Geographical objects located in Africa. Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects in Africa - the Gulf of Aden. African inland waters
Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects of Africa
Gulf of Aden. Indian Ocean Gulf. It got its name from the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on an Arabic root meaning “settled life.” 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. The Portuguese named Ilhas dos Azores - “islands of hawks” for the abundance of these birds off the coast and in the archipelago.
Amirant Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by Admiral Vasco's expedition to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "admiral's islands".
Annobon. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Named by the Portuguese Anno Bon - "Good Year" ( New Year), because They first set foot on the island on January 1, 1474.
Atlas. Atlas Mountains. In northwest Africa. The name has a direct connection with the name of the mythical titan Atlas, who holds the earth's firmament on his mighty shoulders. The ancient Greeks deified these mountains, worshiping the mountain spirit in the form of a petrified giant supporting the Earth. So says the legend. Apparently, this was facilitated by a possible primary source from (the Berber word "adrar", which means "mountain"
Augrabis. Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".
Afar. Tectonic depression in Djibouti. The lowest place in Africa (-153 m sea level). The name is given by the name of 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-Ahaggar. The ethnonym is apparently based on the Arabic term “akhgar” - cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "dwellers of caves", "spirits of caves".
Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separates Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the Arabic words “bab” - gate, “mandib” - tears, i.e. means "gate of tears". The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.
White Nile. The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Blue River. The Arabic name of the Bahr el-Abyad river is " white river"According to experts, the definition of "white" refers either to the cloudy color of the water, or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.
Benguela Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given from the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means “land of reeds.”
Benue. Ley 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 fresh water. Later, the island was called Fernando Po in honor of the Portuguese discoverer, and in the 70s of the 20th century - Macias Nguema Biogo and the honor of the president Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.
Bush. The general name for the bush formations of South Africa. The Dutch and English geographical term bush is "shrub".
Vaal. River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch Boer colonists for the color of the water: vaal - “muddy”, “gray”. The toponym is part of the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal - “beyond the Vaal”.
Wadi, wadi. The general name for the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - dry riverbed, valley.
Veld. The name of the arid plateaus in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of the Afrikaners), veld is a folk geographical term meaning "field".
Victoria. Lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingston in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speke. Therefore, at present, in 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 state coat of arms.
Victoria. Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named by him in honor of the Queen of Great Britain. Locals The waterfall is called Mosi-oa-Tunya - “thundering smoke”, or Seongo - “place of the rainbow”.
Virunga. Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name means "volcano" in the Nyoro language.
Volta. River in West Africa. The name Rio-da-Volta - "river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because... in the 15th century Their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. Volta, a reservoir of the same name was created - 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 Arabic corruption of the Portuguese word guardafu - “beware”, which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that there is a magnetic mountain at the very eastern tip of the Somali peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, ships approaching it crashed against the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. In strong winds, high wave Due to poor visibility, ships were often carried onto the peninsula, and they crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "guardafuy" was a warning to sailors who sailed past this cape.
Gulf of Guinea. Bay Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. Named after the historical and geographical region of Guinea, washed by it. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is based on the name of the Berber tribe Kinawa (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the Kinawa region in the 13th century). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym was formed by the Berber words “agvinau” - “black” or “iguaven” - “mute” (i.e., those who do not know the Berber language) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later Europeans corrupted the original word into Gunua, Ginua and finally Guinea.
Strait of Gibraltar. Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named after the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side of the strait. The modern form of the name of the rock arose as a result of centuries of use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - “mountain of Tariq”.
Blue Nile. The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia the river is called Abbay - "father of waters", and in Arab countries Bahr el-Azraq - "blue river". The color name, according to some scientists, reflects the color of the water in the river, carrying bluish silt.
Good Hope . Cape in southern Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named by him Cabo Tormentoso - “Cape of Storms”. King João II of Portugal did not like the name and, at his behest, the cape was renamed Cabo da Bona Esperanza - “Cape of Good Hope”, meaning the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that B. Dias immediately named the cape after Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, this hypothesis cannot be proven or refuted due to the lack of sources contemporary with Dias’ voyage.
Drakensberg Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonialists, Harrow Drakenstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - “dragon”, stein - “stone”.
Zambezi. River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on maps was conveyed in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local Bantu languages means “big river”. The name of the river in the middle reaches in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym, has the same meaning.
Zanzibar. Island in the Indian Ocean eastern shore Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian term “bar” - “shore”, “edge” and the ethnonym “zinj”, which is based on the Arabic or Persian “zang”, “zeng” - “black”. Zinji is a collective name for the Negroid tribes of East Africa in medieval Muslim literature.
Cape Verde. Located on the peninsula of the same name east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - “Cape Verde”, because. was the first land that sailors saw covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.
Cape Verde Island. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after metro 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 St. Brandan, because. the discovery took place on this saint's day. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was put on maps under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the basis of the name as the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha meaning “peak”, “peak”. Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as “Cape of Peaks,” and the reason for the nomination was the sharpness of the rocky cape.
Idi-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 been preserved for the reservoir.
Kabarega. Waterfall and national park on the river Victoria Nile in Uganda. The waterfall was discovered in the 19th century. and named Murchison in honor of Rodrick Murchison, an eminent geologist and president of the Royal Geographical Society of London. In 1962, it was renamed in honor of the national hero of Uganda, the fighter against the British colonialists Kabarega Chwa II.
Kalahari. Semi-desert region in South Africa. The toponym is based on a geographical term from the Hottentot language karaha - “terrain of sand and stone”. The interpretation of the name from the Tswana language, which was widespread in the past, where karri-karri - “thirst-tormented” or “tormenting”, is now recognized by toponymists as unlikely. The Dutch Boer settlers called the semi-desert Bosjeveld - “field of thorny bushes”, which reflected the specifics of the vegetation.
Cameroon. Volcanic massif in Equatorial Africa. The Portuguese merchant-slave trader Fernand Gomiz, sailing past the coast of Africa in the equatorial waters of the Gulf of Guinea, noticed a high mountain that he wanted to know more about. He sent a detachment of daredevils into the interior of the mainland. On the way they encountered an obstacle in the form of a small river with clean, transparent water, which was very useful, since they needed to replenish supplies drinking water. Having filled the barrels with tasty water, the sailors saw an abundance of crabs in the river, after which, for fun, they caught crabs and shrimp and brought them to the ship. And the river flowing in close proximity to the mountain was named Rio des Camaroеs (Camarues), which is translated from Portuguese as “river of crabs.” At the same time, Mount Cameroon received this name, and later the state was named this way. Locals have long had a superstitious fear of Cameroon's snowy volcanic peak and call it "Maongo ma Loba", which means "heavenly mountain" or "god's mountain".
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 - “islands of dogs”. 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 - by fairyland Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.
Canary Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after the Canary Islands.
Cape Mountains. Located in southern Africa. They are named after the Cape Colony founded by the Dutch, which received its name from its original location on the Cape of Good Hope (Dutch Kaar - “cape”). With the expansion of the colony, the name extended to the mountains. Folk etymology connects the toponym with the Dutch kaar - “profit”, i.e. the colony was allegedly named so because it brought a lot of income to the treasury. However scientific evidence no to this interpretation.
Karoo. The general name for semi-desert plateaus and intermountain depressions in South Africa. The name is based on the Hottentot geographical term karusa, modified by the Boers - “dry”, “waterless”, which clearly reflects the natural conditions.
Kenya. Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Maasai term “kee-niyya” as the basis for the toponym. white mountain", which is due to the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.
Kilimanjaro. Volcanic massif in East Africa. The highest point of the continent. 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, “mountain that shines.”
Comoros Islands. Archipelago in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean. The islands have been known to the Arabs since the 8th century; it was they who named the archipelago Jezair al-Komr - “Islands of the Moon”, which was associated with the spread of the cult of this luminary. The Portuguese borrowed the Arabic name in a distorted form, Compos, which was fixed on European maps.
Congo; Zaire. River in Equatorial Africa. The mouth of the river was discovered in the 15th century. Portuguese D. Kahn and named it Rio da Padrao - “padran river” (padran - stone pillar, which the Portuguese erected in honor of their discoveries, carving on it the coat of arms, the name of the king and the discoverer). The name was not fixed, and the river was renamed Congo - that was the name of the country and the people who lived in it before the arrival of Europeans. Local residents call the river different areas flow in different ways: Nzadi or Nzari - “river that absorbs all others” or “great river” (the distorted form Zaire appeared from this name), Zembere - “mother of waters”; Kulla means "great water", and in the upper reaches Lualaba means "great rea".
Red sea. The sea of the Indian Ocean between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. IN Ancient Egypt was called the Great Green, later - the Arabian Gulf, among the Greeks Pelagos Erythre ("erythros" - "red"), from where it came into 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 designated red. Another variant of interpretation of the toponym was noted - from the ethnic name of the ancient Hamarite tribe, which meant “red”.
Kruger. National park in South Africa. Named in honor of Stefanus Kruger - President of the Boer Republic of Transvaal: commander of the Boer army in the war with Great Britain 1899-1902.
Libyan desert. Located in the Sahara. The name is given by the ancient name of Africa - Libya, which comes from the ethnonym "libu".
Livingston Falls. Located in the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scotsman by birth, D. Livingston.
Limpopo. River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch Boer colonists called the river Krokodil 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 north-west Africa since the early Middle Ages: "Maghreb" - west.
Madagascar. Island in the Indian Ocean. Famous Arab sailors as Jezira al-Komr - “the island of the Moon”, which is associated with the cult of this luminary. In the 16th 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” (i.e., the heir to the throne). The Malagasy call their homeland Nossi Damba - "island of wild boars" or Tani-Be - "great". The toponym Madagascar in the distorted form Madeigaskar was first found 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.
Madeira. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because. was indeed covered with forests, which were 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 dye mined there).
Manyara. National park in Tanzania. Named after the lake. Manyara, around which it is located. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.
Mascarene Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened in the 16th century. by the Portuguese expedition of Pedro de Mascarenhas (Mascarenhas) and named in his honor.
Mobutu-Sese-Seko. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. by the British and named Albert in honor of the husband of Queen Victoria. In 1973, it was renamed in honor of the President of Zaire, Mobutu Ssse Seko. Locals call the pond Mbutan Nzighe - "pond of dead shells" for the abundance of shellfish on the banks, or Nyasa - a geographical term for "lake" in Bantu languages. Perhaps one of these names will become the new official one, due to the death of President Mobutu.
Mozambique Channel. Divides Africa and Fr. Madagascar. Named after the state of Mozambique. The name of the warm Mozambique Current in the Indian Ocean has a similar origin.
Nakuru. National park in Kenya. Named after the lake. Nakuru, within the limits of which it was created. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.
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 means “shield”; on the other - “that which is bypassed” (dangerous, lifeless). The second interpretation reflects the complexity natural conditions in a desert,
Nasser. Reservoir on the river Nile in Egypt. Named after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, during whose reign the reservoir was created and the Aswan Dam was built.
Ngorongoro. Reserve in Tanzania. Named after the volcano. Ngorongoro, in whose crater it is located. Etymology unknown.
Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distortion by the Portuguese and other Europeans of the Berber name of the river N "Egiren - "river". In different parts of the flow it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Jolib - "big water"; in the middle and lower Kuara - "river", Issa Bari - "great river"; Mayo - "river". The explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning of "black" from European languages is considered incorrect by modern toponymists.
Nile. The most long river Africa and the whole world. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is “hidden” (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called it Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "the river". The toponym Nile in the form Neilos was first found among the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one version, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term “nagal” - “river”, modified 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 after historical region Nubia, located between the Nile rapids. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word “nuba” - “gold”. In ancient times, there were the largest mines here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.
Nyasa; Malawi. Lake in East Africa. The toponym is formed by folk geographical term from the Bantu languages nyasa - "lake". In the Republic of Malawi, the lake is officially called Malawi after the main people of this country.
Orange. River in South Africa. The Hottentots called her Kai Garib - Big river, Dutch Boer settlers of Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often named objects (rivers, lakes) based on the color of the water or shore. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to it by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland), the Boers, in honor of the Princes of Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. With someone's light hand, and perhaps through transformation, the name Oranskaya turned into Orange.
Principe. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened in the 15th century. Portuguese expedition and named Principi - “first”, because. was the first island discovered by this expedition. According to another version - "prince".
Reunion. Island in the Indian Ocean. Named at the end of the 18th century by the French Reunion - “Connection”, because the inhabitants of the island decided to unite with Fr. Mauritius into a single administrative district. The name changed several times: in the 16th century. Portuguese Santa Apollonia (in honor of St. Apollonia), in the 19th century. - Bonapart (in honor of Napoleon), Ile de Bourbon - “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 Bantu languages ruwenzori - “lord of the clouds”. The national park in Uganda is also named after the mountains.
Savannah. Borrowed by the Spaniards at the end of the 15th century. from the language of the Carib (or Arawak) Indians, where sabana means “high grass plain”, “open space”. General name for the zonal type of landscape.
Sao Tome. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It was discovered by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (St. 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 - "desert". According to philologists, the term is based on the Arabic “askhar” - “reddish”, which reflects the dominant color and color background of the desert.
Sahel. A strip of semi-deserts and deserted savannas in North Africa. The name was given by the Arabs in the Middle Ages; "Sahel" - "coast", "edge", "border", or more precisely - "desert coast".
Saint Helena Island. Located in the Atlantic Ocean. Opened by the Portuguese on St. Helena and named after her. It gained worldwide fame as the place of exile and death of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Seychelles. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Named in the 18th century. by the French in honor of the Minister of Finance Moreau de Setelle (Seychelles)
Senegal. River in West Africa. According to one version, the toponym is based on the name of the Berber tribe Senega, go Sankhaya. Other toponymists believe that the name ancient city Senegana moved 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.
Serengeti. National park in Tanzania. Named after the Serengeti plateau, within which it is located. The toponym is based on the term from the Maasai language serenget - “space”, which fully corresponds to geographical realities - vast savannas on the plateau.
Socotra. Island in the Indian Ocean. The name of the island was given by Indian sailors: Dwipa Sakhadara - “the island of the harbinger of good luck.” Later this name reflected the importance of the island as the most important junction point in the ancient sea routes from India to the west, transformed under the influence of Arabic into Socotra.
Continent Africa is the second largest on the planet after Eurasia. It occupies more than twenty percent of the total landmass and is located almost entirely in the southern hemisphere.
The continent is washed by several oceans: the Atlantic and Indian. The territory is divided among fifty-five countries.
African countries and their capitals
African countries are usually divided into five groups. The list looks like this:
In terms of economic indicators, the most developed and wealthy is South Africa, located in the south of the mainland. At the same time, residents of many states, in particular the central part of the continent, are below the poverty line, in particular the Central African Republic, DRC, Burundi - the poorest countries in Africa.
The largest state in terms of territory is Algeria, and the smallest is Mayotte. The most populous is Nigeria, and the lowest population on the islands is the Seychelles.
African states gained their sovereignty in the mid-twentieth century. Majority modern names appeared at the same time.
For example, until 1985, Côte d'Ivoire was called the Ivory Coast, and until 1977 Djibouti had the official status and name as the French Territory of the Afars and Issa. Similar changes affected almost half of the mainland's territorial units.
Characteristics of Africa
The area is twenty-nine million square meters. km. The distribution from the north downwards is eight thousand kilometers, and from the west to the left - seven and a half.
Physical map of Africa (click to enlarge)
There are several options for the origin of the name. The most common ones are:
- Afri - people who lived near Carthage; later the Romans began to call this the entire region, and then the continent Africa.
- From the Latin aprica - sunny.
- From the Greek afrkn - without cold.
Note: Africa is considered to be the ancestral home of Homo sapiens; it is there that the remains of the most ancient ancestors, in particular hominids and Sahelanthropus, were discovered.
The continent has long attracted Europeans, as the history of discovery has shown; active study began in the fifteenth century, when Vasco da Gama circumnavigated Africa on his way to India.
From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the continent was divided among the great powers:
- the north is part of the Ottoman Empire;
- south - Spain, Portugal and other colonialists.
After World War II, the map changed as the wave of independence began. Today there are several territories on the African mainland under European control, in particular the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Chagos Archipelago.
Extreme points of Africa
The following image tells well which point is the northernmost, the southernmost, which is the easternmost, and where the westernmost is located:
Population
More than one billion people live on the mainland today. Along with this, the greatest increase in numbers and life expectancy is observed. Demographic estimates predict that the population will double over the next thirty years.
There are two main races in Africa:
- Negroid - in the center;
- Caucasoid - mainly in the north and in the Republic of South Africa.
The most common nationality are Arabs. Population density is low compared to Europe and Asia. Today, interethnic conflicts continue.
It is worth noting: The level of urbanization in the countries is low, but its rate is the highest in the world.
As for religion, the leading world ones are mainly widespread, but all other religious movements are also represented. Traditional beliefs are still common in the central part.
Climate zones
Africa is considered the warmest continent, and the warmest place is located here - Dallol. The entire territory is distributed in warm climate zones.
The main ones and their characteristics:
- Equatorial - heavy rains and virtually no change of seasons, here it is constant summer.
- Subequatorial - two main seasons, rainy summer, winter characterized by dry trade winds.
- Tropical - almost no precipitation, deserts are common.
Minerals
Africa is rich in minerals, which have a high price.
In particular, the main ones include:
- gold;
- oil.
The northern coast is also rich in manganese, iron ores and phosphorites.
Flora and fauna
The organic world of Africa is characterized by exceptional diversity.
In tropical areas there are a variety of large animals, in particular rhinoceroses, elephants, lions, zebras, monkeys and others.
The continent is also home to large birds, such as flamingos and ibises.
The north is predominantly inhabited by lizards and snakes that have adapted to the Saharan climate. The hallmark of the south of the mainland is the “big five”: buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros.
The climatic conditions of northern Africa have contributed to the adaptation of many plant species. In the south there are over two and a half thousand flowering plants - this is almost ten percent of the world's wealth.
Geographical objects
Atlas Mountains
The main objects of African geography include:
- Atlas Mountains;
- Basins of the Congo ( nadir) and Nile;
- Rift Valley;
- Ethiopian and Ahaggar highlands;
- deserts - Kalahari, Namib and Sahara.
In addition to the oceans, the continent is washed by one sea - the Red and Suez Canal.
Rivers and seas
One of the longest rivers in the world is located in Africa.
The length of the Nile is almost seven thousand kilometers.
Among others large rivers relate:
- Niger;
- Congo;
- Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange.
Africa is also rich in large lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika and Chad. The latter is the largest salty body of water located inland.
Plains
Plains in Africa are represented by plateaus (East African) and basins (Chad, Congo, Kalahari).
The plateaus are high plains, along with them the pits are low.
Mountains of Africa
Mostly Africa is a continent on plains, it has enough mountains:
- Atalas - in the north;
- Ahagar and Tibeste - in the Sahara Desert;
- Ethiopian Highlands - in the east;
- Capsian and Draconian - in the south.
The highest point is the Kilimanjaro volcano, its height is five thousand nine hundred meters.
In conclusion, I would like to focus on the concepts of “mainland” and “continent”. There are only six continents on Earth, all of them are well known. But there are only four continents.
"Continent" means "continuous" in Latin. Since Eurasia and Africa are connected together by the Suez Canal, they are not separated from each other, therefore they are not separate continents.
Africa is a unique continent that combines the diversity of flora and fauna. Most of the states are at the stage of economically developing countries, partly due to the long colonization of the region.
The people who lived not far from ancient Carthage were called “Afri” by the inhabitants of the city. From Phoenician the word afar means “dust”, and it is to this language that this name is attributed. When the Romans conquered Carthage, they named the province Africa. Later, regions that were known on this continent began to be called this way. And then the entire continent.
Another version says that the word has roots in the Berber word ifri, i.e. cave. This meant cave dwellers, the Afri people. Also, the Muslim province called “Ifriqiya”, which later arose in this place, also had the same root in its name.
I. Efremov, a famous writer and scientist, believed that the word “Africa” has roots in ancient language Ta-Kem (“Afros” - foamy country, Egypt). This is due to the fact that when approaching the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea, several currents collide.
Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects of Africa
Gulf of Aden. Indian Ocean Gulf. It got its name from the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on an Arabic root meaning “settled life.” 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. The Portuguese named Ilhas dos Azores - “islands of hawks” for the abundance of these birds off the coast and in the archipelago.
Amirant Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by Admiral Vasco's expedition to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "admiral's islands".
Augrabis.Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".
Ahaggar.Mountain range in Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Ahaggar. The ethnonym is apparently based on the Arabic term “akhgar” - cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "dwellers of caves", "spirits of caves".
Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separates Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the Arabic words “bab” - gate, “mandib” - tears, i.e. means "gate of tears". The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.
White Nile.The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Blue River. The Arabic name for the Bahr el-Abyad river is “white river”. According to experts, the definition of "white" refers either to the cloudy color of the water or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.
Benguela Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given from the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means “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 20th 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 Boer colonists for the color of the water: vaal - “muddy”, “gray”. The toponym is part of the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal - “beyond the Vaal”.
Wadi, wadi. The general name for the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - dry riverbed, valley.
Veld.The name of the arid plateaus in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of the Afrikaners), veld is a folk geographical term meaning "field".
Victoria.A lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingston in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speke. Therefore, at present, in 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 state coat of arms.
Victoria.Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named by him in honor of 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 means "volcano" in the Nyoro language.
Volta.River in West Africa. The name Rio-da-Volta - "river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because... in the 15th century Their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. The Volta reservoir was created with 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 Arabic corruption of the Portuguese word guardafu - “beware”, which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that there is a magnetic mountain at the very eastern tip of the Somali peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, ships approaching it crashed against the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. With strong winds, high waves, and poor visibility, ships were often carried onto the peninsula and crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "guardafuy" 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 after the historical and geographical region of Guinea, washed by it. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is based on the name of the Berber tribe Kinawa (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the Kinawa region in the 13th century). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym was formed by the Berber words “agvinau” - “black” or “iguaven” - “mute” (i.e., those who do not know the Berber language) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later Europeans corrupted the original word into Gunua, Ginua and finally Guinea.
Strait of Gibraltar.Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named after the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side of the strait. The modern form of the name of the rock arose as a result of centuries of use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - “mountain of Tariq”.
Blue Nile.The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbay - “father of waters”, and in Arab countries Bahr el-Azraq - “blue river”. The color name, according to some scientists, reflects the color of the water in the river, carrying bluish silt.
Good Hope. Cape in southern Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named by him Cabo Tormentoso - “Cape of Storms”. King João II of Portugal did not like the name and, at his behest, the cape was renamed Cabo da Bona Esperanza - “Cape of Good Hope”, meaning the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that B. Dias immediately named the cape after Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, this hypothesis cannot be proven or refuted due to the lack of sources contemporary with Dias’ voyage.
Drakensberg Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonialists, Harrow Drakenstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - “dragon”, stein - “stone”.
Zambezi.River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on maps was conveyed in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local Bantu languages means “big river”. The name of the river in the middle reaches in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym, has the same meaning.
Zanzibar.An island in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian term “bar” - “shore”, “edge” and the ethnonym “zinj”, which is based on the Arabic or Persian “zang”, “zeng” - “black”. Zinji is a collective name for the Negroid tribes of East Africa in medieval Muslim literature.
Cape Verde.Located on the peninsula of the same name east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - “Cape Verde”, because. was the first land that sailors saw covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.
Cape Verde Island.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after metro 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 St. Brandan, because. the discovery took place on this saint's day. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was put on maps under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the basis of the name as the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha meaning “peak”, “peak”. Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as “Cape of Peaks”, and the reason is a rocky cape.
Idi-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 been preserved for the reservoir.
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 - “islands of dogs”. 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 is based on the fabulous country of Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.
Kenya.Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Maasai term “kee-niya” - “white mountain” as the basis of the toponym, which is associated with the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.
Livingston Falls. Located in the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scotsman by birth, D. Livingston.
Limpopo.River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch Boer colonists called the river Krokodil River - “Crocodile River” for the abundance of these reptiles in its waters.
Madeira.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because. was indeed covered with forests, which were 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 dye mined there).
Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distortion by the Portuguese and other Europeans of the Berber name of the river N "Egiren - "river". In different parts of the flow it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Jolib - "big water"; in the middle and lower Kuara - "river", Issa Bari - "great river"; Mayo - "river". The explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning of "black" from European languages is considered incorrect by modern toponymists.
Nile.The longest river in Africa. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is “hidden” (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called it Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "the river". The toponym Nile in the form Neilos was first found among the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one version, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term “nagal” - “river”, modified 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 after the historical region of Nubia, located between the Nile cataracts. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word “nuba” - “gold”. In ancient times, there were the largest mines here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.
Orange.River in South Africa. The Hottentots called it Kai Garib - Big River, and the Dutch Boer settlers called it Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often named objects (rivers, lakes) based on the color of the water or shore. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to it by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland), the Boers, in honor of the Princes of Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. With someone's light hand, and perhaps through transformation, the name Oranskaya turned into Orange.
Sao Tome.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It was discovered by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (St. Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.
Somalia.Peninsula in eastern Africa. Named after the Somali people, who live in large parts of it. The ethnonym comes from the Cushitic languages and means “dark”, which is associated with the skin color of the people. Ptolemy (2nd century) called the peninsula the Southern Horn (nowadays the Horn of Africa is sometimes found). The cold current in the Indian Ocean is named after the peninsula - the Somali.
Tristan da Cuña.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Tristan da Cunha and named after him.
Recently, ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they seem to be conceived somehow primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large amounts of information and squeeze out a lot of water and information noise. I, too, decided to take aim at our William Shakespeare.
You could, of course, lighten up the topic with a catchy title like “10 must-see places in Africa” or something similar. 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 interesting things :)
The reasons why people travel 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 perhaps on the entire planet, where original tribes still remain, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, and decorations of its own body. In the Omo Valley, it’s as if you are traveling in a time machine many centuries, or even millennia, back to the primitive communal system.
Of course, the proximity to the benefits of civilization had an impact on the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war that lasted here for a considerable time also took its toll. Many men carry Kalashnikov assault rifles, for example, instead of spears and bows. Local population has already gotten used to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and has even learned to benefit from it. Don't expect to be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Every frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)
Perhaps the most popular national park in Africa, an icon of the Kenyan tourism industry, one of the best parks on the continent. The Masai Mara is often written about in superlatives and, it should be noted, quite deservedly.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only on the territory of Kenya.
The Masai Mara is famous for its prides of lions, and in general it is one of best places in Africa to observe the big cat trio: lions, leopards and cheetahs.
And, of course, we should not forget about the great migration that takes place in the Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive in the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.
In general, we can say that none 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 scenic view opens onto it from national reserve Amboseli (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian travel websites and offline guides do not hesitate to illustrate articles about Kilimanjaro with photographs taken in Amboseli.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro, giraffes and Kilimanjaro, Masai and Kilimanjaro, African acacias and Kilimanjaro... If you want to add these subjects to your portfolio, then you are in .
The park is good in itself, all the big five are there, 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. Animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the crater of an ancient volcano. As one client said: “Where will they go in a submarine” :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big Five, and its relatively small size and confined space make the safari one of the most exciting in Africa.
Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda
Among the top three big waterfalls peace and that says it all.
Geography of Africa
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In the south, Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast Sinai peninsula washed by the waters of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, in the east and southeast the continent is washed by Indian Ocean, and in the west - the Atlantic Ocean.
Geographical features of Africa
Atlas
The Atlas Mountains system extends from southwestern Morocco along Mediterranean Sea to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain ranges, namely: High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Coastal 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 River Basin, located in central Africa, covers most of the territory Democratic Republic Congo, as well as the neighboring Republic of Congo. It also covers Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of this fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 sq. km., and about 20% of all tropical forests peace. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and its network of tributaries and streams serves as a transport function for the population internal countries Africa.
Great Rift Valley
A sharp depression 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. The result of these same faults were numerous sheer cliffs, mountain ranges, rocky valleys, and very deep lakes, located throughout the considerable length of this valley. In the immediate vicinity of the valley are located many of the most high mountains Africa, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.
Ahaggar Highlands
Ahaggar is a highland region in the central part of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km away. south of the country's capital, and west of the city of Tamanrasset. The region is mostly rocky desert, with average height over 900 m above sea level. The highest point is Mount Takhat (3,003 m).
Kalahari Desert
The desert area is about 259,000 sq. km., it covers most of Botswana, southwestern South Africa, and the entire western part of Namibia. This desert plateau is dotted with dry river mouths and is home to an abundance of dense bushes. There are several small mountain ranges in this area, including Karas and Hans. IN national park The Kalahari Gemsbok, located in South Africa on the border with Namibia, is home to large herds of wild animals.
Namib Desert
The Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, stretching over 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast. The desert begins in Angola, runs through Namibia, and ends at the Olifants River in the Western Cape in South Africa. To the east of the Atlantic coast, the desert gradually gains height, up to 200 km. at the foot of the Big Ledge Mountains.
Annual precipitation ranges from 2 mm. in the driest areas of the desert up to 200 mm. at higher elevations, which is why the Namib can be considered the only true desert in southern Africa. The Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically it consists of dune (sand) seas in the coastal areas, while the inland areas are dominated by gravel plains and rock formations.
Desert sand dunes, some of which reach 300 m in height and 32 km. in length, are the second largest in the world, second only to the dunes of Badin Jaran in China.
Sahara Desert
Covering almost one-third of the entire African continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, with approx. with total area in 9,065,000 sq. km. Topographically, the desert includes flat areas strewn with stones, mobile sand dunes, and numerous dune (sand) seas.
Desert altitude 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 Sahara is divided into the Libyan Desert, the Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, west of the Nile.
There is practically no precipitation in the Sahara, but several underwater rivers flow through its territory, originating in Atlas mountains, which help irrigate isolated oases. In the east, the waters of the Nile help fertilize small areas deserts.
Sahel
The Sahel is a broad strip of land stretching across the entire width of northern central Africa, southern region the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. This border region is a transition zone between the dry regions of the north and the tropical regions of the south. This area receives very little rainfall (15–20 cm per year), and the vegetation here is represented mainly by sparse grass and shrubs.
Nile River System