Geography of Southern Africa
by Trisha 2
Namib Desert
This desert-the Namib Desert-is a coastal desert located in southern Africa. It spreads through the countries of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. This desert is almost completely uninhabited by humans.
Cape of Good Hope
This cape is a rocky area on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula. It is at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. The Cape of Good Hope is about 50 kilometers away from Cape Town.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa based on population. It is also the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa. In 2007, the population was 3,888,180 people.
Zambezi River
The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa. It's source is in Zambia, but also flows through Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It is the longest river from Africa that flows into the Indian Ocean.
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River starts in central southern Africa and flows eastwards into the Indian Ocean. The Limpopo River is the second-largest river in Africa that flows into the Indian Ocean.
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital city and largest city of Angola. Lusaka is one of the fastest developing countries in southern Africa. As of 2010, the population of Lusaka was 1.7 million people.
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert extends over 900,000 square kilometers, and covers much of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. This name also means thirst land or thirsty land. There is a tremendous amount of grazing after it rains there.
Cabinda
Cabinda is an exclave of Angola. There is an armed group that struggles to live in this exclave from the Angolan Civil War which ended in 2002.
Orange River
The Orange River is the longest river in Africa. This river rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and flows through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. This is the international border between South Africa and Namibia.
Victoria Falls
This is a waterfall on the Zambezi River at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria is claimed to be the largest waterfall in the world due to its width being 5,604 feet. Its length is 354 feet.