Africa is the second largest continent in the world after Eurasia, its territory is 29 million km2, which is about 20.4% of the Earth's land.Most of the features of the continent, such as the flora, fauna and climate, due to its geographical position.
Geographical location
Africa is in the southern hemisphere and crossed the equator.This leads to the fact that the continent receives a huge amount of sunlight and heat, and this, in turn, explains why Africa - the hottest continent.
Relief continent, mostly flat, as it is located on the whole of the African plate collision with the Eurasian plate which led to the formation of the Atlas Mountains.In the south and east of the continent are several uplands, two of which - Ahaggar and Tibesti - are in the Sahara.From Asia, Africa separated only artificially created the Suez Canal.
The highest point of the mainland - is a well-known Mount Kilimanjaro, whose height is 5895 meters and the most low-lying point - the lake Assal, which is located at 157 meters above sea level.
Climate Africa
Any schoolboy knows that Africa - the hottest continent on the planet, but not everyone knows why the average temperature here is higher than in other continents.The reason for this is the fact that even in the middle of the equator passes here.This leads to the fact that Africa is four hottest climates.
Most of the territory is in the subequatorial zone.Here you can clearly distinguish the rainy and dry seasons, in contrast to the equatorial, which is one of the main reasons for the fact that Africa - the hottest continent.This climate zone originates in the Gulf of Guinea and stretches inland to Lake Victoria.It is impossible to distinguish the seasons, because the temperature in this zone is stable.The climate is tropical and subtropical zones similar to those territories characterized by clear weather and low rainfall.
Internal and external water
hottest mainland bordering the Indian Ocean in the north-east and the Atlantic to the west, as well as the Mediterranean and the Red Sea to the east and northeast, respectively.
to inland waters of Africa are Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi and other waterways.Neil - it is the second longest river in the world after the Amazon, the length of which is about 6852 km.It originates at the source of the river Rukarara and ends falling into the Mediterranean Sea.Nile Delta provides water to a considerable population of coastal areas for many millennia.
largest lake in Africa - it is Victoria, which is also the second area of freshwater lakes in the world.
Minerals
Africa in the world economy is not known as the hottest continent on the planet, as well as one of the main sources of many minerals.South Africa - is the richest natural resources in the country are focused a lot of fields of different raw materials.
in South Africa are deposits of iron ore, tungsten, chromite and uranium ore.The northern part of the continent is rich in zinc, molybdenum, cobalt and lead, and the west - on coal and oil.
To summarize, it should be noted that the area of the continent is still not fully mastered, and many species of flora and fauna that live in the tropics, are still unknown.But the resources that are here, are a powerful argument to continue to explore the hottest continent.Africa has been and will remain mysterious and enticing to many adventurers and lovers of wildlife.
