Geography of Africa. Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects in Africa Gulf of Aden

Ratings have become very popular lately. On the one hand, they look conceived somehow primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large amounts of information and squeeze out a lot of water and informational noise. I also decided to take a swing at our William Shakespeare.

It was possible, of course, to yellow the topic with a catchy headline like “10 places in Africa that you must visit” or something like that. But I will not be like top bloggers :)
Naturally, the concept of "interesting" hints at the subjectivity of the list: what is interesting to one person may be absolutely not interesting to another. Therefore, this is the most subjective, but unbiased list of African interesting things :)

The reasons why people go to Africa can be divided into 3 components - animals, people and nature. For me, this is an axiom, which formed the basis of the list.

Valley of the Omo River. Ethiopia

Brent Stirton
A unique place in Africa, and, possibly, on the entire planet, where original tribes still remain, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, decorations of its own body. In the Omo Valley, you seem to be moving in a time machine for many centuries, or even millennia, back to the primitive communal system.
Of course, the proximity to the benefits of civilization had an impact on the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war that continued here for a considerable time also has an effect. Many men instead of spears and bows carry Kalashnikovs, for example. Local population already got used to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and even learned to benefit from it. Do not expect that you will be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Each frame counts and payment is inevitable :)

Masai Mara National Park. Kenya

Perhaps the most popular national park Africa, an icon of Kenya's tourism industry, one of the best parks on the continent. The Masai Mara is often written in superlatives and, it should be noted, deservedly so.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only in Kenya.
Masai Mara is known for its prides of lions, and in general this is one of the best places in Africa to watch the big three cats: lions, leopards and cheetahs.

And, of course, do not forget about the great migration that takes place in the Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive in the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.

Amboseli National Park. Kenya

Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as the Victoria Falls or the Cape of Good Hope, and, despite the fact that the mountain itself is located in Tanzania, the best and most scenic view opens on it from national reserve Amboseli (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian travel sites and offline guides do not hesitate to illustrate articles about Kilimanjaro with photographs taken in Amboseli.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro, giraffes and Kilimanjaro, Masai and Kilimanjaro, African acacias and Kilimanjaro ... If you want to replenish your portfolio with these stories, then you are at.
The park is good in itself, there are all the big five here, but it is Kilimanjaro that makes it special and unique.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tanzania

The highest concentration of wild animals in the world in natural environment their habitats. This argument immediately gives odds and increases attractiveness. protected area Ngorongoro. The animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the crater. ancient volcano. As one client said: “Where will they go on a submarine” :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big 5, and its relatively small size and enclosed space make it one of the most exciting safari experiences in Africa.

Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda

And - the stars of this national park, located in the north of Rwanda on the border with the Congo and Uganda. I have not yet met a single person whom these animals would leave indifferent.
In the park, don't expect a traditional jeep safari where you are taken to the animals and all you have to do is press the "masterpiece" button on your precious camera. Moreover, a meeting with these majestic and cute primates must be earned by walking more than one kilometer through the mountain rainforest. But from this impressions become more vivid, and the pictures more valuable :)

Okavango Delta. Botswana

The uniqueness of the Okavango Delta speaks for itself. Not so much in the world of rivers that overflow with a delta without flowing anywhere. The wildest and still untouched by civilization place in Africa. Forget wi-fi telephone communication, TVs, etc. A real tête-à-tête with wildlife Africa in its original form. And be prepared for the fact that wild animals will be closer to you than you might think.
In a unique combination of rich wildlife (the big five is found in) and diverse landscapes. Dream gourmet safari :)

Alley of baobabs. Madagascar

Another symbol of Africa is the baobab. There are quite a few of these giants scattered throughout Africa, but like this, so that there are many in one place ...
In my opinion, just one avenue of baobabs is reason enough to visit Madagascar. And if you add lemurs and other endemics of the island to it, then doubts grow into confidence that you need to go, or rather, fly :)

Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe/Zambia

Ranked among the top three big waterfalls the world and that says it all.

Sossusvlei. Namibia

The highest and most picturesque dunes in the world are about. The most mystical valley of dead trees is about. The Namib Desert has been nominated for various New Wonders of the World lists, natural wonders light”, but never made it to the final. And yet, in my opinion, this is one of the most interesting places Africa, where I had to visit.

Cape Town. SOUTH AFRICA. Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope

With all the desire to ignore Cape Town does not work. Do not give Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope.
Table Mountain was included in the list of seven natural wonders of the world, and the Cape of Good Hope is the same iconic point in Africa as the Victoria Falls and Kilimanjaro.

P.S. I am far from thinking that this is the only possible list of the ten most interesting places in Africa. Perhaps someone will think that it lacks the Kruger National Park in South Africa or the Serengeti, the Blyde River Canyon (the world's largest overgrown canyon) or Madagascar scurvy ... And I agree, because there are many interesting places in Africa :)
I'm happy to read alternative opinions.

The name of the second largest continent appeared in the II century. BC e. The Roman army founded a colony on the territory of conquered Carthage, which was named after the Afarik tribes. Modern Africa is very contrasting. Climate, relief, nature, culture, cuisine and living standards change from region to region.

Basic geographic information

The continent is located on both sides. It crosses Africa almost in the middle. Because of this placement, the territory receives a huge amount of heat and light. The area of ​​the continent is 30.3 million km². The territory of the mainland from north to south has a length of 8 thousand km, and from west to east - 7.5 thousand km.

The coastline of Africa is practically not indented. The coasts are washed by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as the Red and Mediterranean Seas. extreme points continent:

• northern - Cape Ben Secca;
• southern - Cape Agulhas;
• western - Cape Almadi;
• eastern - Cape Ras Hafun.

Namib

This desert is about 80 million years old. Namib is the oldest desert on the planet, located along the Atlantic coast. The symbol of the state of Namibia is the tumbua plant, which grows here in large quantities. It withstands drought, feeding exclusively on condensate. The forest of dead trees, Deadvlei, attracts travelers with its mystical appearance. The highest dune is 380 m.

Inland waters

lake victoria

Rivers and lakes are located unevenly. The Nile is in Africa long river peace. Its floods were once the source of the fertility of the soils of Egypt. After the construction of the HPP, the level of the river is controlled. The Nile meets 10 states on its way. Its valley separates the Libyan and Arabian deserts.

The second largest, Congo, stretches for 4700 km. Dangerous because of the fast current and depth. In some places it reaches 25–30 m. The flow of water is uniform throughout the year, without drying out and spills. Scientists explain this by the location of the pool on both sides of the equator. The Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The river is of great industrial, economic and commercial importance. The lakes are of different origin. The Great Lakes are Tanganyika, Victoria, Albert, Edward, Kivu and Malawi.

Lake Victoria is - and second in the world.

Climate

Equatorial climate zone

Due to the location of the mainland, a unique climatic environment has been created. The Equator divides Africa in half. There are the following main climatic zones:

Life and life of people depend on the specific type of climate. Even in the cold season, the temperature does not fall below -10 ° C. In the tropics, the influence of the oceans is very limited. The north of the continent forms zones of low pressure that spread throughout Africa. Monsoons blow from the South Atlantic region, reaching the Guinean coast. There is humid air and abundant rainfall. The states in the north of the mainland are under the influence of the Indian monsoon. Temperature differences are typical for all regions of Africa. Precipitation falls unevenly. There is a lot of rain in the equatorial regions. The annual amount of precipitation depends on the terrain. Most of the rain is in the Cameroon region.

Flora and fauna:

Vegetable world

On east coast and Madagascar grow wet rainforests. Deciduous-coniferous forests grow on the outskirts of the southeast. Equatorial Africa is framed by savannas subdivided into typical, tall grass and desert types.

The vegetation of the Sahara is sparse. The most common are shrubs. The date palm is one of the most important trees in the oases. The Namib and Kalahari are famous for their acacias and succulents. Evergreen forests are represented by coffee tree, rosewood and baobabs. Cedar, olives and cork oaks grow in the Atlas Mountains.

Animal world

The abundance of representatives of the fauna is observed in the savannas. Here live:

• Ungulates:, buffaloes, gazelles and antelopes.
• Monkeys: baboons, gorillas, baboons and chimpanzees.
• Carnivores: jackals, and hyenas.
• Birds: ostriches, marabou, vultures, crowned cranes.
• Reptiles: monitor lizards, pythons, cobras, crocodiles, chameleons.

They attract tourists with their variety of flora and fauna. Different types of animals live in the northern and southern deserts. In the north live jerboas, phoenixes, jackals. Present a large number of snakes, lizards and other invertebrates. On southern territories animals are practically non-existent. The dune is a natural habitat for insects and reptiles. On coastline arrange rookeries for seals.

In the evergreen forests, a huge number of invertebrates, crocodiles live in the reservoirs. Mammals are represented by a small number of ungulates, birds and monkeys. Tropical reserves of the continent are popular among travelers. Here you can admire zebras, elephants, flamingos and ostriches.

Minerals

Africa is the world's storehouse of ores, gases and precious metals. In the east, the foundation of the continent is shallow, so minerals are close to the surface. Gold and copper are mined here. The mainland is the leader in the number of reserves of these minerals.

Diamond deposits are located in the center of Africa and on the southeast coast. The northern and western parts are rich in oil, natural gas and phosphorites. South Africa is the most resource-rich country. Platinum and cobalt are mined here. There is a lot of coal on the territory of the state. The processing industry is underdeveloped. Because of this, most production is exported raw.

Ecological situation

The main problems of the continent are the excessive use of natural resources. Deforestation and expansion of agricultural land leads to erosion, desertification and a sharp reduction in green areas.

The extraction of resources pollutes the air and water. Due to poaching, many animal species are threatened with extinction. The hide, bones and tusks are valued on the black market. The bans have little to no effect on poachers: in seven years, the elephant population has halved.

Countries are fragmented, they are pursuing a policy that is not aimed at preserving unique flora and fauna. Some states are concerned about the state of the continent. Animals are protected in national parks, the water in the rivers is cleaned, new trees are planted in the forests. Creation national parks- the last hope for endangered species of animals and plants.

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Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects in Africa
Gulf of Aden. Gulf of the Indian Ocean. The name was given to the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on the Arabic root in the meaning of "settlement". According to another interpretation, the name was formed by the term from the ancient Semitic-Hamitic languages ​​\u200b\u200bedinu - plain, steppe, which clearly reflects natural features.

Azores. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese called 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. They were discovered by the expedition of Admiral Vasco to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "The Admiral's Islands".

Annobon. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Named by the Portuguese Anno Bon - "Good Year" ( New Year), because they first set foot on the island on January 1, 1474.

Atlas. Atlas mountains. In northwest Africa. The name has a direct connection with the name of the mythical titan Atlas, who holds the earth on his mighty shoulders. The ancient Greeks deified these mountains, worshiping the mountain spirit in the form of a petrified giant supporting the Earth. So says the legend. Apparently, this was facilitated by a possible primary source from (the Berber word "adrar", which means "mountain"

Augrabis. Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis, "great noise".

Afar. tectonic depression in Djibouti. The lowest place in Africa (-153 m above sea level). The name is given by the name of the Afar people living in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Ahaggar. Mountain range in the Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Ahaggar. The ethnonym, apparently, is based on the Arabic term "Akhgar" - a cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "cave dwellers", "cave spirits".

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 conditions of navigation in the strait.

White Nile. The name of the middle course of the Nile to the confluence of the Blue. 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 after the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means "country of reeds".

Benue. Leyy tributary of the river. Niger. The name comes from the Batta language, where be is "water", nue is "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 fresh water. Later, the island was called Fernando Po in honor of the Portuguese discoverer, and in the 70s of the XX century, Macias Nguema Biyogo and the honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.

Bush. General name for shrub formations in South Africa. The Dutch and English geographic term bush is "bush".

Vaal. River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch Boer colonists 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 (Transvaal) - "beyond the Vaal".

wadi, oueddy. The general name of the beds of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - a dry channel, a valley.

Weld. The name of an arid plateau in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of Afrikaners), veld is a vernacular geographic term meaning "field".

Victoria. Lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike the 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 the young African countries located on the shores of the lake, other names are offered: Umoja - "unity", Uhuru - "freedom", Shirikisho - "unification", Uhuru na Umoja - the state motto of Tanzania, inscribed on the coat of arms of the state.

Victoria. Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named after the Queen of Great Britain. locals They call the waterfall Mosi-oa-Tunya - "thundering smoke", or Seongo - "place of the rainbow".

Virunga. Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name in the language of the Nyoro people means "volcano".

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 Volta created the reservoir of the same name - one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2).

Guardafuy. Cape in the east of the Somali Peninsula. Scientists believe that the name is derived from the Portuguese word guardafu, distorted by the Arabs - "beware", which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that, as if at the easternmost tip of the Somali peninsula, there is a magnetic mountain that attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, the ships, approaching it, crashed against the rocks. In fact, here is the narrowest shelf zone. At strong wind, high wave, poor visibility, ships often washed up on the peninsula, and they crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "Guardafui" was a warning to sailors who sailed past this cape.

Gulf of Guinea. gulf of the atlantic ocean western coasts Africa. It is 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 Kinava (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the region of Kinava 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" - "mute" (i.e., those who do not know the language of the 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 the centuries-old use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - "mountain of Tariq".

Blue Nile. Largest tributary Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbay - "father of the 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, which carries bluish silt.

Good Hope. Cape in southern Africa. Opened in 1488 Portuguese navigator B. Diashem and named 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", referring to the hope of reaching 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, it is impossible to prove or disprove this hypothesis due to the lack of sources contemporary to Dias' voyage.

dragon mountains. located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonizers, the 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 the maps was transmitted in various ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local languages Bantu means "big river". The name of the river in the middle course in the Tonga language, Murongo-Mucuri, has the same meaning, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym.

Zanzibar. An island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of 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.

Green Cape. It is located on the peninsula of the same name to the east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Diasem Cabo Verde - "Green Cape", because. was the first dry land covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.

Cape Verde Island. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after m. Green, against which it is located. The transfer of the name of the islands into other languages ​​is accepted in the form of a 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 - St. Brandan's Cape, because. the discovery took place on the day of this saint. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was mapped under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha as the basis of the name, meaning "peak", "top". Proceeding from this, the toponym is interpreted as "cape of peaks", and the reason for the nomination was the sharpness of the rocky cape.

Go-Amin-Dada; Edward. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Edward in honor of 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 behind the reservoir.

Cabarega. Waterfall and national park on the river. Victoria Nile in Uganda. The waterfall was discovered in the 19th century. and named Murchison in honor of Rodrik Murchison, eminent geologist, president of the Royal Geographical Society of London. In 1962, it was renamed in honor of the national hero of Uganda, the fighter against the British colonialists Kabarega Chwa II.

Kalahari. A semi-desert region in South Africa. At the heart of the toponym is a geographical term from the Hottentot language karaha - "area of ​​sand and stone." The popular interpretation of the name from the Tswana language in the past, where karri-karri - "tormented by thirst" or "painful", is now recognized by toponymists as unlikely. The Dutch Boer settlers called the semi-desert Bosjeveld - "field of thorny bushes", which reflected the specifics of vegetation.

Cameroon. Volcanic massif in Equatorial Africa. Portuguese merchant-slave trader Fernand Gomizh, sailing past the coast of Africa in equatorial waters Gulf of Guinea, noticed a high mountain, about which he wanted to know more. He sent a detachment of daredevils deep into the mainland. On the way they met an obstacle in the form of a small river with a clear clear water, which was very handy, as they needed to replenish supplies drinking water. Having filled the barrels with delicious water, the sailors saw an abundance of crabs in the river, after which, for fun, they caught crabs and shrimp and delivered them to the ship. And the river flowing in close proximity to the mountain was called Rio des Camaroes (camarues), which means "river of crabs" in Portuguese. At the same time, Mount Cameroon also received this name, and later the state was named that way. Locals have long had a superstitious fear of the snowy volcanic peak of Cameroon and call it "Maongo ma Loba", which means "mountain of heaven" or "mountain of God".

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 - "dog islands". According to one version, the 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 fairyland Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.

Canary Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after the Canary Islands.

Cape Mountains. Located in southern Africa. They are named after the Cape Colony founded by the Dutch, which received its name from its original location on the Cape of Good Hope (Dutch. Kaar - "cape"). With the expansion of the colony, the name spread to the mountains. Folk etymology connects the toponym with the Dutch kaar - "profit", i.e. the colony was supposedly so named for the fact that it brought a lot of income to the treasury. However, there is no scientific evidence for this interpretation.

Carr. General name for semi-desert plateaus and intermountain depressions in South Africa. The name is based on the Hottentot geographical term karusa, modified by the Boers - "dry", "anhydrous", which clearly reflects the natural conditions.

Kenya. Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Masai 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.

Kilimanjaro. Volcanic massif in East Africa. Highest point mainland. Scientists associate the origin of the name Kilimanjaro with a word distorted by Europeans from the Swahili language, which means "mountain of the god of cold", or, according to another version, "mountain that shines".

Comoros. Archipelago in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean. The islands have been known to the Arabs since the 8th century, and it was they who named the archipelago Jezair al-Komr - "Islands of the Moon", which was associated with the spread of the cult of this luminary. The Portuguese borrowed Arabic name in a distorted form of Comoges, which was fixed on European maps.

Congo; Zaire. River in Equatorial Africa. The mouth of the river was discovered in the 15th century. the Portuguese D.Kan called it Rio da Padrao - "padran river" (padran - a stone pillar that the Portuguese erected in honor of discoveries, carving on it a coat of arms, the name of the king and discoverer). The name did not stick, and the river was renamed Congo - that was the name of the country and the people who lived in it before the arrival of Europeans. Locals call the river differently in different parts of the course: Nzadi or Nzari - "the river that absorbs all others" or " great river" (a distorted form of Zaire appeared from given name), Zembere - "mother of the waters"; Kulla - "great water", and in the upper reaches of Lualaba - "big rea".

Red sea. Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. IN Ancient Egypt it was called the Great Greens, later - the Arabian Gulf, among the Greeks Pelagos Eritre ("erythros" - "red"), from where it came into European languages ​​in a translated form. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym. According to one of them, the name is given for the red hue of the water in the sea. Another version is based on the ancient color orientation among the peoples of the East, where the south was indicated by red. Another variant of interpretation of the toponym was noted - from the ethnic name ancient tribe Khamarites, which meant "red".

Kruger. National park in South Africa. Named in honor of Stephanus Kruger - President of the Boer Republic of Transvaal: commander of the Boer army in the war with Great Britain 1899-1902.

Libyan desert. Located in the Sahara. The name is given by the ancient name of Africa - Libya, which comes from the ethnonym "libu".

livingstone waterfalls. located in downstream R. Congo (Zaire). Named after the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scot by origin, D. Livingston.

Limpopo. River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. The Dutch Boer colonists called the Crocodil River - "Crocodile River" for the abundance of these reptiles in its waters.

Mauritius. Island in the Indian Ocean. The Dutch, having captured the island, named it Mauritius - Mauritius in honor of the Dutch prince Mauritius (Mauritius; Maurice) of Orange.

Maghreb. The common Arabic name for the northwest of Africa since the early Middle Ages: "Maghrib" - West.

Madagascar. Island in the Indian Ocean. Famous Arab sailors as Jezira al-Komr - "island of the moon", which is associated with the cult of this luminary. In the XVI century. The Portuguese named the island Sao Lourenzo - St. Lawrence, because saw the land of Madagascar on the day of this saint. The French, having conquered the island in the 19th century, called it Ile Dauphine - "the island of the Dauphin" (ie the heir to the throne). Malagasy call their homeland Nossi Damba - "island of wild boars" or Tani-Be - "great". The toponym Madagascar in the distorted form Madeigaskar is first found in Marco Polo (XIII century). According to scientists, it is based on the ethnic name Malagasy, as the inhabitants of the island are now called.

Madeira. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese called Maderia - Forest, because. indeed was covered with forests, later completely cut down. Most early titles 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 paint mined there).

Manyara. National park in Tanzania. Named after the lake Manyara, around which is located. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.

Mascarene Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened in the 16th century. Portuguese expedition of Pedro de Mascarenhas (Mascarenhas) and named after him.

Mobutu-Sese-Seko. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. The British named Albert in honor of Queen Victoria's husband. In 1973, it was renamed in honor of the President of Zaire, Mobutu Ssse Seko. The locals call the reservoir Mbutan Nzighe - "the reservoir of dead shells" for the abundance of shellfish on the shores, or Nyasa - the geographical term for "lake" in the Bantu languages. Perhaps one of these names will become the new official, which is associated with the death of President Mobutu.

Mozambique Channel. Divides Africa and about. Madagascar. Named after the state of Mozambique. A similar origin of the name of the warm Mozambique Current in the Indian Ocean.

Nakuru. National park in Kenya. Named after the lake Nakuru, within the limits of which he was created. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.

Namib. Desert in southwestern Africa. There are two versions of the origin of the toponym from the languages ​​of the Hottentot tribes. According to one of them namib - "shield"; on the other - "that which is bypassed" (dangerous, lifeless). The second interpretation reflects the complexity of natural conditions in the desert,

Nasser. Reservoir on the river. Nile in Egypt. It is named after the President of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser, during whose reign the reservoir was created and the Aswan Dam was built.

Ngorongoro. Reserve in Tanzania. Named after vol. Ngorongoro, in the crater of which it is located. The etymology is unknown.

Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a Berber name of the river N "Egiren -" river ", distorted by the Portuguese and other Europeans. In different parts of the course 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". Explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning of "black" from European languages modern toponymists consider incorrect.

Nile. The longest river in Africa and the whole world. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is "hidden" (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called her Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "river". The toponym Nile in the form of Neilos is 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", changed by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed from the Libyan tribes the word lil - "water", distorting it into nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.

Nubian desert. Located in northeast Africa. It is named after the historical region of Nubia, located between the Nile rapids. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word "nuba" - "gold". In ancient times, the largest mines were located here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.

Nyasa; Malawi. Lake in East Africa. The toponym is formed by a popular geographical term from the Bantu languages ​​nyasa - "lake". In the Republic of Malawi, the lake is officially called Malawi after the main people of this country.

Orange. River in South Africa. The Hottentots called her Kai Garib - big river, the Dutch settlers of the Groat River Boers with the same meaning. At all times, people often gave names to objects (rivers, lakes) according to the color of the water or the coast. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to her by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland) 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.

Principe. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened in the 15th century. Portuguese expedition and named Principi - "first", because. was the first island discovered by this expedition. According to another version - "Prince".

Reunion. Island in the Indian Ocean. Named at the end of the 18th century by the French Reunion - "Connection", because. the inhabitants of the island decided to unite with Fr. Mauritius into a single administrative region. The name has changed several times: in the XVI century. Portuguese Santa Apollonia (in honor of St. Apollonia), in the 19th century. - Bonapart (in honor of Napoleon), Ile de Burbon - "Bourbon Island" (in honor of the dynasty of kings). Since 1848 - again Reunion.

Rwenzori. Mountain range in East Africa. The height of the mountains is reflected in their name: in the local Bantu languages ​​ruwenzori means "lord of the clouds". A national park in Uganda is also named after the mountains.

Savannah. Borrowed by the Spaniards at the end of the 15th century. from the language of the Carib Indians (or Arawaks), where sabana is "high-grass plain", " open space". The general name of the zonal landscape type.

San Tome. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened by the Portuguese on the day of St. Tome (Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.

Sahara. Desert in North Africa. The name is formed by the Arabic geographical term "sahara" - "desert" in the plural form, i.e. Sahara - "deserts". According to philologists, the term is based on the Arabic "ashar" - "reddish", which reflects the dominant color and color background of the desert.

Sahel. A band of semi-deserts and desertified savannahs in North Africa. The name was given by the Arabs in the Middle Ages; "sahel" - "coast", "edge", "border", or rather - "coast of the desert".

Saint Helena island. Located in the Atlantic Ocean. Discovered by the Portuguese on St. Helena and is named after her. Received worldwide fame as a place of exile and death of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Seychelles. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Named in the 18th century. French in honor of the Minister of Finance Moro de Setelle (Seychelles)

Senegal. River in West Africa. According to one version, the toponym is based on the name of the Berber tribe Senega, go Sankhaya. Other toponymists believe that the name of the ancient city of Senegana was transferred to the river. In the past, the toponym was explained as "navigable", but due to lack of evidence, modern scientists do not consider this option.

Serengeti. National park in Tanzania. It is named after the Serengeti plateau, within which it is located. The toponym is based on the term from the Maasai language serenget - "open space", which fully corresponds to geographical realities - vast savannahs on the territory of the plateau.

Socotra. Island in the Indian Ocean. The name of the island was given by Indian sailors: Dvipa Sakhadara - "the island of the harbinger of good luck." Later this name, reflecting the importance of the island as the most important nodal point in the ancient sea ​​routes from India to the West, transformed under the influence Arabic in Socotra.

The hottest continent on earth.

The name "Africa" ​​appeared in the 2nd century BC, but then it was not yet the name of a huge continent located in the Northern and Southern, Western and Eastern hemispheres. In 146 BC. The Romans took over land in what is now Tunisia. They established a colony there, naming it Africa, apparently after the Afarik tribes, who lived over a vast area as far as Gibraltar. Other areas of this continent have long been called Libya and Ethiopia. In the 16th century, the scholar Muhammad al-Wazan wrote that the name "Africa" ​​(in Arabic "Ifriqiya") comes from the word "faraqa", which means "to divide". It is possible that this content is embedded in the name of the mainland, since the Red Sea separates Africa from Asia.

Africa is the second largest continent after Eurasia. Its area is 30.3 million km2. Most of the mainland is located in the Northern Hemisphere. Africa, like other fragments of Gondwana, has a massive outline. She does not have major peninsulas and deep bays along its shores.

The relief of this continent, like any other, depends on the history of the development of the earth's crust, the action of internal and external processes. Africa is based on an ancient platform, so the mainland is dominated by plains. Lowlands are quite rare, they are located along the shores of the mainland. The interior of Africa is occupied by high plains, occasionally dissected by deep gorges - river valleys. The mainland is like a high table in the ocean surrounding it. Above this "table" rises a number of even higher peaks and mountain ranges, many of which are of volcanic origin. Influenced internal processes some sections of the platform rose, forming high plateaus (East African), others sank, which led to the formation of large basins (Chad, Congo, Kalahari). The movements were accompanied by faults in the earth's crust. In East Africa, there is the largest fault on land. It stretched along the Red Sea, through the Ethiopian highlands to the mouth of the Zambezi River. The African lithospheric plate is moving apart here, so earthquakes and volcanic activity are frequent.

Africa is rich in minerals: these are various ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals (the states of Zaire and Zambia are especially distinguished by copper reserves; bauxites occur in Guinea, iron ore - in Mauritania, Liberia, Angola); diamonds (Africa provides 98% of the total diamond production in the capitalist world); gold, for which Africa ranks first in the world; uranium ores are mined in South and Central Africa. The sedimentary cover of the platform in the north of the mainland contains oil and gas reserves.

Africa is the hottest continent. It contains the world's largest desert, the Sahara, in the north of which, in Libya, the highest temperature on the planet was recorded: +58°C. In the center of Africa, there is a lot of rainfall throughout the year. This is due to the fact that it is crossed in the center by the equator, where an area of ​​low pressure is formed and precipitation falls. To the north and south of the center are areas with seasonally humid savannahs and arid desert climates. The northern and southern ends of the mainland have a subtropical climate. On southern part mainland throughout the year brought precipitation from the Indian Ocean trade winds. In the northern part of the mainland, there is little precipitation, this is due to areas of high pressure that form over 30 ° latitudes, as well as the peculiarity of the trade winds. They form over Asia in the Northern Hemisphere and arrive dry in the Sahara.

The rivers Congo, Zambezi, Niger, Senegal, Orange, Nile and others flow through the territory of the mainland. The Nile is the longest river in the world. The rivers of Africa are full of water only in its equatorial part, since there is a lot of precipitation. Many rivers in Africa are fast, rapids, abound in waterfalls, lakes are concentrated mainly in the east, where water fills the cracks of the faults.

rich and varied animal and vegetable world mainland: elephants, rhinos, hippos, lions, monkeys, ostriches; palm trees, acacias, ficuses and others. Many "our smaller brothers" live in national parks, the size of which in Africa exceeds the size of some European states. The main part of the population of the mainland is made up of the indigenous population - Negroids - the African branch of the equatorial race. The north of the mainland is inhabited by representatives of the Arab peoples. The population of the mainland exceeds 600 million people, and every year it increases.

Geographical position: most of Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, the smaller one - in the Southern and Western.

Square: 30.3 million km2

• extreme northern point - Cape El Abyad - 37 ° 20′ N 9°51′ E;
• extreme south point– Cape Agulhas — 34°52′ S 19°59′ E;
• extreme western point– Cape Almadi on the peninsula Green Cape— 14°45′ N 17°32′ W;
• the extreme eastern point is Cape Hafun on the Somali Peninsula - 10 ° 26′ N.L. 53°23′ E

Climate types: subtropical, tropical, subequatorial, equatorial.

Geology: Predominantly ancient Precambrian platform.

Relief: predominantly flat; mountains: Atlas, Cape, Dragon Mountains; highlands: Ahaggar, Tibesti, Ethiopian highlands; East African Plateau; the vast plateau of the Sahara; depression of the Congo; the high plains of the Kalahari.

Additional Information: the coast of Africa is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Mediterranean and Red seas; the length of the mainland from north to south is about 8,000 km, from west to east - 7,500 km; Africa has a population of 933 million.

There are five regions in Africa.

:

Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania.

:

Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria.

:

Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Angola.

:

Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi.

:

Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion, Mauritius, Seychelles.

The continent of Africa is the second largest on the planet after Eurasia. It occupies more than twenty percent of all land and is located almost entirely in the hemisphere in the south.

The mainland is washed by several oceans: the Atlantic and Indian. The territory is divided among fifty-five countries.

African countries and their capitals

African countries are usually divided into five groups. The list looks like this:

In terms of economic indicators, the most developed and richest is South Africa, located in the south of the mainland. At the same time, residents of many states, in particular the central part of the mainland, are below the poverty line, in particular the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi - the poorest countries in Africa.

Algiers is the largest state in terms of territory, and Mayotte is the smallest. The most numerous is Nigeria, and the lowest population on the islands is the Seychelles.

Your sovereignty African states acquired in the middle of the twentieth century. Majority modern titles appeared at the same time.

For example, until 1985 Côte d'Ivoire was called the Ivory Coast, and Djibouti until 1977 had an official status and name in the form of the French Territory of Afar and Issa. Similar changes affected almost half of the territorial units of the mainland.

Characteristics of Africa

The area is twenty-nine million square meters. km. The distribution from the north down is eight thousand kilometers, and from the west to the left - seven and a half.

Physical map of Africa (click to enlarge)

There are several options for the origin of the name. The most common ones are:

1. Afri - people who lived near Carthage, later the Romans began to call the whole area, and then the continent Africa.
2. From the Latin aprica, sunny.
3. From the Greek afkn - without cold.

Note: Africa is considered to be the ancestral home of Homo sapiens, it is there that the remains of ancient ancestors, in particular hominids and sahelanthropes, were found.

The continent has long attracted Europeans, as the history of discovery has shown, active study began in the fifteenth century, when Vasco da Gama circled Africa on his way to India.

From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the mainland was divided among the great powers:

• the north is part of the Ottoman Empire;
• south - Spain, Portugal and other colonizers.

After World War II, the map changed as the wave of independence began. Today there are several territories on the African continent under the control of Europeans, in particular the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Chagos Archipelago.

Extreme points of Africa

The following image tells well which point is the northernmost, southernmost, which is the easternmost, and where the westernmost is located:

Population

More than one billion people live on the mainland today. Along with this, there is the greatest increase in the number and life expectancy. Demographic estimates predict a doubling of the population over the next thirty years.

There are two main races in Africa:

• negroid - in the center;
• Caucasoid - mainly in the north and in the Republic of South Africa.

The most common people are Arabs. The population density is low compared to Europe and Asia. To date, interethnic conflicts continue.

It is worth noting: the level of urbanization in the countries is low, but its rate is the highest in the world.

As for religion, the world's leading ones are mostly widespread, but all other religious movements are also represented. Traditional beliefs are still prevalent in the central part.

Climatic zones

Africa is considered the warmest continent, here is the warmest place - Dallol. The entire territory is distributed in warm climatic zones.

The main ones and their characteristics:

1. Equatorial - heavy rains and in fact there is no change of season, here is a constant summer.
2. Subequatorial - two main seasons, rainy summer, winter is characterized by dry trade winds.
3. Tropical - almost no precipitation, deserts are common.

Minerals

Africa is rich in minerals, which come at a high price.

In particular, the main ones are:

• gold;
• oil.

The northern coast is also rich in manganese, iron ores and phosphorites.

Flora and fauna

The organic world of Africa is characterized by exceptional diversity.

In tropical areas, there are a variety of large animals, in particular, rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, monkeys and others.

Large birds also live on the continent, such as flamingos, ibis.

The north is dominated by lizards and snakes that have adapted to the climate of the Sahara. The business card of the south of the mainland is the "big five": buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros.

The climatic conditions of northern Africa have contributed to the adaptation of many plant species. In the south, there are over two and a half thousand flowering plants - this is almost ten percent of the world's wealth.

Geographic features

atlas mountains

The main objects of African geography include:

• Atlas mountains;
• Basins of the Congo (lowest point) and the Nile;
• Rift Valley;
• Ethiopian and Ahaggar highlands;
• deserts - Kalahari, Namib and Sahara.

In addition to the oceans, the mainland is washed by one sea - the Red and Suez Canals.

Rivers and seas

One of the longest rivers in the world is located in Africa.

The length of the Nile is almost seven thousand kilometers.

Among others major rivers relate:

• Niger;
• Congo;
• Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange.

Africa is rich and large lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika and Chad. The latter is the largest salt body of water, which is located inside the mainland.

Plains

Plains in Africa are represented by plateaus (East African) and pits (Chad, Congo, Kalahari).

Plateaus are high plains, along with them, pits are low.

Mountains of Africa

Mostly Africa is a mainland on the plains, it has enough mountains:

• Atalas - in the north;
• Ahagar and Tibeste - in the Sahara Desert;
• the Ethiopian highlands - in the east;
• Caps and Draconians - in the south.

The highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro, its height is five thousand nine hundred meters.

In conclusion, I would like to focus on the concepts of "mainland" and "continent". There are only six continents on Earth, all of them are well known. But there are only four continents.

"Continent" in Latin means "continuous". Since Eurasia and Africa are connected together by the Suez Canal, they are not separated from each other, therefore they are not separately continents.

Africa is a unique continent that combines the diversity of flora and fauna. Most of the states are at the stage of economically developing countries, partly due to the long colonization of the region.