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Africa covers approximately 11,678,000 square miles
(30,247,000 square kilometers), about a fifth of the
earth's total land area. The continent is an enormous
plateau, most of which is covered by deserts, forests,
and grasslands.
Land regions. Africa can be divided into two major land
regions: (1) Low Africa and (2) High Africa.
Low Africa consists of northern, western, and central
Africa. Except for a few coastal plains and mountain
ranges, most of the region lies from 500 to 2,000 feet
(150 to 610 meters) above sea level. Low Africa can
be subdivided into six smaller land regions. They are
(1) the Coastal Lowlands, (2) the Northern Highlands,
(3) the Saharan Plateau, (4) the Western Plateau, (5)
the Nile Basin, and (6) the Congo Basin.
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Most of Africa has a warm or hot climate, but the humidity
and amount of rainfall vary dramatically from area to
area. The maps with this article indicate the average
January and July temperatures and the average yearly
precipitation (rain, melted snow, and other forms of
moisture). A map in the print version of The World Book
Encyclopedia illustrates Africa's climate patterns.
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Native animals. Africa's wild animals are world famous.
The continent has thousands of species of mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, fishes, birds, and insects. In the east
and south, huge herds of antelope, buffaloes, giraffes,
and zebras roam the grasslands. They are preyed on by
such animals as cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, leopards,
and lions. A few remaining large herds of elephants
live in the east and the southeast. Baboons are common
in many parts of Africa. Crocodiles and hippopotamuses
live in tropical rivers and swamps, and chimpanzees
and monkeys dwell in the forests. Such large water birds
as flamingos, pelicans, and storks can be found in eastern
and southern Africa. Ostriches live in the south and
east parts of Africa and in the western Sahara. Lemurs
live in Madagascar.
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Africa's plant life varies according to climate and
altitude. The spectacular rain forests of western and
central Africa have hundreds of kinds of trees. They
include oil palms; fruit trees; ebony, mahogany, and
other hardwood trees; and softwood okoume trees, which
are used to make furniture, plywood, and veneers. Mangrove
trees stand on stiltlike roots in swampy areas along
tropical coasts. Olive and oak trees and such evergreen
bushes as myrtle grow in the northwestern parts of Africa
and at the southern tip of the continent.
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