Everyone perfectly remembers that Africa is the mosthot continent on the planet. But very few people know that Africa is also the "highest" of the continents, since it has the largest possible average height over the sea level. The relief of Africa is very diverse and complex: there are mountain systems, plateaus, large plains, active and long extinct volcanoes.
The relief of any region, as you know, is closely connectedwith the tectonic and geological structure of the territory. The relief of Africa and the minerals of this continent are also associated with the tectonics of the continent. Let us consider this question in more detail.
Plan for describing the terrain of Africa
The characteristics of the relief of any continent are given according to a specific plan. The relief of Africa is described by the following algorithm:
- Characteristics of the tectonic structure of the continent.
- Analysis of the history of the development of the earth's crust.
- Characteristics of external and internal (exogenous and endogenous) relief factors.
- Description of the general features of the continental relief.
- Select the maximum and minimum height.
- Minerals and their location on the territory of the mainland.
Low and High Africa
Description of the relief of Africa should start with the fact that the mainland, from the orographic point of view, is divided into two parts: the High and Low Africa.
Low Africa occupies more than 60% of the total areacontinent (geographically this is the northern, western and central parts of Africa). Heights dominate here up to 1000 meters. High Africa covers the southern and eastern parts of the continent, where the average height is 1000-1500 meters above sea level. Here are the highest points - Kilimanjaro (5895 meters), Ruwenzori and Kenya.
General characteristic of the African relief
Now consider the main features of the relief of Africa.
The main feature is that the reliefThe continent is mostly flat. The mountain ranges border the mainland only in the south and in the north-west. In East Africa, the relief is mostly flat.
Such forms of the relief of Africa prevail:plateaus, plains, highlands, plateaus, oozing peaks and volcanic massifs. At the same time, they are very unevenly distributed throughout the continent: inside it are basically aligned surfaces - plains and plateaus, and along the edges - elevations and mountain ranges. This feature is related to the tectonic structure of Africa, most of which lies on an ancient platform of Precambrian age, and along its edges are the regions of folding.
Of all mountain systems in Africa, youngonly Atlas. In the east of the continent, the vast East African rift valley stretches for more than 6,000 kilometers. In the places of its faults, grandiose volcanoes were formed, and very deep lakes formed in the depressions.
It is worth mentioning also the largest forms of the relief of Africa. These include the Atlas, the Dragon and Cape Mountains, the Ethiopian Highlands, the Tibesti Highlands and Ahaggar, the East African Plateau.
Atlas Mountains
Mountain forms of the relief of Africa are, as already mentioned, only in the south and north-west of the continent. One of the African mountain systems is the Atlas.
The Atlas Mountains arose 300 million years ago inthe result of the clash of the Eurasian and African plates. Later they were raised to considerable heights due to the neotectonic movements that took place at the end of the Paleogene. It is worth noting that earthquakes are taking place in this area and now.
The Atlas is composed mainly of marls, limestones, and ancient volcanic rocks. The subsoil is rich in metal ores, as well as phosphorites and oil.
This is the largest mountain system in Africa, which includes several almost parallel mountain ranges:
- The High Atlas.
- Rif.
- Tel Atlas.
- The Middle Atlas.
- Saharan Atlas.
- Anti-Atlas.
The total length of the mountain chain is about 2400 kilometers.The maximum heights are in the territory of the state of Morocco (Mount Tubkal, 4165 meters). The average height of the ranges ranges between 2000-2500 meters.
Drakensberg Mountains
This mountain system in the south of the continent is located on theterritories of three states - Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland. The highest point of the Drakensberg Mountains is Taban-Ntlenyan Mountain, 3482 meters high. The mountains were formed 360 million years ago, in the Hercynian era. They got such a terrible name due to their inaccessibility and wild appearance.
The territory is rich in minerals:Platinum, gold, tin and coal. The unique and organic world of the Dragon Mountains, in which there are several endemic species. The main part of the mountain massif (park Drakensberg) is the object of UNESCO.
The Drakensberg Mountains are a watershed boundary betweenthe Indian Ocean basin and the upper reaches of the Orange River. They have a unique shape: their apices are flat, table-like, separated by erosion processes on separate plateaus.
Ethiopian Highlands
The relief of Africa is amazingly diverse.Here you can find high mountain ranges of the Alpine type, hilly plateaus, vast plains and deep depressions. One of the most famous forms of the relief of the continent is the Ethiopian Highlands, within which not only Ethiopia, but also 6 other African states are located.
This is a real mountain system with mediumheights of 2-3 kilometers and the highest point of 4550 meters (Ras-Dashen Mountain). Due to the specific features of the relief of the highlands it is often called the "roof of Africa". In addition, this "roof" often shakes, seismicity here remains high.
The Highlands were formed only 75 million years agoback. It consists of crystalline schists and gneisses overlain by volcanic rocks. The western slopes of the Ethiopian Highlands, riddled with the canyons of the Blue Nile River, are quite picturesque.
Within the highlands there are rich depositsgold, sulfur, platinum, copper and iron ore. In addition, it is also an important agricultural area. The Ethiopian Highlands are considered the birthplace of coffee, as well as some varieties of wheat.
Kilimanjaro Volcano
This volcano is not only the highestpoint of the mainland (5895 meters), but also a kind of symbol of the whole of Africa. The volcano is located on the border of two states - Kenya and Tanzania. From Swahili, the name of the volcano translates as "a sparkling mountain."
Kilimanjaro rises above the Masai plateauheight of 900 meters, so visually it seems that the volcano is unrealistically high. Scientists do not predict the activity of the volcano in the near future (except for possible gas emissions), although recently it was found that the lava is 400 meters from the Kibo Crater.
According to local legends, the volcano eruptedabout two centuries ago. Although there is no documentary evidence for this. The highest point of Kilimanjaro - the peak of Uhuru - was first conquered in 1889 by Hans Meyer. Today, Kilimanjaro's speedy conquest is practiced. In 2010, the Spaniard Kilian Burgada set a kind of world record, climbing to the top of the volcano in 5 hours and 23 minutes.
The relief of Africa and minerals
Africa is a continent with a huge economicThe potential for which is characterized by huge reserves of diverse mineral raw materials. In addition, a more or less even, poorly dissected relief of the territory contributes to the development of industry and the construction of roads and other routes of communication.
Africa is rich in minerals, based onwhich can develop metallurgy and petrochemistry. Thus, the continent holds the absolute superiority in the world for the total reserves of phosphorites, titanium ores, chromites and tantalum. In Africa, there are also large deposits of manganese, copper and uranium ore, bauxite, gold and even diamonds. On the mainland, even the so-called "copper belt" is distinguished - a belt of high mineral and raw materials potential stretching from Katanga to the Republic of the Congo (DRC). In addition to the copper itself, gold, cobalt, tin, uranium and oil are also mined here.
In addition, such regions of Africa as the Atlas Mountains, North Africa and West Africa (its Guinea part) are considered very rich in mineral resources.
So you got acquainted with the peculiarities of the reliefthe hottest continent of the Earth. The relief of Africa is unique and diverse, here you can find all its forms - mountain ranges, plateaus and plateaus, highlands, hills and hollows.
