Where is East Africa. African countries. Features of macro-zoning of the mainland: regions of Africa

Beautiful and vibrant Africa is the second largest continent in the world. More than 1 billion people live in its open spaces. And its lands are conditionally divided into 5 regions. Traditionally, the countries of Africa, the list of which consists of 62 items, belong to the following regions:

• South.
• Western.
• Northern.
• East.
• And Central.

This division is due to different geographical and climatic conditions, differences in cultures and forms of government of states.

There are dependent and independent territories in Africa. There are 37 countries with access to the seas and oceans. Present (10 units). And 16 countries located in the interior of the continent.

African countries: list of states of the southern region

South Africa keeps memories of the colonization period in its memory. Nuclear weapons were developed on its territory, which the government then abandoned. It includes countries such as:

• Zimbabwe;
• Mozambique;
• Comoros;
• Seychelles;
• Mauritius Island;
• Reunion;
• Madagascar;
• Lesotho;
• Botswana;
• Swaziland;
• Namibia.

The largest country on this earth is the Republic of South Africa (South Africa). Almost the entire population of the Southern Region lives and works there. There are 11 official languages ​​in this territory. The ethnic composition of South Africa is a diverse group of numerous religious associations.

The proximity of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean make South Africa attractive for tourism. The southern part of the continent is warm and humid all year round. But the climate is temperate, so the heat is tolerated quite easily.

African countries: list of states of the Western region

The humid and windy climate of West Africa is directly dependent on the capricious trade winds. This territory consists of the following countries:

• Sierra Leone;
• Senegal;
• Benin;
• Burkina Faso;
• Gambia;
• Ghana;
• Togo;
• Guinea;
• Guinea-Bissau;
• Cape Verde;
• Cameroon;
• Mauritania;
• Nigeria;
• Niger;
• Mali;
• Liberia;
• Ivory Coast;
• Saint Helena.

The Western region is the birthplace of many African languages. Even today oral folklore is valued on its territory. And ceremonial dances are included in the program of every significant holiday.

The Cameroon Mountains are the natural boundary of this land in the east. In the south of the region itself, the legendary Sahara desert begins. And in the west, the natural boundary forms the Atlantic Ocean.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria a few years ago received the status of the largest oil producer. Most of the population speaks several dialects at once. 527 languages ​​are officially recognized in this country. Among them there are 11 "dead" dialects, English and several other languages ​​​​of the local ethnic group are taught in state schools.

Abuja is the Nigerian capital, chosen by the government as the most ethnically neutral place in the Western Region. After the completion of the main stages of construction in 1976, Abuja received the status of the main city of Nigeria instead of the overcrowded Logos.

African countries: list of states of the Northern region

A significant part of the Northern region is occupied by the sands of the Sahara desert. The largest states of the entire African continent border on the endless sandy sea:

• Sudan;
• Tunisia;
• Algeria;
• Morocco;
• Libya;
• SADR;
• Egypt.

The Mediterranean natural area is considered very comfortable for living. Therefore, there are large tourist sites of the African continent, which are known throughout the world.

The economy of this region is in better condition than in other parts of Africa. The proximity of Europe affects not only the development of the region, but also its cultural heritage.

Tunisia is the country that has the most competitive economy among all African countries. About 10 million people live in Tunisia, most of whom speak Arabic. Almost the entire population of the northern state professes Islam. The Mediterranean climate makes Tunisia an important tourism sector. The country's culture contains a wide variety of trends that are organically woven into the daily life of the Tunisian people.

African countries: list of countries in the Eastern region

East of the mysterious Nile, there are several countries that make up the Eastern Region. Among them are such states as:

• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Uganda;
• Tanzania;
• Somalia;
• Mayotte;
• Kenya;
• Djibouti;
• Zambia;
• Comoros;
• Malawi.

The climate of East Africa is arid in the central regions. But on the coast, it quickly changes to tropical. Former colonists set the borders of states rather arbitrarily. Due to the fact that cultural and religious directions were not taken into account, the development of the Eastern region is taking place at a very slow pace.

Kenya is not only a favorite place for tourists, but also a place that has amazing flora and fauna. On the territory of Kenya there are a large number of nature reserves that are protected by the international organization UNESCO.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, people speak English and the local language, Swahili. For a long time this country was a colony of Great Britain.

African countries: list of states of the Central region

In the heart of Africa are the following states:

• Angola;
• Congo;
• Sao Tome;
• Equatorial Guinea.

These countries are endowed with a subequatorial climate. Thanks to the extensive river system, it is there that you can see endless forests consisting of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The Republic of the Congo is extremely rich in minerals. This circumstance several centuries ago contributed to the emergence of the African "gold" rush in the country.

The capital of the country with an unusual name Brazzaville is quite developed in terms of education. The literacy rate of the population there reaches 82%. The economy of the state is based on oil production and agriculture. The cultural sector is represented by folk art. The trend of contemporary art is also well developed.

All countries in Africa, the list of which is given above, are considered officially recognized states. Meanwhile, many territories of the African continent have recently embarked on the path of international recognition and so far are not real states. But they still have border symbols on some maps.

Anthropologists call Africa the cradle of civilization. According to research, human culture first appeared there. Paradoxically, in the place of origin of all living things, there are still corners where no human foot has set foot. Of the 29 million square meters, only a small part is inhabited by people. The rest of the space is deserts and tropical forests. African fauna is unique. this continent is not found anywhere else.

Exploring the countries of Africa, the list of which is so diverse, it is difficult to imagine that the Sahara Desert covers an area larger than the entire territory of the United States. Also on the territory of the continent, half of all the gold in the world is mined. And the name of this part of the world comes from one of the most ancient tribes "Afri".

It is the second largest in the world after Eurasia and the first in its mystery and unpredictability. It lies between two oceans - the Atlantic and the Pacific, crosses the line of the equator, which is why the climate there is extremely dry and hot. The expanses of the eastern part of the continent are considered especially arid. Despite the fact that the Sahara and the Kalahari are located in the north and south, it is here that the minimum amount of precipitation falls. Because of this, the flora is scarce, and tourism is not very well developed. The easternmost point of Africa is Cape Ras Hafun, which is located in Somalia. It is these lands that we now consider in detail.

Cape Data

Africa's easternmost point is 10°26" north latitude and 51°23" east longitude. It is located on the peninsula of Somalia, in the state of the same name. Many say that this country exists only in fact. In fact, development there is at an extremely low level due to the constant civil war. Most people live below the poverty line, many are engaged in maritime piracy. The exact coordinates of the easternmost point of Africa give us the opportunity to see it on the map. On a large scale, it can be seen that the Hafun Peninsula (as the locals call it) is an inverted “figurine” of Africa itself in miniature. Its outlines are the same as those of the main continent.

Relief and natural features

The easternmost point of Africa is a low-lying cape. Its length is about 40 kilometers, and it is located in the northeast of the state of Somalia. With its shores, the peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean. Its coastline is not indented with bays, so there are no typical paradise beaches and cozy places to relax. On the contrary, the cape faces the open sea with its shores, which is often the cause of strong winds both above the surface of the water and on the eastern shores of Somalia. Often there are storms and even tsunamis, from which the locals literally run away deep into the continent. Due to the same winds and intense heat, Cape Hafun, like all countries of East Africa, is sparse in vegetation. Desert territories turn into savannahs, where animals such as zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and others are found. But this region is simply teeming with insects and reptiles. There are also centipedes, scorpions, poisonous snakes and other very dangerous reptiles.

Region population

Today, the easternmost point of Africa is inhabited exclusively by the Ottoman Mamuds. Now they are considered local natives, but it is impossible to call them with accuracy the aborigines of these lands, since over the centuries here, as well as throughout the world, assimilation of peoples took place. About 25 thousand inhabitants of Hafun are fishermen - this is the main type of economy in the region. Local residents rarely sell their catch, most often it is the main food for the men themselves and their families. A certain percentage of the population of the peninsula does not disdain to engage in piracy. Given the fact that Somalia is one of the largest in the world, the local pirates hijack entire ships, and the goods that are delivered to them are simply taken away.

Economy of the region

Geographers say that the easternmost geographical point of Africa is a corner of original, unique and unforgettable nature. Unfortunately, the local lands are infertile, not suitable for recreation, and excessive heat and winds are even dangerous for the health of people who are not used to such conditions. But it is precisely on this that the country's economy has recently been rising. Thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies often come to Cape Hafun to take a safari tour, hunt the local fauna, see those very unique and huge insects, find out how local fishermen live and how modern Somali sea pirates live.

Those who decided to go to Cape Hafun

Given that the economic situation in Somalia is extremely deplorable, there are no exchange offices, no ATMs and terminals. Therefore, it is important for travelers to change the currency to the local Somali shilling in advance. In extreme cases, you will have to pay here with the dollar, Egyptian or Yemeni currency, but at the local rate, which is extremely disadvantageous. It is also important to know that hurricanes and tsunamis often occur in the region. If such a “bad weather” is approaching, you need to literally reach the deeper points of the mainland in half an hour, leaving the cape. The local hurricanes literally destroy all the buildings and cause invaluable damage to the country.

Neighboring countries of East Africa

The original nature, which was described above, is typical not only for the lands of the easternmost cape of the continent. Similar landscapes are also found in neighboring countries. Some of them are more economically developed, those that have access to the ocean constantly receive tourists from different parts of the world. East Africa refers to a region that is located in the corresponding part of the continent. Almost all states have access to them. They are united according to the geographical principle, as well as according to natural features. Therefore, for now, we will list all the countries of East Africa simply in alphabetical order:

Population and languages

Modern anthropologists believe that modern East Africa was the cradle of all mankind. The map of this region has not changed much since the existence of the alleged supercontinents, therefore it is also assumed that many local residents are carriers of the most ancient types of DNA on the planet. However, most of the population has long been assimilated both with the inhabitants of other regions of Africa, and with the Europeans, who repeatedly made their colonies from these territories. Only the tribes of Mahmuds and natives, who are far from civilizations and lead a predominantly nomadic lifestyle, are considered original here. Local languages ​​are also a synthesis of European, mainly Romance, and local dialects. The most popular of the languages ​​on the east coast is Swahili.

Country borders

Now we will consider how the modern political map of Africa in the eastern part of the continent was formed and what influenced the formation of the borders known to us. Despite the fact that the people here have the same roots, the number of traditions, rituals, beliefs and other cultural customs here exceeds 200. For centuries, it was precisely for this reason that there were constant skirmishes and armed conflicts between the tribes of the inhabitants of East Africa. This weakened the development of the region, did not give him the opportunity to improve. As a result, European colonialists came here, who, at their own discretion, regardless of the cultural characteristics of certain peoples, established the borders of modern powers. Therefore, the modern map of Africa, in particular its eastern part, is only a formality, which only aggravated the confrontation of the local residents.

Conclusion

As it turned out, the easternmost point of Africa is by no means a picturesque piece of paradise. Despite the fact that Cape Hafun is washed by the Indian Ocean, here its waters are extremely harsh. Often there are tsunamis that sweep away everything in their path. Therefore, only lovers of new experiences, extreme sports and drive come here.

East Africa from A to Z. Population, countries, cities and resorts of East Africa. Map, photo and video, descriptions and reviews of tourists.

• Hot tours Worldwide

The real, primordial and genuine cradle of mankind and, in addition, the ancestral home of Alexander Sergeevich, East Africa is a region dear to the entire 7 billion population of our planet in general and to 180 million of our fellow citizens in particular. However, such an outstanding past of the region is not the only subject of interest. There is also a whole bunch of wonderful destinations in terms of tourism for every taste: a lot of exotic animals run around, and the ocean is amazingly beautiful, and beaches with the finest loose sand are considered one of the best on the planet. Therefore, East Africa is considered the second most visited region of the continent after the Mediterranean north. Among the tourist lucky ones are Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the pearls of "island" tourism: Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius.

Journey through East Africa

There are two secrets of such popularity: firstly, the richest nature and, as a result, picturesque landscapes and diverse wildlife, and secondly, recreational wealth "for idlers", that is, warm water, soft sand and the sun generously gilding the skin. Let's add to this a wise policy in the field of inviting potential customers: hotel and excursion service is at a very high level. Of course, along with the achievements, there are also certain shortcomings - take, for example, Somali pirates or local conflicts that periodically flare up here and there, but in general, the region can be called very attractive, hospitable and pretty.

For fans of wildlife in East Africa is a real expanse. Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have long ceased to be perceived as exotic and hard-to-reach corners of the planet. Every year, whole armies of tourists arrive here, ready to snap the big African five from a photo gun: rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes and leopards. Of course, there are enough other representatives of the animal world here - from giant mountain gorillas to handsome lemurs of Madagascar. In addition, the surrounding expanses amaze even the most daring imagination with their diversity: what are the savannas trembling in the midday heat with rare umbrellas of acacias or the “moon mountains” of Rwenzori, forever covered with clouds, on the slopes of which you can immediately see the vegetation of almost all climatic zones known to science.

Immersion in Tanzania

The title of the king of the beaches of East Africa is deservedly held by the Seychelles, whose lush tropical nature framed by azure water has become the inspiration for more than a dozen artists and writers. In addition, this is a real earthly paradise for surfers and fishermen: the first excitedly talk about two-meter waves, the second - about two-meter tuna and sharks. And if you want to combine the tropics with amazing animals and a distinct European flair, you have a direct road to the former colonial islands - Mauritius and Madagascar.

By the way, East Africa is much calmer in the epidemiological sense than West and Central: vaccinations are forced to be done when visiting only a few countries (but insurance is still required). And in mountainous Rwanda, for example, even unpleasant bloodsuckers are almost completely absent.

The article contains general information about the East Africa region. Forms an idea of ​​the socio-economic situation in this part of the continent. Indicates the reasons that hinder the development and growth of the territory from an economic point of view.

East Africa

The area of ​​the region is 7.7 million square meters. km. The population of the region is close to 200 million people.

Rice. 1. Map of the region.

The list of East African countries includes:

• Sudan;
• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Djibouti;
• Somalia;
• Kenya;
• Rwanda;
• Uganda;
• Burundi;
• Tanzania;
• Malawi;
• Zambia.

East Africa is not included in the list of regions that are rich in natural resources.

The states of this part of the continent act more as large producers and suppliers of coffee to the world market. Tea is also grown here, sisal and cotton are produced. Leather production and extraction of raw materials are developed here. Somalia and Djibouti have 1/4 of all pastures. To ensure the domestic market in the region grow:

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• millet,
• sorghum,
• corn,
• legumes,
• sweet potato,
• cassava

Rice. 2. Pastures of East Africa.

In this part of the continent there are enterprises for the primary processing of agricultural and livestock products, as well as food and light industries.
Interesting: East Africa is recognized by anthropologists of the world as the cradle of all mankind.

States of East Africa

In the past, the territorial boundaries of the main part of the states of East Africa were introduced by the once-colonial powers in an arbitrary manner. Natural ethnic and cultural boundaries were not taken into account. Because of this, the overall development of the whole region was significantly complicated.

In many states, civil armed conflicts have been raging for decades. The reason for this is religious and ideological differences.
Interesting: In 1967, a number of East African countries formed a customs union, which was called the East African Community.

Rice. 3. Economic map of the region.

East Africa contains 17 sovereign states.

Four language groups have spread here.

East Africa is ranked among the most problematic regions of the continent. Here, the usual phenomenon is: infectious diseases, hunger, low socio-economic level of development of the population.

Most of the states of the region are once former colonies of the powers of Europe. They received sovereignty only in the 60s of the last century. The detachment of developed countries regarding the issue of investing in the economic sector of East Africa noticeably slows down progress in the economy of the entire region.

What have we learned?

From the article, we found out the features of the economic development of the region. We have established which factors have the greatest influence on the dynamics of the functioning of certain industries characteristic of East Africa. We learned when the eastern region of the continent gained independence from colonial influence on the main areas of life.

The southern and southeastern parts of Africa are included by us in two tourist mesoregions that are part of the Central and South Africa macroregion. The South African tourist mesoregion covers five countries (Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho), the Southeast Africa tourist mesoregion covers seven states (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Comoros, Madagascar and ). Both tourist mesoregions are characterized by attractive nature, exotic culture and unique cultural heritage.

The cultural specificity of Southeast Africa is determined by the interweaving of Islam, Christianity and local traditional beliefs. And even against this background, the island of Mauritius is unique, where Islam, the Catholic religion and Hinduism coexist. The cultural identity of South Africa (especially South Africa) is associated with the largest introduction of the Christian religion on the continent (mainly Protestant trends - Calvinism and Anglicanism). However, in Namibia and Botswana, the local traditional culture has largely survived. In Southeast Africa, the peoples of two language families predominate: Niger-Kordofanian - Malawi and other Bantu (Niger-Congo group) and Austronesian - Malagasy (on Madagascar), related to the peoples of island Indochina - Malays, Indonesians and others. Indigenous population South Africa are the peoples of the Khoisan family (Bushmen, Hottentots) and the Niger-Kordofan family (Zulu and other Bantu). The peoples of the German group of the Indo-European family also live in southern Africa: the Afrikaners (Boers) are the descendants of the Dutch colonists, and the Anglo-Africans are the descendants of the British settlers.

South Africa

Name Republic of Namibia(825.1 thousand sq. km, 2.1 million people in 2008), adopted with the declaration of independence in 1990, comes from the Namib Desert (translated from the Hottentot language - “that which goes around” ). The first Europeans here were the Portuguese in the 15th century, since 1884 these lands under the name of South-West Africa were a protectorate of Germany, and in 1915 they were occupied by the Union of South Africa (hereinafter - South Africa).

Name Republic of Botswana(581.7 thousand sq. km, 1.8 million people in 2008), adopted with the declaration of independence in 1966, comes from the ethnonym Tswana and means "Tswana land". In colonial times, there was a British protectorate called Bechuanaland (“Bechuan country”, where Bechuan is an obsolete name for the Tswana people).

Republic of South Africa(1 million 219 thousand sq. km, 48.8 million people in 2008) is named after its geographical location in the south of the mainland. The first colonists in southern Africa were the Dutch, subsequently the lands of the Dutch descendants (Afrikaners or Boers) were captured, as a result of which the British dominion of the Union of South Africa (SA) was created in 1910. In 1961 South Africa left the British Commonwealth and changed its name to South Africa.

Name Kingdoms of Swaziland(17.4 thousand sq. Km, 1.1 million people in 2008), which was a British colony until 1968, comes from the Swazi ethnonym and means “Swazi country” (English Lend - “country”) .

Name Kingdoms of Lesotho(30.4 thousand sq. km, 2.1 million people in 2008) comes from the ethnonym Sotho (Sutho). Before independence was declared in 1966, the territory of Lesotho was the British protectorate of Basutoland (“Basotho country”, where Basotho is an obsolete name for the Sotho people).

South East Africa

Republic of Malawi occupies an area of ​​118.5 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 13.9 million people. The name of the state comes from the ethnonym Malawi, which unites a group of Bantu-speaking peoples. The Republic of Malawi adjoins the western shore of Lake Nyasa (translated as “lake”) and until 1964, being a British colony, was called Nyasaland (“country of Nyasa”).

Name Republic of Zambia(752.6 thousand sq. km, 11.7 million people in 2008) comes from the Zambezi River (“big river”, “great, mighty river”) flowing through its territory. Zambia until 1964 was the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia (from the name of the English politician Cecil John Rhodes).

Name Republic of Zimbabwe(390.8 thousand sq. km, 11.4 million people in 2008) was adopted in 1980 and comes from the name of the ruins of ancient stone structures of zimbabwe ("ruler's dwelling"). In colonial times, Southern Rhodesia was a British possession.

Republic of Mozambique occupies an area of ​​799.4 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 21.3 million people. The modern name of the state appeared in 1498, when the Portuguese landed in the northeast of the country and named it Mozambique after the local Sultan Moussa Ben Mbika.

Union of Comoros occupies an area of ​​1.9 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 730 thousand people. The name of the islands located in the Mozambique Channel dates back to the period of Islamization of the eastern coast of Africa by the Arabs. Their original Arabic name, Jezair el-Komra ("lunar islands"), was somewhat altered by Portuguese navigators at the beginning of the 16th century.

Republic of Madagascar occupies an area of ​​587.0 thousand square meters. km, the population in 2008 was 20.0 million people. The name of the island and the state of Madagascar is usually associated with the ethnonym of the Malagasy inhabitants of the island.

Republic of Mauritius(2.0 thousand sq. km, 1.3 million people in 2008), formed in 1968, is the name of the largest island that is part of the Mascarene archipelago of the Indian Ocean. This island was discovered by the Portuguese at the beginning of the 16th century, but in 1598 it was captured by the Dutch and named Mauritius - in honor of the Stadtholder Prince Moritz of Orange. Since 1715, the island was owned by the French, who renamed it Ile-de-France (“island”), but in 1810 the island was captured by the British, who returned its Dutch name.

In total, 25 sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List within South and South-East Africa, of which 14 are cultural monuments.