Location and size of Africa

Location and size of Africa

Introduction
Africa is the second largest continent on planet earth. It covers an area of Did you know that it has 55 countries, surrounded by two oceans and two seas? Did you know that the third largest fresh water lake is found in Africa? What is the name of this lake? In this chapter, you will learn the size of Africa compared with other continents, its position in the world and the size and position of East Africa within Africa.

Finding out the location of Africa
In Senior One, you learnt how to find out the location of places using different methods. Use that knowledge to locate Africa. Africa is the only continent that is crossed by major lines of latitude and longitude. You can name these major lines. It also has the largest number of countries. After doing tasks in activity 20.1 you will be able to learn more about the location and position of Africa.

1 Using maps in figure 20.1, describe the location of Africa
2.Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
3.Present your work to the teacher for further guidance.
4.Make the necessary corrections in your notebook.
You have realised that Africa is a continent that lies mostly in the tropical region. This is because most of its countries are found in the tropics. Africa lies between 231/ ON and 231/ S of the Equator. Africa is also
characterised by a continental shelf. You can find out the coasts of Africa with continental shelves. Africa is crossed by the major lines of latitude, you can name them. This makes Africa the most
tropical of all world continents.

The Size of Africa
You might have read about the different continents of the world. Africa is the second largest continent on planet earth second to Asia.
The world consists of seven continents, you can name them. After doing tasks in
activity 20.2, you will explore the size of Africa.

Activity 20.2
Exploring the size of Africa
In pairs, study table 20.1 and do the tasks that follow.
Table 20.1: Continents of the world and their sizes.

1. Calculate the percentage size of Africa.
   2.Use the information in table 20.1 draw a graph to represent the
   information in the table.
   3.Exchange your work with another pair and make comments.
   4.Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
   You have realised that the shape of Africa is not uniform. It is bulky in the north and thin in the south. Africa’s farthest point in the North is Cape Ras Ben in Tunisia at 370 N. The farthest point in the South is Cape Agulhas in South Africa at 350 S. The farthest point in the West is Almadi, Cape Verde Islands at 250 W. The farthest point in the East is in Mauritius, Rodrigues Islands at 580 E.
   Continents are usually large landmasses separated from each other by large water bodies usually seas and oceans.

e The position of East Africa within Africa
You should be appreciate being called an African and more specifically an East African. This is because you come from Africa and East Africa.
Africa is divided into the different regions and these include Eastern Africa, Western
Africa, Northern Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa.
After doing tasks in activity 20.3, you will understand the location and position
of East Africa in Africa.

Activity 20.3
Locating East Africa within Africa
In pairs, carry out a textbook or internet research and do the tasks that follow.
1 Find out the size of East Africa.
2 Draw a map of Africa and on it include East Africa and make your comparisons in class.
3 Describe the position of East Africa within Africa.
4 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
You have found out that East Africa comprises countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It is bordered by Sudan and Ethiopia in the North, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia in the West, Mozambique in the South, Somalia in the North east and the Indian ocean in the East.

Chapter Summary
In this chapter you have learnt that;
Africa is the only continent that is crossed by major lines of latitudes and
longitudes: Equator, Tropic of cancer, Tropic of Capricorn and the Prime meridian.
A Approximately Africa covers 30,065,000 square kilometres.
Africa occupies a unique position as a tropical continent, that is to say, it is
crossed by latitude 231/ 0 N and 231/ 0 S.