Africa is one of the seven continents of the world. The largest continent is Asia. Africa is the second-largest continent. And Africa has the most people living in it after Asia.

Africa is made up of 54 different countries that are categorized into five regions: Northern Africa, Western Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa. Each country is unique. Each country has its own customs and traditions. More than a thousand different languages are spoken in Africa.

Africa has many different climate zones. It is the hottest continent on the planet. More than half of Africa is made up of dry lands and desert. The Sahara Desert covers the northern part of the continent and is the largest hot desert in the world. You may already know this, but there are cold deserts, too. A desert is a place that has very little to no rainfall. The largest deserts in the world are Antarctica and the Artic. They are cold deserts.

Africa is known for its incredible wildlife. Africa’s most famous wildlife lives mostly in the savannah region, but you can find these animals anywhere south of the Sahara Desert. Famous animals of the African Savannah include lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, and zebras.

Some of Africa’s most legendary landforms are the Nile River, Lake Victoria, Victoria Falls, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the rainforests of the Congo River basin. The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It is unlike any other river. Its waters flow from south to north. All other rivers flow from north to south.

A little over 100 years ago, explorers were searching for the source of the Nile River. Several European explorers braved the jungles of Africa in order to discover it. John Hanning Speke was the first European to discover the source. He did so in 1858. But he bragged so much that no one believed him for quite some time. Years later, Lake Victoria was proven to be the source of the Nile.

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It spreads across three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Nile crocodile and hippos live in Lake Victoria and its surrounding wetlands.

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. It is nowhere near Lake Victoria, however. The falls span from Zambia to Zimbabwe.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain peak in Africa. It rises more than 16,000 feet above sea level. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano. It is no longer active. The peaks of three volcanic cones top Kilimanjaro. The mountain is part of Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. It is a popular destination for rock climbers.

Africa’s rainforests span across Central Africa, and the rainforests in the Congo River basin are the largest in Africa. They are home to half of Africa’s wildlife, including gorillas and chimpanzees. The Congo River basin is mostly located in the Congo.

From apes to zebras and from Algeria to Zambia, Africa has a lot to offer. It has magnificent landforms, incredible wildlife, and is rich with different people and cultures. As you can see, Africa is worth more than just a glance. To find out more about Africa, search for more information online or in your library.