The second largest continent of the planet. The second in terms of population. The mainland, which has truly colossal mineral reserves and other natural resources. Homeland of mankind. Africa.
Third part of the world
In the views of the ancient Greeks, there were only two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. In those days, Africa was known by the name of Libya and belonged to one or the other. Only the ancient Romans after the conquest of Carthage began to call their province in what is now North-East Africa that name. The remaining known territories of the southern continent were named after Libya and Ethiopia, but later only one remained. Then Africa became the third part of the world. Only the lands of the north of the continent were developed by Europeans and then Arabs, the more southern parts were separated by the grandiose Sahara desert, the largest in the world.
After the colonial capture of the rest of the world by Europeans, Africa became the main supplier of slaves. Colonies on the territory of the mainland did not develop, but served only as collection points.
The beginning of independence
The situation began to change slightly from the nineteenth century, when slavery in many countries was abolished. Europeans drew attention to their possessions on the continent of Africa. The natural resources of the controlled lands exceeded the potential of the colonial states themselves. True, development was carried out in the most populated areas of North and South Africa. The remaining territories of almost virgin nature were considered as an opportunity for an exotic vacation. The largest safaris were organized on this continent, which caused the mass extinction of large predators, rhinos and elephants. After the Second World War, almost all African countries achieved their independence and began to use their full potential. But this did not always lead to positive consequences; sometimes the natural conditions and resources of Africa deteriorated significantly due to their irrational use by humans.
The richness and scarcity of water resources
Africa's largest rivers are located in the center and west of the continent. These rivers - Congo, Niger, Zambezi - belong to the most full-flowing and largest rivers in the world. The northern part of the continent is almost completely deserted and the drying rivers there are filled with water only in the rainy season. Unique is the longest river in the world, the Nile. It begins in the central part of the continent and crosses the largest desert in the world - the Sahara, without losing its full flow. Africa is considered the least water-rich continent. This definition applies to the entire continent, while being an average indicator. Indeed, the central part of Africa, having an equatorial and subequatorial climate, is endowed with excess water. And the northern desert lands suffer from an acute lack of moisture. After gaining independence in African countries, a boom in hydraulic engineering began, with dams and reservoirs being built by thousands. But in general, Africa’s water natural resources are the second largest in the world after Asia.
African lands
The land situation in Africa is similar to water. On the one (northern) side, it is an almost uninhabited and uncultivated desert. On the other hand, fertile and well-moistened soils. True, the presence of huge areas of tropical forests, the territories of which are not used for agriculture, is still making adjustments here. But that is Africa. Natural land resources are very significant. By the ratio of cultivated land to population, Africa is twice as much as Asia and Latin America. Although for agriculture only twenty percent of the entire continent is used. As already noted, the natural resources of Africa are not always used rationally. Deforestation and subsequent soil erosion threaten to move the desert to fertile land. Countries in the central part of the continent are especially worried.
Forest open spaces
Features of the location of Africa have affected the fact that it has large forest land. Seventeen percent of all the world's forests are on the African continent. The eastern and southern lands are rich in dry tropical forests, and the central and western lands are moist. But the use of such ambitious reserves is poor. Forests are cut down without restoring them. This is due to the presence of valuable species of trees and, most sadly, for using them as firewood. Nearly eighty percent of the energy in countries in the west and central Africa comes from burning trees.
General characteristics of mineral resources
The natural resources of African countries are such that more than one generation of the inhabitants of the continent can live comfortably. But only subject to an increase in the number of processing enterprises. Indeed, almost eighty percent of all mineral resources extracted from the bowels of the earth are exported to other continents for further processing. But the wealth of African lands is simply obvious in the literal sense of the word. After all, more than three quarters of all world gold mining occurs on this continent. Less than thirty percent of the world's diamonds are mined outside this continent. More than half of all manganese ores, chromites and cobalt are mined in Africa. A third of phosphorites and radioactive uranium are also extracted from the bowels of this continent. And North Africa’s natural resources include large hydrocarbon reserves.
Natural Resources of South and Central Africa
The location of mineral deposits is determined by the features of the tectonic structure of the continent called Africa. The natural resources of the southern and central parts are rich in ore minerals and diamonds. The central regions of the continent are rich in copper and bauxite reserves. Bauxite deposits are located a little to the west. Iron ores are rich in south and southwest Africa. But one of the main wealth of the continent is precious metals and precious stones. South Africa's natural resources are rich in ores high in platinum and gold. And in the world top five leaders in terms of diamond production are three African countries. In addition, these lands are very rich in uranium ores.
South Africa
The richest country in the continent and one of the richest in the world is considered the Republic of South Africa. Coal mining is traditionally developed here. Its deposits are almost superficial, so the cost of production is very low. Eighty percent of the electric energy generated by local thermal power plants uses this cheap coal. The wealth of the country is provided by deposits of platinum, gold, diamonds, manganese, chromites and other minerals. Oil is probably one of the few minerals that South Africa is not rich in. The natural resources of the center of the continent and especially its north, on the contrary, are endowed with significant hydrocarbon reserves.
Natural Resources of North Africa
Sedimentary rocks of the north of the continent are rich in oil and gas deposits. Libya, for example, has about three percent of global reserves. In the territory of Morocco, Northern Algeria and Libya, zones of phosphorite deposits are located. These deposits are so rich that more than fifty percent of all world phosphorites are mined here. Also in the Atlas Mountains region there are large reserves of polymetallic ores containing zinc, lead, as well as cobalt and molybdenum.