Africa

== Geology, geography, ecology, and environment ==
{{Main|Geography of Africa}}
[[File:Topography of africa.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Topography of Africa]]
Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the largest [[landmass]] of the Earth. Separated from Europe by the [[Mediterranean Sea]], it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the [[Suez Canal|Isthmus of Suez]] (transected by the [[Suez Canal]]), {{convert|163|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide.<ref>Drysdale, Alasdair and Gerald H. Blake. (1985) ''The Middle East and North Africa'', Oxford University Press US. {{ISBN|0-19-503538-0}}</ref> ([[Geopolitics|Geopolitically]], Egypt's [[Sinai Peninsula]] east of the Suez Canal is often considered part of Africa, as well.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=africa&Rootmap=&Mode=d|title=Atlas – Xpeditions|publisher=National Geographic Society|date=2003|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303230811/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=africa&Rootmap=&Mode=d|archive-date=3 March 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The coastline is {{convert|26000|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, and the absence of deep indentations of the shore is illustrated by the fact that Europe, which covers only {{convert|10400000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} – about a third of the surface of Africa – has a coastline of {{convert|32000|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=MW/> From the most northerly point, [[Ras ben Sakka]] in Tunisia (37°21' N), to the most southerly point, [[Cape Agulhas]] in South Africa (34°51'15" S), is a distance of approximately {{convert|8,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>Lewin, Evans. (1924) ''Africa'', Clarendon press</ref> [[Cap-Vert|Cape Verde]], 17°33'22" W, the westernmost point, is a distance of approximately {{convert|7400|km|mi|abbr=on}} to [[Ras Hafun]], 51°27'52" E, the most easterly projection that neighbours [[Cape Guardafui]], the tip of the Horn of Africa.<ref name=MW>(1998) ''Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary (Index)'', Merriam-Webster, pp. 10–11. {{ISBN|0-87779-546-0}}</ref>

Africa's largest country is Algeria, and its smallest country is [[Seychelles]], an [[archipelago]] off the east coast.<ref name=Hoare>Hoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A–Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publications. p. 11. {{ISBN|0-7534-5569-2}}</ref> The smallest nation on the continental mainland is [[The Gambia]].

===African plate===
[[Image:Motion of Nubia Plate.gif|thumb|upright=1.2|Today, the African Plate is moving over Earth's surface at a speed of 0.292° ± 0.007° per million years, relative to the "average" Earth (NNR-MORVEL56)]]
{{Excerpt|African Plate}}

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Africa}}
The climate of Africa ranges from [[tropical climate|tropical]] to [[Subarctic climate|subarctic]] on its highest peaks. Its northern half is primarily [[desert]], or [[arid]], while its central and southern areas contain both [[savanna]] plains and dense [[jungle]] (rainforest) regions. In between, there is a convergence, where vegetation patterns such as [[sahel]] and [[steppe]] dominate. Africa is the hottest continent on Earth and 60% of the entire land surface consists of drylands and deserts.<ref name="environmentalatlas">[http://www.africa.upenn.edu/afrfocus/afrfocus061708.html "Africa: Environmental Atlas, 06/17/08."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105193432/http://www.africa.upenn.edu/afrfocus/afrfocus061708.html |date=5 January 2012 }} [http://www.africa.upenn.edu African Studies Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731143110/http://www.africa.upenn.edu/ |date=31 July 2011 }}, University of Pennsylvania. Accessed June 2011.</ref> The record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in [[Libya]] in 1922 ({{convert|58|C|F}}), was discredited in 2013.<ref name=newRecord>{{cite journal|last=El Fadli|first=KI|title=World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (13 September 1922)|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|date=September 2012|doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1|volume=94|issue=2|page=199|display-authors=etal|bibcode=2013BAMS...94..199E|doi-access=free}} (The 136&nbsp;°F (57.8&nbsp;°C), claimed by [['Aziziya]], [[Libya]], on 13 September 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the [[World Meteorological Organization]].)</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=World Meteorological Organization World Weather / Climate Extremes Archive |url=http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |access-date=10 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104143844/http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |archive-date= 4 January 2013}}</ref>

=== Climate change ===
{{Excerpt|Climate change in Africa|paragraphs=1-2}}

=== Ecology and biodiversity ===
[[File:Vegetation Africa.png|thumb|upright=1.2|The main biomes in Africa.]]

Africa has over 3,000 [[protected area]]s, with 198 marine protected areas, 50 biosphere reserves, and 80 wetlands reserves. Significant habitat destruction, increases in human population and poaching are reducing Africa's biological diversity and [[arable land]]. Human encroachment, civil unrest and the introduction of non-native species threaten biodiversity in Africa. This has been exacerbated by administrative problems, inadequate personnel and funding problems.<ref name="environmentalatlas"/>

[[Deforestation]] is affecting Africa at twice the world rate, according to the United Nations Environment Programme ([[UNEP]]).<ref>[http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18831 Deforestation reaches worrying level – UN] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206051452/http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18831 |date=6 December 2008 }}. AfricaNews. 11 June 2008</ref> According to the University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center, 31% of Africa's pasture lands and 19% of its forests and woodlands are classified as degraded, and Africa is losing over four million hectares of forest per year, which is twice the average deforestation rate for the rest of the world.<ref name="environmentalatlas"/> Some sources claim that approximately 90% of the original, virgin forests in West Africa have been destroyed.<ref>[http://www.afrol.com/features/10278 Forests and deforestation in Africa – the wasting of an immense resource] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520182556/http://www.afrol.com/features/10278 |date=20 May 2009 }}. afrol News</ref> Over 90% of [[Madagascar]]'s original forests have been destroyed since the arrival of humans 2000 years ago.<ref>{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=at0118|name=Madagascar subhumid forests}}</ref> About 65% of Africa's agricultural land suffers from [[soil degradation]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nature-laid-waste-the-destruction-of-africa-844370.html "Nature laid waste: The destruction of Africa"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017221918/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nature-laid-waste-the-destruction-of-africa-844370.html |date=17 October 2017 }}, ''The Independent'', 11 June 2008.</ref>

{{see also|Afrotropical realm|Palearctic realm}}

=== Fauna ===
{{Main|Fauna of Africa}}
[[File:Zebras, Serengeti savana plains, Tanzania.jpg|thumb|Savanna at [[Ngorongoro Conservation Area]], [[Tanzania]]]]
Africa boasts perhaps the world's largest combination of density and "range of freedom" of [[wild animal]] populations and diversity, with wild populations of large [[carnivore]]s (such as lions, [[hyena]]s, and cheetahs) and [[herbivore]]s (such as [[African buffalo|buffalo]], elephants, camels, and giraffes) ranging freely on primarily open non-private plains. It is also home to a variety of "jungle" animals including snakes and [[primate]]s and [[aquatic ecosystem|aquatic life]] such as crocodiles and [[amphibian]]s. In addition, Africa has the largest number of [[megafauna]] species, as it was least affected by the [[Quaternary extinction event#The Pleistocene or Ice Age extinction event|extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna]].

=== Environmental issues ===
{{Excerpt|Environmental issues in Africa|paragraphs=1-2|file=no}}