Africa — Location and Physical Features

Africa lies between 37° N latitude in the north and 35° S latitude in the south and between 17° W longitude in the west and 51° E longitude in the east.

The Atlas mountains are located in the north-western part of Africa and the Drakensberg mountains are located along the south-eastern coast of Africa.

These mountains are similar as both of them are young fold mountains.

The Great Rift Valley is located in the east. It extends from Lake Malawi in the south to the Red Sea in the north and then through the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba to the Dead Sea in Asia. It stretches for about 8000 kilometres and has two distinct arms.

The Nile is the longest river of Africa. White Nile and Blue Nile are the two rivers which join to form this river.

River Niger flows through Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa. It is located between the two arms of the Great Rift Valley.

Lake Chad is the largest saltwater lake in Africa. It is located to the south of the Sahara Desert.

The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of Africa.

Rabat is the capital of Morocco.

The highest peak in Africa is Mt Kilimanjaro.

Lake Tanganyika is found in the Great Rift Valley.

River Congo is known as the 'Highway of Central Africa'.

The countries and physical features that are in Africa are:

Countries — Namibia, Algeria, Libya

Physical Features — Nile River, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, Congo river, Kalahari Desert

The temperature of the atmosphere decreases with increase in height. Mt Kilimanjaro is located near the equator, but remains covered with snow throughout the year because of its high altitude (5895 meters).

River Nile flows through the Sahara Desert, yet it carries water throughout the year because it originates in the rainy equatorial region which receives very heavy rainfall.

The Red Sea separates Africa from Asia.

Nairobi is capital of Kenya and Cairo is the capital of Egypt.

Mt Kilimanjaro

False

Reason — The Ethiopian Highlands are of volcanic origin. These mountains are about 75 million years old whereas young fold mountains are 10 to 25 million years in age and are formed due to two of Earth's tectonic plates pushing against each other.

The Sahara Desert is located in the northern part of Africa.

1. The Mediterranean sea
2. The Red sea
3. The Indian Ocean

1. The Atlas mountains
2. The Ethiopian Highlands
3. The Drakensberg Mountains

1. Malawi
2. Rukwa
3. Tanganyika

1. The Sahara desert
2. The Namib Desert
3. The Kalahari Desert

1. The Nile
2. The Congo
3. The Niger