Africa, second-largest of the Earth's
seven continents - covering about 30,330,000 sq km (11,699,000 sq mi), which
makes up about 22 per cent of the world's total land area.
Largest Country Algeria is the largest country of
the African continent covering a total area of 2,381,741sq. kms - (919,595 sq.
miles)
Smallest Country The smallest
African country is The Seychelles covering an area of 453 sq km but Gambia is
the smallest of the mainland African states, covering an area of 11,300 sq km
(4,363 sq mi).
Largest City Egypt's
capital city, Cairo, is the largest city in Africa with an estimated 9.2
million population
Highest Point Mount
Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Point - (5895m/19,340 ft) in Tanzania
Lowest Point the lowest is Lake 'Asal (153 m/502 ft
below sea level) in Djibouti
Northernmost
tip is Cape Blanc (Ra's al Abyad;) in Tunisia
Southernmost tip is Cape Agulhas in South Africa
Largest Lake Lake Victoria is the
largest lake in Africa and the is the world's second-largest freshwater lake -
covering an area of 69,490 sq km (26,830 sq mi) and lies 1,130 m (3,720 ft)
above sea level. Its greatest known depth is 82 m (270 ft).
Deepest
Lake Lake Tanganyika is the deepest lake in Africa reaching at its
greatest depth is 1,436 m (4,710 ft), making it the second deepest freshwater
lake in the world after Lake Baikal.
Longest
River The River Nile drains north-eastern Africa, and, at 6,650 km
(4,132 miles), is the longest river in Africa and in the world. It is formed
from the Blue Nile, which originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia, and the White
Nile, which originates at Lake Victoria.
The
Great Africa Rift Valley The Rift Valley extends more than 4,830 km
(3,000 mi) from Syria in south-western Asia to Mozambique in south-eastern
Africa.
The width of the valley ranges from a few miles to more than
160 km (100 mi). In eastern Africa, the valley splits into two branches: the
Eastern Rift and the Western Rift
The fault in which the Rift sits is
still moving: the western side of the rift is pulling away from the eastern
ridge at about 6 mm per year, while in the south it is moving together at a
rate of 2 mm per year.
Lake Malawi Lake
Malawi contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world,
probably over 500 from ten families. Particularly noteworthy are the Cichlidae,
of which all but five of over 400 species are endemic to Lake Malawi. The lake
contains 30% of all known cichlid species. Of particular interest is the
'mbuna' rock fish.
Namib Desert The
Namib is the world's oldest desert, and the only desert in Africa inhabited by
elephant, rhino, giraffe and lion
Namibia - Fish
River Canyon The Fish River canyon is the second largest canyon in
the world.
The Sahara Desert The Sahara
Desert alone is expanding southwards at an average of 0.8 km (½ mile) a
month.
Four of the five fastest land animals
live in Africa - the cheetah (70 mph), wildebeest, lion, and Thomson's gazelle
(all about 50 mph).
Penguins (see our photo) South Africa has a penguin colony, which
thrives thanks to the cold Antarctic currents on the west coast near the
Cape.
Chameleons Madagascar is the home
of the worlds largest as well as the smallest chameleons! Almost half of the
world’s chameleon species live on the island of Madagascar. (
more info )
Seals
The largest seal colony in the southern hemisphere is a Cape Cross in
Namibia. ( more
info )
Frogs The world's biggest
frog is found in Cameroon. Named the goliath frog, their body can be one-foot
long. (
more info )
Nile
Crocodiles The Nile crocodile is Africa's largest living reptile -
growing to an average length of 5 m. (more info )
African Elephants The African elephant
is the largest living land mammal.
An elephant can weigh up to 6-7 tons
and has no natural enemies for he is not a predator and there is none large
enough to challenge him.
Did you know elephants drink up to 160 liters
of water per day and a mature elephant can carry up to 6.8 liters of water in
its trunk
An African elephant possesses such "manual" dexterity in
his/her trunk tip that he/she can actually turn the pages of a book with it.
(more
info )
Giraffes Did you know that
the tongue of a giraffe can be as long as 45 cm?
Giraffes are 6 ft tall
when they are born. (more
info )
Even though their necks can be 6-7 feet in length, Giraffe
have the same number of vertabrae in their necks as humans (7)
The
tallest animal on earth is the giraffe - its horn tops being up to 6 metres
above ground level.
Gorillas The Gorilla
is the largest of the living primates, male gorillas weight up to 200kg, yet
are shy and retiring. (
more info )
Cheetahs The cheetah is the fastest land animal at 95
km/h (60mph).
Beetles The world's
largest and heaviest beetle, the Goliath Beetle is found in tropical Africa. It
can reach a length of 5 inches and weigh up to ¼ lb
more info
Butterfly Having a wingspan of only
½", the smallest butterfly is in the world is found in South Africa. It
is know as the Dwarf Blue Butterfly
Fish
The only place where shools of fresh water
sardines are found is in Lake Tanganyika.
Beer Apart from
Muslim nations, Ghana has the lowest per capita consumption of beer in Africa,
yet its brewery industry is one of the most competitive
Weddings Did you know that in Africa it is almost
imposible to hold a small wedding? The idea of a private wedding is unknown and
is greatly frowned upon. Friends and relatives expect to be invited to a
wedding and to play a role in the ceremony.
Malaria 90%
of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa 3,000 children under the age
of five die each day from malaria in Africa 1-5% of GDP in Africa covers
costs of malaria control and lost labour days
Did you know, that Africa
would have been an estimated US $100 billion better off in 1999 if malaria had
been eliminated years ago?
Aids 17
million people in sub-Saharan Africa have died of AIDS
At least 25
million people in Africa are HIV-positive.
12 million children who have
lost their parents to AIDS face a precarious future.
Hospitals The world's biggest hospital is in
Soweto.
The word "Crossword" in Kiswahili is
"chemshebongo" which, when translated, means "boil brains".
In East
& Central Africa the British Army was still remembered. One regiment was
known in Kiswahili as "Magi Bareedi Askari", translated this is "Water Cold
Soldiers" or in other words the "Cold Stream Guards". (supplied by Simon
Vivian)
Diamonds The
world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905. It
weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa,
weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats,
and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless colour and clarity. They now form
part of the British crown jewels.
Windmills Did you know there are about 280 000
windmills on farms across South Africa, second in number only to Australia?
Most Populated Country With a
population of more than 113 million, Nigeria is easily the most populated
country in Africa and the 10th most populous country in the world.
