Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Africa
Africa, the second largest continent after Asia, spans about 11.7 million square miles, which accounts for around 20% of Earth's total land area. It is the only continent that straddles both the Equator and the prime meridian, highlighting its unique geographical position. The continent is home to 54 countries, including the world’s newest nation, South Sudan. Africa also features some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert, and the Nile River, the longest river in the world. Despite its size, Africa is often seen as underdeveloped compared to other continents due to historical factors like colonization and the slave trade, which deeply affected its development.
Islands and Coastal Features
Africa’s coastline, although extensive at 18,950 miles, is relatively smooth with fewer natural harbors, inlets, or deep bays, which historically limited maritime trade and exploration. Off the African mainland, Madagascar is not only one of the largest islands in the world but also an ecological hotspot with species found nowhere else on Earth, such as lemurs. Other notable island groups include the Seychelles, famous for their pristine beaches and diverse marine life, and the Comoros and Mauritius, both known for volcanic origins. To the northwest, the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory, and Cape Verde, an island nation, form part of Africa’s cultural and economic landscape, despite their distance from the mainland.
Geography and Climate of Africa
Africa's diverse geography is shaped by various climatic zones, ranging from the arid Sahara in the north to the lush rainforests of Central Africa. The continent hosts vast plateaus, mountain ranges like the Drakensberg and the Ethiopian Highlands, and great lakes such as Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. The equatorial region experiences heavy rainfall, supporting rich biodiversity in rainforests, while regions like the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts see extremely limited rainfall. Africa is also known for its Great Rift Valley, a major tectonic feature that runs from the Red Sea down to Mozambique, forming fertile highlands and hosting several of the continent's major lakes. This diverse environment greatly influences where people live, with the majority of Africa’s population concentrated in more fertile or coastal areas.
Population and Cultural Influence
Africa is home to over 1.4 billion people, representing about 16% of the global population, with significant cultural and linguistic diversity across its 54 countries. The continent has more than 2,000 distinct languages, with Arabic, Swahili, French, and English being some of the most widely spoken. Historically, Africa has been a melting pot of various civilizations and cultures, with Ancient Egypt being one of the earliest and most advanced. The spread of Islam and Christianity across different regions has shaped the religious landscape, with Islam dominant in North Africa and parts of West Africa, while Christianity is prevalent in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Africa’s diaspora, created through the Atlantic slave trade and migration, has also had a profound influence on global culture, particularly in the Americas.
Geological History
Geologically, Africa is one of the oldest continents, with Precambrian rocks covering about 57% of its land surface. These rocks date back billions of years and provide key insights into Earth’s early history. Africa's geological structure was significantly shaped during the Paleozoic Era, when the continent, once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, experienced mountain building episodes and glacial periods, evidence of which can still be found in regions like southern Morocco and Namibia. Over time, tectonic activity has given rise to various landscapes, from the Ethiopian Highlands to the high altitude Atlas Mountains. The East African Rift Valley, one of the most geologically active areas in the world, continues to reshape the landscape as tectonic plates pull apart, creating new valleys and sometimes causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The mineral wealth of Africa, including vast deposits of gold, diamonds, and other precious resources, is a direct result of this long geological evolution.
