Economic and geographical characteristics of tropical Africa. Subregions of Northern and Tropical Africa. South Africa - Knowledge Hypermarket. and South-West Asia - what do they have in common?

Africa is the second largest continent after Eurasia, washed by the Mediterranean Sea from the north, the Red Sea from the northeast, Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south. Africa is also the name given to the part of the world consisting of the continent of Africa and adjacent islands. Africa has an area of ​​29.2 million km², with islands about 30.3 million km², thus covering 6% of the total surface area of ​​the Earth and 20.4% of the land surface. Africa is home to 55 states, 5 unrecognized states and 5 dependent territories (islands).

General economic geographical characteristics African countries

A peculiarity of the geographical location of many countries in the region is the lack of access to the sea. At the same time, in countries facing the ocean, the coastline is poorly indented, which is unfavorable for the construction of large ports.
Africa is exceptionally rich in natural resources. The reserves of mineral raw materials are especially large - manganese ores, chromites, bauxites, etc. There are fuel raw materials in depressions and coastal areas. Oil and gas are produced in North and West Africa (Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Libya). Enormous reserves of cobalt and copper ores are concentrated in Zambia and the DRC; manganese ores are mined in South Africa and Zimbabwe; platinum, iron ores and gold - in South Africa; diamonds - in Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana; phosphorites - in Morocco, Tunisia; uranium - in Niger, Namibia.
Africa has quite large land resources, but soil erosion has become catastrophic due to improper cultivation. Water resources distributed extremely unevenly across Africa. Forests occupy about 10% of the territory, but as a result of predatory destruction their area is rapidly declining.
Africa has the highest rate of natural population growth. The natural increase in many countries exceeds 30 people per 1000 inhabitants per year. There remains a high proportion of children (50%) and a small proportion of older people (about 5%).
African countries have not yet managed to change the colonial type of sectoral and territorial structure of the economy, although the rate of economic growth has accelerated somewhat. The colonial type of sectoral structure of the economy is characterized by the predominance of low-commodity, consumer Agriculture, weak development of the manufacturing industry, lagging development of transport. African countries have achieved the greatest success in the mining industry. In the extraction of many minerals, Africa holds a leading and sometimes monopoly place in the world (in the extraction of gold, diamonds, platinum group metals, etc.). The manufacturing industry is represented by light and food industries, there are no other industries, with the exception of a number of areas near the availability of raw materials and on the coast (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia, DRC).
The second branch of the economy that determines Africa's place in the world economy is tropical and subtropical agriculture. Agricultural products account for 60-80% of GDP. The main cash crops are coffee, cocoa beans, peanuts, dates, tea, natural rubber, sorghum, and spices. IN Lately began to grow grain crops: corn, rice, wheat. Livestock farming plays a subordinate role, with the exception of countries with arid climates. Extensive cattle breeding predominates, characterized by a huge number of livestock, but low productivity and low marketability. The continent is not self-sufficient in agricultural products.
Transport also retains a colonial type: railways go from raw material extraction areas to the port, while the regions of one state are practically not connected. Rail and sea modes of transport are relatively developed. IN last years Other types of transport also developed - road (a road was built across the Sahara), air, pipeline.
All countries, with the exception of South Africa, are developing, most of them are the poorest in the world (70% of the population lives below the poverty line).

Problems and difficulties of African states

Most African states have developed bloated, unprofessional and ineffective bureaucracies. When amorphous social structures the only organized force remained the army. The result is endless military coups. Dictators who came to power appropriated untold wealth for themselves. The capital of Mobutu, the President of the Congo, at the time of his overthrow was $7 billion. The economy functioned poorly, and this gave scope for a “destructive” economy: the production and distribution of drugs, illegal mining of gold and diamonds, even human trafficking. Africa's share in world GDP and its share in world exports were declining, and output per capita was declining.
The formation of statehood was extremely complicated by the absolute artificiality of state borders. Africa inherited them from its colonial past. They were established during the division of the continent into spheres of influence and have little to do with ethnic boundaries. The Organization of African Unity, created in 1963, aware that any attempt to correct a particular border could lead to unpredictable consequences, called for these borders to be considered immutable, no matter how unfair they may be. But these borders have nevertheless become a source of ethnic conflicts and the displacement of millions of refugees.
The main sector of the economy of most countries in Tropical Africa is agriculture, designed to provide food for the population and serve as a raw material base for the development of the manufacturing industry. It employs the majority of the region's amateur population and creates the bulk of the total national income. In many countries of Tropical Africa, agriculture occupies a leading place in exports, providing a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings. In the last decade, with growth rates industrial production An alarming picture was observed, allowing us to talk about the actual deindustrialization of the region. If in 1965-1980 they (on average per year) amounted to 7.5%, then in the 80s only 0.7%; a drop in growth rates took place in the 80s in both the mining and manufacturing industries. For a number of reasons, the mining industry plays a special role in ensuring the socio-economic development of the region, but this production is also decreasing by 2% annually. A characteristic feature of the development of the countries of Tropical Africa is the weak development of the manufacturing industry. Only in a very small group of countries (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal) does its share in GDP reach or exceed 20%.

Integration processes

A characteristic feature of integration processes in Africa is high degree their institutionalization. Currently, there are about 200 economic associations of various levels, scales and orientations on the continent. But from the point of view of studying the problem of the formation of subregional identity and its relationship with national and ethnic identity, the functioning of such large organizations as the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), the Development Community is of interest South Africa(SADC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), etc. The extremely low performance of their activities in previous decades and the advent of the era of globalization required a sharp acceleration of integration processes at a qualitatively different level. Economic cooperation is developing in new - compared to the 70s - conditions of contradictory interaction between the globalization of the world economy and the increasing marginalization of the positions of African states within its framework and, naturally, in a different coordinate system. Integration is no longer considered as a tool and basis for the formation of a self-sufficient and self-developing economy, relying on its own strengths and in opposition to the imperialist West. The approach is different, which, as mentioned above, presents integration as a path and method of inclusion African countries into the globalizing world economy, as well as as an impetus and indicator of economic growth and development in general.

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Africa, distinguished by its wealth and diversity of natural resources, is considered the economically least developed continent due to deep political, social and economic problems. Africa's total area of ​​30.3 million square kilometers contains 62 countries and territories, 54 of which are independent states. Of all the countries and territories in Africa, 10 are islands, 15 are inland, and 37, located on the mainland, have access to the sea. African countries are divided into 5 subregions.

The countries of Northern, Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa differ in their geographic location, natural resources, number and average size of states.

The countries of North Africa, due to their access to the Mediterranean and Red Seas and the Atlantic Ocean, have been closely connected with Europe and Western Asia since ancient times. The subtropical and tropical climate of the countries of the subregion contributed to the specialization of agriculture in the cultivation of cotton, olives, grapes, and citrus fruits. Industry is primarily associated with the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials (oil, natural gas, phosphorites, iron ore). In addition, the light and food industries that process agricultural raw materials are well developed. Maritime transport plays an important role in the transport system. Especially, a major role in the development of maritime transport off the coast North Africa Suez Canal plays. International tourism has also developed significantly.

The bulk of the population is Arabs. Over the course of centuries of history, developed areas of irrigated agriculture and nomadic livestock raising, and centers of crafts, have developed in the countries of the subregion. Egypt and Algeria are considered the leading countries in the subregion in terms of socio-economic development.

The countries of West Africa are located between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea, in tropical deserts, savannas and moist equatorial forests. This subregion is one of the most populous in Africa. The ethnic composition of the population is very complex. During the era of colonialism, it was in West Africa that the slave trade was most active.

The modern appearance of the countries of the subregion is determined, first of all, by their specialization in agriculture, which has been developed here since ancient times. Plantation farming in West African countries is mainly aimed at the cultivation of industrial crops. Agriculture is developing mainly in line with the monoculture of such products of export value as peanuts, cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, and natural rubber. The leading industry is mining. Mainly mining of iron and uranium ores, bauxite, tin, oil, diamonds, gold. The state of Nigeria is an economically relatively developed country West Africa.

The countries of Central Africa are located mainly in natural areas humid equatorial forests and savannas. The subregion is distinguished by its rich reserves and diversity of mineral wealth on a scale not only of the continent, but of the whole world. In addition, the countries of the subregion are rich in water and biological (especially forest) resources, the potential of which is not fully used. Central African countries export rough diamonds, copper, cobalt, manganese, tin, and oil. The export value of forest resources is also great. The main industry is mining, but manufacturing industries are also gradually developing. The ethnic composition of the population is dominated by people of the Bantu family. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest country in the subregion in terms of territory, population and economic potential.

For countries East Africa The climate is mainly subequatorial and tropical. Since ancient times, East Africa has had close trade ties with India and Arab countries due to its access to the Indian Ocean. It differs from other subregions of the mainland in its lower wealth of mineral resources. In this regard, much attention is paid to the use of other natural resources. Specializing in tropical agriculture, the countries of the subregion mainly export coffee, tea, coconut products, and spices. Some countries in the subregion also export minerals (mainly copper). Manufacturing industries are developing. Numerous reserves and national parks have become resources for the development of international tourism. The population of East Africa is a complex mixture numerous peoples and tribes. Kenya stands out among the countries of the subregion with relatively high indicators of socio-economic development.

The countries of South Africa, despite their considerable distance from Europe, Asia, and America, have a favorable economic and geographical position. Important international shipping routes run along their coastline. Located in the tropical and subtropical zones of the Southern Hemisphere, the countries of Southern Africa have rich natural resources, especially mineral resources. The Republic of South Africa is considered the most developed country not only in the South African subregion, but also in the entire continent. It is one of the largest suppliers different types mineral raw materials to the world market. At the same time, the manufacturing industry also occupies a prominent place in its economy. The remaining countries of the subregion are dominated by agriculture. The ethnic composition of the population is diverse. A feature of the South African population is a relatively high proportion of Europeans.

African countries have rich natural and socio-economic resources. However, the low level of socio-economic development of many countries, the characteristics of ethnic and religious composition population, low standard of living and education, and the discrepancy between state and ethnic borders inherited from the times of colonialism are sources of acute geopolitical problems on the continent. The irrational use of natural resources, in turn, has led to acute environmental problems, especially desertification.

West African countries

West Africa - part African continent, which is located south of central Sahara and is washed from the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. To the east, the natural border is the Cameroon Mountains.

History of West Africa

The culture of this region has its roots in the ancient West African empires of Ghana, Mali and Sopgai, which flourished between the 6th and 16th centuries. These empires fell into decline, and small independent kingdoms appeared in their place. In the 15th century, Portuguese merchants arrived here, followed by the British, French and Dutch.

Over the next 400 years, Europeans continually invaded and founded colonies. The conquerors exploited the people and the land, building gold mines, establishing plantations to grow coffee, coconuts, sugar cane and cotton, and forcing Africans to work for them as slaves. Europeans took the indigenous people on ships to America, where they sold them to local planters as slaves. Many died along the way, and those who survived faced a painful life as slaves.

Britain abolished slavery in 1807, but independence was still a long way off for these countries. Colonial authorities remained in West Africa until the mid-20th century. After this, military and dictatorial regimes were established in some countries. Today many countries have become democracies.

West African EGP

The EGP of West Africa is characterized by a higher level of development compared to its eastern neighbor, but more low level development compared to North Africa. This region is one of the richest mineral reserves in the world. Quite large reserves of manganese, tin, gold, diamonds, and iron ore are concentrated here. Oil and gas reserves are significant. The largest oil supplier in the region is Nigeria.

Mangrove forests and mudflats stretch along the coast of West Africa. They are washed by warm rains brought from the ocean. Further from the coast, lagoons and coastal swamps give way to tropical rainforests that stretch for hundreds of kilometers.

Winding rivers are often the only means of communication as roads, already washed out during the rainy season, are swallowed up by the jungle. Evaporative forests cover the cooler central elevations. Rivers, breaking off high altitude into narrow gorges forming picturesque waterfalls. During rains, rivers flood the surrounding lands, releasing fertile silt, periodically washing away entire villages. And finally the landscape turns into endless savannas, shimmering under the hot sun.

Agriculture in West Africa

Despite the recent intensifying process of industrialization in the most developed countries of West Africa, agriculture in this region continues to be the basis of the economy. The main branches of agricultural production: nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding, which is especially common in the Sahel zone.

In West Africa, cattle breeding is harmoniously combined with agriculture. Complementary sectors increase overall agricultural productivity. Main crops grown: corn, sorghum, peanuts, palm oil, cotton.

West African Industry

Industrial production is generally quite poorly developed. There is a preponderance towards extractive industries. The main development was in the mining industry and oil and gas production. Manufacturing industries are at the stage of initial development and are represented by the processing of mineral resources, textile production, cotton processing, and furniture manufacturing.

Some of the West African population works on modern machines on rubber plantations owned by foreign companies. Scarce land and an arid climate make farming difficult, but the land itself contains priceless treasures. Nigeria is one of the world's largest oil producers. Deposits of phosphorites, diamonds, bauxites and iron ore are the key to further prosperity.

Population of West Africa

The population of this region is about 300 million people. There is rapid population growth, the birth rate exceeds 50 babies per 1 thousand inhabitants. Consequently, West Africa is still in the second stage of the demographic transition.

Most of the population belongs to the Negroid race. In the northern part of Mali live the Berber-speaking Tuaregs, who belong to the Mediterranean type of the large Caucasian race. Negroid peoples are: Fulbe, Diola, Wolof, Kisi, Serer, Senufo, etc.

In the cities of West Africa, people live in modern multi-storey houses or in wooden, tin-roofed houses. Many city women go to the countryside every day to work in the fields or livestock farms and poultry houses. Around the coastal lagoons, village houses with thatched roofs are built on stilts above the water. Fishermen and traders living in these places travel by boats. Most West Africans live in rural areas and are fairly poor farmers and herders. They grow millet, cassava and rice for themselves. And cotton, peanuts and palm oil are sold.

They are divided into two parts: North Africa and Tropical Africa.

Firstly, in my own way geographical location it no longer belongs to Tropical Africa.

Secondly, in terms of socio-economic development it does not belong to. This is a country of “settler capitalism”. It accounts for: 5.5% of the territory, 7%, but 2/3 of its GDP, more than 50% of manufacturing products and the automobile fleet.

The largest industrial region in Africa, the Witwatersrand, was formed with its center in, which plays the role of the “economic capital” of the country.

In the MGRT, the face of South Africa is represented by the mining industry (gold, platinum, diamonds, uranium, iron, manganese ores, coal), some manufacturing industries (, as well as the production of certain types of agricultural products (cereals, subtropical crops, fine-fleece sheep, cattle livestock).

South Africa has the densest transport network on the continent and major seaports.

However, the country's economy is still feeling the effects of apartheid policies. There are great differences between “whites” on the one hand and “blacks” and “coloreds” on the other. Therefore, South Africa is often called a dual economy country. It has the features of economically developed and developing countries.

North Africa
1) Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan.
2) Access to the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
3) The population is concentrated in cities: Algiers, Tripoli, Rabat, Casablanca. (approximately from 1 to 5 million people.). Mostly Arab peoples.
4) This subregion is located in the tropical zone. In the zone of semi-deserts and deserts, occasionally hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. Iron ores, oil, phosphorites, natural gas, polymetallic ores, gold.
5) Pastures with pockets of cultivated land, on far north- cultivated lands and oases. Production of machinery, instruments, equipment, wood and timber, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, petroleum products.
6) a large area of ​​underutilized land, development of gas and oil fields.

West Africa
1) Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Ghana.
2) access to the Atlantic Ocean
3) The population is concentrated in cities and rural settlements: Dakar, Conakry, Monrovia, Abidjan, Ouagadougou. Mainly peoples: Akan, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulbe and Arab.
4) This region is located in the tropical, subequatorial and equatorial zones. In the zone of deserts, savannas and woodlands, variable-humid forests. Iron ore, phosphorites, gold, aluminum ores, manganese ores, diamonds.
5) Pastures with pockets of cultivated land, forests with pockets of cultivated land, cultivated land and oases. Production of wood and timber, meat products, area where cocoa and bananas are distributed.
6) a large area of ​​underutilized land, the absence of any large-scale production, potential for the development of the timber industry.

Central:
1) Nigeria, Niger, Chal, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea.
2) access to the Atlantic Ocean.
3) The population is concentrated in cities and rural settlements: Malabo, Yaounde, Brazzaville, Kinshasa and others. Mostly peoples: Tubu, Azande, Hausa.
4) This region is located in the subequatorial and equatorial belt. In the zone of savannas and light forests, variable-humid forests, the region altitudinal zone, permanently wet forests. Oil, Manganese ores, Aluminum ores, Uranium ores.
5) Forests with pockets of cultivated land, pastures. Production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, petroleum products, wood and timber. The area where rubber plants, cotton and bananas grow.
6) potential for the development of uranium ores and oil production, problems: soil erosion, poaching, unfit for drinking water.

East Africa
1) Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia.
2) access to the Indian Ocean.
3) The population is concentrated evenly in cities and settlements, urbanization is not observed. Mainly peoples: Amhara, Somalis.
4) This region is located in the subequatorial belt, equatorial belt. In the zone of savannas and woodlands, high altitude zones, semi-deserts. Gold, Phosphorites, Diamonds, Titanium ores.
5) Pastures with pockets of cultivated land. Leather production. The area where bananas, coffee, and date palms are distributed. Breeding camels and cattle.
6) Problems: overgrazing, desertification, widespread poaching. Potential for camel breeding, cattle breeding and production of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

South
1) South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia.
2) access to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
3) The population is concentrated in cities: Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Lusaka, Harare. Mostly peoples: Bantu, Bushmen, Afrikaners, Hotentots.
4) This region is located in the subequatorial, tropical, subtropical zone. In the zone of savannas and woodlands, high-altitude zones, semi-deserts and deserts. Manganese ores, Diamonds, Polymatal ores, Gold, Copper ores, Cobalt ores, Chrome ores, Asbestos, Coal, Iron ores.
5) Pasture with pockets of cultivated land, cultivated land and oases. Production of machinery, equipment, instruments, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Distribution area: cotton. Breeding: sheep, cattle.
6) Problems: limited supplies of drinking water, deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, excessive use of pastures. Potential for the production of meat products, development of hydroelectric power stations and nuclear power plants (there are uranium deposits).