The article contains general information about the East Africa region. Forms an idea of ​​the socio-economic situation in this part of the continent. Indicates the reasons that hinder the development and growth of the territory from an economic point of view.

East Africa

The area of ​​the region is 7.7 million square meters. km. The population of the region is close to 200 million people.

Rice. 1. Map of the region.

The list of East African countries includes:

• Sudan;
• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Djibouti;
• Somalia;
• Kenya;
• Rwanda;
• Uganda;
• Burundi;
• Tanzania;
• Malawi;
• Zambia.

East Africa is not included in the list of regions that are rich in natural resources.

The states of this part of the continent act more as large producers and suppliers of coffee to the world market. Tea is also grown here, sisal and cotton are produced. Leather production and extraction of raw materials are developed here. Somalia and Djibouti have 1/4 of all pastures. To provide domestic market grown in the region:

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• millet,
• sorghum,
• corn,
• legumes,
• sweet potato,
• cassava

Rice. 2. Pastures of East Africa.

In this part of the continent there are enterprises for the primary processing of agricultural and livestock products, as well as food and light industries.
Interesting: East Africa is recognized by anthropologists of the world as the cradle of all mankind.

States of East Africa

In the past, the territorial boundaries of the main part of the states of East Africa were introduced by the once-colonial powers in an arbitrary manner. Natural ethnic and cultural boundaries were not taken into account. This made it much more difficult general development the whole region.

In many states, civil armed conflicts have been raging for decades. The reason for this is religious and ideological differences.
Interesting: In 1967, a number of East African countries formed a customs union, which was called the East African Community.

Rice. 3. Economic map of the region.

East Africa contains 17 sovereign states.

Four language groups have spread here.

East Africa is ranked among the most problematic regions of the continent. Here, the usual phenomenon is: infectious diseases, hunger, low socio-economic level of development of the population.

Most of the states of the region - once former colonies powers of Europe. They received sovereignty only in the 60s of the last century. The detachment of developed countries regarding the issue of investing in the economic sector of East Africa noticeably slows down progress in the economy of the entire region.

What have we learned?

From the article, we found out the features of the economic development of the region. We have established which factors have the greatest influence on the dynamics of the functioning of certain industries characteristic of East Africa. found out when eastern region continent gained independence from colonial influence on the main spheres of life.

East Africa differs from other regions of the mainland in the predominance of mountainous terrain. Being within the most tectonically mobile part of the mainland, which experienced a particularly strong activation of tectonic processes in the Cenozoic, East Africa is an area of ​​extension earth's crust with the formation of deep cracks and manifestations of ancient and modern intracontinental rift volcanism.

The entire territory of East Africa (with the exception of a narrow strip of coastal lowland indian ocean) occupies the arched-blocky East African Plateau with a height of more than 1000 m, broken by tectonic faults. The relief alternates elevated basement plains, deep and narrow fault depressions, large fault ledges, blocky mountains, lava plateaus, and isolated volcanic cones.

The East African Plateau serves as a watershed between the basins of the Nile, Congo, Zambezi and a number of less significant rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean; there are drainless territories (in some closed fault basins).

East African countries include:

• Burundi(capital of Bujumbura)
• Djibouti(capital of Djibouti)
• Kenya(capital Nairobi)
• Comoros (capital Moroni)
• Madagascar(capital of Antananarivo)
• Mauritius(capital Port Louis)
• Mozambique(capital of Maputo)
• reunion(capital Saint-Denis)
• Rwanda(capital of Kigali)
• Seychelles (capital Victoria)
• Somalia(capital of Mogadishu)
• Sudan(capital Khartoum)
• Tanzania(capital of Dodoma)
• Uganda(capital Kampala)
• Eritrea(capital of Asmara)
• Ethiopia(capital of Addis Ababa)

The borders of many states were set arbitrarily by the former colonial powers, without taking into account natural ethnic and cultural boundaries. Due to the large cultural and social differences in East Africa, there is a significant potential for conflict, which has repeatedly expressed itself in past and current wars, including civil ones.

East Africa occupies a marginal position on the mainland on both sides of the equator. Within its limits, there are trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres and active monsoon activity is manifested. The ruggedness of the relief and high altitudes complicate the system of atmospheric circulation and create within East Africa big variety landscapes, from hot tropical deserts near the ocean coast to humid equatorial forests on the slopes of massifs crowned with snowy peaks.

Found in East Africa and the Indian Ocean largest number endemic species of mammals (55%), birds (63%), reptiles (49%) and amphibians (40%). At the same time, in this region, the largest number of animal species are under threat of extinction: 149 species of mammals, 107 species of birds, 27 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians and 60 species of fish.

Vegetation is dominated different types savannas and woodlands; in the mountains - altitudinal zonality of vegetation (mountain-forest, Afro-subalpine, Afro-alpine belts). Animal world very rich and diverse (especially the fauna of large mammals), in its composition is characteristic of the East African subregion of the Ethiopian zoogeographic region.

population of East Africa. By linguistic feature The population is divided into 3 linguistic megagroups - Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic. The most widely spoken European language English language. According to religion, the population is divided mainly into Christians and Muslims.

It is the second largest in the world after Eurasia and the first in its mystery and unpredictability. It lies between two oceans - the Atlantic and the Pacific, crosses the line of the equator, which is why the climate there is extremely dry and hot. The expanses of the eastern part of the continent are considered especially arid. Despite the fact that the Sahara and the Kalahari are located in the north and south, it is here that the minimum amount of precipitation falls. Because of this, the flora is scarce, and tourism is not very well developed. The easternmost point of Africa is Cape Ras Hafun, which is located in Somalia. It is these lands that we now consider in detail.

Cape Data

Africa's easternmost point is 10°26" north latitude and 51°23" east longitude. It is located on the peninsula of Somalia, in the state of the same name. Many say that this country exists only in fact. In fact, development there is at an extremely low level due to the constant civil war. Most people live below the poverty line, many are engaged in maritime piracy. The exact coordinates of the easternmost point of Africa give us the opportunity to see it on the map. On a large scale, it can be seen that the Hafun Peninsula (as it is called locals) is an inverted "figurine" of Africa itself in miniature. Its outlines are the same as those of the main continent.

Relief and natural features

The easternmost point of Africa is a low-lying cape. Its length is about 40 kilometers, and it is located in the northeast of the state of Somalia. With its shores, the peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean. Its coastline is not indented with bays, so there are no typical paradise beaches and cozy places to relax. On the contrary, the cape extends its shores into the open sea, which is often the reason strong winds and above the surface of the water, and on the eastern shores of Somalia. Often there are storms and even tsunamis, from which the locals literally run away deep into the continent. Due to the same winds and intense heat, Cape Hafun, like all countries of East Africa, is sparse in vegetation. Desert territories turn into savannahs, where animals such as zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and others are found. But this region is simply teeming with insects and reptiles. There are also centipedes, scorpions, poisonous snakes and other very dangerous reptiles.

Region population

Today, the easternmost point of Africa is inhabited exclusively by the Ottoman Mamuds. Now they are considered local natives, but it is impossible to call them with accuracy the aborigines of these lands, since over the centuries here, as well as throughout the world, peoples have been assimilated. About 25 thousand inhabitants of Hafun are fishermen - this is the main type of economy in the region. Local residents rarely sell their catch, most often it is the main food for the men themselves and their families. A certain percentage of the population of the peninsula does not disdain to engage in piracy. Given the fact that Somalia is one of the largest in the world, the local pirates hijack entire ships, and the goods that are delivered to them are simply taken away.

Economy of the region

Geographers say that the easternmost geographical point of Africa is a corner of original, unique and unforgettable nature. Unfortunately, the local lands are infertile, not suitable for recreation, and excessive heat and winds are even dangerous for the health of people who are not used to such conditions. But precisely on this recent times and the country's economy is booming. Thrill-seekers, adrenaline junkies often come to Cape Hafun to take a safari tour, hunt the local fauna, see those very unique and huge insects, find out how local fishermen live and how modern Somali sea pirates live.

Those who decided to go to Cape Hafun

Given that the economic situation in Somalia is extremely deplorable, there are no exchange offices, no ATMs and terminals. Therefore, it is important for travelers to change the currency to the local Somali shilling in advance. In extreme cases, you will have to pay here with the dollar, Egyptian or Yemeni currency, but at the local rate, which is extremely disadvantageous. It is also important to know that hurricanes and tsunamis often occur in the region. If such a “bad weather” is approaching, you need to literally reach the deeper points of the mainland in half an hour, leaving the cape. The local hurricanes literally destroy all the buildings and cause invaluable damage to the country.

Neighboring countries of East Africa

The original nature, which was described above, is typical not only for the lands of the easternmost cape of the continent. Similar landscapes are also found in neighboring countries. Some of them are more economically developed, those that have access to the ocean constantly receive tourists from different parts of the world. East Africa refers to a region that is located in the corresponding part of the continent. Almost all states have access to they are united according to the geographical principle, as well as according to natural features. Therefore, for now, we will list all the countries of East Africa simply in alphabetical order:

Population and languages

Modern anthropologists believe that modern East Africa was the cradle of all mankind. The map of this region has not changed much since the existence of the alleged supercontinents, therefore it is also assumed that many local residents are carriers of the most ancient types of DNA on the planet. However, most of the population has long been assimilated both with the inhabitants of other regions of Africa, and with the Europeans, who repeatedly made their colonies from these territories. Only the tribes of Mahmuds and natives, who are far from civilizations and lead a predominantly nomadic lifestyle, are considered original here. Local languages ​​are also a synthesis of European, mainly Romance, and local dialects. The most popular of the languages ​​on the east coast is Swahili.

Country borders

Now we will consider how the modern political map Africa in the eastern part of the continent and what influenced the formation of the borders known to us. Despite the fact that the people here have the same roots, the number of traditions, rituals, beliefs and other cultural customs here exceeds 200. For centuries, it was for this reason that there were constant skirmishes and armed conflicts between the tribes of the inhabitants of East Africa. This weakened the development of the region, did not give him the opportunity to improve. As a result, European colonialists came here, who, at their own discretion, regardless of the cultural characteristics of certain peoples, established the borders of modern powers. Therefore, the modern map of Africa, in particular its eastern part, is only a formality, which only aggravated the confrontation of the local residents.

Conclusion

As it turned out, the easternmost point of Africa is by no means a picturesque piece of paradise. Despite the fact that Cape Hafun is washed by the Indian Ocean, here its waters are extremely harsh. Often there are tsunamis that sweep away everything in their path. Therefore, only lovers of new experiences, extreme sports and drive come here.

Africa is the second largest continent after Eurasia. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Red and Mediterranean seas. Together with the islands, the mainland covers approximately 30.3 million square kilometers, which is about 6% of the total land area on the planet. This is the hottest continent, its entire territory is located exclusively in hot zones and is crossed by the equator line.

East Africa

This part of the continent includes countries located east of the river Nile. There are 4 language groups in the region and there are about 200 nationalities. That is why there are huge cultural and social differences and frequent conflicts, reaching real civil wars. The borders of the current states in most cases are established by colonial countries, without taking into account any cultural interests of the people living here. What negatively affected economic development region. The situation is especially difficult for countries that do not have access to the oceans. East Africa, like the entire continent as a whole, is also called the "cradle of mankind." Many anthropologists are completely sure that it was here that man appeared and the development of civilization began.

East African countries

To date, there are 22 countries located in the eastern part of the continent (UN classifier), of which 18 are completely independent. The remaining 4 countries are located on islands or a group of islands, are under the control of one or sometimes a state located outside the continent.

Independent States

Burundi is the capital of Bujumbura. About 11 million people live in the country. The state gained independence from Belgium in 1962. The territory of the country is a predominantly mountainous plateau, located at an altitude of 1.4 to 1.8 thousand meters above sea level.

Zambia. The medium-sized country, with a population of 14.2 million people, does not have its own access to the sea. The capital is Lusaka. The state was freed from the yoke of Great Britain in 1964.

Zimbabwe. About 14 million people also live here, the capital is Harare. It gained independence in 1980, in fact, from that date the country was ruled by Roberto Mugabe, who was removed as a result of a military coup last year.

Kenya. A small country located in South East Africa, with a population of 44 million people, the capital is Nairobi. Received freedom from the UK in 1963. The country is famous for its national parks where every effort is made to preserve the virgin nature.

Madagascar. One of the largest states in the eastern part of Africa, with a population of 24.23 million people. The capital is Antananarivo. Also an island state, with magnificent nature and good tourist infrastructure.

Malawi. The country is home to 16.77 million people, the capital is Lilongwe. This country is also called the "warm heart of Africa" ​​due to the fact that very friendly people live here. However, there are problems with obtaining a visa, therefore, in terms of tourism, the country is not so attractive for Russian citizens.

Mozambique. More than 25 million people live here. The capital is Maputo. This is a former Portuguese colony. The country still has a rather serious criminal situation, so they even put bars on the 15th floor. By the way, this is where the famous architect eiffel tower erected an iron structure in which no one could live - it was too hot.

Rwanda. The population is more than 12 million people, the capital is Kigali. In terms of development, the country has already outpaced even Luxembourg. This East African country has long had 4G Internet connections, and children are taught using interactive information technologies. But back in 1994, there was a massacre of the local population, then more than 800 thousand people died.

Tanzania. The population is 48.6 million people. The capital is Dodoma. First of all, the country is unique with 2 interesting facts:

• here is the largest concentration of representatives of the wild animal world;
• on the territory there is the highest African peak - Kilimanjaro, with a height of 5895 meters.

Uganda. Also enough large country, population 34 million, capital - Kampala. The country managed to survive the civil war and the economic "chasm". To date, peace has reigned here and even stability is observed.

Ethiopia. A large state in which 90 million people live, the capital is Addis Ababa. Quite an attractive country in terms of tourism. An interesting fact is that in Ethiopia the calendar is divided into 13 months.

South Sudan. The population is 12.34 million people. The capital is Juba. A rather poor country, and only 30 kilometers of roads are covered with asphalt. Most of the population works in quarries. It is very dirty here, because no one even knows about the word garbage dump, they just throw garbage on the road, there is no running water, as well as gas.

Eritrea, with a population of 6 million, the capital is Asmara. The state does not have its own access to the sea, but the people have achieved complete freedom of speech and action. There is no theft here, no one fastens bicycles with chains, and forgotten things are brought to the police.

Small states by population

Djibouti. The country liberated itself from France in 1977. The territory is home to 818 thousand people, the capital is Djibouti. The state is famous for its magnificent nature, it is here that unique natural monuments are concentrated: the Mabla and Goda mountain ranges, the Boura ridge, the Garbi and Hemed mountains, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Lake Assal. A particularly unique place in East Africa is the Boina fumarole field. These are holes and cracks in the ground at the foot of the volcano, which is 300 meters high. Hot gases are constantly emitted from these funnels, and their depth reaches 7 meters.

Comoros or Comoros. With a population of 806 thousand people. The capital is Moroni.

Mauritius. The population is 1.2 million people, the capital is the city of Port Louis. Today it is a real tourist Mecca. The state itself is located on several islands and the Carcados Carajos archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Here is a unique nature, very contrasting, with forests and steep cliffs, lakes and waterfalls.

Somalia. The capital is Mogadishu, the total population of the state is 10.2 million people. This is the easternmost state of East Africa itself. Modern history countries are inextricably linked civil war, which has been going on here since 1988. Other countries, the US and UN peacekeepers have already been drawn into the military conflict.

Seychelles. The capital of the state is the city of Victoria. A little over 90 thousand people live in the country. It's kind of

Countries dependent on France

One of the overseas regions is Mayotte. There are still disputes about ownership between France and the Comoros. More than 500 thousand people live here, the capital is the city of Mamuzu. It is a large island of Mayotte and several nearby smaller islands.

Reunion. Another island in East Africa, which is part of the Mascarene archipelago, where more than 800 thousand people live. The administrative center is the city of Saint-Denis. Here is the Piton de la Fournaise volcano, which periodically wakes up, but it is absolutely safe to watch it.

There are no permanent residents in the southern lands, only scientific expeditions come here.

Some historians believe that it East Africa became the birthplace human civilization. The borders of the subcontinent pass mainly along the water - it stretched along the coast of the Indian Ocean, where the easternmost point of Africa is located - Cape Ras Hafun in Somalia. In the north it has access to the Red Sea, and in the west it is limited by the Nile. Today, seventeen states are located in this region, this also includes one of the largest island states - Madagascar and the Seychelles.

Weather and nature - local variations

There is no need to talk about some kind of uniformity, evaluating the weather features of this region - different East African countries located in radically different climatic zones. The Seychelles are humid maritime tropics that depend on the power of the monsoons; on the continent, something similar can be found in Ethiopia or Tanzania. Somalia is mostly a hot desert, and Uganda has more rainy days than dry days.

This variation affects the local flora. East Africa is savannas and tropical jungles, subequatorial forests and almost dead sands (although the latter are relatively few here). The fauna is extremely rich, the region is home to many large and small mammals (including primates), birds, and amphibians. On the territory are large lakes(Tanganyika and Victoria), the Congo, the deep-sea Nile and the Zambezi originate here.

Economic advantages of the subcontinent

The abundance of land suitable for pasture has made the countries of East Africa the leaders of the continent in terms of animal husbandry. In general, most of the income to the budget of these countries is brought by Agriculture. Kenya exports fruit and tea, Madagascar spices, Mozambique citrus fruits, cashew nuts and cotton, Ethiopia olives and coffee. Where there is access to the sea, industrial fishing is developed.

The natural resources of the countries of the subcontinent are less rich than those of their neighbors, however, there are also important minerals here. Rubies, diamonds and gold, fluorite and iron ore, cobalt and tungsten are mined in the region. The processing and textile industries are actively developing. The most important industry that brings significant income to most states (primarily island states) is tourism.

most poor country The region is considered to be Somalia - there are few mineral resources, the amount of fertile soils is limited. In addition, constant armed conflicts and civil unrest make this state frankly unattractive for investors.

List of East African countries