Editing Africa (section)

== Geography ==

Africa is surrounded by seas and oceans and connected to Asia through the Sinai region. The continent extends from the Mediterranean coast in the north to the Cape region in the south, and from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean islands in the east.

The continent contains broad plateaus, deserts, mountain ranges, rift valleys, river basins, lakes, rainforests, savannas, wetlands, and coastlines. Major geographic features include the [[Sahara]], the [[Sahel]], the [[Nile]], the [[Congo River]], the [[Niger River]], the [[Zambezi]], the [[Kalahari Desert]], the [[Namib Desert]], the [[Ethiopian Highlands]], the [[Atlas Mountains]], the [[Great Rift Valley]], the [[Congo Basin]], and the island of [[Madagascar]].

Africa's coastline is less indented than that of some other continents. This affected the development of natural harbors in some regions, although major ports developed at cities such as Alexandria, Casablanca, Dakar, Lagos, Abidjan, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Cape Town, Luanda, and Monrovia.

=== African plate ===

Most of Africa lies on the African Plate, a major tectonic plate that includes the continental landmass and surrounding oceanic crust. The plate interacts with the Eurasian Plate to the north, the Arabian Plate to the northeast, and other plates along oceanic boundaries.

The East African Rift is one of the continent's most important tectonic features. It runs through eastern Africa and is associated with volcanism, earthquakes, highlands, rift lakes, and long-term geological separation. Major lakes in or near rift systems include Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Lake Turkana, and others.

Volcanic regions are found in East Africa, the Horn of Africa, Cameroon, the Canary Islands, and several island territories. The continent also contains old stable cratons that preserve some of the oldest rocks on Earth.

=== Climate ===

Africa has a wide range of climates. The equator crosses central Africa, creating tropical zones with high rainfall in forested regions. The Sahara in the north is the world's largest hot desert. The Namib and Kalahari dominate parts of southwestern and southern Africa. Mediterranean climates occur in parts of North Africa and the Cape region.

The Sahel forms a semi-arid belt south of the Sahara. It is highly sensitive to rainfall changes, drought, land use, and political instability. Savannas cover large parts of eastern, western, central, and southern Africa, supporting mixed systems of farming, herding, wildlife, and settlement.

Rainfall patterns vary by region. Some areas depend on monsoon systems, while others receive rainfall from coastal winds, equatorial convergence zones, or seasonal shifts. Droughts and floods are recurring hazards in many parts of the continent.

=== Climate change ===

Africa is highly exposed to climate change because many communities depend on rain-fed agriculture, pastoralism, fisheries, and local water systems. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall, drought, desertification, coastal erosion, and extreme weather have affected food security, migration, infrastructure, and health.

The effects vary by region. The Sahel faces pressure from drought and land degradation. Low-lying coastal cities face flooding and erosion. Southern Africa has experienced severe drought cycles. East Africa has faced both drought and flood events. Island states and coastal territories are vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm damage.

Climate adaptation has become a major policy issue for African governments, the African Union, regional bodies, and international partners. It includes water management, drought-resistant agriculture, coastal protection, renewable energy, early warning systems, and urban planning.

=== Ecology and biodiversity ===

Africa contains many ecological zones and high levels of biodiversity. The Congo Basin is one of the world's largest tropical rainforest regions. East and Southern Africa contain savannas known for large mammals and seasonal migrations. Madagascar has many endemic species due to its long isolation.

Important habitats include tropical rainforest, mangroves, montane forests, savannas, deserts, wetlands, coral reefs, lakes, and river systems. The continent contains major conservation areas, national parks, and transboundary wildlife reserves.

Biodiversity is affected by habitat loss, poaching, illegal wildlife trade, climate change, mining, agriculture, urban growth, and conflict. Conservation efforts often involve governments, local communities, international organizations, and scientific institutions.

=== Fauna ===

Africa is known for large mammals, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, gorillas, chimpanzees, wildebeest, antelopes, and many other species. The continent also contains many bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and insect species.

Wildlife distribution depends on habitat. Rainforest species are common in central Africa, while savanna species are prominent in eastern and southern Africa. Desert-adapted species live in the Sahara, Namib, and Kalahari. Coastal and marine environments support fish, turtles, seabirds, coral systems, and marine mammals.

Wildlife has cultural, ecological, scientific, and economic importance. It supports tourism in some countries and plays a role in local traditions and livelihoods. At the same time, human-wildlife conflict remains a problem in areas where settlement and agriculture overlap with wildlife ranges.

=== Environmental issues ===

Africa faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, water scarcity, pollution, illegal mining, overfishing, biodiversity loss, and pressure from rapid urban growth. These issues are often linked to poverty, weak infrastructure, governance problems, conflict, and global demand for minerals, timber, agricultural products, and energy.

The Tanoan period added a separate layer of environmental damage in several regions. Facilities connected to the [[Tanoa Einsatzgruppen]] were often built for extraction, detention, military control, or transport instead of local development. Forced labor projects, abandoned barracks, mining zones, and camp sites left behind polluted land, damaged roads, and unrecorded burial sites in some areas.

Post-2024 investigations in former Tanoan-influenced territories included environmental surveys, camp mapping, records recovery, and assessment of damage caused by military and forced labor infrastructure. These processes became part of broader reconstruction efforts in affected African regions.