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Africa
Continent that represents about 20% of the world’s land; two-thirds of its surface lies north of the Equator. Characterized by very hot climates, Mediterranean in the north and south, tropical and arid elsewhere.
Lake Tanganyika
The world’s deepest lake (1,435 meters) after Lake Baikal; it empties into the Congo River.
Lake Victoria
Africa’s largest lake (68,000 km2) is relatively shallow; it is bordered by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Gulf of Aden
Northwestern arm of the Indian Ocean between southern Saudi Arabia and northeastern Africa; it connects to the Red Sea through the strait of Bab El Mandeb.
Red Sea
Gulf (430,000 km2) located between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula; it connects to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Nile
The world’s longest river (6,700 km) is known for its summer flooding.
Lake Chad
Large lake, shallow and marshy, the vestige of what was once a sea; it continues to diminish in size and could one day dry up.
Mediterranean Sea
One of the largest inland seas in the world (2.5 million km2); it lies between Europe, Africa and Asia and connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Sahara Desert
Largest desert in the world (8 million km2); it covers one-quarter of Africa.
Atlas Mountains
Mountain chain composed of several ranges; it extends from Tunisia to Morocco, where Jebel Toubkal is its highest peak (4,165 meters).
Tropic of Cancer
Parallel located at 23°26' N latitude (a distance of about 2,600 km from the Equator).
Senegal River
River (1,700 km) forming the boundary between Senegal and Mauritania; it empties into the Atlantic.
Niger River
Africa’s third longest river (4,200 km) after the Nile and the Congo.
Gulf of Guinea
Gulf extending from Ivory Coast to Gabon; its waters are warm.
Equator
Imaginary circle surrounding Earth at its widest circumference, dividing it into two hemispheres: the Northern hemisphere and the Southern hemisphere.
Congo River
Second longest river in Africa (4,600 km) and the world’s second river in size of drainage basin and volume of flow.
Atlantic Ocean
The world’s second largest ocean; it covers 20% of the Earth’s surface.
Tropic of Capricorn
Parallel located at 23°26' S latitude (a distance of about 2,600 km from the Equator).
Namib Desert
Arid region extending 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast. Frequent fog brings the equivalent of 50 mm of annual rainfall.
Kalahari Desert
Semiarid region bordering the Namib Desert; the north is marshy while the south is characterized by very sparse vegetation.
Cape of Good Hope
Former island now connected to the continent by a ridge of sand; located only 150 km to the west of Africa’s southernmost point.
Madagascar
Island (1,600 km long); because it is isolated off the coast of Africa, Madagascar’s flora and fauna are unique.
Mozambique Channel
Arm of the Indian Ocean between the African continent and Madagascar.
Indian Ocean
Relatively small ocean (76 million km2) located between Africa, Asia and Australia; it has high water temperatures and is dotted with numerous islands.
Lake Malawi
Lake shared by Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique; it is 500 km long and 50 km wide.
