AFRICA
Size and Population: Africa is the second-largest continent, covering about 30.3 million square kilometres, and is also the second most populous, with over 1.5 billion people as of 2025.
Geographical Boundaries: It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Red Sea to the northeast.
Number of Countries: Africa comprises 54 recognized sovereign countries.
Largest and Smallest Countries:
- Largest by Area: Algeria
- Smallest by Area: Seychelles; on the mainland, The Gambia is the smallest.
Population Centers:
- Most Populous Country: Nigeria.
- Largest City: Lagos, Nigeria.
Major Geographical Features:
- Highest Point: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, at 5,895 meters.
- Lowest Point: Lake Assal in Djibouti, at 153 meters below sea level.
- Longest River: The Nile River, approximately 6,650 kilometers long.
- Largest Lake: Lake Victoria, covering about 68,800 square kilometers.
- Largest Desert: The Sahara Desert, spanning approximately 9.2 million square kilometers.
Natural Resources: Africa is rich in minerals like diamonds, gold, and non-ferrous metals, particularly in regions like South Africa and the Katanga Plateau.
Biodiversity: The continent hosts diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, giraffes, and rhinoceroses, especially in savanna regions.
Cultural Diversity: Africa is home to approximately 3,000 tribes, such as the Masai, Zulu, Bushmen, and Pygmies, each with distinct languages and traditions.
Languages: Over 2,000 languages are spoken across the continent.
Historical Significance: Often termed the “Cradle of Humankind,” Africa has yielded significant archaeological findings related to early human evolution.
Economy and Agriculture: Predominantly based on subsistence farming and animal rearing, with key commercial crops including cocoa, cotton, jute, tea, coffee, and palm oil.
| Feature | Description |
| Highest Mountain | Mount Kilimanjaro: Located in Tanzania, it stands at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) and is the highest point in Africa. |
| River Crossing the Equator Twice | Congo River: Also known as the Zaire River, it crosses the Equator twice, making it unique among the world’s major rivers. |
| Largest Lake | Lake Victoria: With a surface area of approximately 59,947 km² (23,146 sq mi), it is Africa’s largest lake by area and the world’s largest tropical lake. |
| Longest River | Nile River: Flowing northward through northeastern Africa, it stretches about 6,650 km (4,130 miles), making it the longest river in Africa. |
| Largest Dam | Kariba Dam: Situated on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it stands 128 meters (420 feet) tall and 579 meters (1,900 feet) long, forming Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. |
| Enclaved Country | Lesotho: Completely surrounded by South Africa, it is one of only three sovereign enclaves in the world. |
| Largest Island | Madagascar: Off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the fourth-largest island globally, covering about 592,800 km² (228,900 sq mi). |
| Desert Formed Due to Cold Ocean Current | Namib Desert: One of the oldest deserts, its arid conditions are influenced by the cold Benguela Current along the southwestern coast of Africa. |
| Lake That Has Dried and Turned into Desert | Lake Faguibine: Located in Mali, it has experienced significant drying since the 1970s, leading to desertification of the area. |
