East Africa - description, countries and features. Voskresensky V.Yu. International tourism State in south-eastern Africa

Africa is a part of the world with an area of ​​30.3 million km 2 with islands, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.

Geographical position

Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most of it), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient continent, Gondwana has a massive outline, with no large peninsulas or deep bays. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, and from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.

Main geographical characteristics

Africa lies on an ancient platform, which causes its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are small lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost entirely occupied by the Sahara Desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian Highlands, the southeast is the East African Plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Drakensberg mountains The highest point in Africa is the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below ocean level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the world's largest crustal fault stretches, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.

The following rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger (West Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi (South Africa), as well as one of the deepest and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from the south to north (its sources are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming a delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). Rivers are characterized by high water content exclusively in the equatorial belt, due to the large amount of precipitation there; most of them are characterized by high flow rates and have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest lake in area after Lake Superior (North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, maximum depth - 83 m), the largest salty endorheic lake is Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern edge of the world's largest desert, the Sahara).

Due to Africa's location between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in Al-Aziziya (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shadow).

On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo basin), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannas and woodlands, extending to Sudan, East and South Africa, to In northern and southern Africa, savannas give way to semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, Kalahari, Namib). In the southeastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains there is a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Natural zones of mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.

African countries

The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 are independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, Asian countries were foreign colonies of various European states and only gained independence by the middle of the last century. Depending on its geographical location, Africa is divided into five regions: Northern, Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa.

List of African countries

Nature

Mountains and plains of Africa

Most of the African continent is plain. There are mountain systems, highlands and plateaus. They are presented:

• the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
• the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands in the Sahara Desert;
• Ethiopian Highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
• Drakensberg Mountains in the south.

The highest point of the country is the Kilimanjaro volcano, 5,895 m high, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the continent...

Deserts and savannas

The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwest side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from there into the continent to the east there is the Kalahari Desert.

The savannah territory occupies the bulk of Central Africa. In area it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical of savannas, low shrubs and trees. The height of herbaceous vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. These can be practically desert savannas or tall grasses, with a grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...

Rivers

The longest river in the world, the Nile, is located on the African continent. The direction of its flow is from south to north.

The list of major water systems of the mainland includes the Limpopo, Zambezi and Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through Central Africa.

On the Zambezi River is the famous Victoria Falls, 120 meters high and 1,800 meters wide...

Lakes

The list of large lakes on the African continent includes Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater body of water in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square km. Two more large lakes of the continent: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in faults of lithospheric plates.

There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the world's oceans...

Seas and oceans

The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Indian and the Atlantic. Also off its shores are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part, the waters form the deep Gulf of Guinea.

Despite the location of the African continent, the coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the Indian Ocean, the currents are warm. The largest are Mozambique, in northern waters, and Agulhas, in southern...

Forests of Africa

Forests make up a little more than a quarter of the entire territory of the African continent. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, strawberry tree, etc. Coniferous plants grow high in the mountains, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.

Closer to the coast there are cork oak forests; in the tropical region, evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...

Nature, plants and animals of Africa

The vegetation of the equatorial forests is diverse, with about 1000 species of various types of trees growing here: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, oil palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . Many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects live here, living directly on the trees. On the ground live: brush-eared pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes - gorillas...

40% of Africa's territory is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with forbs, low, thorny bushes, milkweed, and isolated trees (tree-like acacias, baobabs).

Here there is the largest concentration of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are herbivores such as: hartebeest (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-footed antelope, various types of gazelles (Thomson's, Grant's), blue wildebeest, and in some places rare jumping antelopes - springboks - are also found.

The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness; these are small thorny bushes and separately growing tufts of herbs. The oases are home to the unique Erg Chebbi date palm, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and salt formation. In the Namib Desert, unique plants such as Welwitschia and Nara grow, the fruits of which are eaten by porcupines, elephants and other desert animals.

Animals here include various species of antelopes and gazelles, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling vast distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among the mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, Dorcas gazelle, sabre-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian ass, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are resident and migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of African countries

The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is in an area of ​​low pressure and receives sufficient moisture; the territories north and south of the equator are in the subequatorial climate zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoon) moisture and an arid desert climate. The far north and south are in the subtropical climate zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has minimal precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the characteristics of the movement of trade winds, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara, where the amount precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall at all...

Resources

Natural Resources of Africa

In terms of water resources, Africa is considered one of the poorest continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only sufficient to satisfy primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.

Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible lands are cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of adequate water volume, soil erosion, etc.

African forests are a source of timber, including valuable species. The countries in which they grow, export raw materials. Resources are being used unwisely and ecosystems are being destroyed little by little.

In the depths of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Energy-intensive resources are widely available on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investment...

Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, the following can be noted:

• the mining industry, which exports minerals and fuels;
• the oil refining industry, distributed mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
• chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
• as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.

The main agricultural products are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. Oil palm is grown in tropical regions of Africa.

Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total agricultural output. Livestock production indicators are also not high and the reason for this is the infection of livestock by tsetse flies...

Culture

Peoples of Africa: culture and traditions

There are approximately 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups living in 62 African countries, totaling approximately 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization; it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.

Most peoples in Africa can number several thousand people or several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 nations, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with a population of more than 5 million people, 1/3 are peoples with a population of more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...

There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:

• West Africa. Peoples speaking the Mande languages ​​(Susu, Maninka, Mende, Wai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zaghawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages ​​(Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, Nupe, Gbari, Igala and Idoma, Ibibio, Efik, Kambari, Birom and Jukun, etc.);
• Equatorial Africa. Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandans), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Komo, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
• South Africa. Rebellious peoples and speakers of Khoisani languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
• East Africa. Bantu, Nilotes and Sudanese people groups;
• Northeast Africa. Peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra), Cushitic (Oromo, Somali, Sidamo, Agaw, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages ​​(Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
• Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.

In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the southern European minor race, mainly professing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.

Eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes. Most of the East. Africa occupies the East African Plateau. The climate is hot, seasonally humid, with precipitation ranging from 500 to 3000 mm per year. In the East Africa is one of the largest in the world... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

East Africa- — EN East Africa A geographic region of the African continent that includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia, and also Mt. Kilimanjaro and Lake... ... Technical Translator's Guide

Eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes. Most of East Africa is occupied by the East African Plateau. The climate is hot, seasonally humid, with precipitation ranging from 500 to 3000 mm per year. East Africa has one of the largest... encyclopedic Dictionary

East Africa- East Africa. Physical card. East Africa, a natural country in the equatorial and subequatorial latitudes of the eastern part of Africa, between the Ethiopian Highlands in the north, the Congo Basin in the west and the lower reaches of the river. Zambezi in the south. On the… … Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"

A natural country covering the eastern part of Africa in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes between the Ethiopian Plateau in the north, the Congo Basin in the west, the lower reaches of the Zambezi in the south and the Indian Ocean in the east. Within the borders of E.A. completely ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

1) British (see Great Britain) and 2) German (see Germany) ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron

Natural country in eastern Africa. Within the East Africa is located in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti. Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. M.: Rosman. Under… … Geographical encyclopedia

- (East Africa) World War 2 After Aug. 1941 15 thousandth English garrison located in Somalia was forced to evacuate the country, Gen. Wavell developed with gene. Sir William Platt and Sir Alan Cunningham plan to... ... Encyclopedia of Battles of World History

Africa Orientale Italiana colony ← ... Wikipedia

Deutsch Ostafrika Colony of Germany ← ... Wikipedia

Books

• East Africa, . ISBN:978-5-98296-108-2…
• East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Anton Viktorovich Krotov. "East Africa" ​​is a guide for independent travelers from Russia and the CIS. How to get, fly, come to this region; how to travel around Africa on your own (by bus,...

Some historians believe that it was East Africa became the birthplace of human civilization. The borders of the subcontinent run mainly by water - it stretches along the coast of the Indian Ocean, where the easternmost point of Africa is located - Cape Ras Hafun in Somalia. In the north it has access to the Red Sea, and in the west it is limited by the Nile. Today, this region is home to seventeen states, which also includes one of the largest island states - Madagascar and the Seychelles.

Weather and nature - local variations

There is no need to talk about any uniformity when assessing the weather characteristics of this region - they are different East African countries located in radically different climatic zones. The Seychelles is a humid sea tropics that depends on the power of the monsoons; on the continent, something similar can be found in Ethiopia or Tanzania. Somalia is mostly a hot desert, and Uganda has more rainy days than dry ones.

This variability affects the local flora. East Africa is home to savannas and tropical jungles, subequatorial forests and almost dead sands (although there are relatively few of the latter here). The fauna is extremely rich; the region is home to many large and small mammals (including primates), birds, and amphibians. The territory contains large lakes (Tanganyika and Victoria), the Congo, the deep-sea Nile and the Zambezi originate here.

Economic Advantages of the Subcontinent

The abundance of land suitable for grazing has made East African countries the continent's leaders in livestock production. In general, agriculture brings most of the income to the budgets of these countries. Kenya exports fruits and tea, Madagascar - spices, Mozambique - citrus fruits, cashew nuts and cotton, Ethiopia - olives and coffee. Where there is access to the sea, industrial fishing is developed.

The natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent are less rich than those of their neighbors, but there are also important minerals here. The region produces rubies, diamonds and gold, fluorite and iron ore, cobalt and tungsten. The processing and textile industries are actively developing. The most important industry that brings significant income to most countries (primarily island ones) is tourism.

Somalia is considered the poorest country in the region - there are few mineral resources here and the amount of fertile soil is limited. In addition, constant armed conflicts and civil unrest make this state frankly unattractive for investors.

List of East African countries

The group of East African states demonstrates an even greater degree of differences, even contrasts, and here individual countries stand out noticeably from the rest, as if out of the ordinary. This applies to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and some other countries. In general, the countries of the East African region deserve special attention in this sense.

1. Ethiopia- the largest and oldest of them. Its history goes back centuries and has been discussed more than once in previous parts of the work. In the 60s of our century, Ethiopia was an independent and highly respected state in Africa, led by the revered monarch Emperor Haile Selassie I. True, this populous (over 50 million people) and resource-poor country was constantly plagued by natural disasters, especially droughts, almost regularly bringing her economy to a catastrophic state. Droughts, famines, and failures with agrarian reform led the country to an acute political crisis in 1973, which resulted in the deposition of the emperor. Since 1974, power passed to the Provisional Military Administrative Council, whose leaders destroyed each other in a bitter internecine struggle, until M. Haile Mariam came to power in 1977, firmly committed to development according to the Marxist-socialist model.

The nationalization of industry and land, the authorities' strict control over the population led the country's economy to complete degradation over the course of a decade and a half. Droughts became more frequent and their consequences became more and more severe. Millions of people were dying from basic hunger and disorder in the country, while the ruling bureaucracy was mired in lawlessness and corruption. The decisive blow to the ruling party and its leadership was dealt by events in our country related to perestroika and a general change in ideological and political orientation, as well as stopping the flow of supplies from the USSR. The weakening position of the government, aggravated by defeats in the fight against separatists and rebels in the north, led to the collapse of the regime in 1991. The dictator fled, and his successors inherited a difficult inheritance. There was no longer any talk about the Marxist-socialist model. Ethiopia now faces the difficult task of finding its new face and returning to normal life.

2. Somalia, located east of Ethiopia, on the coast, in the Horn of Africa, it is a relatively small state (population approx. 6 million people). The inhabitants of British Somalia gained independence in I960; a democratic parliamentary republic was established on a multi-party basis, one of the first of its kind in Africa. But multi-party democracy led to a weakening of the political structure, which was also undermined by tribalism and clan patron-client ties. The 1969 coup brought to power S. Barre with his dreams of a Greater Somalia and his orientation towards the Marxist-socialist model of development. In 1977–1978 In the war with Ethiopia for the Ogaden, Somalia was defeated, and this was reflected in a change in orientation: the Somali authorities abandoned their previous bet on the USSR, whose leadership preferred to take the side of Ethiopia, and began to seek support in the West. In 1984, Somalia was forced to renounce its claims to the part of Kenya inhabited by Somalis. The idea of ​​Great Somalia has collapsed. An era of acute internal crisis has arrived, caused by military spending, devastation, and inflation that is unsustainable for a small country. Rebel protests began against the regime of S. Barre. In 1989, he tried to soften his regime, took a course towards economic liberalization and privatization, promised a multi-party system and democracy, and even introduced a new constitution in October. But it was already too late. In early 1991, Barre's regime fell to rebel attacks. In 1992, bloody civil strife began in the country. The instability of power during the struggle for political dominance of various ethno-political groups created a situation of dangerous instability in Somalia and led the country to famine.

3. Kenya Located south of Ethiopia and southwest of Somalia, a former British colony, it became quite widely known in the first post-war years, when a broad national movement led by D. Kenyatta developed here. This movement was closely connected with the terrorist actions of the Mau Mau society, which terrified the British. In 1953, the Mau Mau movement was defeated, and Kenyatta ended up behind bars. In 1960, the country gained independence, and Kenyatta became its president. In 1978, after his death, the country was headed by D. Moi. The one-party presidential system suffered serious disruptions under this president: corruption became noticeable, and the opposition became more active, demanding a multi-party system. In 1990, Moi made concessions and at the end of 1991 announced the introduction of a multi-party system. The country's economy is still in a difficult situation, the standard of living of the population (about 25 million people) is low, but in the recent elections (1993), Moi was again elected president.

4. Uganda- a state west of Kenya with a population of 16–17 million people. In 1962 it gained independence and became a republic with the former King of Buganda Mutesa II as president and M. Obote as prime minister. In 1966, Obote took full power, and the 1967 constitution abolished the monarchy in the country. In 1971, as a result of a military coup, the bloody dictator Idi Amin came to power. The Amin regime was overthrown in 1979 with the support of Tanzania, and in 1980, Obote, who won the elections, again became president. A military coup in 1985 removed Obote; Since 1986, the country has been led by I. Museveni. Uganda is one of the few African countries where for quite a long time, albeit with ^ in fits and starts, the multi-party system has operated and continues to operate. The country's economy is undeveloped, the standard of living of the population is very low. Economic liberalization at the turn of the 80s–90s, however, began to produce positive results (6–7% growth per year).

5. Tanzania, located south of Kenya and Lake Victoria, was created in 1964 as a result of the unification of Tanganyika, which had been independent since 1961, with the island of Zanzibar, which gained independence in 1963. This is perhaps the only case in which this kind of unification turned out to be viable. Population approx. 25 million people Tanzania is a presidential republic with a very stable political system. For many years, the president of the country was D. Nyerere, under whom experiments were undertaken related to an orientation toward the Marxist-socialist model (nationalization, cooperation in the Ujamaa style, etc.). President A.H., who replaced Nyerere in the late 1980s. Mwinyi is inclined to support the economic revival program adopted in 1986, associated with economic liberalization and a move away from socialist experiments.

6–7.Rwanda(approx. 7 million) and Burundi(approx. 5 million people) in 1908–1912 were included in German East Africa, from 1923 they became a mandatory territory of Belgium, and in 1962 - an independent republic and a monarchy, respectively. Rwanda's republican structure has proven resilient. Burundi, having experienced a number of military coups, also became a republic. Both states have a one-party system, the economy is poorly developed, and the standard of living is low.

8–12. Djibouti(0.5 million population), as well as a number of island states - Reunion(0.6 million), Seychelles(0.07 million), Comoros(0.5 million), Mauritius(1.1 million) - are small independent countries of East Africa that gained their independence relatively late, in 1968–1977. (Reunion remains an overseas department of France). Mauritius is a multi-party parliamentary republic that formally recognizes the Queen of England as its head of state. Djibouti is a one-party presidential republic. In the Seychelles, the 1979 coup brought to power a party oriented towards the Marxist-socialist model. In the Comoros, a similar coup in 1975 had a different fate: another coup in 1978 returned the government of A. Abdallah to power, which then steadily ruled the country for many years. What all these small states have in common is their comparative youth as independent structures (this does not apply to Reunion), a fairly noticeable degree of political stability and, with the exception of Djibouti, remoteness from the mainland, which greatly affects their destinies. It is important to note that Arabs predominate in Comoros, Indo-Pakistanis in Mauritius, Christian Creoles in the Seychelles and Reunion.

13. Madagascar, a large island east of Africa, gained its independence in I960. Population - over 11 million people. Initially, the leader of the Social Democrats, F. Tsiranana, was the head of the state and government. The 1972 coup brought the military to power; in 1975, the Supreme Revolutionary Council, headed by D. Ratsiraka, set a course for development along the Marxist-socialist model. The National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, created by the council, united 7 political parties, banning the activities of the rest. The economy has been nationalized and the public sector is absolutely dominant. In the early 90s, Ratsiraka's power and his political course collapsed. A powerful opposition movement developed in the country.

So, among the 13 large and small countries in the region, four large ones (Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Madagascar) and at least two others (Seychelles, Comoros) attempted to develop according to the Marxist-socialist model, and in three cases (Ethiopia, Tanzania and Madagascar) these were long-term experiments, counting in decades. The experiment could have turned out to be just as lengthy in Somalia if the political situation had not prompted S. Barre to change his earlier orientation. And only in Uganda, and even then only intermittently, did a multi-party system function. All large countries in the region are underdeveloped and have a low standard of living. Only a few of the islands (Mauritius, Reunion and tiny Seychelles) stand out for the better against the general bleak background. With reservations, the same can be said about Djibouti. The standard of living in politically relatively prosperous Kenya is slightly higher than in other large countries in the region.

Within the Dark Continent there are 60 countries, including unrecognized and self-proclaimed states. Regions of Africa differ from each other according to many criteria: cultural, economic, demographic, etc. How many of them are there in total on the mainland? Which countries do they belong to?

Features of continental macrozonation: regions of Africa

Each African country is unique and distinctive. However, some common features between these states (natural, historical, social and economic) allow geographers to divide the continent into several large regions. There are five of them in total, according to the generally accepted UN classification.

All regions of Africa are listed below:

• Northern;
• Central, or Tropical;
• South;
• Western;
• East Africa.

Each of the listed macro-regions covers a number of countries in the corresponding part of the continent. Thus, the leader in the number of states is the Western region. Moreover, most of them boast access to the World Ocean. But North and South Africa are the largest regions of the continent in terms of area.

Most countries in the Eastern region have shown significant growth in GDP per capita in recent years. In turn, the central part of Africa concentrated in its vast expanses the poorest and most economically and scientifically backward states on the planet.

It should be noted that not everyone accepts the existing zoning scheme proposed by the UN. So, for example, some researchers and travelers highlight a region such as South-East Africa. It includes only four states: Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

North Africa

The region covers six sovereign states and one partially recognized one: Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Western Sahara (SADR), Egypt and Algeria. North Africa, in addition, also includes several overseas territories belonging to Spain and Portugal. The countries of this region have relatively large areas.

Almost all North African states have wide access to the Mediterranean Sea. This fact played a significant role in their development, indicating fairly close economic ties with European countries. Most of the region's population is concentrated in a narrow coastal strip of the Mediterranean, as well as in the Nile River valley. The waters of the Red Sea wash the shores of two more states in this region: we are talking about Sudan and Egypt. On the map of North Africa, these countries occupy the extreme eastern position.

Average GDP per capita in the region is not so high. However, according to IMF forecasts, they will only increase in the near future. The poorest country in the macroregion is Sudan, and the most prosperous are oil-producing Tunisia and Algeria.

North Africa has a fairly developed (by African standards) agriculture. Citrus fruits, dates, olives are grown here. This region is also popular among travelers. Countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are visited annually by millions of tourists from different parts of the world.

The largest cities in the region: Casablanca, Tunis, Tripoli, Cairo, Alexandria.

Algeria and Egypt on the map of Africa: interesting facts

Egypt is a state within which one of the world's oldest civilizations arose. This is a country of mysterious pyramids, secret treasures and legends. It is the absolute leader on the entire Black Continent in terms of the development of the recreational and tourism sector. At least 10 million tourists visit Egypt every year.

Not everyone knows that this country is one of the most industrialized on the mainland. Oil, gas, iron and manganese ores, gold, coal, etc. are actively mined and processed here. The chemical, cement and textile industries operate effectively in the industrial sector.

An equally interesting state in North Africa is Algeria. This country is the largest on the continent in size. Interestingly, she received this honorary title only in 2011, when Sudan collapsed. In addition to this record, Algeria is interesting for other facts. For example, did you know that:

• about 80% of Algeria's territory is occupied by desert;
• one of the lakes of this amazing country is filled with real ink;
• there are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the territory of the state;
• there is not a single McDonald's or Orthodox church in Algeria;
• Alcohol here is sold exclusively in specialized stores.

In addition, Algeria amazes travelers with the diversity of its natural landscapes. Here you can see everything: mountain ranges, dense forests, hot deserts, and cool lakes.

West Africa

This African region is the absolute leader in the total number of independent states. There are 16 of them: Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

Most of the countries in the region are underdeveloped states with low GDP. Nigeria can be called a certain exception from this list. The IMF forecasts for this region are disappointing: GDP per capita will not grow in the near future.

Almost 60% of West Africa's population is employed in agriculture. Cocoa powder, wood, and palm oil are produced here on a large scale. The manufacturing industry is sufficiently developed only in Nigeria.

The main problems of the region include the following:

• poor development of the transport network;
• poverty and illiteracy;
• the presence of a large number of language conflicts and hot spots.

The largest cities in the region: Dakar, Freetown, Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Bamako.

Central Africa

Central Africa consists of eight countries of significantly different sizes (Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe). The poorest country in the region is the Democratic Republic of Congo, with an extremely low GDP of $330 per capita.

In the economy of the macroregion, the leading positions are occupied by agriculture and the mining industry, which was left to the countries as a legacy from colonial times. Gold, cobalt, copper, oil and diamonds are mined here. The economy of Central Africa has been and remains resource-based.

A significant problem in the region is the presence and periodic military conflicts.

The largest cities in the region: Douala, N'Djamena, Libreville, Kinshasa, Bangui.

East Africa

This region covers ten independent Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, the beautifully named country Rwanda and the newly formed South Sudan), as well as several unrecognized state entities and dependent territories.

East Africa is a region of young states, backward economies and a predominance of monoculture agriculture. In some countries, piracy is thriving (Somalia), and armed conflicts (both internal and between neighboring countries) are not uncommon. In some countries the tourism industry is quite well developed. In particular, tourists come to Kenya or Uganda to visit local national parks and get acquainted with wild

The largest cities in the region: Juba, Addis Ababa, Mogadishu, Nairobi, Kampala.

South Africa

The last macro-region of the continent includes 10 Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, as well as two enclaves (Lesotho and Swaziland). Madagascar and the Seychelles are also often included in this region.

Countries differ from each other in terms of development level and GDP indicators. The most economically developed state in the region is the Republic of South Africa. South Africa is an amazing country with three capital cities.

Tourism is quite well developed in some countries in the region (primarily South Africa, Botswana and the Seychelles). Swaziland attracts many travelers with its well-preserved culture and colorful traditions.

Largest cities in the region: Luanda, Lusaka, Windhoek, Maputo, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth.

Conclusion

All countries of the African continent are original, extremely interesting and often so different from each other. However, geographers were still able to group them according to historical, socio-economic and cultural criteria, identifying five macro-regions: North, West, Central, East and South Africa.