau (Ngaya, 1388 m, Congo-Shari watershed); in the West - the Adamaua mountains (height up to 3008 m); in the South - the latitudinal watershed of the Congo - Zambezi rivers (Moko, 2610 m). The Congo Basin is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the South Guinea Upland (1500–2000 m high), with a characteristic complex terrain mountainous country, densely dissected by many rivers; to the East, above the depression, a steep wall rises the East African Plateau broken by faults.

High Africa includes the entire uplifted and tectonically fragmented eastern margin of Africa, including the Ethiopian Highlands, the East African Plateau, and South Africa. In High Africa, not only the absolute heights of the continent increase, but also the vertical dissection of the relief. This means that the crystalline rocks of the African platform are exposed; lava plateaus and volcanic cones are widespread.

The Ethiopian highlands lie on average at an altitude of 1800-2000 m, the highest high peak is Mt. Ras Dashen (4623 m). To the East and South-East, it abruptly breaks off along the lines of meridional faults to the Afar depression, where the deepest depression in Africa is located - Lake. Assal (-153 m), and to the Ethiopian graben, in the West it gradually decreases to the plains of Sudan. The western slopes of the highlands are cut by deep canyons of the Blue Nile and its tributaries.

Lying to the South-East of the Ethiopian Highlands, the Somali Peninsula is formed in the northern part by stepped plateaus, breaking off in the South-East to the accumulative coastal lowland.

The East African Plateau (average height is about 1000 m) is broken by numerous tectonic faults. In the relief, basement plains, fault depressions and ledges, blocky mountains, lava plateaus and volcanic cones alternate (among them the highest peak of Africa - Mt. Kilimanjaro, 5895 m).

Almost all of South Africa is occupied by the Kalahari Plain, similar in shape to the Congo Basin, but elevated by 900-1000 m above sea level. Edge mountains and plateaus rise stepwise above the Kalahari. In the north, this is the latitudinal watershed of the Congo-Zambezi rivers; in the east, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, is the Matabele plateau, abruptly breaking off along the fault line to the coastal lowland of Mozambique. To the south of Limpopo, the Weld Plateau, the Dragon Mountains, and the Basuto Highlands rise in steps over the Kalahari. The highest peaks of the Basuto Highlands, armored with basalt covers, retain flat shapes and reach the highest height in South Africa (Tabana-Ntlenyana, 3482 m). From the south, the Kalahari closes the Upper Karoo plateau. Dolerite intrusions crown its highest southern regions (Sniuberge mountains, 2505 m). From the West, the plateaus and plateaus of Namaqualand, Damaraland, Kaoko and the Serra da Shela range rise above the Kalahari. The marginal uplifts, framing the Kalahari, in the East and West abruptly break off to the coastal lowlands, in the South - to the B. Karru depression. The steep cliff of the Great Ledge, clearly expressed in the relief, forms not only an orographic, but also a landscape boundary, stretching from the river. Limpopo (to the East) to the river. Kunene (in the West).

In the extreme south of the mainland, the folded-blocky Cape Mountains (height up to 2326 m) rise, the flat-topped ridges of which are separated by wide longitudinal valleys (Small Karru and others) and are crossed by narrow transverse gorges.

Much in common with the relief of South Africa is the relief of the island of Madagascar, a continental block separated from South Africa by the graben of the Mozambique Channel.

Africa is dominated by plains (Fig. 53). Large mountain ranges cover only a fifth of the territory of the mainland. This is due to the fact that the mainland is based on the ancient African-Arabian platform. It has been established that the thickness of its sedimentary cover in separate places is 7000 m. The folded structures collapsed under the influence of external forces, forming high plains. They stretch for hundreds of kilometers. This is the uplands Tibesti.

In the north and west of the mainland, individual blocks of the platform sank more often, forming huge depressions. They were repeatedly flooded by the sea. Now heights up to 1000 m prevail here, and therefore this whole part of the mainland is called Low Africa.

The southern and eastern part of the mainland, where the average heights exceed 1000 m, is called High Africa. Here the platform rose and fell, as a result of which, over time, Ethiopian highlands and East African plateau. At the same time, individual blocks of the platform in East Africa were sinking, thanks to "the theme arose whole system deep faults in the earth's crust, which formed Great African Rift (Fig. 54). Here magma erupted and volcanoes erupted. Some of them have already died out, such as the highest peak in Africa - Mt. kilimanjaro, the height of which is 5895 m (Fig. 55).

In High Africa, there are both single peaks and large mountain ranges at the edges of the platform. For a significant height, they are called mountains. These are, for example, dragon mountains(Fig. 56). The slopes of the mountains resemble giant steps descending to the hinterland of the mainland. To the coast of the Indian Ocean, mountains often break off with sheer slopes. Also steep slopes have old cape mountains, extending along the southern edge of Africa. (Use the atlas map to determine their age.)

Africa is "spreading". This can be explained by the continental drift hypothesis. After the split of Gondwana, Africa, unlike other continents, moved relatively little, since it was more influenced by tensile forces, rather than compressive forces. And the cracks in the earth's crust are proof of these stretching forces. The Red Sea is also a consequence of these faults. Scientists believe that East Africa may someday separate from the rest of the mainland, as the Arabian Peninsula did earlier, and before it, the island of Madagascar.

Under the influence of wind and flowing waters, numerous small forms of the earth's surface were formed in Africa. On a large territory of Africa, the wind is in charge, forming the so-called eolian landforms. These are sandy hills, dunes, dunes, many of which occupy huge areas and reach the height of skyscrapers (Fig. 57).

• At the heart of the mainland lies an ancient platform, which determined the predominance of the flat relief of Africa.
• Volcanism contributed to the formation of high uplands and individual volcanic peaks.

On this page, material on the topics:

• The relief and geological structure of Africa briefly

• Briefly about the relief of Africa

• What are the main landforms of Africa that cross the Greenwich meridian

• Gdz compendium on the geography of the relief of Africa

• Geological development of Africa

Questions about this item:

Africa is the second largest continent on planet Earth. The first in size is the mainland Eurasia. There is another part of the world, which is also called Africa. This article will consider Africa as the mainland of the planet.

In terms of its area, the size of Africa is 29.2 million km2 (with islands - 30.3 million km2), which is about 20% of the entire land surface of the planet. The continent of Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast, West Coast it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south and east the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and the northeast coast is washed by the Red Sea. There are 62 states on the territory of Africa, of which 54 are independent states, and the population of the entire continent is about 1 billion people. By clicking on the link you can see full list African countries in the table.

The size of Africa from north to south is 8,000 kilometers, and when viewed from east to west, it is approximately 7,500 kilometers.

Extreme points on mainland Africa:

1) The easternmost point of the mainland is Cape Ras Hafun, which is located on the territory of the state of Somalia.

2) The northernmost point of this mainland is Cape Blanco, which is located in the Republic of Tunisia.

3) Most western point continent is Cape Almadi, which is located on the territory of the Republic of Senegal.

4) And, finally, the southernmost point of the African continent is Cape Agulhas, which is located on the territory of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa).

Relief of Africa

Most of the mainland is made up of plains. The following relief forms predominate: highlands, plateaus, stepped plains and plateaus. The mainland is conditionally divided into High Africa (where the heights of the mainland reach a size of over 1000 meters - the southeast of the mainland) and Low Africa (where the heights reach a size mostly less than 1000 meters - the northwestern part).

The highest point on the mainland is Mount Kilimanjaro, which reaches a height of 5895 meters above sea level. Also in the south of the mainland there are the Drakon and Cape Mountains, in the east of Africa there is the Ethiopian Highlands, and to the south of it is the East African Plateau, in the northwest of the continent are the Atlas Mountains.

In the north of the mainland is the largest desert on the planet - the Sahara, in the south is the Kalahari Desert, and in the southwest of the mainland there is the Namib Desert.

At the same time, the lowest point of the mainland is the bottom of the salt lake Assal, the depth of which reaches 157 meters below sea level.

Climate of Africa

The climate of Africa can be put in first place among all the continents in terms of warmth. This is the hottest continent, as it is completely in hot climatic zones planet Earth and is crossed by the equator line.

Central Africa is located in the equatorial belt. This belt is characterized by high precipitation and there is no change of seasons. To the south and north of the equatorial belt are the subequatorial belts, which are characterized by the rainy season in summer and the dry season in winter. high temperatures air. If you follow further south and north after the subequatorial belts, then the northern and southern tropical belts follow, respectively. Such belts are characterized by low precipitation at fairly high air temperatures, which leads to the formation of deserts.

African inland waters

The inland waters of Africa are uneven in structure, but at the same time vast and extended. On the mainland, the longest river is the Nile River (the length of its system reaches 6852 km), and the Congo River is considered the most full-flowing river (the length of its system reaches 4374 km), which is famous for being the only river that crosses the equator twice.

There are lakes on the mainland. The largest lake is Lake Victoria. The area of ​​this lake is 68 thousand km2. The greatest depth in this lake reaches 80 m. The lake itself is the second in its area on planet Earth from fresh lakes.

30% of the land mass of mainland Africa is desert, in which water bodies can be temporary, that is, dry up completely at times. But at the same time, usually in such desert regions, The groundwater located in artesian basins.

Flora and fauna of Africa

The African continent is famous for its diversity of both flora and fauna. Tropical rainforests grow on the continent, which are replaced by light forests and savannahs. In the subtropical zone, mixed forests can also be found.

The most common plants in the forests of Africa are palms, ceiba, sundew and many others. But in the savannahs, you can most often find thorny shrubs and small trees. The desert is distinguished by a small variety of plants growing in it. Most often these are grasses, shrubs or trees in oases. Many areas of the desert have no vegetation at all. A special plant in the desert is the amazing Velvichia plant, which can live for more than 1000 years, it releases 2 leaves that grow throughout the life of the plant and can reach a length of 3 meters.

Diverse in Africa and animal world. In savannah areas, grass grows very quickly and well, which attracts many herbivorous animals (rodents, hares, gazelles, zebras, etc.), and, accordingly, predators that feed on herbivorous animals (leopards, lions, etc.).

The desert at first glance may seem uninhabited, but in fact there are many reptiles, insects, birds that hunt mainly at night.

Africa has become famous for such animals as elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, big variety monkeys, zebras, leopards, dune cats, gazelles, crocodiles, parrots, antelopes, rhinos and much more. This continent is amazing and unique in its own way.

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