Africa is a part of the world, occupying a fifth of the land on planet Earth. In total, 60 countries are located in Africa, but only 55 of them are universally recognized, the remaining 5 are self-proclaimed. Each of the states belongs to one or another region. Traditionally, five subregions are distinguished in Africa: four on the cardinal points (eastern, southern, western, northern) and one central.
Central africa
The Central African region occupies a continental territory of 7.3 million square meters. km in the area rich in natural gifts. Geographically, the countries of Central Africa are separated from the rest of the subregions by the East African continental fault from the east; the watershed between the rivers Congo - Kwanza and the rivers Zambezi - Kubanga - from the south. The west of the region is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea; The northern border of the region coincides with the state border of the Republic of Chad. Central African countries are located in the equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones. The climate is humid and hot.
Central Africa is the region richest in water resources: the high-water river of the Congo, the small rivers of Ogove, Sanaga, Kwanza, Quilu and others. Vegetation is represented by dense forests in the center of the region and small strips of savannahs in the north and south.
Central African countries
The Central African region includes nine countries: Congo, Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon. Interestingly, two states with the same name have a different form of government. Sao Tome and Principe is located on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cameroon, whose coordinates are close to the region of West Africa, is sometimes assigned to the countries of West Africa.
The uniqueness of Central Africa
Active European penetration of tropical Central Africa began in the 18th century, when the desire of Europeans to possess new territories was especially great. The study of equatorial Africa was facilitated by the discovery of the mouth of the Congo River, along which shipping trips were made inland. There is very little information about the ancient peoples who inhabited the places where the modern countries of Central Africa are located. Their descendants are known - the peoples of Haus, Yoruba, Athar, Bantu, Oromo. The predominant root race of this territory is the Negroid. In the tropics of the Uele and Congo Basins, there is a special race - the Pygmies.
Brief descriptions of some states
The Central African Republic is a country located in a territory that has long been unknown to Europeans because of its location inland. Deciphering the ancient Egyptian inscriptions indicates the existence of small people, presumably pygmies, in this territory. The land of the Central African Republic remembers the days of slavery, which ended only in the middle of the 20th century. Now it is a republic with more than five million people. The country has several large national parks inhabited by giraffes, hippos, forest elephants, ostriches, several hundred species of birds and other animals.
The largest state in Africa is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population of the Congo is about 77 million people. It is also one of the richest countries in the presence of natural reserves. The Selva Republic is so vast that it makes up about 6% of the world's rainforests.
The People's Republic of Congo is located in western Africa, washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline is approximately 170 km. A significant part of the territory is occupied by the depression of the Congo, a marshland. The toponym "Congo" (which means "hunters") is very common on the African continent: the two states of the Congo, the Congo River, the people and language of the Congo, and other less well-known points on the map of Africa are named so.
A country with an interesting history - Angola, for centuries sent ships with slaves to South America. Modern Angola is a major exporter of fruits, sugarcane, and coffee.
The territory of Cameroon has an exceptional relief: almost the entire country is located on the highlands. Here is Cameroon - an active volcano and the highest point of the country.
Far from being the largest state, Gabon is one of the most developed and richest states in Africa. The nature of the country - lagoons and estuaries - is beautiful and poetic.
The northernmost country in Central Africa is Chad. The nature of this state is very different from the nature that other countries of Central Africa have. There are no forests, on the plains of the country are sandy deserts and savannahs.