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 HowStuffWorks Home  »  HowStuffWorks LibGuides Home  »  HowStuffWorks Geography & Maps Guide

HowStuffWorks Geography & Maps Guide  Tags: geography maps world_features africa asia europe artic anartica australia oceania oceans south_america north_america united_states usa canada mexico middle_east  

Geography is the study of the Earth's contours and regions, including man-made divisions. Find interactive maps, articles and video about all of the major continents, the world's oceans and other physical features.
Last update: Nov 17th, 2008 URL: http://hsw.libguides.com/geography-maps-guide  Print Guide  RSS Updates

Africa             Print Page
  
 

Northern Africa

Northern Africa is dominated by deserts, including the Sahara Desert. Learn about the major countries and physical features of Northern Africa in this section.

 

Southern Africa

Five countries constitute Southern Africa - Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. The region has the world's largest resources of gold, platinum and diamonds.

 

Eastern Africa

The geography of Eastern Africa boasts impressive sights like Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Explore Eastern Africa in this section.

 

Western Africa

Much of Western Africa sits less than 1,000 feet above sea level. Western Africa stretches from the coastal borders of the Atlantic Ocean and to the Sahara Desert.

 
 

Map of Africa

Take a look inside Africa with this interactive map.  Or discover other detailed maps for the various parts of Africa.


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Deserts

Did you know that deserts occupy more than 25% of the total geography of Africa? Learn what differentiates the Gobi from the Sahara, northern deserts from southern, and more.

  • The Sahara Desert  
      
    Sahara is a vast desert in northern Africa. It is one of the world's largest arid regions.
  • The Western Sahara  
      
    The Western Sahara, formerly known as the Spanish Sahara, is a region in northwestern Africa.
  • The Libyan Desert  
      
    The Libyan Desert is part of the Sahara and covers approximately 500,000 square miles.
  • Other African Deserts  
 

Rivers

From the Nile to the Congo, African rivers have long provided arterial waterways for human populations and animal migration. Learn about these and other African rivers.

  • Congo River  
      
    The Congo River is a river of Africa and one of the great rivers of the world.
  • Niger River  
      
    The Niger River is a river in western Africa. It is 2,600 miles longs and the third longest in Africa.
  • Nile River  
      
    The Nile River is the chief river of Africa and the longest in the world.
  • The Senegal River  
      
    The Senegal River is a river in western Africa. It is formed by the Bafing and Bakoy rivers in Mali.
  • Other African Rivers  
 

Peninsulas

There are a number of different African peninsulas, the most notable being the Horn of Africa. Explore the peninsulas of Africa in this section.

  • Cape Agulhas  
      
    Agulhas, Cape, South Africa is the southernmost point of the continent. It is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet.
  • Cape Province  
      
    Cape Province is a historic region of South Africa located on the southern tip of Africa.
  • Cape of Good Hope  
      
    The Cape of Good Hope is in the southern end of Cape Peninsula of southwestern Africa.
  • Sinai Peninsula  
      
    The Sinai Peninsula is a historic area of Asia that forms a land bridge to Africa.
 

Mountains

African mountains are quite diverse in size and terrain. Learn more about Mount Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro and other mountain ranges.

  • Mount Elgon  
      
    Mount Elgon is an extinct volcanic cone northeast of Lake Victoria, on the Uganda-Kenya border in Africa.
  • Mount Kenya  
      
    Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano on the Equator in central Kenya, eastern Africa.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro  
      
    Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano with twin summits.
  • The Ruwenzori Mountains  
      
    The Ruwenzori Mountains is a mountain range on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Atlas Mountains  
      
    The Atlas Mountains is a mountain system of northwestern Africa.
 

Lakes

The most notable African lakes are along the Great Rift Valley. Learn about Lake Albert, Lake Chad and Lake Tanganyika and other famous African lakes.

  • Lake Albert  
      
    Lake Albert is a lake in the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa.
  • Lake Chad  
      
    Lake Chad is a large, shallow freshwater lake in north-central Africa, bordered by Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger.
  • Lake Victoria  
      
    Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake and a part of the Nile River system.
  • Other African Lakes  
 

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Central Africa

The geography of Central Africa is dominated by the Congo rainforest. Explore the rich diversity of people and physical features in this section.

 

Other Physical Features

There are a number of other physical features in Africa, including plateaus and man-made features. Learn about the Aswan Dam, the Gaza Strip and the Suez Canal.

 
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