African Canadian Studies 11

Africa is the second largest continent on earth at km², Comprising 54 countries. The highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – 5895 metres above sea level. The lowest point is Lake Assal in Djibouti – 156 metres below sea level.

#1 Asia - (45 Mil sq km) #2 Africa - (30 Mil sq km) #3 North America - (24 Mil sq km) #4 South America - (17 Mil sq km) #5 Antarctica - (13,Mil sq km) #6 Europe - (10 Mil sq km) #7 Australia/Oceania - (7.7 Mil sq km) World Seven Continents

A hundred years ago, in the beginning of the 20th century the entire world population was less than 2 billion people. Today, in 2013, the current world population has exceeded 7 billions (7,123,500,000). #1 Asia - (4,165,252,000) #2 Africa - (1,022,234,000) #3 Europe - (738,199,000) #4 North America - (528,720,000) #5 South America - (387,489,000) #6 Australia/Oceania - (36,593,000) #7 Antarctica - (0) It's getting crowded here !

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world at km². Other deserts in Africa are: Namib desert; Kalahari desert; Nubian desert.

The Commonwealth is an organization of 54 independent member states. These countries have diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds, but are regarded as equals. It promotes democracy, free trade, individual liberty, human rights, world peace, among many other things.

Most densely populated areas include: Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Burkina Cities with over 2 million inhabitants include: Abidjan, Alexandria, Algiers, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda

Diamonds Tin Copper Phosphates

Predominant types of farming include: nomadic farming, shifting cultivation, grazing and stock rearing. Percentage of labour force involved in agriculture ranges from 12-32% in most of the continent; however, some countries are much higher. Equatorial Guinea is 58%; Tanzania is 51%; Ghana is 4%. Major types of agriculture production are, for example, rice and grain. Cash crops are also important. Cash crops are crops that are grown for a profit.

Cocoa – Ghana Groundnuts – Uganda Palm products – Sierra Leone Coffee – Tanzania Tea – Kenya Tobacco – South Africa Fruit – Côte d’Ivoire Dates – Egypt and other Northern countries Sugar – Mozambique Cotton – Nigeria Rubber - Liberia

Many countries in Africa have a significant percentage of the population who are undernourished. 45% of the population in Central Africa is undernourished 42% of the population in East Africa is undernourished 43% of the population in Southern Africa is undernourished

In January, it is warmest in countries that are south of the equator. In July, it is warmest in countries that are north of the equator. Most precipitation in January: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique Least precipitation in January: Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sahara Most precipitation in July: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire Least precipitation in July: Angola, Nambia, Algeria, Libia, Egypt

Based on temperature and rainfall, the best areas to live in year round are: just south of the equator in Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya

Areas/countries with water surplus are: Madagascar and the Coastal lowlands and into the Congo Basin In Gabon and Libya, 90-99% of the population have access to clean water Overall, Africa has a water deficiency and thus can only support crops that are drought-hardy. Many countries do not have access to clean water

Grassland (fertile) soils can be found in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, southern Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Zambia Expansion of the Sahara Desert is affecting the Sahel region, and is reducing crop production The lack of water, fertile soil, and the spreading of the desert makes crop production and vegetation survival difficult.

Africa has some areas with no dry season, which are known as the tropical rainforests. Tropical rainforests can be found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, southern Guinea, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea

Volcanoes – Eastern Highlands Nyiragongo Volcano is in the Democratic Republic of Congo Earthquakes – Eastern Highlands Cyclones – Madagascar and south-eastern coast

Overall, Africa does not have many pollution issues Water pollution: Severe coastal pollution along the southern coast of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria Persistent coastal pollution along coasts of South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, Angola Significant oil spills: Off of Cape Town, South Africa Central Libya Deep-sea dump sites: 3 off the southern coast of South Africa 1 off eastern coast of South Africa 2 off western coast of Western Sahara Air pollution and acid precipitation areas in Nigeria and Cameroon

Development is having a negative effect on numerous species in Africa. Population growth, resource consumption, and urban development are causing many species to become endangered. Some animals affected are: cheetah, chimpanzee, gazelle, lemurs, mountain zebra, African penguin, crocodile, gecko, Great White shark, Southern Bluefin tuna

Majority of countries have a life expectancy of or Algeria the life expectancy is and South Africa is On the other hand, Mali’s life expectancy is 46 and Sierra Leone’s is 42. Infant mortality rates are generally high: Guinea is 225; Mali is 260.