All perfectly remember that Africa is the hottest continent on the planet.But few people know that Africa - it is also the most "high" of the continents, as it has the largest possible measure of average height above sea level.Relief in Africa is very varied and complex: there are mountain ranges, plateaus, plains major acting and has long been extinct volcanoes.
relief of any region is known to be closely associated with the tectonic and geological structure of the territory.The relief in Africa and the continent's natural resources are also associated with the tectonics of the continent.Consider this question in more detail.
plan describing the relief in Africa
characteristics of relief every continent provide for a specific plan.Relief Africa described by the following algorithm:
- Characteristics of tectonic structure of the continent.
- analysis of the history of the Earth's crust.
- Characteristics of external and internal (endogenous and exogenous) factors relief formation.
- Description of the general topography of the continent.
- Isolation of the maximum and minimum height.
- Minerals and their placement on the territory of the continent.
lowest and the highest Africa
relief Description Africa should start with the fact that the mainland to the orographic point of view, is divided into two parts: the high and low Africa.
Low Africa has more than 60% of the total area of the continent (geographically is the northern, western and central Africa).It is dominated by the height of 1000 meters.High Africa covers the southern and eastern parts of the continent, where the average altitude is 1000-1500 meters above sea level.Here there are also the highest point - Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), Kenya and the Rwenzori Mountains.
General characteristics of African relief
Now consider the main features of the relief in Africa.
main feature is that the relief of the mainland for the most part flat.Mountain ranges fringe the mainland only in the south and in the north-west.In East Africa, mostly relatively flat terrain.
predominant forms of relief Africa: plateaus, plains, highlands, plateaus, pinnacles, buttes and volcanic massifs.At the same time located in the territory of the mainland, they are very unevenly within it are mostly aligned surface - plain and plateau, and on the edges - the hills and mountain ranges.This feature is associated with the tectonic structure of Africa, much of which lies on the platform of the ancient Precambrian age and are located at the edges of folding area.
Of all the young mountain systems Africa is only the Atlas.In the east of the continent stretches more than 6,000 kilometers in length, a huge Great Rift Valley.In places its faults formed grand volcanoes and in the valleys formed a very deep lake.
worth to list and the largest forms of relief in Africa.These include the Atlas, the Drakensberg and the Cape Mountains, The Ethiopian Highlands, Highlands Ahaggar and Tibesti, the East African Plateau.
Atlas Mountains
Mountain landforms are found in Africa, as already mentioned, only in the south and north-west of the continent.One of the African mountain ranges is Atlas.
Atlas Mountains emerged 300 million years ago as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and African plates.Later, they were raised to a considerable height due to tectonic movements that took place in the late Paleogene.It is worth noting that earthquakes occur in this area today.
atlas composed primarily of marl, limestone, as well as the ancient volcanic rocks.The territory is rich metal ores, and phosphorites and oil.
This is the biggest mountain range in Africa, which includes a number of substantially parallel ridges:
- High Atlas.
- Rif.
- Tel Atlas.
- Middle Atlas.
- Saharan Atlas.
- Anti-Atlas.
total length of the mountain range - about 2,400 kilometers.The highest elevations are found in the territory of Morocco (Toubkal Mountain, 4165 meters).The average height of the ridges varies between 2000-2500 meters.
Drakensberg
this mountain system in the south of the continent is located on the territory of three countries - Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland.The highest point of the Drakensberg Mountains - mountain Thabana Ntlenyana height of 3482 meters.The mountains were formed 360 million years ago, in Hercynian period.They got a terrible name because its remoteness and wild appearance.
The area is rich in minerals: platinum, gold, tin and coal.Unique and organic world of the Drakensberg mountains, where there are several endemic species.The bulk of the mountain range (Drakensberg Park) is the subject of UNESCO.
Drakensberg - a watershed boundary between the Indian Ocean and the upper reaches of the Orange River.They have a unique shape: their tops flat, tabular, separated by erosion at a fee.
Ethiopian highlands
Relief Africa strikingly diverse.Here you can find high mountain ranges such as the Alpine, hilly plateaus, vast plains and deep hollows.One of the most popular forms of relief mainland is the Ethiopian highlands, within which are located not only Ethiopia but also 6 other African countries.
This is a real mountain range with an average height of 2-3 kilometers and the highest point at 4,550 meters (Mount Ras Dashen).Because of the specific features of upland terrain is often called "the roof of Africa."Besides this "roof" often shakes here seismicity remains high.
Highlands formed only 75 million years ago.It consists of schists and gneisses overlain by volcanic rocks from above.Quite picturesque western slopes of the Ethiopian highlands, rugged canyons of the Blue Nile River.
Within Plateau there are rich deposits of gold, sulfur, platinum, copper and iron ore.In addition, it is also an important agricultural area.Ethiopian highlands is considered the birthplace of coffee, and some varieties of wheat.
Volcano Kilimanjaro
This volcano is not only the highest point of the mainland (5895 meters), but also a kind of symbol of the whole of Africa.The volcano is located on the border of two countries - Kenya and Tanzania.With the Swahili name of the volcano means "shining mountain".
Kilimanjaro Masai plateau towers over 900 meters, so visually it seems that the volcano is unrealistically high.Scientists do not predict volcanic activity in the near future (other than potential emissions of gases), although recently it has been found that the lava is 400 meters from the crater of Kibo.
According to local legend, the volcano erupted about two centuries ago.Although there is no documentary evidence of this.The highest point of Kilimanjaro - Uhuru Peak - first conquered in 1889 Hans Meyer.Today, practiced speed the conquest of Kilimanjaro.In 2010, the Spaniard Kilian Burgada setting a world record by climbing to the summit of the volcano in 5 hours and 23 minutes.
Africa Relief and minerals
Africa - a continent with huge economic potential, which is characterized by huge reserves of various minerals.In addition, more or less smooth, slightly dissected topography site promotes the industry and the construction of roads and other means of communication.
Africa is rich in mineral resources, on the basis of which can be developed metallurgy and petrochemicals.Thus, the continent holds in the world of the absolute primacy of the general reserves of phosphate, titanium ore, chromite and tantalum.In Africa also have large deposits of manganese, copper and uranium ore, bauxite, gold and even diamonds.On the mainland, even emit so-called "copper belt" - zone of high mineral potential, stretching from Katanga to the Republic of the Congo (DRC).In addition there is also the actual copper mine gold, cobalt, tin, uranium and petroleum.
In addition, by the presence of a very rich mineral resources are considered and parts of Africa, such as the Atlas Mountains, North Africa and West Africa (Guinea, part of it).
So you got acquainted with the peculiarities of the relief of the hottest continent of the Earth.Relief Africa is unique and diverse, can be found here in all its forms - ridges and plateaus, highlands, hills and valleys.
