Continents
Africa
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The second-largest continent by both area and population, straddling the equator between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Africa holds the world's largest hot desert, the Sahara, in its north, and the world's largest tropical rainforest outside South America, the Congo Basin, along its equatorial belt. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and is joined to Asia at the Sinai Peninsula.
Facts
Area (sq km)National Geographic Atlas of the World figure; continental area estimates vary slightly by source depending on where offshore islands and maritime boundaries are drawn. Population2021 estimate, Wikipedia infobox (2nd most populous continent). Highest PointUhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro 2 Highest Elevation (m) Lowest Point Country CountExcludes eight cities and islands under non-African sovereignty and two states with limited or no international recognition; the count varies slightly by source depending on how partially-recognised states are treated. Tectonic Plate Context Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Asia directly: "the west and south, and is joined to Asia at the Sinai Peninsula."
This source names South America directly: "largest tropical rainforest outside South America, the Congo Basin, along its equatorial belt."
This source names Africa directly: "the Americas from Europe and Africa and connecting the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south."
This source names Africa directly: "Iran, at the meeting point of Asia, Africa and Europe."
Home To
Ashanti Region's own infobox names Ghana as its country (checked live this session); Ghana is on-continent Africa (its own live edge, content.EntityRelationship, checked this session), so Ashanti Region is on-continent Africa.
Eastern Cape is on continent.
Free State is on continent.
Giza Governorate's own infobox names Egypt as its country (checked live this session); Egypt is on-continent Africa (its own live edge, content.EntityRelationship, checked this session), so Giza Governorate is on-continent Africa.
KwaZulu-Natal is on continent.
Lagos State is on continent.
Oyo State is on continent.
Rivers State's own infobox names Nigeria as its country (checked live this session); Nigeria is on-continent Africa (its own live edge, content.EntityRelationship, checked this session), so Rivers State is on-continent Africa.
Western Cape is on continent.
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationintroduction, sovereign states countQuote, introduction, sovereign states count
It contains 54 fully recognised sovereign states, eight cities and islands that are part of non-African states, and two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction, continent overviewQuote, Introduction, continent overview
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, first sentenceQuote, Lead paragraph, first sentence
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, AreaQuote, Infobox, Area
30,370,000 km2 (11,730,000 sq mi)
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationInfobox, Population (2021 estimate)Quote, Infobox, Population (2021 estimate)
1,393,676,444 [2021; 2nd]
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Mediterranean Sea, Geography section, bordering watersQuote, Associated With: The Mediterranean Sea, Geography section, bordering waters
The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Arabian plate and the Gulf of Aqaba to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Atlantic Ocean, Geography section, bordering watersQuote, Associated With: The Atlantic Ocean, Geography section, bordering waters
The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Arabian plate and the Gulf of Aqaba to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: The Indian Ocean, Geography section, bordering watersQuote, Associated With: The Indian Ocean, Geography section, bordering waters
The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Arabian plate and the Gulf of Aqaba to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: North Africa, History, Prehistory sectionQuote, Associated With: North Africa, History, Prehistory section
evidence of early human settlement found in southern Africa, Southeast Africa, North Africa, and the Sahara.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Southern Africa, History, Prehistory sectionQuote, Associated With: Southern Africa, History, Prehistory section
evidence of early human settlement found in southern Africa, Southeast Africa, North Africa, and the Sahara.
1. Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: East Africa, History, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa sectionQuote, Associated With: East Africa, History, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa section
the other went south and spread across Eastern and Southern Africa.
2. Mount Kilimanjaro (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationopening paragraph, highest pointQuote, opening paragraph, highest point
It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level.
3. Lake Assal, Djibouti (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Lake Assal is a saline lake that lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level...making it the lowest point on land in Africa
4. List of Tectonic Plates (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationAfrican Plate entryQuote, African Plate entry
Tectonic plate underlying Africa – 61,300,000 km2 (23,700,000 sq mi)
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Home To: North Africa, North AfricaView the Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Home To: Southern Africa, Southern AfricaView the Source National Geographic Atlas of the World
National Geographic Society, 2019
National Geographic Atlas of the World
National Geographic Society, 2019World continents area table
The World Factbook
The World Factbook
United States Geological Survey
United States Geological SurveyHome To: The Great Rift ValleyView the Source Kenya (Wikipedia)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationHome To: Democratic Republic of the CongoView the Source Serengeti (Wikipedia)
Maghreb (Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world's largest hot desert, and which continent is it on?
The Sahara, in northern Africa.
The Sahara, in the north of Africa, is the world's largest hot desert. Africa also holds the world's largest tropical rainforest outside South America, the Congo Basin, along its equatorial belt.
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