Regional Geography of Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world with an area of approximately 31million square kilometer including the islands. It occupies one quarter of the total land area of the world and is about three time the sizes of Europe and about two-third the size of Asa, the biggest continent in the world.

Africa stretches a distance of 7000km. east to west at its furtherest points, i.e., from Cape Ras Hafun to Cape Verde. It also stretches a distance of 8000km from North to South of Cape Blanc to Cape Agulhas.

Africa is the most tropical of all the continents as three –quarters of the continent i.e., about 24million square kilometres lie within the tropics. It extends almost equal distance north and south of the Equator.

Position and Location

Africa lies between latitudes 37⁰ North and 35⁰ South of the equator. It stretches from longitude 20⁰ West and 51⁰ East. The Equator bisects the continent while point (West to East) is along latitude 10⁰N. The furtherest north to south point is longitude 20⁰E.

Africa is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea in the north. To the West of the continent is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the East, the Indian Ocean. The Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden separate Africa Asia, on the northeast.

Political Divisions and Islands

Africa consists of forty-seven mainland countries and several islands. These islands include, Madagascar, with an area of 590,000km², Zanzibar and Pemba, Comoro, Mauritius and Seychelles all in the Indian Ocean. Others are Cape Verde, Canary Islands, Equatorial Guinea, Principe and Sao-Tome found in the Atlantic Ocean.