Geographic objects of Africa. Etymology of the names of physico-geographical objects of Africa Aden

Mainland Africa is the second largest on the planet after Eurasia. It takes more than twenty percent of all sushi and almost completely located in a hemisphere in the south.

Mainland is washed by several oceans: Atlantic and Indian. The territory is divided between fifth five countries.

African countries and their capital

Africa countries are commonly divided into five groups. The list is as follows:

From the point of view of economic indicators, the most developed and rich is located in the south of the mainland of South Africa. At the same time, the inhabitants of many states, in particular the central part of the mainland, are below the poverty line, in particular the CAR, DRC, Burundi are the poorest countries in Africa.

The largest in the territory of the state is Algeria, and Little Mayotte. The most numerous is Nigeria, and the lowest population in the islands - Seychelles.

His sovereignty African states found in the middle of the twentieth century. Most modern names appeared at the same time.

For example, until 1985, Côte d'Ivoire was called the ivory shore, and Djibouti had official status and name in the form of the French territory of Afarov and Issa. Such changes touched almost half of the territorial units of the mainland.

Characteristic Africa

The area is twenty nine millions of square meters. km. Prevalence from the north down - eight thousand kilometers, and from the West to the left - seven and a half.

Physical map of Africa (press to enlarge)

There are several options for the origin of the name. The most common of them:

  1. Afri - people who lived next to Carthage later, the Romans became so called the whole area, and then the continent of Africa.
  2. From Latin Aprica - Sunny.
  3. From Greek AFRKN - without cold.

Note: Africa is considered to consider the pranodina of a person reasonable, it was there that the remains of the oldest ancestors were found, in particular the hominid and the Sachelanpov.

The continent has long been attracted by Europeans, as the opening history has shown, an active study began with the fifteenth century, when Vasco da Gama across the way to India ran into Africa.

From the end of the nineteenth to the middle of the twentieth centuries, the mainland was divided among the great powers:

  • north - part of the Ottoman Empire;
  • south - Spain, Portugal and other colonialists.

After World War II, the map has changed, as a wave of independence began. Today there are several territories on African mainland under the control of Europeans, in particular the Canary Islands, Madeira, Chagos Archipelago.

Extreme points of Africa

About what point is the most northern, the most southern, what the easternmost, and where is the most western one - it tells well the following image:

Population

More than one billion people live on the mainland today. Along with this, there is the greatest increase in the number and life expectancy. Demographic estimates predict the increase in population by half over the next thirty years.

In Africa there are two main races:

  • nero-shaped - in the center;
  • coresoid - mainly in the north and in the South African Republic.

The most common nationality are Arabs. Population density is low compared to Europe and Asia. To date, inter-ethnic conflicts continue.

Its useful to note: The level of urbanization in countries is low, but its pace is the highest in the world.

As for religion, the world's leading, but presented all other religious flows is mainly distributed. Traditional beliefs are still distributed in the central part.

Climatic belts

Africa is considered the warmest mainland, here is the warmer place - Dallol. The whole territory is distributed in warm climatic belts.

The main of them and their characteristics:

  1. Equatorial - strong rains and actually no change of season, here is a permanent summer.
  2. Subscance - two main season, rainy summer, winter is characterized by dry trade winds.
  3. Tropical - there is almost no precipitation, the deserts are common.

Minerals

Africa is rich in minerals that have a high price.

In particular, the main one includes:

  • gold;
  • oil.

The north coast is also rich in manganese, iron ores and phosphorites.

Flora and fauna

The organic world of Africa is characterized by exceptional diversity.

In tropical areas there are a variety of large animals, in particular, rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, monkeys and others.

Large birds live on the continent, as Flamingo, Ibis.

In the north, the lizards and snakes are mostly inhabited, which adapted to the climate of the Sahara. The south of the mainland is a "big five": buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino.

The climatic conditions of North Africa contributed to the adaptation of many plant species. In the south, there are more than two and a half thousand flowering - it is almost ten percent of world wealth.

Geographical objects

Atlas Mountains

The main objects of the geography of Africa include:

  • Atlas Mountains;
  • Congo pools (lower point) and Nile;
  • Rift Valley;
  • Ethiopian and Ahaggar Nagorna;
  • desert - Calahari, Namib and sugar.

In addition to the oceans, the mainland is washed by one sea - the Red and Suez Canal.

Rivers and seas

One of the most extended rivers in the world is located in Africa.

The length of Nile is almost seven thousand kilometers.

For other major rivers include:

  • Niger;
  • Congo;
  • Zambezi, Limpopo and Orange.

Africa is rich in large lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika and Chad. The latter is the largest salt reservoir, which is inside the mainland.

Plains

Plains in Africa are represented by plateales (East African) and pita (Chad, Congo, Calahari).

The plateaus is high plains, along with them, low.

Mountains Africa

Mostly Africa is a mainland on the plains, it has enough mountains:

  • Athamkogo - in the north;
  • Ahagar and Tibest - on the territory of the Sahara desert;
  • Effiopic Highlands - in the East;
  • Caps and dragons - in the south.

The highest point is Kilimanjaro Volcano, his height is five thousand nine hundred meters.

In conclusion, I would like to focus on the concepts of "Mainland" and "Continent". On the ground there are only six continents, they are all well known. But the continents are only four.

"Continent" translated from Latin means "continuous". Since Eurasia and Africa are connected together by the Suez Canal, they are not separated from each other, because they are not separately continents.

Africa is a unique mainland that combines the variety of plant and animal world. Most of the states are at the stage of economically developing countries, it is partly due to the prolonged colonization of the region.

Recently, the ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they look like somehow primitive, piaristo and subjective. And on the other, in my opinion, help structuring large amounts of information and squeeze a bunch of water and information noise. I also decided to wipe on the William of our Shakespeare.

It was, of course, to acknowledge the topic by catching heading type "10 places in Africa, which must be visited" or something like that. But I will not like to like top bloggers :)
Naturally, the concept of "interesting" hints on the subjectivity of the list: what is interesting to one may be absolutely not interested in another. Therefore, this is the most subjective, but the unbiased list of African interests :)

The reasons for which people go to Africa can be divided into 3 components - animals, people and nature. For me, this is an axiom, which has laid the list.


A unique place in Africa, and perhaps on the entire planet, where distinctive tribes are still preserved, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer ... Every tribe is peculiar to the text of life, traditions, ornaments of your own body. In the Valley of Omo, you seem to move on a car for many centuries, or even thousands of years, back to the primitive community system.
Of course, the neighborhood with the benefits of civilization influenced the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. It affects and continued here a considerable time of war. Many men instead of copies and bows wear Kalashnikov machines, for example. The local population has already managed to get used to the fact that tourists regularly bring them, and even learned to extract benefits from this. Do not hope that you will be able to picked up the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa. Each frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)

Perhaps the most promoted African National Park, the icon of the tourist industry Kenya, one of the best parks of the continent. About Masai Mara is often written in excellent degree and, it should be noted, quite deserved.
The park is a continuation of the Serengeti, only in Kenya.
Masai Mara is famous for his prides of Lviv, and in general this is one of the best places in Africa to observe a big cat triple: Lions, leopards and cheetahs.

And, of course, do not forget about the Great Migration, passing in Masai Mara from July to October, when Millionna herds of the GNU arrive in the park from Tanzania. At this time, the most spectacular.
In general, we can say that none safari in Kenya Can't be considered a full-fledged without Masai Mara.

Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as a Waterfall Victoria or Cape of Good Hope, and despite the fact that the Mountain itself is located in Tanzania, the best and most picturesque view of it opens from the Amboseli National Reserve (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian tourist sites and offline guidebooks are not bend to illustrate articles about Kilimanjaro photographs, removed in Amboseli.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro, Giraffes and Kilimanjaro, Masai and Kilimanjaro, African Acacia and Kilimanjaro ... If you want to replenish your portfolio with these plots, then you are in.
The park is good and by itself, here there is a big five, but it is Kilimanjaro who makes it special and unique.

Reserved zone Ngoronoro. Tanzania

The highest concentration of wild animals in the world in the natural environment of their habitat. This argument immediately gives odds and increases the attractiveness of the original Ngoronoro zone. Animals are separated from the rest of the world with high slopes of crater ancient volcano. As one client said: "Where will they go on a submarine" :)
NGoronoro boasts a big five, and relatively small sizes and closed space make safari one of the most exciting in Africa.

National Park of Volcanoes. Rwanda

Included in the top three of the biggest waterfalls of the world and that says it all.

Africa - the second largest mainland, is located in all four hemispheres. Africa Square - 30 million km2.

Extreme points of Africa:

  • north: Cape Ras Engel (38 ° S.Sh., 10 ° V.D.);
  • south: Cape needle (35 ° Yu.Sh., 20 ° V.D.);
  • western: Cape Almadi 1 (5 ° S.Sh., 17 ° C);
  • east: Cape Rasha Hafun (11 ° S.Sh., 51 ° V.D.).

From the West Africa is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from the East - Indian, from the north - waters, from the northeast - red. Previously, it was connected with a 120 km wide width, now a Suez canal passes through it. From the mainland is separated by the Gibraltar Strait.

The coast of Africa is relatively weakly cut, there is a large Guinean bay in the West and Adensky - in the East, a large peninsula - ps. B is: Madeira, Green Cape, etc. In the east of the mainland there is a major island -, besides him, the accumulations of small islands are located - Comorese, etc.

The specificity of the relief of Africa lies in a large number of plains and a flatbed. Most of the north of the mainland occupies with Highlands Ahaggar and Tibst. Noticeable mountain ranges Two: Atlas Mountains in the north and caps - in the south. In the east of Africa there is a large East African plateau. Such a structure of the relief is explained by the fact that most of the mainland is located on a single ancient African-Arabian platform, separated in antiquity from the general continent - Gondwana. The Northern and Southern Mountain Ridges are formed in the collision area of \u200b\u200bthis platform with other large plates.

Lakes in Africa are quite large, formed in breed faults and therefore very narrow, long and deep: (maximum depth - 1400 m), (700 m). The lake, on the contrary, petty, feeds mainly due to precipitation, in the arid periods of its area is greatly reduced.

Since most of the mainland is in tropical, subequatorial and belts, it is warm here. Summer and winter average monthly temperatures differ slightly, seasons differ in the number of drop-down precipitation: for the summer there are rainy season, while drought comes in winter. There are tropical forests - swimming pool, east coast of Africa, where up to 3000 mm falls. precipitation. There are arid areas - savanna, desert.

Natural areas of Africa are expressed quite clearly and are arranged accordingly. At the equator and in the Congo, a zone of wet equatorial forests was formed. Here there is a huge variety of trees and shrubs, a tirelessness is well expressed. Form red. In the forests live monkeys, small ungulates, many birds.

Equatorial forests are almost immediately moving to Savannah - a special kind of encountered single trees. This natural zone in Africa occupies an extensive space. There are many herbs, from trees there are acacias, Baobabs. The soil is formed red-brown. Many large empty animals (giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, rhinos), there are predators (lions, cheetahs, hyena).

No less large natural zone - tropical deserts, represented by two large deserts: Namib in the south and sugar in the north. Sugar desert is a huge desert located in the northern part of the mainland. Dry Passats, prevailing here, raise sand particles, so for the desert there are no rarity storms, literally paralyzing all living things. Even in the shade rises to + 50 ° C, the sand heats up to + 70 ° C. At night, the temperature drops sharply, it can descend to 0 ° C. In this regard, survival is very difficult, people live exclusively in oases arising due to the proximity of groundwater. Most animals lead a nightlife, afternoon afternoon in Norah.

The zone of subtropical harshish evergreen forests stretched out with two narrow stripes on the north and southern coast of the mainland. Here are growing beech, oaks, citrus fruits, many coniferous plants and shrubs. Animals are mostly small: foxes, small deer, boys.

In the XIX-XX centuries, Europeans actively destroyed the unique nature of Africa, cutting valuable forests, exterminating animals. Many species died themselves due to the destruction of their natural habitat. This led to the fact that the territories occupied by forests are sharply reduced, but the desert areas, on the contrary, are increasing. To preserve and increasing the populations of wild animals, many of them have acquired world fame - Kruger, Serengeti.

Geography of Africa
Click to enlarge

In the south of Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the northeast of the Sinai Peninsula is washed by the waters of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, in the east and south-east, the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, and in the West - the Atlantic Ocean.

Geographic objects of Africa

Atlas

The system of attras mountains extends from the southwestern part of Morocco along the Mediterranean to the eastern border of Tunisia. It includes several smaller mountain chains, namely: high satin, middle atlas, and seaside atlas. The highest point is the Mountain Tubkal, located in the western part of Morocco, with a height of 4 167 meters.

Pool of the River Congo

The Congo River pool, located in the central part of Africa, is located on most of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the neighboring Republic of the Congo. In addition, it applies to the territory of Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Zambia. The area of \u200b\u200bthis fertile basin is approximately 3,600,000 sq. Km, about 20% of all the tropical forests of the world grows on its territory. The Congo River is the second largest river in Africa, and the network of its tributaries and streams performs transport function for the population of Africa.

Great rift valley

A sharp deepening of the earth's surface, about 6,400 km long, extending from the Red Sea, not far from the border with Jordan in the Middle East, south to Mozambique. Essentially, this valley is the result of a series of geological faults caused by large volcanic eruptions a lot of centuries ago. The result of the same faults became numerous sheer cliffs, mountain ranges, rocky valleys, and very deep lakes located throughout the entire significance length of this valley. In the immediate vicinity of the valley there are many of the highest mountains of Africa, including Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and Stanley.

Highlands Ahaggar

Ahaggar - a high-mountainous region in the central part of the Sahara, on the territory of the southern part of Algeria - 1,500 km. South of the capital of the country, and west of Tamanarian. The region is, for the most part, the rocky desert, with an average height of over 900 m. Above sea level. The highest point is Mount Tahat (3 003 m.).

Desert Kalahari.

The desert area is about 259,000 sq. Km, it covers most of the Botswana, the southwestern part of South Africa, and the whole western part of Namibia. At this desert plateau, the set of mouth of dry rivers, and thick shrubs grow in abundance. In this area there are several small mountain ranges, including Caras and Hans. In the Kalahari Gersbok National Park, located in South Africa, on the border with Namibia, there are large herds of wild animals.

Desert Namib

Namib is a coastal desert in the southern part of the African continent, extending in length over 2,000 km along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The desert begins on the territory of Angola, passes through the entire Namibia, and ends at the River Oliphants in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. East of the Atlantic Coast, the desert is gradually gaining height, up to 200 km. At the foot of the mountains a big ledge.

Annual precipitation range from 2 mm. In the most arid areas of the desert up to 200 mm. On the hills, because of what Namib can be considered the only real desert in the southern part of Africa. Namib is also the oldest desert in the world, geologically, it consists of dune (sandy) seas in coastal areas, gravel plains and rocks are dominated in the internal areas.

Sand dunes of deserts, some of which reach 300 meters in height and 32 km. In length, are the second largest in the world, yielding only dunes of Badyn Jaran in China.

Sahara Desert

Covering almost one third of the entire African continent, sugar is the largest desert in the world, with an approximate total area of \u200b\u200b9,065,000 sq. Km. Topographically, the desert includes stones with stones plain areas, movable sand dunes, and numerous dune (sandy) seas.

The height of the desert varies from 30 m. Below sea level up to 3,350 m. Above sea level (mountain peaks in Ahaggar and Tibest). At the regional level, the Libyan Desert, Nubian Desert, and the Western Desert in Egypt, to the west of Nile, are distinguished from Sahara.

The precipitation in the Sahara is practically absent, but several underwater rivers take place on its territory, originating in the atlas of the mountains that help irrigate insulated oasis. In the east of the water, the Nile helps fertilize small areas of the desert.

Sachel

Sahel is a wide strip of land extending over the entire width of the northern part of Central Africa, in the southern edge of the constantly expanding sugar desert. This border region is a transition zone between the dry regions of the North and the tropical areas of the south. Very few rain rainfall (15 - 20 cm per year) falls on this territory (15-20 cm. Per year), and vegetation here is presented mainly by scarce herbal cover and shrubs.

Nile River System

Etymology names of physico-geographical objects of Africa
Adenian Bay. Bay of the Indian Ocean. The name was received by Aden in the south of Arabian P-Ova. According to one version, the toponym is based on the Arab root in the meaning of "settlement", in another interpretation, the name was formed by the term from the ancient seven-khamitic languages \u200b\u200bedinu - plain, the steppe, which clearly reflects the natural features.

Azores. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by Portuguese Ilhas Dos Azores - "Islands of Hawks" for the abundance of these birds off the coast and on the archipelago.

Amyranta Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened as an expedition Admiral Vasco to Gama and are named after LLHAS De Almitante - "Admiral Island".

Annobon. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Named by Portuguese Anno Bon - "Good Year" (New Year), because On the island, they first set foot on January 1, 1474

Atlas. Atla's russian mountains. In the north-west of Africa. The name has a direct connection with the name of the mythical titanium of the Atlas, which on its mighty shoulders holds the earthly sol. The ancient Greeks deified these mountains, worshiping the mountain spirit in the image of a petrified giant supporting land. So read the legend. Apparently, it was facilitated by a possible primary source from (Berber's "Adrar Berber", which means "Mountain"

Augrabis. Waterfall on r. Orange. The name comes from Gottentoti Aukrebis - "big noise".

Afar. Tectonic Wpadin in Djibouti. The lowest place in Africa (-153 m n.owa seas). The name is given by the name of the people of Afar living in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Ahaggar. Mountain array in central sugar. The name comes from the name of the Tairegs of Kel-Ahaggar. At the heart of Etnonym, apparently lies the Arabic term "Ahgar" - cave, i.e. "Ahaggar" - "residents of the caves", "Spirits Caves."

Bab El Mandant Strait. Separates Africa and South-West Arabian P-Ova. The name comes from the Arab words "Bab" - Gate, Mandib - Tears, i.e. Means "Gate tears." Toponym metaphor reflects complex navigation conditions in the strait.

White Nile The name of the middle course of the Nile before the flow of blue. Arabic name River Bahr-El-Abead - "White River". According to experts, the definition of "white" refers to either a mutal color of water, or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.

Bengelege current. Cold flow in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given in Benghel in Angola: in one of the languages \u200b\u200bof Benguela - "Country Country".

BENUE. Lei inflow p. Niger. The name comes from the language of Batta, where BE - "Water", Nue- "Mother", i.e. means
"Mother Waters",

Bio. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Portuguese, opening biko, called it Formosa - "Beautiful" for the abundance of lush vegetation and the presence of fresh water. Later, the island called Fernando-on in honor of the Portuguese Chief Powder, and in the 70s of the 20th century, - Masia-Ngema-Biyoy and honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioo is a modified name, so it is difficult to call a true meaning.

Bush. General name of shrub formations of South Africa. Dutch and English geographical term Bush - "Shrub".

Waal. River, right inflow r. Orange, the name was given by Dutch colonists for the water color: Vaal - "muddy", "gray". Toponym is included in the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal (Transvaal) - "Behind Waale".

Wadi, Weddy. The general name of the team of temporary watercourses of North Africa filled with water only during the rain period. Arabic geographical term "Wadi", "UEDD" - dry bed, valley.

Veld. The name of the arid plateau in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (Afrikaner language), Veld is a popular geographical term in the "field" value.

Victoria. Lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria's waterfall, named by D. Livhingston in honor of Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D.Pikik. Therefore, at present, other names located on the shores of the lake, other names are offered: Moorja - "Unity", Wuora - "Freedom", Shirikisho - "Association", Uhuru Na Umoja - State Motto of Tanzania, drawn on the coat of arms of the state.

Victoria. Waterfall on r. Zambezi. Opened by an outstanding English traveler David Livingston and is named after the Queen of Great Britain. Locals call Mosi-Oa-Tuna waterfall - "Rading smoke", or Seongo - "Rainbow Scene".

Virung. Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name in the language of the people of Nyoro means "volcano".

Volta. River in West Africa. The name Rio-Da-Volta - the "Return River" was given by Portuguese, because In the XV century At the mouth of the river, their ships stopped before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on r. Volta created the reservoir of the same name is one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2).

Guardfuju. Cape in the east of P-oval. Scientists believe that the name is educated from the GUARDAFU portuguese distorted by Arabs - "Beware", which is associated with hazardous navigation conditions. There is a long time that there is a magnetic mountain of the very eastern tip of Somalia Peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of the ships approaching it. As a result, the ships, approaching it, was broken about the rocks. The most narrow shelf zone is here. With a strong wind, a high wave, a bad visibility, the ships often endured the peninsula, and they were broken about coastal reefs. The word "Guardafui" was a warning of sailors who floated past this cape.

Guinean bay. Atlantic Ocean Bay at the Western Coast of Africa. Named in the historical and geographical area of \u200b\u200bGuinea washed by him. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is the name of the Berber tribe Kinava (Arabic scientist Ibn-Yakut in the XIII century. Mentioned the edge of Kinava). Another point of view is based on the fact that Toponym is formed by the Berber words "Agvinau" - "black" or "iguven" - "dumb" (that is, not knowing the language of Berberov) and referred to the territory populated by black tribes. Later, the Europeans distorted the original word in Gunua, Ginua and, finally, in Guinea.

Strait of Gibraltar. Separates Africa from the Pyrenean Peninsula in Europe. Named on the rock of Gibraltar on the European Side of the Strait. The modern form of the name of the cliff arose as a result of centuries-old use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel-El Tarik - "Mount Tarika".

Blue Neal. The largest influx of the Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbai - "Father Waters, and in the Arab countries Bahr el-Azrak -" Blue River ". Colorsoe Title, according to some scientists, reflects the color of water in the river carrying bluish il.

Good Hope. Cape in southern Africa. Opened in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B.Diash and named it Cabo Tormentoso - "Cape of Storms". The name did not like the king of Portugal Zhuan II and at his order, Cape was renamed Cabo Da to Esperanza - "Cape of Good Hope", having in mind the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive for Europeans of India. Some historians believe that at B.Diash immediately called the Cape with the name of good hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, it is impossible to prove or refute this hypothesis due to the lack of sources, modern swimming DRash.

Dragons Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named by the name of one of the European colonizers of Harrow Drainstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: Draken - "Dragon", Stein - "Stone".

Zambezi. River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on the maps was transmitted in a variety of options; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponyms, the primary form of names is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local languages \u200b\u200ba bow means "Big River". The same value is the name of the river in the middle course in the language of Tonga - Murongo-Mucuri, which is the cataca of the main toponym.

Zanzibar.Island in the Indian Ocean at the eastern shore of Africa. Toponym comes from the Persian, the term "bar" - "shore", "edge" and the ethnonym "Zinj", which is based on the Arab or Persian "Zang", "Zeng" - "black". Zindji is the collective name of the Neosal African Negroid tribes in medieval Muslim literature.

Green Cape. Located on the Peninsula to the same name to the east of the m. Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese, D. Didash Cabo Verde - "Green Cape", because He was the first seaman seamans covered with tropical flora, which sharply contrasted with the sands of the Sahara.

Green Cape Islands. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named by m. Green, against which is located. The transfer of the names of the islands into other languages \u200b\u200bis adopted in the form of translation, in contrast to the name of the state located on them.

Needle.Cape, the most southern tip of Africa. Opened in 1488 by B.Diash and named Cabo Sao Brandao - Cape Sv.Brange, because The opening occurred on the day of this saint. However, soon the name was changed, and Cape was on maps called Agulhas - needle. The word Agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "boom". Modern toponymists are based on the name of the Portuguese metaphorical term Agulha in the value of "peak", the vertex. Based on this, the toponym is comprehended as "Cape of Peaks", and the cause of the nomination served as an acuteness of the rocky cape.

Idi-amin-dada; Edward. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the XIX century. And Edward is named after the Crown Prince of Great Britain. In 1971, President Idi Amin Dada came to power in Uganda, and the lake called him name. To this day, both names have been preserved behind the reservoir.

Kabareg. Waterfall and national park on r. Victoria-Neal in Uganda. The waterfall is open in the XIX century. and named Murchison in honor of Rhrung Merixon, an outstanding geologist, President of the London Royal Geographical Society. In 1962, renamed in honor of the National Hero of Uganda, a fighter with English colonialists Cabareg II.

Calahari. A semi-desert area in South Africa, the toponym is based on the geographical term from the Karaha Gottentotov language - "terrain of sand and stone." The interpretation of the name from the TSSvan language, where Karri-Karri - "" tormented by thirst "or" painful "is currently recognized by toponymists unlikely. Dutch migrants Buras called Bosjeveld semi-desert -" field of barbed shrubs ", which reflected the specifics of vegetation.

Cameroon. Volcanic array in Equatorial Africa. Portuguese Funcharchal Fernan Gomizh, sailing past the coast of Africa in the Equatorial waters of the Guinean Gulf, noticed a high mountain, which he wanted to learn more. He sent the detachment of the bolt deep into the mainland. On the way they met an obstacle in the form of a small river with clean transparent water, which was very by the way, since they needed to replenish the reserves of drinking water. Filling the kegs with delicious water, the sailors saw in the river the abundance of crabs, after which the fun caught the crabs and shrimps and delivered to the ship. And the river flowing in close proximity to the mountain was called Rio Des CamaroEs (CamarweS), which in the rende of Portuguese means "Krabov River". At the same time, the Mount Cameroon also received such a name, and later the state was called. Local residents have long experienced a superstitious fear of the Snow Volcanic Top Cameroon and call it "Maanga Ma Loba, which means" Heavenly Mountain "or" God's Mountain ".

Canary Islands. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Spain. Islands are known to the ancient time under the Latin name insulas Fortunatae. Spaniards who visited the archipelago at the beginning of the XV century, called the Islas Canarias - "Dog Islands". According to one version, the sailors saw a large number of dogs on the shores of the islands, which was the reason for the appearance of toponym. According to another version, the archipelago was called the main island of Gran Canaria. And the island - in the fabulous country, Canary, referred to in medieval European legends.

Canary current.Cold flow in the Atlantic Ocean. Named by Canary about you.

Cape mountains. Located in southern Africa. Named according to the Kapskaya Colony founded by the Dutch, which received the name at the initial location on the M. Good Hope (Gol. Kaar - "Cape"). With the expansion of the colony, the name has spread to the mountains. National etymology connects toponym with Dutch kaar - "Profit", i.e. The colony was allegedly named as the fact that he brought a big income of the treasury. However, there is no scientific evidence to this interpretation.

Carr. The general name of semi-desert plateau and intermountain depression in South Africa. The name is the names of the Gottentot geographic term of Karusa - "dry", "anhydrous" by the boots - "dry", "anhydrous", which clearly reflects the natural conditions.

Kenya. Volcanic array in East Africa. Toponymists see the toponym of the Masai term "Kei-Niya" - "White Mountain", which is associated with the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.

Kilimanjaro. Volcanic array in East Africa. The highest point of the mainland. The origin of the name Kilimanjaro scholars are associated with a distorted Europeans with a word from the Sauhili language, which has the meaning of the "God Hod Mountain", or, according to another version, "a mountain that shines."

Comoros. Archipelago in the Mozambic Strait of the Indian Ocean. The islands are known to the Arabs from the VIII century, they called the Jezair-Al-Romr archipelago, "The Luna Islands", which was associated with the spread of the cult of this shine. The Portuguese borrowed the Arabic name in a distorted form of codes, which he gained on European maps.

Congo; Zaire.River in Equatorial Africa. The mouth of the river opened in the XV century. Portuguese D. Kalka and called him Rio Da Padrao - "River Padran" (Padran - a stone pillar, which put the Portuguese in honor of the discoveries, caring the coat of arms, the name of the king and the discoverer on it). The name did not fix it, and the river was renamed Congo - the so-called the country and the people who lived in it to the coming of Europeans. Locals call the river at different sections of the flow in different ways: nzadi or nzari - "River absorbing all others" or "Great River" (a distorted form of Zaire appeared from this name), Zembere - "Mother of Waters"; Kulla - "Great Water", and in the upper course of Lualaba - "big re".

Red sea. Sea of \u200b\u200bIndian Ocean between Africa and Arabian P-Ova. In ancient Egypt, a great greens was called, later - the Arabian Bay, in the Greeks Pelagos Eritré ("Eritros" - "Red"), from where they got into European languages. There are several versions of the origin of toponym. One of them, the name is given for the red shade of water into the sea. Another version is based on an ancient color orientation among the peoples of the East, where the south was designated in red. Another version of the interpretation of toponym was noted - from the ethnic name of the ancient tribe of Hamarites, which meant "red".

Kruger. National Park in South Africa. Named in honor of Stefanus Kruger - President of the Bristian Republic Transval: Commander of the army of the boots in the war with the UK 1899-1902.

Libyan desert. Located in Sahara. The name is given according to the ancient name of Africa - Libya, which comes from the ethnonym "Luba".

Livingston Waterfalls. Located in the lower river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding researcher of Africa, Scots by origin, D. Livingston.

Limpopo. River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch colonists Buras called the Krokodil River River - "Crocodile River" for the abundance of these reptiles in her waters.

Mauritius. Island in the Indian Ocean. The Dutch, capturing the island, called him Mauritius - Mauritius in honor of the Netherlands Prince Mauritius (Mauritius; Maurice) Orange.

Maghreb. The total Arabic name of the North-West Africa since the days of the early Middle Ages: "Magrib" - West.

Madagascar. Island in the Indian Ocean. Known by Arab Morakhodam as Jesira Al-Komr - "Moon Island", which is associated with the cult of this shine. In the XVI century Portuguese called SAO Lourenzo Island - St. Lorence, because They saw the land of Madagascar on the day of this saint. The French, won the island in the XIX century, called it ILE Dauphine - "Dofina Island" (i.e. the heir to the throne). Malagasy residents call their homeland Nossi Damba - "The Island of the Wild Vepray" or Tani-Be - "Great". Toponym Madagascar in a distorted form Madeigaskar first meets Marko Polo (xiii century). According to scientists, on its basis - the ethnic name of Malagasi, as is now called the inhabitants of the island.

Madeira. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because It was indeed covered with forests, later completely cut down. The earliest names of the archipelago: Carthaginian Al-Agnam - Khod Island (for the abundance of these animals), at the Romans Insulae Purpurinae - "Purpur Islands" (for paint mined there).

Man'yara. National Park in Tanzania. Named Manyara, around which is located. Etymology of Hydronism is unknown.

Maskarensky O-Wa.Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened in the XVI century. Portuguese expedition to Pedra di Mashkarenyasha (Maschenas) and named in his honor.

Mobutu-seed seed. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the XIX century. The British and named Albert in honor of the wife of Queen Victoria. In 1973, he was renamed in honor of the president of Zaire Mobutu SCS SEO. Locals are called the MButan Nzighe reservoir - the "reservoir of the dead shells" for the abundance of mollusks on the shores, or NYASA - the geographical term "lake" in the Languages \u200b\u200bof the bow. Perhaps one of these, names will become new official, which is associated with the death of President Mobutu.

Mozambique Strait. Shares Africa and about. Madagascar. Named by the state Mozambique. A similar origin of the title of warm Mozambique flow in the Indian Ocean.

Nakuru. National Park in Kenya. Named Nakuru, within which it was created. Etymology of Hydronism is unknown.

Namib. Desert in the south-west of Africa. There are two versions of the origin of toponym from the languages \u200b\u200bof the Gottentot tribes. For one of them, NAMIB - "shield"; On the other, "what they bypass" (dangerous, lifeless). The second version of the interpretation reflects the complexity of natural conditions in the desert,

Nasser. Reservoir on r. Neal in Egypt. Named in honor of the President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser, during the reign of which the reservoir was created and the Asuan dam was built.

NGORONORO. Reserve in Tanzania. Named about LV. NGoronoro, in the crater of which is located. Etymology is unknown.

Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distorted portuguese and other Europeans by the Berbery name of the River N "Egypt -" River ". In different parts of the flow, there are various names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Joliba -" Greater Water "; on average and Nizhny Quara -" River ", Issa Bari - "Great River"; Mayo - "River". An explanation of the name from the word Niger in the meaning of the "black" from European languages. Modern toponymists consider incorrect.

Nile. The longest river Africa and the whole world. The oldest form of the name of the Aur River is "hiding" (i.e., with an unknown source). Egyptians called her Hapi in honor of God fertility and crop. Modern Arabs call the El Bahr River - "River". Toponym Nile in the form of naulos is first found in the ancient Greeks. Romans borrowed it as nilus. On one of the versions, the toponym is based on the ancient term "Nazal" - "River", changed by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed the word LIL in the Libyan tribes - "water", distorting it in Nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.

Nubian desert. Located in the northeast of Africa. Named according to the historical region of Nubia, located between the Nile Rights. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word "Nuba" - "Gold". In antiquity there were the largest mines here, from where the gold was received to the Palace of Pharaoh.

Nyasa; Malawi. Lake in East Africa. Toponym formed by the popular geographical term from the languages \u200b\u200bof the Nyasa - "Lake" bow. In the Republic of Malawi, Lake officially referred to Malawi on the main people of this country.

Orange. River in South Africa. Gottentotes called her Kai Garib - a large river, the Dutch migrants of the Groat River Bura with the same meaning. At all times, people often gave names to objects (rivers, lakes) in the color of water or shore. But the name of the orange river to the color does not have any relationship. Such a name she was given by immigrants from the Netherlands (Holland) Bura in honor of the princes of the Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. From someone's easy hand, and perhaps the name of the transformation, the name Orange turned into an orange.

Principe. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened in the XV century. Portuguese expedition and named PRINCIPI - "first", because He was the first exposed this expedition to the island. According to another version - "Prince".

Reunion. Island in the Indian Ocean. Named at the end of the XVIII century, the French Reunion is "compound", because The inhabitants of the island decided to unite with about. Mauritius in a single administrative district. The name has changed repeatedly: in the XVI century. Portuguese Santa Apollonia (in honor of St. Apollonia), in the XIX century. - Bonapart (in honor of Napoleon), Ile de Burbon - "Bourbon Island" (in honor of the kings dynasty). From 1848 - again Reunion.

Ruvenzori. Mountain array in East Africa. The height of the mountains was reflected in their name: in local languages \u200b\u200ba bow of Ruwenzori - "Lord of the Clouds". By the name of the mountains are called the National Park in Uganda.

Savannah. Borrowed by the Spaniards at the end of the XV century. From the Language of Caribbean Indians (or Aravakov), where Sabana is "High-retarded plain", "open space". The general name of the zonal type of landscape.

Sao Tome. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened by Portuguese on St. Tome's Day (Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.

Sahara. Desert in North Africa. The name is formed by the Arabic geographical term "sugar" - "desert" in the form of a plural, i.e. Sugar - "Desert". According to philologists, the term is based on the Arab "Ashar" - "reddish", which reflects the dominant color and the color of the desert.

Sahel. The strip of semi-desert and deserted savannah in North Africa. The name is assigned to Arabs in the Middle Ages; "Sahel" - "shore", "edge", "border", or rather - "shore of the desert".

Saint Helena Island. Located in the Atlantic Ocean. Opened by Portuguese on the day of St. Elena and named in her honor. The worldwide fame received as a place of reference and death of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Seychelles. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Named in the XVIII century. French in honor of the Minister of Finance Moro de Setwege (Seychelles)

Senegal. River in West Africa. According to one version, the toponym is based on the name of the Berber tribe of Senega, go Santa. Other toponymists believe that the name of the ancient city of Senegana passed on the river. In the past, Toponym was explained as "shipping", however, due to the lack of evidence, this option does not consider modern scientists.

Serengeti.National Park in Tanzania. Named the Serengeti Plateau, within which it is located. The toponym is based on the term from the language of Masaev Serenget - "Spacious", which fully corresponds to geographical realities - extensive savannam on the territory of the plateau.

Socotra. Island in the Indian Ocean. The name of the island was given by Indian nauticals: Dviz Sakhadar - "Island of the foreclosure of good luck." Later is the name, reflecting the value of the island as an essential nodal point on the ancient seaways from India Pa West, was transformed under the influence of Arabic in Socotra.