Answer: North Africa is separated from Subsaharan Africa
What makes North Africa a region?
North Africa or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent . There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in the west, to Egypt's Suez Canal and the Red Sea in the east.
Can Africa be considered a region?
The continent of Africa is commonly divided into five regions or subregions, four of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.
Is North Africa a developed region?
The UN subregion of North Africa consists of 7 countries at the northernmost part of the continent — Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara. North Africa is an economically prosperous area, generating one-third of Africa's total GDP.
How is North Africa different from the rest of Africa?
North Africa is predominantly Arab and relatively more developed . Many residents identify more with the Middle East than they do with the larger part of the continent. ... But when it comes to an African identity, some sub-Saharan Africans believe they have more claim to the continent than their northern counterparts.
What are two reasons for North Africa's dry climate?
The dry subtropical climate of the northern Sahara is caused by stable high-pressure cells centred over the Tropic of Cancer . The annual range of average daily temperatures is about 36 °F (20 °C). Winters are relatively cold in the northern regions and cool in the central Sahara.
Why is North Africa a desert?
The answer lies in the climate of the Arctic and northern high latitudes. ... However, around 5,500 years ago there was a sudden shift in climate in northern Africa leading to rapid acidification of the area . What was once a tropical, wet, and thriving environment suddenly turned into the desolate desert we see today.
What two regions is Africa divided into?
In the post-colonial era, many international organizations, foreign governments and academics divided Africa into two major regions: North Africa (Arab Africa) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Black Africa) .
Why is Africa split into regions?
The continent of Africa is splitting into two parts due to a geological divide , which goes towards the side of the continent. It is believed by geologists that this rift will ultimately give way to a new ocean basin.
What are 6 mainland African countries?
Africa straddles the Equator which passes through 6 countries: Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia .
Which country is the richest in Africa?
Nigeria is the richest and most populous country in Africa. The country's large population of 211 million is a likely contributor to its large GDP. Nigeria is a middle-income, mixed economy and emerging market with growing financial, service, communications, and technology sectors.
What is the language of North Africa?
Arabic . While most speakers live in North Africa, estimates say that over 150 million people in Africa speak Arabic as a native language. The language has its own regional dialects, along with Modern Standard Arabic, which is used in advertisements and the media.
What is unique about North Africa?
18 North Africa: Each Country Is Unique
Each country has their own form of currency and form of government . Egypt is a very liberal Islamic nation while the countries on either side of it, Saudi Arabia and Libya, are a lot stricter. Some areas of North Africa and very developed while others are not.
Is Egypt an Arab or African country?
Although Egypt sits in the north of the African continent it is considered by many to be a Middle Eastern country , partly because the main spoken language there is Egyptian Arabic, the main religion is Islam and it is a member of the Arab League.
What is the culture of North Africa?
The people of the Maghreb and the Sahara speak various dialects of Berber and Arabic and almost exclusively follow Islam. The Arabic and Berber groups of languages are distantly related, both being members of the Afro-Asiatic family.
What is the religion of North Africa?
The religion that is most characteristic of North Africa and Southwest Asia today is Islam . Islam teaches in the existence of one God and emphasizes the belief in Muhammad as the last prophet. Followers of Islam are known as Muslims.
