The largest continent on our planet is Eurasia. What is the second largest continent? This article is devoted to a detailed answer to this question. After reading it, you will learn about the geographical location, climate, relief, population, rivers and lakes of this continent.
Africa is the second largest continent of our planet. Its area is approximately 30,330,000 sq. km, if you include the adjacent islands. In total, this is about 22% of the entire surface area of the Earth. The second largest continent that crosses the equator is also the second largest. Approximately 12% of the population of our planet in 1990 lived in Africa (about 642 million people). According to 2011 data, the number of inhabitants increased to 994 million people. Asia is the undisputed leader in terms of population.
Mainland length
Africa, located in the equatorial region, stretches for a distance of 8050 km from the northernmost point, which is Cape El Abyad (Tunisia), to the southernmost (Cape Agulhas,located in South Africa). The greatest width of this continent, measured from the eastern point of Ras Hafun in Somalia to Cape Almadi in Senegal, located in the west, is approximately 7560 km. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, constantly covered with snow, is considered the highest point of this continent (5895 m). And the lowest is Lake Assal (153 m below sea level). The regular coastline is characteristic of Africa. About 30,490 km is its total length. In relation to the area, the line length is less than that of other continents.
Relief and population
The flat terrain is characteristic of Africa. There are several mountain ranges here, as well as a narrow coastal plane. Usually the continent is divided along the Sahara desert, the largest in the world. It occupies most of the northern part of the mainland. The region of North Africa is made up of countries located north of this desert. Among them are such densely populated and large states as Algeria and Egypt. The peoples living here are more studied than the inhabitants of countries located in the south. This situation is partly due to the fact that the Nile River, the longest in the world, flows in this area.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the majority of the population of this continent. This area is known as sub-Saharan Africa. East Africa in this area includes countries such as Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia. Of course, we noted only the largest ones. Among the countries of West and Central Africa are Cameroon, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana. This also includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo. South Africaincludes Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana.
The second largest continent of our planet is surrounded by many islands. Madagascar is the largest of them. It is located southeast of the mainland. Africa as a whole covers about 50 states, from Nigeria (population - 127 million people) to small island republics.
History of mainland settlement
It is believed that life on this continent began between 5 million and 8 million years ago. Here was the Egyptian Empire, one of the first major civilizations. More than 5 thousand years ago it was united. However, Africa for the last 500 years has been dominated by ethnic and political struggle, foreign colonization. All this hindered its social and industrial development.
African Economy
Africa's economy is the most underdeveloped (with the exception of Antarctica). Its main industry is still agriculture. Outbreaks and famines are exacerbated by a lack of medical personnel and poor road conditions. The second largest continent is rich in natural resources, the export of which is one of the most important parts of the economy. Many African countries depend on foreign investment or on the export of one or more resources.
African culture
The culture of this continent is diverse. About a thousand different languages and ethnic groups are represented here. For Africans, tribal relations are of great importance. Most of the population is black, but there are also many Arabs,Europeans, Asians and Berbers. Urban culture, western lifestyles and commerce go hand in hand with rural culture, tribalism, religion and agriculture.
Literature, art and music are very important not only for Africa, but also had a great influence on other cultures of the world. African rhythms, for example, have influenced modern Western pop music styles such as blues, jazz.
Most of the nations inhabiting the second largest continent, since the 1950s, gained independence. It brought with it big changes, including the creation of democratic multi-party governments.
Climate
The second largest continent due to its geographical location is the hottest on the planet. Africa receives the largest amount of sunlight and heat compared to other continents. Throughout the year, the sun is high above the horizon between the tropics, and 2 times a year it is at its zenith at any point. Due to the fact that the equator crosses Africa almost in the middle, climatic zones, except for the equatorial one, are repeated twice on its territory.
Equatorial Belt
This belt includes the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and part of the river basin. Congo. The equatorial climate is characterized by constancy. The weather is usually clear in the morning. Due to the fact that the surface of the earth is very hot during the day, the equatorial air saturated with moisture rushes down. This is how cumulus clouds form. The downpour breaks out in the afternoon. It is often accompanied by severe thunderstorms and storms. Trees that previously stood quietly, withwith the onset of the storm, they sway from side to side, as if they were about to take off. However, strong roots do not allow them to get off the ground. Lightning flashes. But a few minutes after the end of the downpour, the forest again stands majestically and quietly. By evening the weather is clear again.
Subequatorial belt
The subequatorial belt is wide. It frames the belt of the equatorial climate. There are 2 seasons - wet summer and dry winter. Rainy time comes when the sun is at its zenith. It starts suddenly. The savannah is flooded with streams of water for three weeks. All depressions, crevices are occupied by water, saturating the parched earth. Savannah is covered with grass.
Sahara Desert
The duration of the rainy season and the amount of summer precipitation decrease towards the tropics. Tropical belts are located in tropical latitudes located in both hemispheres. North Africa is the driest. Here is the driest and hottest region not only of this continent, but of the entire planet. This is the Sahara desert. Summer in it is exceptionally hot, almost cloudless sky. The surface of sand and stones heats up to 70 °C. Temperatures often exceed 40°C.
At night, due to the absence of clouds, the air and the surface of the earth cool rapidly. Therefore, there are very large fluctuations in daily temperatures. Dry hot air during the day is difficult to breathe. All living things hide in the roots of dried grasses and in the crevices of stones. Desert in ittime seems dead. In summer, a strong wind often blows, which is called simum. He carries clouds of sand. Before our eyes, the dunes come to life, the horizon fades, among the reddish haze the sun seems like a fireball. Eyes, nose and mouth are clogged with sand. It will be hard for those who do not have time to hide from the storm in time.
Tropical belt
The tropical belt in South Africa occupies a smaller area. It receives more precipitation than the Sahara (due to the shorter extent of South Africa from west to east). There are especially many of them in the area of the Dragon Mountains, on the eastern slopes, as well as in the east of the island of Madagascar, where precipitation is brought by southeast winds from the ocean. However, there is practically no rain on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The fact is that the cold currents of this ocean, which pass along the southwestern shores, reduce the air temperature in the coastal region of the continent, which prevents rainfall. Cold air becomes denser, heavier, cannot rise and give precipitation. Dew formed when the temperature drops is the only source of moisture.
Subtropical belts
The extreme south and north of the mainland are located in subtropical zones. It has hot dry summers (+27-28°C) and rather warm winters (+10-12°C). All this contributes to human economic activity. The 2nd largest continent receives a large amount of heat. This favors the cultivation of important tropical crops such as cocoa, coffee, oil and date palms, bananas, pineapples, etc.
Inland waters
2 largest continent has many largerec. On the territory of the continent, the distribution of the river network is uneven. The second largest continent, whose name is Africa, is characterized by the fact that about a third of its surface is the territory of internal flow.
Nile
Nile is the longest river on our planet (6671 km). It flows through the territory of the continent, which is the second largest continent - Africa. The river originates on the East African plateau, moves through the lake. Victoria. Rushing down the gorges, the Nile forms waterfalls and rapids in the upper reaches. Once out on the plain, he moves calmly and slowly. In this part of the river is called the White Nile. At the city of Khartoum, it merges with the waters of the largest tributary flowing from the Ethiopian highlands, which is called the Blue Nile. After the Blue and White Nile join, the river becomes twice as wide and gets the name Nile.
However, this is not the only major river that should be mentioned when describing the second largest continent of the earth. Let's talk about some others.
Congo
Congo is the deepest river in Africa and the second longest (4320 km). In terms of basin area and high water content, it is second only to the Amazon. In two places the river crosses the equator. It is full of water all year round.
Niger
The third in terms of basin area and length is Niger. It is a flat river in the middle reaches, and there are many waterfalls and rapids in the lower and upper reaches. The Niger largely crosses drylands,playing an important role in irrigation.
Zambezi
Zambezi - the largest of the African rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean. It is home to the Victoria Falls, one of the largest in the world. In a wide stream (about 1800 m), the river falls from a ledge (whose height is 120 m) in a narrow gorge that crosses its channel. The roar and roar of the waterfall can be heard very far away.
Lakes of Africa
As for the lakes, almost all of the large ones are located on the East African Plateau, in the fault zone. Therefore, the basins of these lakes have an elongated shape. They are usually bordered by steep and high mountains. They have considerable length and great depth. For example, with a width of 50-80 km, Lake Tanganyika is 650 km long. This is the longest freshwater lake in the world. In its depth (1435 meters) it is second only to Lake Baikal.
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa by area. Its basin is located in a gentle deflection of the platform, and not in a fault. Therefore, it is shallow (about 40 m), its banks are indented and flat.
Lake Chad is shallow. Its depth is 4-7 m. Depending on the flood of the inflowing rivers and precipitation, its area changes dramatically. During the rainy season, it almost doubles. The shores of this lake are heavily swamped.
Now you know what is the 2nd largest continent of our planet. And although the description can be supplemented, the main information about it was presented above.
