A lot of misconceptions surround the African continent and people of Africa. The second largest continent is home to countless unique cultures, languages and landscapes.
It is also pertinent to understand that Africa is not a country but a large continent consisting of 54 countries that are diverse culturally and geographically.
There are a lot of things you need to know about Africa as a continent; we would be enumerating four important things you must know about the African continent.
SECOND LARGEST CONTINENT
African continent is the world’s oldest populated area. Africa is the second most populous continent with about 1.1 billion people or 16% of the world’s population. Africa is the world’s second largest continent covering about over 30 million square kilometers. The Sahara is the largest desert in the world and is bigger than the continental USA.
HOTTEST CONTINENT
Africa is the world’s hottest continent with deserts and drylands covering 60% of land surface area; Kalahari and Sahara deserts. Africa is the world’s second driest continent (after Australia).
WORLD BEST DESTINATION CENTRES
Africa is still one of the best travel destinations in the world. Africa has numerous tour sites and destinations; ranging from wildlife parks, national museums, deserts, renowned archaeological centres; Africa offers truly memorable experiences. Popular tourist locations are São Tomé e Principe, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Reunion Island, Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco.
Located on the Zimbabwe and Zambia border; the largest waterfall in Africa is the Victoria Falls. It has a height of 355 feet and the width of the water fall runs into almost a mile.
MINERAL RESOURCES
Around 30% of the earth’s remaining mineral resources are in Africa. These include uranium, platinum, diamonds, cobalt, gold, oil and gas reserves. Nigeria is the fifth largest exporter of oil, ahead of Iraq and Kuwait. Nickel and uranium can be found in Burundi, titanium in Gambia, and diamonds in Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. It is interesting to note that almost half of the gold ever mined on earth has come from a single place – the Witwatersrand, in South Africa. The African continent’s mining is well known as the continent produces at least 50% of the diamonds and gold in the whole world. The rest of the countries around the world contribute to the remaining 50% of the production of these precious stones and metal.
The African Continent Is The Birth Place Of Civilization
According to the Encyclopedia; earliest stages of human evolution are believed to have begun in Africa about seven million years ago as a population of African apes evolved into three different species; gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Protohumans, as early humans are known, evolved about 2.5 million years ago and had larger brains and stood nearly upright.
Cradle of Mankind
According to existing archaeological and fossil evidence, however, the Cradle of Humankind(originally known as Cradle of Mankind) is the Afar Triangle in East Africa; which is often referred to as the Cradle of Humanity.
The Length And Breadth Of The African continent Is Almost The Same
Divided By The Equator
The African continent is home to the longest river in the world
The Largest Canyon And The Fastest Animals
Also Check out some amazing facts about ancient Africa that you didn’t know, Here