Geography Atlas

Where Everything Happened
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Region

The Horn of Africa

Also Known As Somali Peninsula
Africa

The Horn of Africa is a peninsula and geopolitical region in the easternmost part of mainland Africa, the fourth largest peninsula in the world. In its narrow, most common definition it comprises Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the partially recognised state of Somaliland; a broader geopolitical usage sometimes extends it to Kenya and Sudan. The region's mountains were raised by the same Great Rift Valley system that runs from Turkey to Mozambique, and its climate is mostly arid to semiarid. Its position along the southern approach to the Red Sea has made it a strategically important region for millennia. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Region Type
Cultural Region 1
Region Type
Cultural Region 1
Region Type
Physiographic or Climatic Region 1
Region Type
Physiographic or Climatic Region 1
Area (sq km)
1,882,757 2
Population
140,683,144 2
2020 figure.
FAQs

Why is it called the Horn of Africa?

It is named for the horn-like shape of the land that juts out from the African continent.

The name comes from the shape of the land. Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and the partially recognised state of Somaliland protrude from the African continent in a shape resembling a horn, and the region is often called simply the Horn. It is also known as the Somali Peninsula, and in Somali as Geeska Afrika. The ancient Romans used other names for it, including Regio Aromatica, after the aromatic plants found there.
Connections

Associated With

Djibouti, Countries
Eritrea, Countries
Ethiopia, Countries
Somalia, Countries

The Horn's mountains and highlands were raised by the same Great Rift Valley system.

Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)

Held Differently

Kenya, Countries

Why this is disputed. Wikipedia's Horn of Africa article states the peninsula proper is composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and separately notes: Although not common, some broader geopolitical definitions include parts or all of Kenya and Sudan. Recorded here under the wider, less common classification.

Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
Sudan, Countries

Why this is disputed. Wikipedia's Horn of Africa article states the peninsula proper is composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea, and separately notes: Although not common, some broader geopolitical definitions include parts or all of Kenya and Sudan. Recorded here under the wider, less common classification.

Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)

Shaped By

Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
Source Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Origin Of

Also in Food and Drink Atlas: which originated in this subject.

Found There

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Cushitic LanguagesLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articletier 2
Quote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
They are spoken primarily in the Horn of Africa, with minorities speaking Cushitic languages to the north in Egypt and Sudan, and to the south in Kenya and Tanzania.

Also in Language Atlas: found in this subject.

Source Wikipedia: Semitic LanguagesLead sentence 3tier 2
Quote, Lead sentence 3
They are spoken by more than 460 million people across much of West Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Malta, and in large immigrant and expatriate communities in North America, Europe, and Australasia.

Also in Nature Atlas: found in this subject.

Sources
1. The Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
Quote, Introduction
The Horn of Africa (HOA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region located in the easternmost part of mainland Africa.
View the Source
2. Horn of Africa (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Definition and countries section
    It is the fourth largest peninsula in the world and is composed of Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the partially recognised state of Somaliland.
  • Lead section
    The Horn of Africa (HOA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region located in the easternmost part of mainland Africa.
  • Infobox
    Population: 140,683,144 (2020)
  • Shaped By: Continental Rifting, Article text
    Mostly mountainous, the region arose through faults resulting from the Rift Valley.
  • Shaped By: Faulting, Article text
    Mostly mountainous, the region arose through faults resulting from the Rift Valley.
View the Source
Wikidata: The Horn of Africa
Wikidata Q40556, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.