Relief of Africa

Major Relief Features of Africa

Africa is unique among continents because most of its surface lies between 300 and 1,500 meters above sea level. Unlike other continents with extensive lowlands, Africa is mainly a plateau with clearly defined edges. Let’s examine the relief features region by region.

Northern Africa Relief

Northern Africa is dominated by the Atlas Mountains which stretch across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These fold mountains formed when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided millions of years ago. The highest peak, Mount Toubkal, rises to 4,167 meters in Morocco.

The region also contains the Ahaggar Highlands in southern Algeria and the Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad. These are volcanic mountains with peaks reaching over 3,000 meters. The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, occupies much of northern Africa between these highland areas.

Eastern Africa Relief

Eastern Africa has the most dramatic relief features on the continent. The Ethiopian Highlands, often called the “Roof of Africa,” rise to over 4,500 meters. These highlands receive heavy rainfall and support large populations through agriculture.

The East African Rift Valley System is perhaps the most spectacular feature. This giant crack in the earth’s surface formed when tectonic plates began pulling apart about 25 million years ago. The rift has two branches: the Eastern Rift through Kenya and Tanzania, and the Western Rift along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.

Within this region stands Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m), Africa’s highest mountain. Other major peaks include Mount Kenya (5,199m) and the Ruwenzori Range (5,109m). These are volcanic mountains formed by the same tectonic activity that created the rift valley.

Western Africa Relief

West Africa contains several important highland regions. The Fouta Djallon Highlands in Guinea rise to about 1,500 meters and serve as the “water tower of West Africa” because major rivers like the Niger, Senegal, and Gambia originate here.

The Jos Plateau in central Nigeria reaches heights of 1,200-1,300 meters. Tin mining is a major economic activity on this plateau. Further east, the Adamawa Highlands stretch across Cameroon and eastern Nigeria, with elevations around 1,500-2,000 meters.

The Cameroon Highlands include Mount Cameroon (4,095m), an active volcano and West Africa’s highest peak. Coastal lowlands border the Atlantic Ocean, with wide river deltas like the Niger Delta in Nigeria.

Southern Africa Relief

Southern Africa is dominated by a vast plateau called the High Veld, with elevations between 1,200-1,800 meters. This plateau is tilted, with the highest areas in the east falling gradually toward the west.

The Drakensberg Mountains form the eastern edge of the plateau in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. These are actually the escarpment edge of the plateau, not fold mountains. The highest peak, Thabana Ntlenyana in Lesotho, reaches 3,482 meters.

The Kalahari Basin occupies much of Botswana, forming a sand-filled depression. Along the southwestern coast, the Namib Desert is one of the world’s oldest deserts, with spectacular sand dunes rising over 300 meters high.

Central Africa Relief

The Congo Basin forms a vast lowland in central Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This basin lies between 300-500 meters above sea level and is covered by dense equatorial rainforest. The Congo River and its tributaries drain this huge depression.

Surrounding the basin are higher plateaus including the Katanga Plateau in southeastern DR Congo and the Angola Plateau to the southwest. These plateaus are rich in minerals like copper and diamonds.

Comparison Table: Major Relief Regions

How Relief Was Formed

Africa’s relief features resulted from several geological processes over millions of years. The continent sits on the African tectonic plate, one of the earth’s major crustal plates.

Faulting created the East African Rift Valley when tensional forces pulled the crust apart. This process continues today, and scientists believe Africa may eventually split into two continents along this rift.

Volcanism accompanied faulting in East Africa, forming mountains like Kilimanjaro, Kenya, and the Virunga volcanoes. Mount Cameroon in West Africa is also volcanic and still active.

Folding created the Atlas Mountains when the African plate collided with the Eurasian plate, crumpling the earth’s crust upward. This is similar to how the Himalayas formed in Asia.

Erosion has shaped many features over millions of years. Rivers carved valleys, wind eroded rocks in desert areas, and weathering broke down mountains into plateaus.

Effects of Relief on Human Activities

Relief significantly affects life in Africa. Highland areas like the Ethiopian Highlands and East African mountains have cooler temperatures despite being near the equator. This makes them suitable for growing crops like coffee, tea, and wheat.

The Rift Valley lakes (Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi) support fishing industries. Volcanic soils on mountain slopes are very fertile, attracting dense farming populations in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Cameroon.

Plateaus like the Jos Plateau and Witwatersrand in South Africa contain valuable minerals. The High Veld’s moderate temperatures support commercial farming and major cities like Johannesburg.

Lowland basins like the Congo Basin present challenges for development. Dense forests, poor drainage, and tropical diseases limit agriculture and settlement. However, they contain valuable timber and minerals.

Relief affects transportation too. Building roads and railways across mountain ranges is expensive. The Great Escarpment in southern Africa creates a barrier between coastal and interior regions.

Common Exam Mistakes

WAEC examiners report these frequent errors when students answer questions on African relief:

• Confusing relief types: Students call the Drakensberg “fold mountains” when they’re actually an escarpment edge. Remember: fold mountains form from compression (Atlas), while escarpments are plateau edges (Drakensberg).
• Wrong locations: Placing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya instead of Tanzania, or saying the Atlas Mountains are in East Africa instead of North Africa.
• Mixing up heights: Claiming Ethiopia has Africa’s highest peak, when it’s actually Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
• Incomplete explanations: When asked to “explain” how the Rift Valley formed, students just say “faulting” without describing tensional forces pulling the crust apart.
• Ignoring formation processes: Describing relief features without mentioning whether they’re volcanic, fold mountains, or fault structures.
• Poor distinction between terms: Not knowing the difference between “state” (list without details) and “explain” (give reasons/processes).

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of these is Africa’s highest mountain?
a) Mount Kenya
b) Mount Cameroon
c) Mount Kilimanjaro ✓
d) Ethiopian Highlands

2. The Great Rift Valley was formed mainly by:
a) Volcanic eruptions
b) Faulting ✓
c) Folding
d) Erosion

3. Which highland region is called the “water tower of West Africa”?
a) Jos Plateau
b) Adamawa Highlands
c) Fouta Djallon ✓
d) Cameroon Highlands

4. The Atlas Mountains are found in:
a) East Africa
b) Southern Africa
c) North Africa ✓
d) Central Africa

Essay/Theory Questions

1. Describe the relief features of Eastern Africa. (10 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Include Ethiopian Highlands, Rift Valley (both branches), volcanic mountains (Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Ruwenzori), lakes, and coastal lowlands. Give specific heights and locations.

2. Explain four ways in which relief affects human activities in Africa. (8 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Each point needs explanation, not just listing. Example: “Highland areas have cooler temperatures which allow cultivation of temperate crops like tea and coffee in places like the Kenyan Highlands” (2 marks). Four such explained points = 8 marks.

3. With the aid of a diagram, explain how the East African Rift Valley was formed. (10 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Draw a simple cross-section showing crustal blocks. Explain tensional forces pulling the crust apart, creating faults on both sides, with the central block dropping down to form the valley floor. Mention volcanism as a related feature.

Memory Aids

Use these mnemonics to remember key facts:

KATE – Africa’s tallest mountains:
Kilimanjaro (5,895m) – Tanzania
Atlas – Mt. Toubkal (4,167m) – Morocco
Toubkal
Ethiopia – Ras Dashen (4,550m)

NEWS – Remember relief by direction:
North – Atlas Mountains
East – Rift Valley & Kilimanjaro
West – Fouta Djallon & Jos Plateau
South – Drakensberg & High Veld

FFV – Relief formation processes:
Faulting (Rift Valley)
Folding (Atlas Mountains)
Volcanism (Kilimanjaro, Cameroon)

Related Topics

• Drainage systems of Africa
• Climate regions of Africa
• Vegetation zones of Africa
• Population distribution in Africa
• Agriculture in different relief regions