Physical Map Of Africa With Rivers, Mountains And Deserts (Blank)

This article discusses some of the landforms on the African continent. Great rivers such as the Nile and beautiful deserts such as the Kalahari are found here in Africa. Ever heard of the Victoria Falls? Take a trip to Africa to find out more.

PHYSICAL MAP OF AFRICA WITH RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, AND DESERTS

Blank Physical Map Of Africa With Rivers Mountain And Desert

LIST OF RIVERS IN AFRICA MAP BY LENGTH

  • Nile River
    • Length: 6,650 km (4,132mi)
    • Coordinates: 18.4500° N, 33.3833° E

The longest river flowing through the continent of Africa is the Nile River. It is also the longest river in the world with its length put at 6,650 km (4,132mi). The river flows northwards from Burundi through Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. The coordinates of River Nile is 18.4500° N, 33.3833° E. It is a famous international river due to it being the longest in the world. The river is formed by three major tributaries, the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Atbara. River Nile is acknowledged as Egypt’s lifeblood since most of the country’s population live in the Nile valley.

  • River Congo
    • Length: 4,700 km (2,922 mi)
    • Coordinates: 6.0792° S, 12.4500° E

The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa and the deepest in the world. The river is measured to reach depths in excess of 220 m (720 feet). The Congo is the second largest river in the world based on the volume of water discharged and ninth longest in World with its length estimated to be 4,700 km (2,922 mi). The River Congo flows through African countries such as Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo. The River’s sources are found in the mountains and highlands of the East African Rift, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru. The coordinates of River Congo are as follows; 6.0792° S, 12.4500° E. The river as well as its tributaries flow through the Congo rainforest, the second largest rainforest area in the world. The Congo River is a largest potential source of hydroelectric power on the African continent.

  • River Niger
    • Length: 4,200 km (2,611 mi)
    • Coordinates: 05°19′34″N 06°28′15″E / 5.32611°N 6.47083°E

The third longest river in Africa is the River Niger. It is the major river of Western Africa and the 11th longest in the whole world. The river extends for as long as 4,200 km (2,611 mi). The Niger river flows through countries such as; Algeria, Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. The main tributary of the River Niger is the Benue River. Coordinates of River Niger are 05°19′34″N 06°28′15″E / 5.32611°N 6.47083°E. The River Niger floods yearly starting in the month of September and peaks in November. The river is famous for its unique route as the river runs away from the sea into the Sahara Desert and then takes a sharp right turn near the ancient city of Timbuktu.

  • River Zambezi
    • Length: 2,693 km (1,673 mi)
    • Coordinates: 18.8333° S, 36.2833°E

River Zambezi is the fourth longest of all rivers in Africa. It is the largest of all rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of the basin of the Zambezi river is 1,390,000 square kilometers and the depth is 2,693 km (1,673 mi). The river flows through the following countries; Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The river’s coordinates are as follows: 18.8333° S, 36.2833°E. The River Zambezi is known for its several waterfalls including the amazing Victoria Falls, which is one of Africa’s most popular sightseeing spots. Others waterfalls associated with River Zambezi include Ngonye Falls in Western Zambia and Chavuma Falls on the border of Angola and Zambia.

  • River Ubangi
    • Length: 2,270 km (1,410)
    • Coordinates: 0°30′S 17°42′E / 0.500°S 17.700°E

The fifth longest river in Africa is the Ubangi River. It has a length of 2,270 km (1,410) and is a major tributary of the Congo River in equatorial Africa. The Ubangi River is formed at the junction of the Uele and Bomu rivers. The river then flows westward and southward through countries such as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Congo. The coordinates of the Ubangi River are 0°30′S 17°42′E / 0.500°S 17.700°E. The Ubangi River was used to determine the boundary between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

  • River Kasai
    • Length: 2,153 km (1,338 mi)
    • Coordinates: 10.9603° S, 19.3156° E

The 6th longest river in Africa is the Kasai River. The length of the Kasai is 2,153 km (1,338 mi). The Kasai is a tributary of the Congo River and begins in Angola and serves as the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Coordinates of the Kasai River are; 10.9603° S, 19.3156° E.

  • River Orange
    • Length: 2,092 km (1,300 mi)
    • Coordinates: 28.6333° S, 16.4500° E

The 7th longest river in Africa with a length of 2,092 km (1,300 mi) is the River Orange. It is the longest river in Southern Africa. The river rises in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. The Coordinates of the Orange River are; 28.6333° S, 16.4500° E. The Orange River is used to determine part of the international borders between South Africa and Namibia and between South Africa and Lesotho.

  • River Limpopo
    • Length: 1,800 km (1,118 mi)
    • Coordinates: 25.1667° S, 33.5833° E

The 8th longest river in Africa is the Limpopo River. The length of the Limpopo River is 1,800 km (1,118 mi). The river is located in southeast Africa and rises as the Krokodil (Crocodile) River in the Witwatersrand South Africa and flows through Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe to the Indian Ocean. Coordinates of this river are; 25.1667° S, 33.5833° E.

  • River Senegal
    • Length: 1,600 km (1,020 mi)
    • Coordinates: 15.7881° N, 16.5289° W

The 9th longest river in Africa is the River Senegal. It is the longest river in West Africa and covers 1,600 km (1,020 mi). The river is formed by the coming together of the Bafing and Bakoy rivers in Mali and flows generally northwestward along Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The Coordinates of River Senegal are; 15.7881° N, 16.5289° W.

Blank Physical Map Of Africa With Rivers Mountains And Desert

NAMES OF MOUNTAINS RANGES IN AFRICA MAP

  • Mount Kilimanjaro
    • Height: 5,895 meters

The highest mountain in Africa is Kilimanjaro. It is 5,895 meters high. It is located in Tanzania, East Africa.

  • Mount Kenya
    • Height: 5,195 meters

Mount Kenya located in East Africa, precisely Kenya is the second highest mountain on the African continent. The height is 5,195 meters.

  • Mount Stanley
    • Height: 5,119 meters

Mount Stanley holds the title of a third highest mountain located in Africa. It stands at a height of 5,119 meters and is located in Congo / Uganda

  • Mount Speke
    • Height: 4,890 meters

Mount Speke standing at a height of 4,890 meters is located in Congo / Uganda

  • Mount Baker
    • Height: 4,844 meters

Mount Baker stands at 4,844 meters. It is located in Uganda.

  • Mount Emin
    • Height: 4,798

The Emin Mountain stands at an impressive 4,798 meters and its located in Congo/Uganda.

  • Mount Gessi
    • Height: 4,715 meters

Mount Gessi also found in Congo/Uganda, stands at a height of 4,715 meters.

  • Mount Luigi Di Savoia
    • Height: 4,627 meters

Mount Luigi Savoia is found within Congo/Uganda. Its height is put at 4,627 meters.

  • Mount Meru
    • Height: 4,566 meters

The Mount Meru located in Tanzania stands at 4,566 meters.

  • Mount Ras Dejen
    • Height: 4,533 meters

The Ras Dejen is found in Ethiopia. The Mountain stands at a height of 4,533 meters.

Still On The Physical Map Of Africa With Rivers And Mountains And Desert

AFRICAN DESERTS MAP

The continent of Africa is home to the largest desert in the world, the Sahara.

  • Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is ever changing, shrinking and growing in size. Satellite images taken in the early 1980s show that the Sahara’s southern edge is expanding into the Sahel, a dry band that separates the desert from the Savanna. However, in the mid-1980s this area was seen to grow green and wet again. The desert has been a common trade route for many centuries, caravans traveled through the Sahara spending days and weeks traversing the immense landscape. The presence of several desert oases here made trade possible between the ports of North African and the southern Savannah markets. It is estimated that around 4 million people or so that dwell in the Sahara, mostly in Mauritania, Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt. Interestingly, there is an impressive array of animal life including animals such as; gerbil, jerboa, cape hare, desert hedgehog, Barbary sheep, oryx, gazelle, deer, wild ass, baboon, hyena, jackal, sand fox, weasel, and mongoose. There are more than 300 bird species in the Sahara Desert.

  • Namib Desert

The Namib desert is another desert in Africa. The sand dunes found in the Namib Desert are the highest dunes on Earth. Although the Sahara is the largest desert in the world, the Namib desert is considered to be the oldest desert, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 80 million years. The name Namib in the Nama language means “vast”, and this is by no means an exaggeration. The Namib-Naukluft Park is the largest conservation area in all of Namibia. It spans a length of 50,000 kilometers and is one of the largest in the world. Quite interestingly, there are animals, insects, and plants living in this beautiful, yet mostly inhospitable area of the world. One of the most unusual inhabitants of the Namib desert is the Welwitschia, it is a shrub-like plant that grows just two long, strap-shaped leaves continuously throughout its lifetime. It is believed that these plants live very long, possibly living for 1000 years or more.

  • Kalahari Desert

This geological wonder known as the Kalahari is part of the huge sand basin that stretches from the Orange River up to Angola, in the west to Namibia and in the east to Zimbabwe. Sand masses of wind-shaped sand that are commonly seen in the Kalahari landscape were created by the erosion of soft stone formations. Largely due to vegetation in the area, the dunes were stabilized 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Surprisingly, the grasses, thorny shrubs, and Acacia trees found in the Kalahari can survive long drought periods of more than 10 months a year. Some scientists do not consider the Kalahari as a true desert because some parts of the desert receive more than 10 inches of rain annually. Animals that survive in the Kalahari Desert region include brown hyena, lion, meerkat, several species of antelope, and many types of birds and reptiles.

BRIEF HISTORY OF AFRICA

Africa holds the impressive honor of being the second largest continent on the planet. It is also the second most populous behind Asia in both cases. It is the mother continent as the human species is believed to have evolved on the continent. The first known civilization in Africa is believed to have started in Egypt located in Africa. The colonization of Africa by European powers gave rise to the present borders of countries we have now. Also, over 10 million Africans were exported to other lands during the era of the slave trade that spanned from the 16th century to the 19th. Africa is beautiful and blessed with an abundance of both human and natural resources.

FACTS ABOUT BLANK PHYSICAL MAP OF AFRICA WITH RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, AND DESERTS

  • The Nile River is the longest river in the world. The Nile with a length of 4,132 miles is located in Africa.
  • The Sahara Desert located in Africa is the world’s largest desert. The Sahara is almost the size of the United States.
  • The largest waterfall in Africa is the Victoria Falls. The Victoria falls is 355 feet high and one mile wide.
  • The Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the continent. It stands at over 19,300 feet, which is so tall that glaciers can be found at its summit even though the mountain is near the equator.
  • A plateau called Witwatersrand located in South Africa has produced half of the gold ever mined on the planet Earth.

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Conclusion On The Blank Physical Map Of Africa With Rivers Mountains And Desert

The African continent features some beautiful landforms that shape the landscape of the continent. The continent is home to the largest desert as well as the longest river in the world.

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