Africa is the second-largest continent on earth, after Asia, in both size and population. Covering more than twenty percent of the world's land area, Africa accounts for about sixteen percent of the world's population. Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the India Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Included within the continent are Madagascar and several island chains.
Geographically, Africa can be divided into a highland and a lowland zone through a line from the mouth of the Congo River in the west to the Ethiopian-Sudan border in the east. South of this line, the continent is made up mostly of an interior plateau of various heights, an area that is rich in mineral wealth. Above this line, Africa is composed largely of plains and basins.
In the depressions on the African plateaus are shallow lakes and swamps that once hosted a large supply of fish and large populations of hippopotamuses. Its rivers begin in the higher mountain ranges, descending to the valleys through a series of rapids and waterfalls, sometimes through narrow gorges, so they are not navigable for great distances. East Africa is split by a large trough or fault that runs most of the way across the continent. This is known as the Great Rift Valley which, in Kenya and Uganda, splits into the Eastern Rift and the Western Rift. The Great Rift is an area where compression and tension of the earth's crust have pushed the land up to form high ridges and mountains, while the deeper portions have filled with water, to become deep lakes. Today, Africa is home to several ethnicities, cultures, and languages.
Colonized by European countries in the late 1800s, the continent is now made up of several sovereign countries, territories and independent states, originating from an often bloody process of decolonization that began in the 1900s. France, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom still have interests in some portions of Africa.
The continent's fifty-four sovereign nations have borders that were largely drawn during the era of European colonization, and are mostly republics operating through a presidential system of government, although instability has been common and military dictatorships are not unheard of. Africa's largest country is Algeria, while its smallest is Seychelles, an island group off the east coast of the continent. The Gambia is its smallest country on the mainland.
The African nations have attempted to cooperate with the African Union, a 55-member federation consisting of all of Africa's states. Regions and territories in North Africa include Algeria, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Egypt, Libya, Madeira, Melilla, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. East Africa has Burundi, British Ocean Territory, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Central Africa are Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland are in South Africa, and West Africa includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are in West Africa.
More than a thousand languages are spoken in Africa, most of African origin.
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Recommended Resources
Founded in 1996, the guide offers information and tips on hundreds of safaris, tours and holidays to choose from, as well as a comprehensive travel guide to every country in Africa, with detailed travel information, accommodations, relevant links, books maps, videos, and other resources. Also included is a photo gallery, a newsletter, and a discussion forum, as well as credits and contacts.
http://www.africaguide.com/
Available in English and French, the site offers national, regional, and international news reporting, business topics, cultural events and information, sports stories, and subjects relating to science and technology. Articles also include references to other articles on similar topics, as well as those from the same country in Africa. Also included are daily video content, an online discussion forum, and live streaming content.
http://www.africanews.com/
The ABA is a non-profit organization campaigning to raise the standards of living for Africans on the continent, largely by teaching the African people to do for themselves. An overview of the organization, its hours of operation and contacts are posted to the site, along with its programs and projects, a gallery of photographs, a calendar of upcoming events, and various publications.
http://www.aballiance.org/
The portal was set up to promote the arts and artisans of the African continent, providing information on African arts and crafts, including distinct sections for craftspeople, artists, and designers. Visitors to the site may also find photographs representing African art, a schedule of programs and exhibits, a list of books which may be purchased from the site, links to related sites, and a list of contributors.
http://www.africancrafts.com/
African Medical and Research Foundation
AMREF Africa began in 1956, and is committed to working for the improvement of the health of people in Africa by empowering communities and strengthening health systems within the continent. Its history, vision and mission are posted, with information about its promises, programs, policies, and leadership. Other resources include a discussion of its strategic priorities, capacities, and contacts.
http://www.amref.org/
Based in the United States, and stablished in 1957, the ASA encourages the production and dissemination of historical and contemporary information about the African continent. The official web site offers a schedule of annual meetings, ASA publications, awards and prizes, as well as its membership policies and rates, member news, and opportunities to participate, a blog, and an overview of its advocacy programs.
http://www.africanstudies.org/
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Established in 2001, AFRUCA serves as a platform for advocating for the rights of African children and became a registered charity in 2002. Its history, mission, vision, aims, and objectives are featured, with an overview of its policies, principles, and theory of change. Its areas of activity are defined, and its leadership staff and funders are acknowledged. Other resources include statistics and news.
http://www.afruca.org/
Available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, the site serves as a portal for African and Caribbean cultures, news, music, arts and culture, society, travel, and events. Its content is categorized by region, including the Caribbean, North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, South Africa, and the Indian Ocean. A gallery of photographs and an online discussion forum are included.
http://www.afromix.org/
With a focus on all of Africa, the site features news aggregate content, as well as unique content relating to the African continent. Operating from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Monrovia, Nairobi, and Washington, DC, the site offers news and information from specific African regions or countries, and content related to all of Africa. Other topics include the economy and development, entertainment, sports, and governance. A media kit is available.
http://allafrica.com/
Operating business and resort hotels in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia, Cresta Hotels offers descriptions, photographs, features, and a list of amenities and services for each of its facilities, along with a loyalty program. Its partners, awards, and accreditations are presented, and employment opportunities are posted to the site, and details of its destinations, conference facilities, and special offers are included.
http://www.crestahotels.com/
New Partnership for Africa's Development
The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency was established in 2010 as an outcome of the integration of NEPAD into African Union structures and processes. Serving as the implementing agency of the AU, NEPAD facilitates and coordinates the development of continent-wide programs and projects, mobilizes resources, and participates in global projects. Its leadership structure and governance are highlighted.
http://www.nepad.org/
The campaign and advocacy organization has members throughout the world. The organization takes action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. An overview of the organization is set forth, along with financial information, its leadership structure and board of directors, policies, issues, programs and projects, Press releases are posted to the site, and a blog is included.
http://www.one.org/
Created by SOS Children, a global children's charity that provides support for orphaned and abandoned children in several African countries, the site feature films that are planned, scripted, shot, and edited by local African children, many of which include interviews with member of their communities, depicting their own lives and that of the people around them, as well as their own interests, goals, and aspirations. A history and overview of the project is included.
http://www.our-africa.org/
The online magazine reports on science news from Africa. Its topics include the latest research news and successes from African scientists as well as general science, health, food and agriculture news, information about science funding, job opportunities, and major scientific events. Other topics include insight and opinion features, biotechnology, environmental reports, blogs, and advertising opportunities.
http://www.scienceinafrica.com/
