African Population: 977 Million
life expectancy: Malawi & Zambia, 37 years old
Geographical
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
Sudan, Republic of, republic in north-eastern Africa,
the largest country of the African continent. Sudan has
a total area of 2,505,800 sq km (967,490 sq mi).
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.
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----------
Wildlife
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 the planet'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.
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.
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----------
Culture
Ancient Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone. (
find out more about Ancient Egypt )
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.
Languages
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in
Africa
Somalia is the only country in the world where all the
citizens speak one language, Somali.
The Berbers of North Africa have no written form of
their language. ( more about African Languages )
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---------
Health
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.
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----------
Misc
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.
life expectancy: Malawi & Zambia, 37 years old
Geographical
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
Sudan, Republic of, republic in north-eastern Africa,
the largest country of the African continent. Sudan has
a total area of 2,505,800 sq km (967,490 sq mi).
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Wildlife
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 the planet'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.
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Culture
Ancient Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone. (
find out more about Ancient Egypt )
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.
Languages
More than 1,000 different languages are spoken in
Africa
Somalia is the only country in the world where all the
citizens speak one language, Somali.
The Berbers of North Africa have no written form of
their language. ( more about African Languages )
----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
Health
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Misc
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.
- Background and History of Africa
- Religious Statistics in Africa
- Christian Persecution in Africa
- Ecomony in Africa
- Health in Africa
- Christian Eduction and Bible Colleges in
Africa - Current Missionaries in Africa
- Preparation: Need to Know About Africa
- Food in Africa
- Missionary Resources in Africa
- United States Embassy in Africa
- Territories in Africa
- Politics in Africa
- Deomographics in Africa
- Orphanages in Africa
- Medical Missions
- Church Planting in Africa
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