地理百科英语版
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3 Mountains of Africa 3.1 Kilimanjaro: Kilimanjaro Mountain is in NE Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. The highest mountain in Africa, it is an extinct volcano with twin peaks joined by a broad saddle. Coffee is grown on the immensely cultivated S slopes. 4 Human geography of Africa 4.1 Populations As of 2003, about 841 million people live in Africa. Of these, about 500 million live south of the Sahara. Almost three quarters of Africa’s population is descended from native African races. About 450 million are black Africans, or Negroes. The others, Pygmies and Khoisan peoples, are not very numerous. The vast majority of these people live south of the Sahara. Most of the population of northern Africa is made up of Arabs (approximately 80 million) and Berbers (approximately 20 million). About 4.5 million people of European ancestry live on the continent, mostly in northern and southern Africa. About 2.5 million people of Madagascar are considered Asian. Asians who live on the mainland are mostly from the country of India, number about 1 million, and live mostly in southern and eastern Africa. Most of the remaining people of Africa are of missed ancestry. 4.2 lifestyles About 34% (220 million) of Africa’s population lives in cities, suburbs, and large towns. However, this number is increasing rapidly. Still, the vast majority of Africans live in villages in rural areas. Most of these people raise crops and livestock. Village people live in small houses that are built according to the environment and tradition. For example, flat-roofed adobe houses are common in northern Africa. While popular southern houses have walls of sundries mud and sloping roofs covered by straws, grass, or leaves. Some rural people are nomadic herders or hunter /gatherers. The traditional clothing of Africans varies greatly. Northern people wear long, loose-fitting robes or shirts, turbans or skullcaps (men), and long, lightweight dresses and cloaks or shawls (women). In southern Africa traditional clothing includes colorful robes, baggy trousers, turbans, and simple cloaks (men) and long single-piece wrapped dresses (women). Sandals and bare feet are favored over shoes. In all urban areas, western-style clothing is also popular. The customary diet of Africans varies by region. In northern Africa, for example, foods make from grains, such as flat breads, are basic. South of the Sahara, people traditionally eat one large meal a day which typically includes rice, porridge, or yams. Most Africans do not eat meat often. 4.3 Languages Over 800 different languages are spoken in Africa. Of these, the most widespread are the Bantu, Arabic, Berber, and European languages (English, Afrikaans, French, and Portuguese). Most Africans living south of the Sahara speak one or more Black African languages. Most of these languages belong to the Niger-Kordofanian family. Besides Bantu languages, this family includes Akan, Ibo, and Yoruba. Languages from other families include Dinka and Masai. 4.4 Educations Elementary and secondary education is limited in most of Africa. Rapid population growth and poverty are problems for governments trying to build enough schools, and traditional lifestyles make attracting some people to public schools difficult. In Africa north of the Sahara, about a third of the people can read and write. South of the Sahara the rate is about 25 percent. In urban areas the chances for a good education are much better than in the countryside. All major cities in Africa have at least one college or university. 4.5 Religious beliefs: Traditional local religions are the most widely practiced in Africa today with about 200 million followers. There are hundreds of these religions practiced throughout the continent. In general the followers of these religions believe in many gods, although they recognize one god to be supreme. Most also include some form of ancestor worship. The next most widely practiced religions are Islam and Christianity. Because Islam is so strong in north African countries, they have made it their official religion. Christianity is widespread in sub-Sahara Africa. In some areas Africans have combined it with traditional beliefs. 5 Cites of Africa 5.1 Cape Town This city is located in southernmost Africa near the Cape of Good Hope. It is considered the second largest city of South Africa. 5.2 Johannesburg Beneath this city lie many gold mines, the metal that made this South Africa’s most important city. It is considered the largest city in South Africa. 5.3 Alexandria This is the second largest city and most important port of Egypt. It is famous for its place in the ancient history of Egypt and the Roman Empire. 5.4 Kinshasa Located along the south bank of the Congo River, this is the largest city of the central African country of Zaire. It is also Zaire’s capital. 5.5 Addis Ababa This is the largest city and the capital of Ethiopia. It is famous for its great open-air market, the Mercato, and as an international convention
