Eastern Africa By: Helena Lund
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Eastern Africa
is shown in grey.
Eastern Africa is a diverse region due to its many geographical features. There many countries in Eastern Africa: Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius. All these countries have slightly different climates, and contribute to the region.
Eritrea: Eritrea borders the Red Sea. The climate is hot and dry along the coast, but as you travel deeper in towards the center, the climate becomes more wet. The western part of Eritrea has hills and lowlands.
Djibouti: Djibouti is a very small country just to the right of Eritrea. It is mostly and plateau and coastal plain separated by central mountains. It is also has been called: a "valley of hell" because it is so dry and scorching hot there. It's location along the coast has made it a major port.
Uganda: Uganda is a landlocked country with a mostly tropical climate, but some arid areas in the northern part. It has a range of features: mountains, rain forests, savannas, and desert. The Great Rift Valley is in Uganda, and so are many large lakes.
Somalia: Somalia is "on the 'Horn of Africa'". It is mostly savanna, with lots of coastline bordering the Indian Ocean. It's industries are based off of agricultural products.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia has a tropical monsoon climate. It is high plateau with mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley.
Kenya: Kenya is of Ethiopia and west of Somalia. Lake Victoria is to its left, and it is the source of water for the fertile land in the west of Kenya. Kenya's main rivers are, Athi/Galana and Tana.
Rwanda: Rwanda's altitude declines from west to east and most of the land is savanna grassland. Coffee is a major export, there are two rainy seasons which are February-April and November-January, and there is snow on the mountains.
Burundi: Burundi also has two rainy seasons, but they are February-May and September-November. The climate is generally moderate, but there is a huge amount of variation in altitude throughout the country. Burundi "straddles [the] crest of the Nile-Congo watershed"
Tanzania: Tanzania borders the Indian ocean, and it is between Mozambique and Kenya. The Serengeti Plain is in northwestern Tanzania, and it is home to many types of animals. The Great Rift Valley goes through Tanzania. The climate can be temperate to tropical along the coast. Tanzania is home to the well-known mountain, Kilimanjaro.
Zambia: The climate of Zambia changes with the altitude but is mostly tropical, but the areas of raised elevation can be surprisingly cool compared to the rest of Africa. The Zambezi River flows through southwestern Zambia. There is great mineral wealth with one of the most important minerals being copper.
Malawi: There is a rainy season (November-May) and a dry season (May-November). Malawi has a sub-tropical climate with mountains, hills, and plains. Its economy is based on agriculture.
Mozambique:With its tropical and sub tropical climate, Mozambique is a great example of a classic tropical climate. It has plateaus, mountains, and coastal lowlands. As a result of all the shoreline is has, Mozambique has many large ports.
Madagascar: "Madagascar is made up of one large island...and a number of small nearby islands." Although Madagascar has a tropical climate along the coast, it does have temperate and arid areas. In fact, the coastal plain is very narrow, and there are mountains in the center of the island. The river valleys are very fertile; many people make their living as farmers.
Seychelles: Seychelles is made up of about 90 different islands scattered in the Indian Ocean. Some are made of granite and coral. The climate is tropical marine, and humid. There are two monsoon seasons: May-September, which is cooler, and March-May which is warmer. The terrain varies from high rock mountains to flat reefs.
Comoros: Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. The climate is tropical marine, and its rainy season is November-May. No valuable minerals have been found in Comoros. It also includes volcanoes.
Mauritius:Mauritius is a tropical group of islands east of Madagascar. The climate is affected by the southeast trade winds and there are two seasons:May-November which is a dry and warm winter, and November-May which is a hot, wet, and humid summer. There are coastal plains that rise to mountainous areas, and those mountains encircle a large plateau.
Eritrea: Eritrea borders the Red Sea. The climate is hot and dry along the coast, but as you travel deeper in towards the center, the climate becomes more wet. The western part of Eritrea has hills and lowlands.
Djibouti: Djibouti is a very small country just to the right of Eritrea. It is mostly and plateau and coastal plain separated by central mountains. It is also has been called: a "valley of hell" because it is so dry and scorching hot there. It's location along the coast has made it a major port.
Uganda: Uganda is a landlocked country with a mostly tropical climate, but some arid areas in the northern part. It has a range of features: mountains, rain forests, savannas, and desert. The Great Rift Valley is in Uganda, and so are many large lakes.
Somalia: Somalia is "on the 'Horn of Africa'". It is mostly savanna, with lots of coastline bordering the Indian Ocean. It's industries are based off of agricultural products.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia has a tropical monsoon climate. It is high plateau with mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley.
Kenya: Kenya is of Ethiopia and west of Somalia. Lake Victoria is to its left, and it is the source of water for the fertile land in the west of Kenya. Kenya's main rivers are, Athi/Galana and Tana.
Rwanda: Rwanda's altitude declines from west to east and most of the land is savanna grassland. Coffee is a major export, there are two rainy seasons which are February-April and November-January, and there is snow on the mountains.
Burundi: Burundi also has two rainy seasons, but they are February-May and September-November. The climate is generally moderate, but there is a huge amount of variation in altitude throughout the country. Burundi "straddles [the] crest of the Nile-Congo watershed"
Tanzania: Tanzania borders the Indian ocean, and it is between Mozambique and Kenya. The Serengeti Plain is in northwestern Tanzania, and it is home to many types of animals. The Great Rift Valley goes through Tanzania. The climate can be temperate to tropical along the coast. Tanzania is home to the well-known mountain, Kilimanjaro.
Zambia: The climate of Zambia changes with the altitude but is mostly tropical, but the areas of raised elevation can be surprisingly cool compared to the rest of Africa. The Zambezi River flows through southwestern Zambia. There is great mineral wealth with one of the most important minerals being copper.
Malawi: There is a rainy season (November-May) and a dry season (May-November). Malawi has a sub-tropical climate with mountains, hills, and plains. Its economy is based on agriculture.
Mozambique:With its tropical and sub tropical climate, Mozambique is a great example of a classic tropical climate. It has plateaus, mountains, and coastal lowlands. As a result of all the shoreline is has, Mozambique has many large ports.
Madagascar: "Madagascar is made up of one large island...and a number of small nearby islands." Although Madagascar has a tropical climate along the coast, it does have temperate and arid areas. In fact, the coastal plain is very narrow, and there are mountains in the center of the island. The river valleys are very fertile; many people make their living as farmers.
Seychelles: Seychelles is made up of about 90 different islands scattered in the Indian Ocean. Some are made of granite and coral. The climate is tropical marine, and humid. There are two monsoon seasons: May-September, which is cooler, and March-May which is warmer. The terrain varies from high rock mountains to flat reefs.
Comoros: Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. The climate is tropical marine, and its rainy season is November-May. No valuable minerals have been found in Comoros. It also includes volcanoes.
Mauritius:Mauritius is a tropical group of islands east of Madagascar. The climate is affected by the southeast trade winds and there are two seasons:May-November which is a dry and warm winter, and November-May which is a hot, wet, and humid summer. There are coastal plains that rise to mountainous areas, and those mountains encircle a large plateau.
The geography of Africa has shaped who the people are and how they live. There are many land features in this region of Africa that are not in any other. Africa's two highest mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya. East Africa is also home to Lake Victoria: Africa's largest freshwater lake. The climate is also very intriguing. Whilst Africa is in a latitude associated with a very tropical climate, it is actually much cooler because of the high elevation. This created a better environment for the Europeans to live in when they colonized Africa.
In Africa, we all know that there exist countless numbers of exotic and beautiful animals, but it is not going to stay that way forever. Africa is a very poor continent, and it contains many of the poorest nations in the world. In many countries, there is a bigger percentage of people trying to farm than there is of that farmland in comparison to the rest of that country. Mining provides some jobs, but as time goes on, some shut down. Most of the time, the Africans don't get all the profit because European companies are the ones who own everything. This lack of work causes poaching. Poaching is growing in regions like Eastern Africa where the exotic animals live. One huge reason behind poaching is the demand for ivory. Elephants and rhinos have become devastatingly few, and although there are laws in some countries against poaching, it still happens.
Learn more from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120914-ivory-religious-elephants-ban-science-religion/
East Africa produces many cash crops such as bananas, coffee, and tea, and people farm and herd animals. The issue is that there are not enough jobs and even those are not very diverse. To succeed, Africans need to have more jobs available to them, and they along with others need to use the resources they have efficiently and effectively.
In Africa, we all know that there exist countless numbers of exotic and beautiful animals, but it is not going to stay that way forever. Africa is a very poor continent, and it contains many of the poorest nations in the world. In many countries, there is a bigger percentage of people trying to farm than there is of that farmland in comparison to the rest of that country. Mining provides some jobs, but as time goes on, some shut down. Most of the time, the Africans don't get all the profit because European companies are the ones who own everything. This lack of work causes poaching. Poaching is growing in regions like Eastern Africa where the exotic animals live. One huge reason behind poaching is the demand for ivory. Elephants and rhinos have become devastatingly few, and although there are laws in some countries against poaching, it still happens.
Learn more from National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120914-ivory-religious-elephants-ban-science-religion/
East Africa produces many cash crops such as bananas, coffee, and tea, and people farm and herd animals. The issue is that there are not enough jobs and even those are not very diverse. To succeed, Africans need to have more jobs available to them, and they along with others need to use the resources they have efficiently and effectively.