Africa. Relief. Minerals.

1. Study the altitude scale on the map of Africa (Fig. 128) and determine the altitude of the part lying north of the Equator and of that lying south of the   Equator.
2. Do lowlands and mountains with altitudes above 2,000 me­tres occupy a large area?

Relief. Africa stands considerably higher above sea level than Europe but lower than Asia. The continent is margined in many places by steep cliffs, which makes access to the interior difficult.
Its surface is much the same everywhere. Unlike Europe and Asia, tall mountains and lowlands are few. Africa consists mainly of a num­ber of huge plateaus of very ancient origin. They stretch for hundreds of kilometres, rising in ledges one above the other. In the interior the plateaus are somewhat lower, vast plains taking their places.
Most elevated are the southern and eastern portions of the conti­nent. The South African Plateau is bordered on its eastern side by the ancient Drakensberg Mountains whose steep cliffs rise in ledges above the coastline. The eastern portion of the conti­nent consists of the vast East African Plateau. The Abyssinian Highlands covered with coulees rise to the north. They consist of a series of high plateaus, large and small, with flat or slightly hilly surfaces (so-called 'mesas') separat­ed by deep gorges. Here and there mountain peaks rise above the plateaus.

Fig. 128. Africa: Relief and minerals.

Across the plateaus of Eastern Africa runs a series of-rift belts in a southern to northern direction, forming a number of long and narrow fissures with steep parallel walls (the largest is the Eastern Rift Valley; see Fig. 128). The sunken parts are often occupied by large and deep lakes. The belt in the north continues through the Red Sea. The breaking-up and displacement of layers of rock inside the earth is still going on in this region and for this reason earthquakes of great violence occur.
Parallel to the rifts rise extinct and active volcanoes. The largest is Kilimanjaro, the loftiest peak of Africa, rising to a height of 5,895 metres (Fig. 129).
The northern and western portions of Africa are less elevated. Here occur lowlands and depressions, close to the coasts usually and often below sea level.
In the very north of Africa rise the At1as Mountains, part of the young mountain system of Europe. This is the only young mountain range in Africa.
Minerals. Africa is almost everywhere composed of igneous rocks. It is rich in metals of all kinds, but comparatively poor in coal.

Fig. 129. Kilimanjaro. The summit of this volcanic cone is covered with perennial snow.

South Africa is prominent for its gold deposits. It has also vast depo­sits of diamonds. There is iron ore and coal as well. In Central Africa there are diamonds, copper, tin and uranium. The latter metal is used by foreign capitalists to produce atomic bombs. In the Atlas Mountains there is iron ore and phosphorites (the latter are used in making fertilizers). In North and West Africa there is oil.
The greater part of the mineral resources of Africa is in the hands of European and American capitalists. The natives are forced to work in the mines under very hard conditions.
Questions and Assignments.

• Study the physical map and determine which  are higher:
  the Atlas Mountains,   Drakensbergs or Abyssinian Highlands.
• Trace the rift belts, first on the  map  in the textbook
  (Fig. 128) and next on the physical map of the Atlas.
• Mark on the outline map the African mountain ranges you
  have studied. Use symbols to mark the mineral deposits.