20 Interesting Facts about Africa
20 Interesting Facts about Africa
- Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, covering an area of approximately 30.3 million square kilometers.
- Africa is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile, which stretches over 6,695 kilometers.
- The world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls, is located in Venezuela, South America, but the world’s second-highest waterfall, Tugela Falls, is located in South Africa.
- Africa is home to the largest desert in the world, the Sahara, which covers an area of approximately 9.2 million square kilometers.
- The world’s oldest human fossil, the Sahelanthropus tchadensis, was discovered in Chad, Africa.
- Africa is home to the world’s largest mammal, the African elephant, which can weigh up to 24,000 pounds.
- The world’s tallest animal, the giraffe, is native to Africa.
- The world’s largest primate, the gorillas, is found in the forests of Central and West Africa.
- The world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia arnoldii, is found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia, but the world’s second-largest flower, the Amorphophallus titanum, is found in the rainforests of Cameroon and Gabon in Africa.
- The world’s oldest and largest baobab tree, the Sunland Baobab, is located in Limpopo, South Africa.
- The world’s largest snake, the anaconda, is found in South America, but the world’s second-largest snake, the African rock python, is found in Africa.
- Africa is home to the oldest and largest university in the world, the University of Al-Karaouine in Fez, Morocco, which was founded in 859.
- The world’s oldest tree, the Bosavi woolly rat, was discovered in Papua New Guinea, but the world’s second-oldest tree, the baobab tree, is found in Africa.
- Africa is home to the largest single-stemmed tree in the world, the baobab tree, which can reach heights of up to 30 meters.
- The world’s largest herd of elephants, the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, is found in Africa.
- The world’s largest lake, the Caspian Sea, is located between Europe and Asia, but the world’s second-largest lake, Lake Victoria, is located in Africa.
- Africa is home to the world’s oldest and largest national park, the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was established in 1925.
- The world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, is a shield volcano, but the world’s second-largest volcano, Nyiragongo, is a stratovolcano and is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.
- The world’s largest dinosaur, the Argentinosaurus, was discovered in Argentina, South America, but the world’s second-largest dinosaur, the Paralititan stromeri, was discovered in Egypt, Africa.
- The world’s largest crocodile, the saltwater crocodile, is found in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, but the world’s second-largest crocodile, the Nile crocodile, is found in Africa.
