Most facts about Africa are intriguing and interesting. Some of the facts about Africa are sure to surprise the reader.
The following are the most important facts about Africa:
Largest country:
The Republic of Sudan is the largest country in the continent of Africa. The country has an area of 2,505,800 sq km.
Smallest country:
Seychelles is the smallest country belonging to the African continent. It is spread over an area of 453 sq km. Of all the mainland states, Gambia is the smallest. It covers an area of 11,300 sq km.
Largest city:
Cairo, which is the capital of Egypt, is the most densely populated city, with an estimated population of 9.2 million.
Highest Point:
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in the continent, standing at 5895 meters or 19,340 feet. It is situated in Tanzania.
Lowest Point:
Lake Asal which is located 502 feet below sea level is Africa’s lowest point. It is located in Djibouti.
Northernmost tip:
Cape Blanc in Tunisia is the northernmost tip.
Southernmost tip:
Cape Agulhas in South Africa is the southernmost tip.
Largest Lake:
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in the continent. It also ranks second, in terms of size, among all the freshwater lakes in the world. The lake is spread over an area of 69,490 sq km. It is situated 1,130 m above sea level. It is nearly 82 meters deep.
Deepest Lake:
Lake Tanganyika, at 1,436 meters, is the deepest lake in Africa. After Lake Baikal, it is the second deepest in the world, when it comes to freshwater lakes.
Longest River:
The River Nile travels for 6650 kilometers. It is the longest river, not only in Africa but in the whole world. The river’s origin lies in the Blue Nile which is situated in Ethiopia. The White Nile has its origins in Lake Victoria.
The Great Africa Rift Valley:
The Rift Valley stretches for 4,830 km from Syria to Mozambique. Syria lies in south-western Asia, whereas Mozambique lies in south-eastern Africa. The valley’s width extend up to 160 km. The valley is separated as the Eastern Rift and the Western Rift in eastern Africa.
Lake Malawi:
Of all the lakes in the world, Lake Malawi is home to the greatest number of species of fish. There are in excess of 500 species. Cichlidae is the most intriguing fish species. The species are endemic to the lake.
Sahara Desert:
The desert of Sahara is slowly expanding at the southern end at 0.8 km per month.
These were some of the facts about Africa.
