Encyclopedia of Science | Africa

• Origin of Africa
• General features
• Great Rift Valley
• Human evolution
• Volcanic activity outside the Great Rift Valley
• Origin of Sahara Desert
• Words to Know
• Minerals and resources
• Modern-day climatic and environmental factors

Africa is the world's second largest continent, encompassing an area of 11,677,240 square miles (30,244,051 square kilometers), including offshore islands. Recognized as the birthplace of the human race and of many other animal and plant species, it also possesses the world's richest and most concentrated...