Africa![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Continent that represents about 20% of the world’s land; two-thirds of its surface lies north of the Equator. Characterized by very hot climates, Mediterranean in the north and south, tropical and arid elsewhere.
Lake Tanganyika ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The world’s deepest lake (4,710 feet) after Lake Baikal; it empties into the Congo River.
Lake Victoria ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Africa’s largest lake (26,000 mi2) is relatively shallow; it is bordered by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Gulf of Aden ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Northwestern arm of the Indian Ocean between southern Saudi Arabia and northeastern Africa; it connects to the Red Sea through the strait of Bab El Mandeb.
Red Sea ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Gulf (165,000 mi2) located between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula; it connects to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Nile ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The world’s longest river (4,150 mi) is known for its summer flooding.
Lake Chad ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Large lake, shallow and marshy, the vestige of what was once a sea; it continues to diminish in size and could one day dry up.
Mediterranean Sea ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
One of the largest inland seas in the world (965,000 mi2); it lies between Europe, Africa and Asia and connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Sahara Desert ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Largest desert in the world (3 million mi2); it covers one-quarter of Africa.
Atlas Mountains ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Mountain chain composed of several ranges; it extends from Tunisia to Morocco, where Jebel Toubkal is its highest peak (13,665 feet).
Tropic of Cancer ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Parallel located at 23°26' N latitude (a distance of about 1,600 mi from the Equator).
Senegal River ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
River (1,050 mi) forming the boundary between Senegal and Mauritania; it empties into the Atlantic.
Niger River ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Africa’s third longest river (2,600 mi) after the Nile and the Congo.
Gulf of Guinea ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Gulf extending from Ivory Coast to Gabon; its waters are warm.
Equator ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Imaginary circle surrounding Earth at its widest circumference, dividing it into two hemispheres: the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
Congo River ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Second longest river in Africa (2,850 mi) and the world’s second river in size of drainage basin and volume of flow.
Atlantic Ocean ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The world’s second largest ocean; it covers 20% of the Earth’s surface.
Tropic of Capricorn ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Parallel located at 23°26' S latitude (a distance of about 1,600 mi from the Equator).
Namib Desert ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Arid region extending 1,250 mi along the Atlantic coast. Frequent fog brings the equivalent of 2 in of annual rainfall.
Kalahari Desert ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Semiarid region bordering the Namib Desert; the north is marshy while the south is characterized by very sparse vegetation.
Cape of Good Hope ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Former island now connected to the continent by a ridge of sand; located only 90 mi to the west of Africa’s southernmost point.
Madagascar ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Island (1,000 mi long); because it is isolated off the coast of Africa, Madagascar’s flora and fauna are unique.
Mozambique Channel ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Arm of the Indian Ocean between the African continent and Madagascar.
Indian Ocean ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Relatively small ocean (29 million mi2) located between Africa, Asia and Australia; it has high water temperatures and is dotted with numerous islands.
Lake Malawi ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Lake shared by Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique; it is 310 mi long and 30 mi wide.