Significant geographical features of South Africa. Geographical characteristics of Africa

S. I. RUNKOV

NATURAL EARTH OBJECTS. AFRICA:

GEOGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE AND METHODS

Saransk 2010

AFRICA

CAPES

NEEDLE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image003_1.jpg "align =" left "width =" 125 "height =" 120 src = "> S lat., 19 ° 59" E. etc.). It is located on the territory of the Republic of South Africa, 155 km southeast of the Cape of Good Hope.

RAS-HAFUN

Khafun, a cape on the Somali Peninsula, the easternmost point of the African continent (10 ° 26 "N and 51 ° 23" E).

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image012_0.jpg "align =" left "width =" 100 "height =" 64 src = "> Cape Verde is a peninsula on the African coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in Senegal The westernmost point of continental Africa At the southern tip of Cape Verde is the city of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image014.gif "width =" 19 "height =" 40 ">. gif" alt = "(! LANG: Signature:" align="left" width="316" height="130 src=">.jpg" align="left" width="94" height="64"> Эль-Абьяд, мыс на побережье Средиземного моря, в 13 км к северо-западу от г. Бизерта (Тунис). Самая северная точка Африки (37° 21° с. ш. и 9° 45° в. д.).!}

BAYS AND BAYS

CIDRA (LARGE SIRT)

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image021_0.jpg "align =" left "width =" 106 "height =" 83 src = "> Sidra (source of Great Sirte) is a large bay of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, up to 1374m deep, up to 465km wide (at the entrance to the bay).

GABES

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image023.jpg "align =" left "width =" 136 "height =" 112 src = "> Gabes is a gulf of the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Africa, in ancient times it was called Small Sirte. Washes the territory of Tunisia. It stretches over 100 km and has a depth of about 50 m. Djerba Island is located in the southern part of the entrance to the bay, and Kerkenna Island in the northern part.

TUNISIAN

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image029.jpg "align =" left "width =" 232 "height =" 96 src = "> The Gulf of Tunis is a large gulf of the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Africa, it washes the territory of Tunisia On the southern coast of the gulf, where the capital of Carthage was formerly located, the city of Tunisia is now located.

GUINEAN

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image031_0.jpg "align =" left "width =" 126 "height =" 86 src = ">

Gulf of Guinea is a gulf of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Equatorial Africa. It juts out into land between Capes Palmas in the northwest (Liberia) and Palmeirinhas (Angola) in the southeast. The constituent parts of the Gulf of Guinea are the bays of Benin (in the north) and Biafra (in the east).

BENIN

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image034.jpg "align =" left "width =" 131 "height =" 102 src = "> Benin is a bay in the Atlantic Ocean on the southern coast of West Africa, an integral part of the Gulf of Guinea, stretching 640 km east from Cape St. Paul (Ghana) to the mouth of the Niger River, the waters of the Benin Gulf wash the coasts of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

BIAFRA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image037_1.jpg "align =" left "width =" 104 "height =" 81 src = "> Biafra is a bay in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the Gulf of Guinea. Water The gulfs are washed by the coasts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Giveni and Gabon.

ADENSKY

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The Gulf of Aden is part of the Arabian Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean. Length 890km. The northern coast of the gulf is the Arabian Peninsula (state of Yemen). The southern and western shores of the Gulf make up the African continent (states of Somalia and Djibouti). In the west, the Tajura Bay is distinguished, in the southeast, the bay is separated from the rest of the Indian Ocean by the Socotra Islands (Yemen). The bay is connected to the Red Sea by the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

STRAITS

GIBRALTAR

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image042.jpg "align =" left "width =" 148 "height =" 102 src = "> The Strait of Gibraltar is an international strait between the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and the north - the western coast of Africa, connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, 65 km long, 14-44 km wide.

BAB EL MANDEB

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image045.gif "align =" left "width =" 186 "height =" 165 src = "> Bab al-Mandeb Strait - the strait between the south-west the tip of the Arabian Peninsula (the state of Yemen) and Africa (the states of Djibouti and Eritrea). Connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden of the Arabian Sea. The smallest width is 26.5 km, the smallest depth in the fairway is 182 m.

MOZAMBICAN

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OCEAN CURRENTS

CANARY

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image051_0.jpg "align =" left "width =" 172 "height =" 161 src = "> Canary current - cold and, subsequently, moderately warm sea current in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean The Canary Current draws most of its water from the Azores and Portuguese currents, as well as rising from the depths and rich in minerals.It first flows south and southwest along the northwest coast of Africa and past the Canary Islands ...

BENGEL

Benguela Current, Atlantic cold current, northern branch of the West Winds. It passes off the western coast of South Africa from south to north and further to northwest, passing into the South Tradewind Current.

MOZAMBIKSKY

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image059.gif "width =" 20 "height =" 112 ">. gif" width = "19" height = "75">. gif "width = "64" height = "115">

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image065.jpg "align =" left "width =" 294 "height =" 198 src = " east of Madagascar, about 300 km south-west of Seychelles, part of the Republic of Seychelles, covering an area of ​​83 square kilometers.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image067.jpg "align =" left "width =" 88 "height =" 69 src = ">. jpg" align = "left" width = "148 "height =" 115 src = ">

O. Ascension

Ascension Island is a volcanic island located in the Atlantic Ocean 1600 km west of the African coast. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, from which it is located 1287 kilometers to the northwest.

CANARY

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image072.jpg "align =" left "width =" 112 "height =" 76 src = ">. jpg" align = "left" width = "100 "height =" 76 src = ">

GREEN CAPE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image076.jpg "align =" left "width =" 100 "height =" 76 src = ">. jpg" align = "left" width = "100 "height =" 76 src = "> The Cape Verde Islands are a cluster of 10 large and 8 small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal, divided into the Leeward and Windward groups.

Madeira

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image081.gif "align =" left "width =" 142 "height =" 172 src = "> Employees" href = "/ text / category / sluzhashie / "rel =" bookmark "> seabird havens - Desertas Islands and Selvagens Islands.

ST. ELENA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image084.jpg "align =" left "width =" 98 "height =" 69 src = "> 148" height = "40" style = "vertical- align: top "> Saint Helena is located in the Atlantic Ocean 2800 km west of Africa and belongs to Great Britain. Also, Saint Helena is an overseas possession of Great Britain, which, in addition to the island of Saint Helena itself, includes the Ascension Islands and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, as well as small islets and rocks.

COMOR

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image088.jpg "align =" left "width =" 208 "height =" 88 src = "> Comoros, Union of the Comoros (SKO) on the archipelago -vov (Anjouan (Njuani) - 424 sq. km, Grand Comore (Ngazidzha) - 1146 sq. km, Mayotte (Maore), Moheli Island state off the southeast coast of Africa. Located in the Mozambique strait of the Indian Ocean between the east coast of Africa and northwestern Madagascar.

SEYCHELLES

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image091.jpg "align =" left "width =" 89 "height =" 100 src = "> The Republic of Seychelles is an island state in the western part of the Indian Ocean, slightly south of the equator, about 1600 km east of the African mainland, north of Madagascar. The republic includes more than 100 islands and islets, only 33 are inhabited. The largest island is Mahe (142 sq. km.). On it is the capital of the state - Victoria Other large islands are Silhouette, Praslin, La Digue.

MASKAREN

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image093.jpg "align =" left "width =" 124 "height =" 84 src = ">. gif" width = "43" height = "137 "> PEMBA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image098.jpg "align =" left "width =" 100 "height =" 76 src = "> Pemba, a coral island in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa , separated from the mainland by the Strait of Pemba. Area 984 sq. km. Part of Tanzania. Height up to 99 m. Equatorial-monsoon climate. Precipitation up to 1000 mm per year. Clove and coconut trees are cultivated.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image102.jpg "align =" left "width =" 132 "height =" 89 src = "> Zanzibar is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Tanzania, which The largest islands are Pemba and Unguja, also commonly called Zanzibar.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image104.gif "width =" 96 "height =" 78 ">. jpg" align = "left" width = "112" height = "85 src = "> .gif" width = "31" height = "106"> Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, located in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, separated from it by the Mozambique Channel. The area of ​​the island is 590 thousand sq. km. Length - about 1600 km, width - over 600 km. The state of the Republic of Madagascar is located on the island.

SOCOTRA

Socotra is a small archipelago of six islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia, about 350 km south of the Arabian Peninsula.

Gulf of Guinea

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image116.jpg "align =" left "width =" 184 "height =" 116 src = "> The largest islands are Bioko, Sao Tome, Principe, Annobon. Bioko is an island in the Gulf of Biafra (part of the Gulf of Guinea) of the Atlantic Ocean, the largest of the islands belonging to the Equatorial

Guinea; ocean.

PENINSULA

SOMALIA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image118.jpg "align =" left "width =" 125 "height =" 107 src = "> Somalia (Horn of Africa) is a peninsula in the east of the African continent. From the north it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Aden, from the east - by the Indian Ocean.The territory of the peninsula is part of the state of Somalia, partly - part of Ethiopia.

RIVERS

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image120.gif "width =" 97 "height =" 59 "> NILE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image123.jpg "align =" left "width =" 92 "height =" 63 src = "> The Nile is a river in Africa, one of the two longest rivers in the world.The river originates in the East African Plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a delta.In the upper reaches, it receives large tributaries - Bahr el-Ghazal (left) and Achva, SOBAT, Blue Nile and Atbara (right). Below the mouth of the right tributary of the Atbara, the Nile flows through a semi-desert, having no tributaries for the last 3000 km. The length of the Nile (with Kagera) is about 6700 km (the most commonly used figure is 6671 km), but from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea it is about 5600 km. The basin area, according to various sources, is 2.8-3.4 million square meters. km. (fully or partially covers the territories of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt).

ATBARA

Atbara (Arabic Bahr el-Aswad) is a river in Africa (in Sudan and Ethiopia), the right tributary of the Nile (flowing into the Nile near the city of Atbara in Sudan). The source is located near Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It flows mainly over the Sudanese plateau.

BLUE NIL

The Blue Nile is much shorter than the White Nile, but it plays a much larger role in the formation of the Nile regime below Khartoum. The Blue Nile originates from the Abyssinian Highlands, flowing from Lake Tana.

WHITE NIL

Below Sobata, the river receives the name White Nile (Bahr el-Abyad), leaves behind an area of ​​marshes, and then quietly flows in a wide valley through a semi-desert area to Khartoum, where it merges with the Blue Nile. From here to the Mediterranean Sea, the river is called the Nile (El-Bahr). The distance from Khartoum to the Nimule gorge is approximately 1800 km; to Lake Victoria - about 3700 km.

KAGERA

Kagera - a river in East Africa, flows through the territory of Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as partly along the borders between them. It is the longest tributary of the Nile. Formed at the confluence of the rivers Nyavarongo and Ruvuvu near Lake Rweru, from where its length to the mouth is 420 km; if we count from the source of the Rukarara River, which is located in Burundi near the northern edge of Lake Tanganyika and is the point of the Kagera river system farthest from the mouth, then its length is about 800 km.

CONGO

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image130.gif "width =" 13 "height =" 62 "> Lualaba is the local name for the upper reaches of the Congo River, described by foreign researchers as the main tributary of the Congo. It flows from the source on the Shaba Plateau to Stanley Falls in the Congo. The length is about 2100 km. A hydroelectric power station was built in the upper rapids. In the middle course, the river is navigable (644 km).

LUAPULA

The upper reaches of the "href =" / text / category / verhovmze / "rel =" bookmark "> the upper reaches of the Congo River). Some researchers consider it the main source of the Congo River (Zaire). The length (from the Chambeshi source) is over 1500 km, the basin area is 265.3 thousand sq. km It originates south of Lake Tanganyika, flows into Lake Bangweulu in several branches, then flows through Lake Mweru, below which it is called Luvua.

LOVUA

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LUKUGA

CROWBAR

Lomami is a river in Africa, on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the left tributary of the Congo. The length is 1,450 km, the area of ​​the basin is about 110,000 sq. km. The river originates on the Katanga plateau, flows northward, forming numerous waterfalls and rapids.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image139.jpg "align =" left "width =" 256 "height =" 255 src = "> UBANG

Ubangi, a river in Central Africa, the largest right tributary of the river. Congo (Zaire); flows along the borders of the Republic of Zaire with the Central African Republic and the People's Republic of the Congo. Formed by the merger of the river. Node and Mbomu. The length from the source of the Knot is about 2300 km (according to other data, about 2500 km), the basin area is 772.8 thousand square meters. km.

Kwango

Kwango River in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Kwango River is a left tributary of the Kassai River. Its length is 1,100 kilometers. The sources are located in the highlands of central Angola, the river flows mainly to the north. In its middle course, the Kwango forms the state border between Angola and Congo, overcomes the Shute Tembo waterfall, then flows through the territory of the Congo and below the city of Bandundu flows into Kasai.

Kasai

Kasai, the river to the Center. Africa, the largest left tributary of the river. Congo, the runoff is 20% of the Congo runoff. Length 2153 km, basin area 880.2 thousand sq. km. It begins on the Lunda plateau, descends from its northern slope, forming picturesque rapids and waterfalls; separates Angola and Congo. The main tributaries on the right are Lulua, Sankuru, Fimi-Lukenie, on the left - Kwango.

RUFIGI

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image145.gif "align =" left "width =" 208 "height =" 165 src = "> Rufiji is a river in Tanzania. The river is formed at the confluence of the Kilombero rivers and Luwegu, originating in the mountains east of Lake Nyasa (Malawi). Length - about 600 km, source in the southwestern part of Tanzania. In the upper reaches of a typical mountain river. Below the Shuguli falls, it flows through lowlands in a wide valley. It flows into the Indian Ocean. near Mafia Island, about 200 km south of Dar es Salaam Basin area 178 thousand sq. km Main tributary is the Great Ruaha.

RUVUMA

Interstate structures "href =" / text / category / mezhgosudarstvennie_strukturi / "rel =" bookmark "> between the states of Tanzania and Mozambique. Length is about 800 km, basin area is 145 thousand sq. Km. It originates in the mountains to the east of the lake Nyasa (Malawi) flows into the Indian Ocean, the largest tributary is the Luzhenda River (right).

ZAMBEZI

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image149.gif "width =" 125 "height =" 55 "> Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa. Basin area - 1 sq. km, length - 2,574 km The source of the river is in Zambia, the river flows through Angola, along the border of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean.

QUANDO

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image152.gif "width =" 172 "height =" 38 "> Luangwa

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image154.gif "width =" 100 "height =" 31 "> LIMPOPO

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image156.jpg "align =" left "width =" 220 "height =" 162 src = "> Limpopo is a river in South Africa. It flows through the territory of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Originates on the slopes of the Witwatersrand, flows into the Indian Ocean River length 1600 km, basin area sq. Km Large tributaries: Shashe, Ulyphants, Shangan.

ORANGE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image158.jpg "align =" left "width =" 160 "height =" 147 src = ">. gif" width = "116" height = "47 "> Shari, a river in Central Africa (CAI, the Republic of Chad and along the border of the latter with Cameroon). Formed by the merger of the river. Ouam and Gribingi; flows into the lake. Chad. The length, according to various sources, is 1400-1500 km (from the source of the Uam river), the basin area is about 700 thousand square meters. km.

NIGER

The Niger is the most important river in West Africa. The length is 4 180 km, the area of ​​the pool is 2 118 thousand sq. km, the third in these parameters in Africa after the Nile and Congo. The source is in Guinea, then the river flows through Mali, Niger, along the Benin border, then flows through Nigeria and flows into the Gulf of Guinea. The main tributaries of the Niger: Milo, Bani (right); Sokoto, Kaduna and Benue (left).

BENUE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image165.jpg "align =" left "width =" 80 "height =" 88 src = ">. gif" width = "96" height = "50 "> Senegal is a river in West Africa and forms the natural border between the states of Senegal and Mauritania. The length of the river is about 1970 km. The river basin area is 419,575 sq. km. The main tributaries are Falem, Karakoro and Gorgol.

GAMBIA

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LAKES

VICTORIA

Victoria is a lake in East Africa, in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. It is located in the tectonic trough of the East African platform, at an altitude of 1134 m. The area is 68.870 thousand square meters. km, length 320 km, maximum width 275 km. The high-water Kagera river flows in, the Victoria-Nile river flows out. The northern coast of the lake crosses the equator.

RUDOLF

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image180.gif "width =" 78 "height =" 58 "> Kyoga is a large shallow lake, more precisely a complex of lakes, in Uganda, an area of ​​about 1720 sq. km, Located 914m above sea level, the White Nile flows into Kyogu on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert.

SLEEVE

Rukwa, an endless shallow salt lake in East Africa, in the southwest. Tanzania. Lies in a tectonic depression at an altitude of 792m.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image185.gif "width =" 16 height = 16 "height =" 16 ">

NYASA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image188.jpg "align =" left "width =" 220 "height =" 112 src = "> Malawi (Nyasa) is a lake in Central-East Africa. The lake runs from north to south, length 560 km, depth 706 m.

BANGWEULU

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image191.gif "width =" 137 "height =" 66 "> .jpg "align =" left "width =" 148 "height =" 132 src = "> Mweru is a fresh mountain lake on the border of Zambia and DR Congo. Located at an altitude of 917m above sea level southwest of Lake Tanganyika. Maximum length 110 km, width 45 km, depth up to 27 m Navigable Bream and tilapia are found in the lake Described by David Livingstone.

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image196.gif "width =" 19 "height =" 123 "> .gif "width =" 275 "height =" 34 "> TANA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image201.jpg "align =" left "width =" 315 "height =" 78 src = "> Tana, Tsana, Dembea, a lake in Ethiopia, in Ethiopian highlands, at an altitude of 1830m. Length 75 km, width up to 70 km. Area 3100-3600 sq. km. Depth up to 70 m.

CHAD

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image204.jpg "align =" left "width =" 127 "height =" 86 src = "> The surface of the lake is not constant: usually occupying about 27 thousand square meters km, the lake in the rainy season overflows to 50 thousand, and in the dry season - shrinks to 11 thousand sq. km. From the south, the Shari rivers with a wide and shallow-water delta and Mbulu flow into the lake, from the west - Komadugu-Vaube, and from the east - the shallow Bar-el-Ghazal.

ASSAL

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image206.jpg "align =" left "width =" 122 "height =" 100 src = ">" Livingstone Falls "- a system of rapids and rapids in the lower course The Congo Rivers, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in western equatorial Africa Named for the Scottish explorer Livingstone, the "waterfall" system is a 350 km long rapids with a total dip of 270 m.

VICTORIA

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image208.jpg "align =" left "width =" 122 height = 94 "height =" 94 "> STANLEY Stanley waterfalls, waterfalls in the upper reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire), between Ubundu and Kisangani, on the territory of the Republic of Zaire. 7 significant rapids, separated by stretches, at a distance of about 150 km; the total fall is about 40m.

Merchison

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image210.jpg "align =" left "width =" 222 "height =" 155 src = "> Atlas Mountains, mountain system in the north. Africa; to the west. parts of Morocco - three parallel. chains: medium (Vys. Atlas or Idrar-in-Deren with the summit of Jebel-Ayashi. 4500 m., southern Anti-A. and north. Er-Rif; in Algeria and Tunisia, two chains: on S. Mal. Atlas or Tell , to the south of the Big Atlas (2300m.), between them the plateau of the Shots (1100m.).

SUGAR ATLAS

Sahara Atlas, a system of mountain ranges and massifs in the south of the mountainous country Atlas within Algeria. Height 1200-1500 m, individual peaks over 2000 m (Mount Aisa up to 2336 m).

ANTIATLAS

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image223.jpg "align =" left "width =" 124 "height =" 89 src = "> Ethiopian (Abyssinian) highlands - mountain system in the north-east Africa in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and in the north of Somalia Average height m The highest point is Mount Ras Dashen 4533 m, the fourth highest in Africa.

MITUMBA MOUNTAINS

Mitumba, a mountain range in the center. h. East African plateau, in the southeast. and V. Congo (formerly Zaire). It is composed of young volcanic and ancient crystalline rocks. Length from north to south apprx. 400km, height up to 3305m. Flat tops at several levels predominate. North. part of the ridge extends along a tectonic depression occupied by lakes Edward, Kivu and Tanganyika.

DRAGON MOUNTAINS

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CAPSE MOUNTAINS

Cape Mountains, mountains in southern Africa, in South Africa, between Port Elizabeth in the east and the mouth of the river. Olifants in the west. The length is about 800 km. Consist of several parallel ridges. The average height is 1500m, the highest is 2326m.

RAS-DASHAN, MOUNTAIN

Ras Dashan, the highest peak in the Semien Mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands. Height 4620m.

KENYA

Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest mountain in Africa (after Kilimanjaro). The highest peaks are Batianm), Nelionm) and Point Lenanam). The mountain is located in the central part of the country, just south of the equator, 150 km north-north-east of Nairobi.

KILIMANJARO, VOLCANO

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image234.jpg "align =" left "width =" 173 "height =" 120 src = "> Somalia is a plateau bordered in the southeast and north by coastal Lowlands Rivers - Jubba, Webi-Shebeli Most of the territory - desert.

DARFUR, PLATO

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image238.gif "width =" 98 "height =" 51 "> High plateaus is the common name for intermontane semi-desert plateaus in the Atlas. Height m in the west, 700-800m in the east. Located between the Tel Atlas ridges in the north and the Sahara Atlas in the south.

BOTTLES-VESSELS

BODELE

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image241.jpg "align =" left "width =" 115 "height =" 80 src = "> Qattara is a waterless depression in Egypt in the north of the Libyan desert in Africa .Area, sq. Km.

KALAHARI

Kalahari, a depression in the central part of South Africa, coinciding with the eponymous syneclise of the African Platform. Located in Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Southern Rhodesia and South Africa. The area is about 630 thousand square meters. km.

DESERT

ARABIAN

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image243.gif "width =" 44 "height =" 70 "> Arabian Desert, northeast h. Sahara (Egypt) between the Nile valley and the ridge. Etbay, stretching along the Red Sea. In the south (at 22 ° N lat.) It passes into the Nubian Desert. The plateaus descend from east to west to the Nile Valley from 1000 to 200 m, intensively dissected by valleys with dry channels (wadis).

https://pandia.ru/text/78/225/images/image246.jpg "align =" left "width =" 149 "height =" 114 src = "> NUBIAN

Nubian Desert, in Africa, mostly on the territory of Sudan, between the r. The Nile and the Red Sea, from which it is separated by the Etbay Ridge.

LIBYAN

Libyan desert, a desert in Africa, northeast of the Sahara, west of the river. Nile, within the eastern part of Libya, the western part of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the northern part of Sudan. The area is about 2 million sq. km.

Africa is the second largest continent, located in all four hemispheres. The area of ​​Africa is 30 million km2.

Extreme points of Africa:

  • northern: Cape Ras Engela (38 ° N, 10 ° E);
  • southern: Cape Agulhas (35 ° S, 20 ° E);
  • western: Cape Almadi 1 (5 ° N, 17 ° W);
  • eastern: Cape Ras Khafun (11 ° N, 51 ° E).

From the west, Africa is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from the east - by the Indian, from the north - by the waters, from the northeast - by the Red. Previously, it was connected by an isthmus with a width of 120 km, now the Suez Canal passes through it. It is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Gibraltar.

The African coast is relatively weakly indented, there is a large Gulf of Guinea in the west and Aden in the east, a large peninsula - peninsula. Located in: Madeira, Cape Verde, etc. There is a large island in the east of the mainland - besides it, there are clusters of small islands - the Comoros, etc.

The specificity of the relief of Africa lies in the large number of plains and plateaus. Most of the north of the mainland is occupied by the highlands of Ahaggar and Tibesti. There are two notable mountain ranges: the Atlas Mountains in the north and the Cape Mountains in the south. In the east of Africa there is a large East African plateau. This structure of the relief is explained by the fact that most of the mainland is located on a single ancient African-Arabian platform, which in ancient times separated from the common continent - Gondwana. The northern and southern ridges are formed in the collision zone of this platform with other large plates.

Lakes in Africa are large enough, formed in rock faults and therefore are very narrow, long and deep: (maximum depth - 1400 m), (700 m). The lake, on the contrary, is shallow, it feeds mainly on precipitation, and its area is greatly reduced during dry periods.

Since most of the mainland is located in tropical, subequatorial and belts, it is warm here. Summer and winter mean monthly temperatures differ insignificantly, the seasons differ in the amount of precipitation: the rainy season falls in summer, while drought sets in in winter. There are tropical forests - the basin, the east coast of Africa, where falls up to 3000 mm. precipitation. There are arid areas - savannas, deserts.

Natural zones of Africa are expressed quite clearly and are located accordingly. At the equator and in the Congo, a zone of humid equatorial forests has formed. There is a huge variety of trees and shrubs, well-expressed tiering. Reds are forming. Monkeys, small ungulates, and many birds live in the forests.

Equatorial forests almost immediately turn into savannas - a special species with lonely trees found. This natural area in Africa occupies a vast area. There are many herbs, acacia trees and baobabs are found among the trees. The soils are red-brown. There are many large ungulates (giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, rhinos), there are also predators (lions, cheetahs, hyenas).

An equally large natural area is tropical deserts, represented by two large deserts: Namib in the south and Sahara in the north. The Sahara Desert is a huge desert located in the northern part of the mainland. Dry trade winds prevailing here raise sand particles, so sand storms are not uncommon for the desert, literally paralyzing all living things. even in the shade it rises to + 50 ° С, the sand heats up to + 70 ° С. At night, the temperature drops sharply, it can drop to 0 ° C. In this regard, survival is very difficult, people live exclusively in oases that arise due to the proximity of groundwater. Most animals are nocturnal, hiding in burrows during the day.

The zone of subtropical rigid-leaved evergreen forests stretches in two narrow strips on the northern and southern coast of the mainland. Beech trees, oaks, citrus fruits, many conifers and shrubs grow here. The animals are mostly small: foxes, small deer, wild boars.

In the XIX-XX centuries, Europeans actively destroyed the unique nature of Africa, cutting down valuable forests, exterminating animals. Many species died out on their own due to the destruction of their natural habitat. This led to the fact that the territories occupied by forests are sharply reduced, but the territories of deserts, on the contrary, are increasing. To preserve and increase populations of wild animals, many of them have become world famous - Kruger, Serengeti.

Geography of Africa
Click to enlarge

In the south, Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast, the Sinai Peninsula is washed by the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, in the east and southeast, the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

Geographic features of Africa

Atlas

The Atlas Mountains system stretches from the southwestern part of Morocco along the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain ranges, namely the High Atlas, the Middle Atlas, and the Seaside Atlas. The highest point is Mount Toubkal, located in the western part of Morocco, with a height of 4,167 meters.

Congo river basin

The Congo Basin, located in central Africa, covers much of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the neighboring Republic of the Congo. In addition, it extends to Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of ​​this fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 square kilometers, and on its territory grows about 20% of all tropical forests in the world. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and the network of its tributaries and streams serves as a transport function for the population of the interior countries of Africa.

Great rift valley

A sharp deepening of the Earth's surface, approximately 6,400 km long, extending from the Red Sea, near the border with Jordan in the Middle East, south to Mozambique. Essentially, this valley is the result of a series of geological faults caused by large volcanic eruptions many centuries ago. These same faults have resulted in numerous sheer cliffs, mountain ranges, rocky valleys, and very deep lakes throughout the considerable length of the valley. In the immediate vicinity of the valley are many of Africa's highest mountains, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.

Ahaggar Highlands

Ahaggar is a high-altitude region in the central part of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km away. south of the capital of the country, and west of the city of Tamanrasset. The region is mostly a rocky desert, with an average altitude of over 900 m above sea level. The highest point is Mount Takhat (3,003 m.).

Kalahari Desert

The desert is about 259,000 square kilometers and covers most of Botswana, southwestern South Africa, and all of western Namibia. This desolate plateau has many dry river estuaries, and dense bushes grow in abundance. There are several small mountain ranges in the area, including Karas and Hans. The Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park, located in South Africa, bordering Namibia, is home to large herds of wild animals.

Namib Desert

Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, stretching over 2,000 km in length along the Atlantic coast. The desert begins in Angola, runs through Namibia, and ends at the Oliphants River in the Western Cape in South Africa. To the east of the Atlantic coast, the desert is gradually gaining height, up to 200 km. at the foot of the Bolshoy Ustup mountains.

Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm. in the driest areas of the desert up to 200 mm. on the hills, because of which Namib can be considered the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically composed of dune (sandy) seas in coastal areas, while gravel plains and rocks prevail in inland areas.

The sand dunes of the desert, some of which reach 300 m in height and 32 km. in length, are the second largest in the world, second only to the Badin-Jaran dunes in China.

Sahara Desert

Covering nearly one third of the entire African continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, with an approximate total area of ​​9,065,000 sq km. Topographically, the desert includes rock-strewn plains, shifting sand dunes, and numerous dune (sand) seas.

The height of the desert varies from 30 m below sea level to 3 350 m above sea level (mountain peaks in Ahaggar and Tibesti). At the regional level, the Libyan Desert, the Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, west of the Nile, are distinguished from the Sahara.

There is practically no rainfall in the Sahara, but several underwater rivers flowing on its territory, originating in the Atlas Mountains, help to irrigate isolated oases. To the east, the waters of the Nile help fertilize small areas of the desert.

Sahel

The Sahel is a wide swath of land that stretches across the entire width of northern central Africa, at the southern edge of the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is a transitional zone between the dry regions of the north and the tropical regions of the south. There is very little rainfall in this area (15 - 20 cm per year), and the vegetation here is represented mainly by scanty grass cover and shrubs.

Nile River system

Recently, ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they look somehow conceived primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large volumes of information and squeeze out a lot of water and information noise. I've also decided to aim at William our Shakespeare.

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

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.


A unique place in Africa, and, possibly, on the entire planet, where original tribes are still preserved, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer ... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, adornments of its own body. In the Omo Valley, it is as if you are traveling 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 influenced the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war, which continued here for a considerable time, also has an effect. Many men, instead of spears and bows, wear Kalashnikov assault rifles, for example. The local population has already got used to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and even learned how to benefit from this. Do not expect to be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Each frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)

Perhaps the most promoted national park in Africa, an icon of the tourism industry in Kenya, one of the best parks on the continent. Masai Mara is often written in a superlative degree and, it should be noted, quite deservedly.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only in Kenya.
Masai Mara is famous for its lion prides, and in general it is one of the best places in Africa to observe the big cat three: lions, leopards and cheetahs.

And, of course, do not forget about the great migration that takes place in Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive at the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.
In general, we can say that not a single safari in Kenya cannot be considered complete without the Masai Mara.

Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as Victoria Falls or the Cape of Good Hope, and, despite the fact that the mountain itself is located in Tanzania, the best and most picturesque view of it opens from the Amboseli National Reserve (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian travel sites and offline travel 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 ...
The park is good in itself, there are all the big five, but it is Kilimanjaro that makes it special and unique.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tanzania

The highest concentration of wild animals in the world in their natural habitat. This argument immediately gives a head start and increases the attractiveness of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the ancient volcano's crater. As one client put it: "Where are they going in the submarine" :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big Five, and its relatively small size and enclosed space make safaris one of the most exciting in Africa.

Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda

It is one of the three largest waterfalls in the world and that says it all.

People who lived not far from ancient Carthage, the inhabitants of the city called the word "afri". From the Phoenician word afar means "dust", and this name is attributed to this language. When the Romans conquered Carthage, they named this province Africa. Later, they began to call the regions that were known on this continent. And then the whole continent.

Another version says that the word has roots of the Berber word ifri, i.e. cave. This meant the cave dwellers, the Afri people. Also, a Muslim province called "Ifrikia", which later arose in this place, also had the same root in the name.

I. Efremov, a famous writer and scientist, believed that the word "Africa" ​​has its roots in the ancient language Ta-Kem ("Afros" - foamy country, Egypt). This is due to the fact that during the approach to the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea, several currents collide.

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 meaning "settledness". According to another interpretation, the name was formed by a term from the ancient Semitic-Hamitic languages ​​edinu - plain, steppe, which clearly reflects natural features.


Azores... Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Ilhas dos Azores - "Hawk Islands" for the abundance of these birds off the coast and on the archipelago.

Amirant Islands... Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by the expedition of Admiral Vasco to Gama and named in his honor llhas de Almitante - "Admiral's islands".


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


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

Augrabis.Waterfall on the r. Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".


Afar.Tectonic depression in Djibouti. The lowest place in Africa (-153 m above sea level). The name comes from the Afar people living in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Ahaggar.Mountain range in Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Akhaggar. 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, ie. means "gate of tears". The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.

White Nile.The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Goluboy. The Arabic name of the Bahr-el-Abyad river is "white river". According to experts, the definition of "white" refers to either a cloudy color of water, or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.

Benguela current... Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given for the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages ​​benguela is "the land of reeds".

Benue.Left tributary of the river. Niger. The name comes from the Batta language, where be - "water", nue - "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 of 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 Biogo in honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.

Vaal... River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch Borax 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 - "behind Vaal".

Wadi, waddah... The general name of the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographic term "wadi", "wedd" - dry bed, valley.

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

Victoria.Lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike the Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingstone in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speak. Therefore, at present, in the young African countries located on the shores of the lake, other names are proposed: 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 r. Zambezi. Discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingstone and named after the Queen of Great Britain. Locals 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 - "the river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because in the XV century. their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. Volta created the reservoir of the same name - one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2 ).

Guardafui.Cape in the east of the Somali Peninsula. Scientists believe that the name is derived from the Portuguese word guardafu, distorted by the Arabs, meaning "beware", which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that, as if at the very eastern end of the Somali peninsula, there is a magnetic mountain, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, the ships, approaching it, crashed on the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. With strong winds, high waves, poor visibility, ships were often carried to 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 off the western coast of Africa. Named for 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 of Kinava (the Arab scholar Ibn Yakut in the 13th century mentioned the region of Kinava). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym was formed by the Berber words "agvinau" - "black" or "iguaven" - "dumb" (ie, not knowing the Berber language) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later, Europeans distorted the original word in Gunua, Ginua, and finally in Guinea.

Strait of Gibraltar.Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named for 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 - "Mount Tariq".

Blue Nile.The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbay - “the father of waters, and in the Arab countries Bahr el-Azrak -“ blue river. ”The color name, according to some scholars, reflects the color of the water in the river carrying bluish silt.

Good Hope... Cape in southern Africa. Discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named Cabo Tormentoso - "Cape of Storms". The name did not like the King of Portugal, João II, and at his behest the cape was renamed Cabo da Vona Esperanza - "Cape of Good Hope", meaning the hope of reaching a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that in B. Diash immediately named the cape by the name of Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, it is impossible to prove or refute 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 of the Drakenstein harrow. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - "dragon", stein - "stone".

Zambezi.River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river was conveyed on maps in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern place names, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in the local Bantu languages ​​means "big river". The same meaning has the name of the river in the middle course in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing of the main toponym.

Zanzibar.An island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian, the term "bar" - "coast", "edge" and the ethnonym "zinj", 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.

Cape Verde.Located on the peninsula of the same name to the east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - "Cape Verde", tk. was the first land covered with tropical flora seen by sailors, in sharp contrast to the sands of the Sahara.

Cape Verde Island.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after m. Zeleny, opposite which it is located. The transfer of the name of the islands into other languages ​​is accepted in the form of 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 - Cape of St. Brandan, t. the opening took place on the day of this saint. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was mapped under the name Agulhas - Agulary. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha as the basis of the name in the meaning of "peak", "summit". Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as "cape of peaks", and the reason is a rocky cape.

Go-Amin-Dada; Edward.Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Edward after 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 survived for the reservoir.

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

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

Cameroon.Volcanic massif in Equatorial Africa. The Portuguese slave merchant Fernand Gomij, sailing past the coast of Africa in the equatorial waters of the Gulf of Guinea, noticed a high mountain, which he wanted to learn more about. He sent a detachment of daredevils inland. On the way, they encountered an obstacle in the form of a small river with clean clear water, which was very handy, since they needed to replenish their supplies of 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 shrimps and brought them to the ship. And the river flowing in close proximity to the mountain was named Rio des Camaroes (Camarues), which is translated from Portuguese as "river of crabs". At the same time, Mount Cameroon received the same name, and later the state was named so. 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 - according to the fabulous country of Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.

Canary current.Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. Named for the Canary Islands.

Cape Mountains.Located in southern Africa. Named after the Cape Colony founded by the Dutch, which was named after its original location on 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 allegedly named so for the fact that it brought a large income to the treasury. However, there is no scientific evidence for this interpretation.


Karoo.Common name for semi-desert plateaus and intermontane depressions in South Africa. The name is based on the Hottentot geographical term karusa changed by the Boers - "dry", "waterless", which clearly reflects the natural conditions.


Kenya.Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Masai term "kee-niyya" - "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. The highest point of the mainland. Scientists associate the origin of the name Kilimanjaro with a word from the Swahili language, distorted by Europeans, meaning "mountain of the god of cold", or, according to another version, "a 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 Dzhezair al-Komr archipelago - the "Islands of the Moon", which was associated with the spread of the cult of this luminary. The Portuguese borrowed the Arabic name in a distorted form of Somoges, which stuck on European maps.

Congo; Zaire.River in Equatorial Africa. The mouth of the river was discovered in the 15th century. Portuguese D. Can and named it Rio da Padrao - "Padran River" (Padran is a stone pillar that the Portuguese put in honor of the discoveries, carving on it the coat of arms, the name of the king and the discoverer). The name was not fixed, but the river was renamed Congo - this was the name of the country and the people who lived in it before the arrival of the Europeans. Local residents call the river in different parts of the course differently: Nzadi or Nzari - "the river that swallows all others" or "great river" (a distorted form of Zaire), Zembere - "mother of waters"; Kulla is "great water" and in the upper course of the Lualaba it is "great river".


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

Kruger.National Park in South Africa. Named after Stephanus Kruger, President of the Boer Republic of the Transvaal, commander of the Boer army in the 1899-1902 war with Great Britain.

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 the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named after the outstanding explorer of Africa, Scottish by origin, D. Livingston.


Limpopo.River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. The Dutch Boer colonists called the river 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 northwest Africa since the early Middle Ages is "maghrib" - west.

Madagascar.Island in the Indian Ocean. Known to Arab sailors as Jezira al-Komr - "the 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 - "the island of wild boars" or Tani-Be - "great". The toponym Madagascar in the distorted form Madeigaskar was first encountered by Marco Polo (13th century). According to scientists, it is based on the ethnic name Malagasy, as the inhabitants of the island are now called.


MadeiraArchipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese called Maderia - Forest, because was indeed covered with forests, later completely cut down. The earliest names for the 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 obtained there).

Mascarene Islands.Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened in the 16th century. Portuguese expedition Pedro di Machareñas (Mascareñas) and is named after him.


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

Mozambique Channel.Divides Africa and Fr. Madagascar. Named for the state of Mozambique. A similar origin for the name of the warm Mozambican current in the Indian Ocean.

Namib.Desert in southwest 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 - "what is bypassed" (dangerous, lifeless). The second interpretation reflects the complexity of the natural conditions in the desert.

Nasser.Reservoir on the river. Nile in Egypt. Named after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, during whose reign a reservoir was created and the Aswan Dam was built.

Niger... River in West Africa. The name is a distorted by the Portuguese and other Europeans the Berber name of the river H "Egiren -" river. "In different parts of the course it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of the Djolib -" big water "; in the middle and lower Kuara -" river ", Issa Bari - “great river”; Mayo - “river.” The explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning of “black” from European languages ​​is considered by modern toponymists to be incorrect.


Nile.The longest river in Africa. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is "hidden" (that is, with an unknown source). The Egyptians called her Hapi after the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "river". The toponym Nile in the form of Neilos was first encountered by the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one of the versions, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term "nagal" - "river", changed by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed the word lil - "water" from the Libyan tribes, distorting it into nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.


Nubian desert... Located in northeast Africa. Named for 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 the popular geographical term from the Bantu languages ​​nyasa - "lake". In the Republic of Malawi, the lake is officially called Malawi by the main people of this country.


Orange.River in South Africa. Hottentots called it Kai Garib - Big River, Dutch settlers of the Boers Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often gave names to objects (rivers, lakes) by 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 Orange turned into Orange.

Principe.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened in the 15th century. Portuguese expedition and named Principi - "the first", tk. 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", tk. the inhabitants of the island decided to unite with Fr. Mauritius into a single administrative region. The name has changed several times: in the 16th century. Portuguese Santa Apollonia (in honor of St. Apollonia), in the XIX century. - Bonapart (in honor of Napoleon), Ile de Burbon - "Bourbon Island" (in honor of the dynasty of kings). Since 1848 - reunion again.

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


Sao Tome.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (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 "askhar" - "reddish", which reflects the dominant color and color background of the desert. 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 of Senega, go Sankhai. Other place names believe that the name of the ancient city of Senegan passed to the river. In the past, the toponym was explained as "navigable", but due to the lack of evidence, modern scientists do not consider this option.

Somalia.Peninsula in the east of Africa. Named after the people of Somalia, who live in most of it. The ethnonym comes from the Kushite languages ​​and means "dark", which is associated with the color of the skin of the people. Ptolemy (II century) called the peninsula the Southern Horn (now the Horn of Africa is sometimes found). The cold current in the Indian Ocean, the Somali, is named for the peninsula.

Tanganyika.Lake in East Africa. There are several options for explaining the name Tanganyika. According to one of them, the toponym is formed by the local geographical terms tonga - "lake" and nyika - "savannah", i.e. means "lake in the savannah". The discoverer of the reservoir R. Burton believed that the name comes from local dialects, where tanganjika - "meeting of the waters" There is also a variant of the interpretation "sail in the savannah". There are other names for the lake in local languages: Msaga - "stormy", as well as Kooko and Udidji that have no explanations.


Tristan da Cu'unha.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Discovered by the Portuguese navigator Tristan da Cunha and named after him.

Turkana; Rudolf.Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Rudolph in honor of the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. At the same time, the name Turkana is used - after the name of the people living on the shores of the lake. The Turkana themselves call the reservoir Basso-Narok - "dark water". Tsavo.National park in Kenya. Named after r. Tsavo, flowing within the park. In the Masai language, "tsavo" means "earth stained with blood." Initially, the toponym referred to the territory adjacent to the river. The name reflects the red color of the soil of the area or indicates the presence of a large number of predators.

Chad.Lake in Central Africa. The name is formed by the geographical term "chad" from the Kanuri language and means "lake", "water". Ethiopian Highlands.Located in northeastern Africa. Named for the country of Ethiopia.