1. Africa

2. Index
•Introduction: situation, countries, surface and population.
•Wildlife: flora and fauna.
•Climates: different ecosystems of the continent, each one
with its own details.
•Geology: rock, minerals and continental crust.
•Industries: most important of the continent.
•Agriculture and livestock: crops and animal farming.
•Fishing and oceans: fishing industry and the seas in which
its practiced.
•History: a brief guide to the story of its culture.

3. Introduction
Africa is the continent that compromises the landmass directly south of the
Mediterranean, and the nearby islands. Africa is not only the second largest
continent on our planet, being 30’2 million square kilometres, but is also the
second in human inhabitants, with about 1’0 million people, having 15% of the
world population. It was once connected to Eurasia by the Suez Peninsula,
but isn’t any more. It’s divided in 53 countries, none of which have an
economy to sustain its people, even though some monarchs may live in
leisure. Its a continent disrupted by constant wars, that are not reported in
Europe. Thousand of people die every day of hunger, poverty, war and the
violation of their rights. And even though many many try and help in
different organizations, it’s not enough. We’ve chosen Africa because it’s an
interesting continent and I think it’s beautiful.
Martín Fernández Foley.

4. Flora
Martín Fernández Foley
I cannot write everything I’d like on this department, for it’s an extremely large subject.
Africa’s vegetation varies from cactus-like plants of the Sahara to the flowers of the south.
Because of this, I’ll only talk about 5 plants of Africa.
Aloe maculata is a plant species that lives in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, known
commonly as Zebra Aloe because of its markings.
Protea cynaroides (King Protea) is a flowering plant that appears in South Africa and is the
country’s National Flower. It looks like a metre tall (in general) bush that has an enormous
flower that can be 30 centimetres wide. The flower reminds me of a sunflower that is white
in the middle and has big pink petals.
Acacia sieberiana (Paperback thorn) is an African tree that appears throughout the
continent, being well known in the Savannah. It can be from 3 to 25 metres tall and is the
typical tree that appears in all the documentaries, when the leopard is climbing it. An
interesting fact is that its gum, is used to make ink.
Lobelia deckenii is a plant that grows in valleys through Africa, being well known in Kenya. It
looks kind of like a cactus, but this species is more humid then the rest of its genus.
Anastatica hierochuntica (Resurrection plant) is a plant native to the Sahara desert and has
an amazing ability. It looks like a 15 centimetre high shrivelled up bush that is thrown across

5. Fauna
yago radziunas salinas
Most birds belonging to the Old World groups. Guinea fowl
is the main game bird. Water birds, especially pelicans,
giant herons, flamingos, storks and egrets, gather in
large numbers. The ibis is common in the region of the
Nile, and the ostrich in southern and northern Africa.
Reptiles are of European origin and include mostly lizards,
crocodiles and turtles. Throughout the Ethiopian area
can find variety of poisonous snakes, including the
mamba. Among the highlights constrictor snakes
pythons, mainly in West Africa, the boa constrictor
lives only in Madagascar. There are plenty of
freshwater fish with more than 2,000 known species
and destructive insects, especially mosquitoes, army
ants, termites, locusts and tsetse flies, the latter transmit
sleeping sickness to humans and animals.
The list of fish living in the lakes and seas is almost endless as it
is estimated that there are thousands of species that live in
these places.
Africa has two distinct areas of wildlife: the north
and west area, which includes the Sahara, and
the Ethiopian region, which includes all sub-
Saharan Africa.
The north and northwest area is characterized by a
fauna similar to that of Eurasia; abound sheep,
goats, horses and camels. The Barbary sheep,
African red deer and ibex are from the northern
coast of Africa. Foxes inhabit the Sahara desert
with hares, gazelles and gerbils, a small rodent
jumper.
The Ethiopian region is famous for its wide variety
of animals and birds typical. Forests and
grasslands are populated by numerous species of
antelope and deer, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes,
African elephants, rhinos, and monos Among
carnivorous animals we find the lion, leopard,
cheetah, hyena, jackal and mongoose. The
gorilla, the world's largest ape, living in the
rainforests of equatorial Africa, as well as
monkeys, flying squirrels, bats and lemurs.

6. Climate
Africa has got eight climates. I´m going to take about them.
In the North, in dark blue color, there´s the Mediterranean
climate, this is found Marruecos. Here the weather is nice in winter
and hot in Summer, the rainy seasons are Spring and Autumn.
Going down (light orange in the map) there is the Desert climate
wich is extremely hot and rains hardly never. there´s the Saharas
desert.
In orange there is the Steppe and further south, In light green,
the Savanas. Both are Tropical climates . They are hot all year
round and dry, the rainy season is very short and heavy rains
during the summer. Steppe´s climate dry season is much longer and
rainfall are more limited.
At Ecuador´s line, we have (in dark green color) the Tropical
climate wich is very hot and humid all year round.
Down the Equador we find Savanas and Steppe climates once
again with similar charasteristics.
In white color we have Highland climate. Here is where the Nilo´s
river borns
In green color, theres the subtropical climate. This climate is only
in the South- East of Africa.
Finally, we have the marine climate. It Is situated in the area of
South Africa. This is a temperate areas with cool winters.
Yago Radziunas Salinas

7. Industries
Africa has got some famous industries, but recently the biggest
would be the mining. South Africa has always been famous for its
gemstones, but the continent also exports a lot of the worlds
metals and minerals that can be used for construction or
electronics. An example would be coltan, a mix of columbium and
tantalum that is used in electronics. Thousands of people died in a
war over this rock, but even today many Congolese die extracting it
in horrible work conditions. On the bright side, South Africa’s
mining is one of the most profitable industries in the world. You can
find gold, diamonds, platinum, coal and other minerals in the area.
Yago Radziunas Salinas

8. Agriculture and
livestock
Agriculture in Africa is essential, not only the largest livelihood of most countries, it is also one of the
sources of income due to products that are exported. Agriculture in Africa began in the heart of the
Sahara desert, which in 5200 BC was much more humid and less populated, several native species
were domesticated, most importantly, the grain crops of millet, sorghum and cowpea, spread
throughout West Africa and the Sahel. Its easy open fields were growing, but poor soil and lack of
rain to agriculture make impossible the developed. The first to start exporting the products produced
in Africa were the Portuguese, then they were joined by other European colonies, these in turn
introduced new farming techniques to improve the quality of food from their settlers.
Today Africans should increase by more than 50% their agricultural production if they wish to
continue feeding the population by 2050. According to agriculture experts from different development
agencies, the only way to achieve this goal is to engage in organic farming. Eroded soils, poverty and
failure to give proper maintenance to traditional agriculture is one of the biggest problems that face
the majority of Africans
In Africa, there are raising a variety of animals for different uses, eg cows and goats are used for
food; camels and horses for transportation but they don't represent a big economical activity.
Although the African continent is rich in hardwoods, such as mahogany (thin wood), obtained in the
jungle region, the lack of adequate transportation and industry engaged in processing, have
prevented villages in this area to receive significant benefits from logging.

9. Fishing
Fishing Is Africa´s Motor
•Fisheries contribute each year at least U$S 10,000 million to the economies of
Africa. In countries such as Angola, Egypt and Namibia, the industry is a key
driver.
•It is also important as Nutrition element. A study published by the New
Economic Partnership for Africa's Development in 2007 concluded that about
200 million Africans depend at least partly on fish for nutrition.
•But, like agriculture, fisheries fragile resource generally provides income only
for small producers. The fish is very important for african people. During the
last few years the fishing was declining because there are many countries who
take their fish.
•Yago Radziunas Salinas