General economic and geographical characteristics of African countries. Natural resource potential and general characteristics of the African economy

For a long time, Africa was considered as a continent where you can have a good rest (the largest and most interesting safaris take place here) and make good money selling forest resources. But at present, a comprehensive development of all types of resources is being carried out, and the research work has shown that Africa has great potential, since rich deposits of minerals are concentrated here and other types of natural resources have not yet been fully developed.

Abundance of heat, favorable climate, and slightly rugged relief of Africa are the most important prerequisites for possible rapid economic growth.

Water resources

The largest African rivers are located in the western and central parts of the continent. These are such rivers as Congo, Zambezi, Niger, Orange. There are fewer rivers to the north and south. Moreover, most of them are located in deserts and do not have a constant flow, filling up only during the rainy season.

Therefore, Africa is considered to be the continent least provided with water reserves. Fresh water here is only 2930 thousand cubic meters, and most of the fresh water is located in underground reservoirs. If we take into account the average indicators, then the annual volume of water per 1 person is 12 thousand cubic meters. This is enough to ensure a normal life. But certain areas of Africa are in dire need of water resources, since the equatorial climate with its abnormal heat and the presence of large desert areas should also be taken into account.

Africa's water resources are used mainly for urban water supply, land irrigation and for industrial needs. But only 2% of the continent is irrigated.

Recently, hydrotechnical construction has received great development. Over several decades, thousands of dams and reservoirs have been built. More than 100 reservoirs have a volume of over 100 million cubic meters of water. In terms of hydropower reserves, Africa ranks second in the world (after Asia).

Land resources

Africa's land resources are significant. There is twice as much cultivated land per person as in Asia or Latin America.

But at the moment, no more than 20% of land is being cultivated. This is due to soil erosion, large expanses of desert land, and lack of water. In addition, a huge part of the territory of the continent is occupied by tropical forests and jungles, and agriculture in these areas is impossible.

There is another danger threatening Africa's land resources - the spread of deserts on fertile soils. A particularly threatening situation is developing in the countries of Central Africa.

forest resources

In terms of forest area, Africa ranks third in the world after Russia and Latin America. Forests cover an area of ​​650 million hectares, which is 17% of all forests in the world. Dry tropical forests predominate in the east and south, and humid ones in the central and western parts.

Unfortunately, deforestation and irrational use lead to the degradation of forest resources. For example, 80% of energy in the countries of West and Central Africa is obtained by burning firewood, in the south of the continent this figure is 70%. Forests are also cut down for the sake of obtaining valuable species of wood. So far, afforestation and the spread of protected areas do not give proper results and Africa's forests are under threat of extinction.

Mineral resources

Africa has many minerals. We will only note those for which this continent is the world leader in the extraction: gold (76% of world production), diamonds (96%), manganese ores (57%), uranium (35%), chromites (67%), cobalt (68% ), phosphorites (31%).

The richest African country in minerals is South Africa. And in North Africa and in the south of the continent, large reserves of oil, graphite, and natural gas are concentrated.

One of the main problems of African countries that hinders the use of mineral resources is the lack of processing enterprises. Therefore, almost 80% of the extracted minerals are exported to other countries.

Alternative energy sources

Africa is the hottest continent, and it would seem that it should lead in the use of alternative energy sources such as the sun, wind and thermal springs. But it's all still in the project. Investors are in no hurry to invest in the development of the African economy, because, according to the World Bank, the costs here increase by 20-40% compared to other developing countries.

So far, only a few projects have been implemented. The Abener gas-solar power plant, with a capacity of 500 MW, has been launched, and the Olkaria geotreme power plant in Kenya is also operating.

The northern part of the continent can become the richest source of wind energy, but projects for the construction of such stations are still under development.

Africa is the hottest and poorest (if we take into account the standard of living of the population) mainland of the Earth. These facts about the Black Continent are familiar to everyone. But the fact that this continent owns colossal reserves of diamonds, gold, bauxite and phosphorites is known to few. In this article, we will talk in detail about the geological structure, relief and natural resources of Africa (forest, water and mineral).

General information

Africa is the second largest continent on the planet. It is here that the largest land mammals in the world - elephants and hippos - live. It is here that there are most languages ​​and dialects. It is here that the fastest and most enduring people on Earth are born. This continent has plenty of records! We will focus on its natural resources in this article.

Africa occupies a unique geographical position. This is the only continent on the planet that is located exactly between both subtropics - northern and southern. The equator line crosses it almost in the middle. Thanks to this, the nature of the northern part of Africa almost mirrors the natural features of its southern part.

Covering an area of ​​29 million square kilometers, Africa covers approximately 6% of the Earth's surface (and about 20% of the Earth's land mass). The mainland is washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and the Indian. It is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, and from Asia by the Red Sea. There are 55 independent states within Africa. This is more than on any other continent on Earth.

Geological structure and relief of Africa

Africa is an extremely compact continent. It lies almost entirely within the ancient African lithospheric plate. Only the Atlas Mountains in the north and the Cape Mountains in the extreme south are classified as folding zones. The foundation of this platform is composed of ancient rocks of the Precambrian age. These are mainly gneisses, granites and crystalline schists.

Africa is a high continent. The average height of its surface is 750 meters. This is explained by the fact that in the Cenozoic era the entire continent experienced uplift, which was especially active along its edges. About 70% of Africa's area falls on plateaus and plateaus, another 20% - on mountains and highlands, and only 10% of the territory is occupied by lowlands. According to the features of the geological structure and relief, Africa is usually divided into two parts:

• High (southern and eastern parts of the mainland).
• Low (northern and western regions).

The vast expanses of the continent are occupied by rocky and sandy deserts. Among them is the largest desert in the world - the Sahara. Its monotonous and boring landscape is somewhat enlivened by the rocky ledges of the Ahaggar and Tibesti highlands. The highest point on the mainland is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m). It is located within the East African Plateau. The lowest point is the level of Lake Assal (157 meters below sea level).

Mineral resources of the mainland

Africa's natural resources are extremely diverse. Especially the minerals. How big is the list of minerals on the mainland?

Africa is the absolute leader on the planet in terms of gold production. About half of this metal ever mined from the bowels of the Earth comes from one locality - the Witwatersrand mountains in South Africa. The mainland has been the main supplier of gold in the world since ancient times. The main gold mining countries in Africa: South Africa, Congo, Ghana and Mali.

North Africa is rich in oil and gas deposits. Such states as Libya, Algeria and Nigeria are among the world leaders in the extraction and processing of hydrocarbon raw materials. It is important to note that African oil is of high quality and is valued all over the world. Phosphorites are also mined in the north of the Black Continent - a sedimentary rock widely used in the chemical and metallurgical industries. From deposits located between Libya and the Atlas Mountains, about 50% of all phosphorites in the world are mined.

Another wealth of Africa is diamonds. What can we say, even if the so-called kimberlite pipe was named after one of the provinces of South Africa. It was there that a pipe of this type was first discovered. Africa's largest diamond deposits are being developed in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

African bowels are also rich in ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. So, manganese, titanium, aluminum (bauxite), copper, lead, nickel, tin, antimony are mined on the territory of the continent. Most of all these deposits are concentrated in two countries - the Republic of the Congo and South Africa. But the famous island of Madagascar is famous for the world's largest deposits of graphite.

Water resources of Africa

One of the most acute problems of this continent is water scarcity. On average, each African daily overcomes four kilometers to the nearest source of clean fresh water.

A relatively dense river network is typical only for the central (equatorial) and southern regions, where a sufficient amount of precipitation falls. The largest rivers of the mainland are the Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi and Orange. But within the Sahara desert, which occupies almost a third of the continent, there is not a single natural stream with a constant flow.

There are also few lakes in Africa. The largest reservoirs (Victoria, Tanganyika, Nyasa) are located in large tectonic faults.

Forests of Africa

In comparison with other continents of the planet (for example, Eurasia or South America), Africa is also not very rich in forest resources. The most extensive tracts of virgin forests are found in the Congo Basin. These are the so-called evergreen forests of the equatorial belt. Their total area is over 170 million hectares. About 40 species of plants grow here with extremely valuable wood (kaya, ebony, red and sandalwood, avodira and others).

North Africa is characterized by rare subtropical forests growing on the Mediterranean coast and the slopes of the Atlas. The most common tree species in this region are holm oak, cork oak, wild olive, strawberry tree, pistachio and Aleppo pine.

Subtropical forests also grow in South Africa. They preserved a number of endemics of the Cape flora - bearded todea, bay leaf olive, Haeckel's podocarpus and other types of woody vegetation.

It should be noted that in most African countries, logging is carried out exclusively to meet the needs of the local population. In countries such as Angola, Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Cameroon and Ghana, valuable types of timber are harvested for export.

Finally

This continent has the richest and most diverse natural resources. Africa produces oil, gas, diamonds, gold, bauxites, manganese, iron, phosphorites, chromites, tin, and dozens of other minerals. The relief of the Black Continent is also quite diverse. Highlands, elevated plateaus and plateaus dominate here.

geographic africa resource political

Political division

There are 55 countries and 5 self-proclaimed and unrecognized states in Africa. Most of them were colonies of European states for a long time and gained independence only in the 50-60s of the XX century.

Before that, only Egypt (since 1922), Ethiopia (since the Middle Ages), Liberia (since 1847) and South Africa (since 1910) were independent; In South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), until the 1980s and 1990s, the apartheid regime discriminated against the indigenous population. Currently, many African countries are ruled by regimes that discriminate against the white population. According to the research organization Freedom House, in recent years in many African countries (for example, in Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Congo (Kinshasa) and Equatorial Guinea), there has been a trend towards authoritarian democratic achievements.

Natural conditions and resources

Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. The reason for this is the geographical location of the mainland: the entire territory of Africa is located in hot climatic zones, and the mainland is crossed by the equator line. It is in Africa that the hottest place on Earth is located - Dallol.

Central Africa and the coastal regions of the Gulf of Guinea belong to the equatorial belt, where heavy rainfall occurs throughout the year and there is no change of seasons. To the north and south of the equatorial belt are subequatorial belts. Here, humid equatorial air masses dominate in summer (rainy season), and in winter - dry air of tropical trade winds (dry season). To the north and south of the subequatorial belts are the northern and southern tropical belts. They are characterized by high temperatures with low rainfall, which leads to the formation of deserts.

In the north is the Sahara Desert, the largest on Earth, in the south - the Kalahari Desert, in the southwest the Namib Desert. The northern and southern extremities of the mainland are included in the corresponding subtropical belts.

Africa is exceptionally rich in natural resources. Especially large are the reserves of mineral raw materials - ores of manganese, chromites, bauxites, etc. Fuel raw materials are available in depressions and coastal regions.

Oil and gas are produced in North and West Africa (Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Libya).

Enormous reserves of cobalt and copper ores are concentrated in Zambia and the People's Republic of the Congo; manganese ores are mined in South Africa and Zimbabwe; platinum, iron ores and gold - in South Africa; diamonds - in Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana; phosphorites - in Morocco, Tunisia; uranium - in Niger, Namibia.

Africa has quite large land resources, but soil erosion has become catastrophic due to improper cultivation. Water resources across Africa are distributed extremely unevenly. Forests occupy about 10% of the territory, but as a result of predatory destruction, their area is rapidly declining.

The continent is crossed almost in the middle by the equator and lies completely between the subtropical belts of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The peculiarity of its shape - the northern part is 2.5 times wider than the southern one - determined the difference in their natural conditions. In general, the mainland is compact: 1 km of coastline accounts for 960 km2 of territory.

The relief of Africa is characterized by stepped plateaus, plateaus, and plains. The most highly raised outskirts of the mainland.

Africa is exceptionally rich in minerals, although they are still poorly understood. Among other continents, it ranks first in reserves of ores of manganese, chromite, bauxite, gold, platinum, cobalt, diamonds, and phosphorites. The resources of oil, natural gas, graphite, and asbestos are also great.

mining industry

Africa's share in the global mining industry is 14%. Almost all extracted raw materials and fuel are exported from Africa to economically developed countries, which makes its economy more dependent on the world market.

In total, seven main mining regions can be distinguished in Africa. Three of them are in North Africa and four are in sub-Saharan Africa.

• 1. The region of the Atlas Mountains stands out for its reserves of iron, manganese, polymetallic ores, phosphorites (the world's largest phosphorite belt).
• 2. The Egyptian mining region is rich in oil, natural gas, iron and titanium ores, phosphorites, etc.
• 3. The region of the Algerian and Libyan parts of the Sahara is distinguished by the largest oil and gas reserves.
• 4. The West Guinea region is characterized by a combination of gold, diamonds, iron ores, bauxites.
• 5. The East Guinean region is rich in oil, gas, and metal ores.
• 6. Zaire-Zambian region. On its territory there is a unique "Copper Belt" with deposits of high-quality copper, as well as cobalt, zinc, lead, cadmium, germanium, gold, silver.

Zaire is the world's leading producer and exporter of cobalt

7. The largest mining region in Africa is located within Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Almost all types of fuel, ore and non-metallic minerals are mined here, with the exception of oil, gas and bauxite. Africa's minerals are unevenly distributed. There are countries in which the lack of a resource base slows down their development.

African land resources are significant. There is more cultivated land per inhabitant than in Southeast Asia or Latin America. In total, 20% of the land suitable for agriculture is cultivated. However, extensive farming and rapid population growth have led to catastrophic soil erosion, which reduces crop yields. This, in turn, exacerbates the problem of hunger, which is very relevant for Africa.

Agro-climatic resources.

The agro-climatic resources of Africa are determined by the fact that it is the hottest continent. But at the same time, precipitation is the main factor determining differences in climatic conditions.

Water resources of Africa. In terms of their volume, Africa is significantly inferior to Asia and South America. The hydrographic network is distributed extremely unevenly. The degree of use of the huge hydropower potential of the rivers (780 million kW) is low.

Forest resources of Africa.

Africa's forest resources are second only to those of Latin America and Russia. But its average forest cover is much lower, moreover, as a result of deforestation, which exceeds natural growth, deforestation has assumed alarming proportions.

Tropical and subtropical agriculture.

Agricultural production is 60--80% of GDP. The main cash crops are coffee, cocoa beans, peanuts, dates, tea, natural rubber, sorghum, spices. Recently, grain crops have been grown: corn, rice, wheat. Animal husbandry plays a subordinate role, with the exception of countries with arid climates. Extensive cattle breeding prevails, characterized by a huge number of livestock, but low productivity and low marketability. The continent does not provide itself with agricultural products.

Transport also retains a colonial type: railways go from the regions of extraction of raw materials to the port, while the regions of one state are practically not connected. Relatively developed rail and sea modes of transport. In recent years, other types of transport have also developed - automobile (a road was laid across the Sahara), air, and pipeline.

All countries, with the exception of South Africa, are developing, most of them are the poorest in the world (70% of the population lives below the poverty line).

The natural conditions of Africa are very peculiar. This continent is located in almost equal parts in the northern and southern hemispheres, and they lie mainly in tropical latitudes. But the combination of natural conditions Africa can be divided into several zones. In its central and western equatorial parts, along the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea and in the Congo Basin, tropical evergreen forests (hylaea) dominate. To the north and south of the hyla, “monsoon” forests grow, shedding their leaves during the dry season. These forests turn into savannah, which makes up about 30% of Africa's area. A significant part of the mainland is occupied by semi-deserts and typical deserts: in North Africa it is the Sahara Desert, in South Africa - the Kalahari and Namib semi-deserts. The natural conditions of Africa are conducive to agriculture. Africa is home to the banana, yam root, peanut (peanut), ground bean, African millet (sorghum), Ethiopian bread (teff), coffee tree, oil and date palms, rubber liana (landolphia). Cotton is grown on irrigated soils in a hot climate

Africa is also rich in minerals. The reserves of bauxite, copper, manganese, cobalt, uranium ores, diamonds, metals, gold, etc. are of world importance. through Zambia to East Africa (deposits of copper, uranium, cobalt, platinum, gold, manganese); Guinean part of West Africa (deposits of bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, oil); the zone of the Atlas Mountains and the coast of Northwest Africa (cobalt, molybdenum, lead, zinc, iron ore, mercury, phosphorites); Northern Africa (oil, gas of the Mediterranean coast and shelf). The leading place belongs to the mining and mining and metallurgical industries. Of the manufacturing industries - light and food. Promising industries are metallurgy, mechanical engineering and the chemical industry.

29) Socio-economic x-ka Sev. America. egp usa

North America is a continent located at the intersection of the Western and Northern hemispheres of planet Earth. The population of North America is 500 million people. North America covers the territory of two states - the USA and Canada.

Economic and geographical position very beneficial. This is due to the presence of a wide front of maritime boundaries, natural harbors and the position between three oceans. Land borders pass along conditional lines, rivers and lakes, contributing to the development of trade and economic ties. The longest river system on the globe is located there - the Mississippi with a tributary of the Missouri, and the largest accumulation of fresh water is located in the Great American Lakes region.

USA. About half of the main territory (adjacent states) - mountain ranges, plateaus and plateaus of the Cordillera; the eastern edge of the Cordillera belt is formed by the Rocky Mountain ranges with a height of more than 4000 m, the western - by the Coast Ranges, stretching along the Pacific coast. In the east of the country - the Appalachian mountains. Between the Cordillera and the Appalachians - vast inland plains (Central, Great). Along the coasts of the Atlantic and its Mexican Hall. - Atlantic and Mexican lowlands. The highest point in the country is Mount McKinley (6193 m) in Alaska. The climate is mostly temperate and subtropical continental. The main rivers are the Mississippi with tributaries of the Missouri and Ohio, Columbia, Colorado, Yukon. To the northeast is the Great Lakes system. Population 320 million people Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Developed scientific research. Well-developed service sector, competitive industry The world's largest exporter of goods. Transnational companies such as Ford, General Motors and Exxon. Leading software manufacturer. Good higher education system

CANADA It occupies the northern part of the mainland and the islands adjacent to it, including the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the islands of Newfoundland, Vancouver. It borders on the United States, there is a border with Russia along the Arctic Circle. The area is 9976 thousand km2 (in terms of territory it is the second country in the world after Russia). Capital Ottawa. Canada occupies almost half of the North American continent and is wide open to three oceans - the Arctic, Atlantic (in the east) and Pacific (in the west). The relief of Canada is diverse: the central and eastern regions are occupied by plains, in the west the powerful mountain system of the Cordillera extends. The country is covered with a dense and full-flowing river network. The hydropower potential of its rivers is one of the largest in the world. The real wealth of the country - forests, consisting of conifers and occupying almost half of the territory of Canada. In terms of wood reserves per capita, the country has no equal. The best soils (chernozems) are located in the south.

Africa is the second largest continent in the world, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The equator line divides the mainland almost equally, influencing climatic conditions. The northern part of Africa is drier and hotter, while the southern part is more humid and cool.

Africa's natural resources are the backbone of the continent's economy and continue to represent an important opportunity for the well-being of its people:

• Nearly 20 million people are employed in the fishing sector, which generates more than $24 billion a year;
• For 90 million inhabitants, fishing is an important livelihood;
• Africa is home to the second largest;
• More than 70% of sub-Saharan Africa's population is heavily dependent on forest resources;
• The land on the continent is an asset for economic development, as well as a social, cultural and ontological resource;
• Africa is the second driest inhabited continent in the world. However, the center of the Congo Basin receives the most rainfall;
• About 30% of the world's mineral reserves are located here (of which: oil is 10%, and natural gas - 8%). Africa has the world's largest deposits of cobalt, diamonds, platinum and uranium.

Water resources

Africa contains about 9% of the world's fresh water. Sub-Saharan Africa faces multiple accessibility issues that stifle economic growth and threaten the livelihoods of the population. Less than 10% of cultivated land is irrigated in African agriculture.

Africa is home to hundreds of millions of people who suffer from lack of fresh water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that more than 40% of the world's water-stressed population lives in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, only 44% of the urban population and 24% of rural residents have adequate sanitation.

Women and children in Africa have to walk miles to collect water from streams and ponds, which often contains disease-causing organisms that cause acute intestinal infections. It is estimated that almost 50% of all Africans suffer from water-related diseases, and 20% of child deaths worldwide are the result of diseases due to drinking bad water.

Lack of access to clean water is one of the main causes of poverty in Africa. Without quality fresh water, people cannot grow food and be healthy, go to school, and go to work.

Causes of water scarcity

Water is unevenly distributed throughout Africa. About 75% of the mainland's water resources are concentrated mainly in eight large river basins. Climate and environmental changes have further reduced water supplies. Due to anthropogenic impact, including industrial, agricultural water pollution, etc., only a small part of fresh water is available for human consumption.

Climate change and deforestation in African countries have led to an increase in desertification. With less rainfall than in the past, it has become difficult for local people in some areas to continue traditional grazing and farming, and some people have even resorted to cutting and burning the remaining trees for fuel or profit. Because Africa's people and economy are so dependent on rainfall, extreme climates and droughts are taking a toll.

Africa's economic growth has been fueled by the exploitation of natural resources, which has led to water pollution and increased demand for water resources. Disposal of industrial wastes into waterways, unregulated use of agrochemicals, oil spills, etc. have led to pollution of inland water resources.

Water scarcity problems are exacerbated in areas with higher population densities, where areas are undergoing rapid urbanization. As the population grows in urban areas and the demand for water increases in already stressed regions, the problem of water scarcity becomes more acute.

forest resources

Use and management is an important economic activity in Africa. On average, forest products account for 6% of Africa's gross domestic product (GDP), more than any other continent. This is the result of Africa's abundant forest cover, with 0.8 ha per capita compared to 0.6 ha globally. Africa's total forest resources account for 17% of the world's reserves. In central and western Africa, where forests are more abundant, the forest sector provides over 60% of GDP.

The export of forest products, especially high quality woods such as mahogany and okoume, generates significant income. These forests are mainly found in the countries of the Congo Basin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, where there is dense rainforest. The trees are usually exported to Japan, Israel and European Union countries.

However, Africa's forestry sector is suffering from illegal logging and the overkill of some tree species. Many species of both redwoods and okoume are endangered. Experts argue that over-logging will eventually destroy forest habitats. Saplings planted to replace cut trees are not growing fast enough, and the rainforests in which these trees grow are being destroyed for use in agriculture and urban development.

Today, Africa is torn between developing forest resources, exploiting them and making a profit, and protecting these natural landscapes from excessive depletion.

Land resources

Africa, with more than 200 million hectares of fertile land suitable for use in the national economy, has an extremely low agricultural productivity - only 25% of the potential.

Some parts of the African continent experience cold temperatures, hence the plants that grow in these conditions have adapted to the cold. These include gladioli, freesias, clivias, ground cover plants, succulents, herbaceous perennials, etc.

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