Africa Facts for Kids
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, and Africa. Those are the seven continents of the World. Today, we are going to focus on the continent of Africa with these Africa facts for kids. Can you name any places in Africa? How about any landmarks or animals species that live there? Africa is home to many different kinds of animals and a lot of landmarks too! There is the African Elephant, Colobus Monkey, gorillas, cheetahs and more including Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and the World’s largest hot desert. Keep reading to learn all about the continent from its rich history to its breathtaking views and its incredible wildlife. Hopefully, you will feel like you are actually on the continent of Africa, taking in all the beautiful sights.
Characteristics of Africa
1. Africa is the world’s second largest continent, covering about one-fifth of the earth’s total land area. It’s total area is almost 12 million square miles!
2. The continent of Africa is roughly triangular in shape, although it has rounded edges. Have you ever heard someone say the “horn of Africa”? The horn of Africa is the pointy area that almost touches Asia. You may have also heard it called the Somali Peninsula. A peninsula is an area of land that is covered by water on three sides. Can you think of any other peninsulas?
Africa Facts for Kids – Bodies of Water
3. Africa is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Indian Ocean to the east, and the Red Sea to the northeast. Within these bodies of water are a number of island nations, including Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Although islands, these are all considered to be a part of the African continent.
4. Lake Victoria in East Africa is the largest lake on the continent.
5. The world’s longest river, the Nile, flows through northeastern Africa. It is 4,132 miles long, or 6,600 kilometers. Wow, that’s one long river! Can you imagine how much water flows through it? Estimates say almost 80 billion gallons of water flow through the Nile River each day. Would you have guessed that?
6. The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa. It is almost 3,000 miles long! Fun fact: The Congo River is also the world’s deepest river. How cool is that?
Deserts of the Continent
7. The Sahara Desert covers much of northern Africa. It spans about 3.5 million square miles of North Africa and is the continents largest desert by far, taking up nearly a third of Africa’s land area. Not only is it the largest desert in Africa, but it is the biggest hot desert in the World!
8. The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa is the world’s second largest hot desert after the Sahara. Many animals live in the Kalahari Desert including meerkats, hyenas, and even poisonous snakes.
Africa Facts for Kids – The Population of Africa
9. Africa has a population of over 1 billion people, making it the second most populous continent after Asia.
10. Nigeria is Africa’s largest country by population. It is home to over 170 million African people!
11. Cairo, Egypt is Africa’s largest city, with over 20 million people.
More Fun Facts about Countries in Africa
12. Africa is home to some of the world’s poorest countries, as well as some of the wealthiest. For example, the country of South Africa is one the poorest areas in all of Africa; however, Cape Town, one of the suburban cities in South Africa has a total wealth of $130 billion, making it one of the richest cities in Africa!
13. Johannesburg, South Africa is the continent’s largest city by land area.
14. Tanzania is home to the tallest mountain in Africa and one of the tallest mountains in the world! Can you name it? That’s right, it’s Mount Kilimanjaro, which towers over the country at a height of almost 20,000 feet!
Africa Facts for Kids – African Culture
15. Africa has a rich cultural heritage, with many different languages, religions, and traditions. The official languages of many countries in Africa include French and Arabic. Arabic is the most widely spoken language in Africa, followed by French and English.
16. Christianity and Islam are the largest religions in Africa, although about 8% of the African people still follow the traditional religions of Buddhism or Hinduism.
17. Africa has a long tradition of art and music, with a number of distinct styles and genres.
18. African cuisine is as diverse as the continent itself, with a variety of flavors and ingredients. Some famous African meals include Piri Piri Chicken, Chombo, and Bunny Chow. What’s your favorite African dish?
19. Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Africa, followed by cricket and rugby union. Fun fact: Africa has won a number of Olympic medals, including gold medals in athletics, boxing, and wrestling.
The History of Africa
20. Africa has a rich history dating back to some of the earliest human civilizations. The Egyptians were one of the earliest civilizations in Africa and developed one of the world’s first writing systems.
21. Africa was home to a number of powerful empires, including the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire.
22. The European colonization of Africa began in the late 15th century and led to the Scramble for Africa in the 19th century.
Africa Facts for Kids – The Future of Africa
23. The African Union is an intergovernmental organization that aims to promote peace and unity on the continent. What do you think the future of Africa looks like?
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