Africa, a dazzling gem set in the western part of the eastern hemisphere of the earth, attracts the world's attention with its vast land and unique and rich culture. Bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Antarctica, and the European continent and the Arabian Peninsula to the northeast. As the second largest continent in the world after Asia, Africa has a total land area of about 30.2 million square kilometers and is inhabited by about 12It has a population of 900 million people in 62 countries and regions.
In this vast and diverse land, there are a few countries that stand out as the top 10 territorial powers in Africa due to their vast territory. Let's unveil them together, starting with the tenth place.
In tenth place is Ethiopia, a country located in eastern Africa, with a total area of 1.1 million square kilometers and hosting about 10.5 billion people. Ethiopia's geographical features are dominated by mountains and plateaus, with an average altitude of nearly 3 kilometers, and it is known as the "roof of Africa". The unique topography endows the country with abundant natural resources and magnificent natural landscapes.
It is followed by the ninth-ranked Republic of South Africa, which is located at the southern tip of the African continent, facing the sea on three sides, with a total area of 1.22 million square kilometers and a population of about 59.2 million people. It is important to note that this figure does not include Lesotho, a landlocked country in South Africa that is closely adjacent to it. South Africa's topography is dominated by plateaus, the Kalahari Desert in the northwest corner, and some plains in the coastal area, rich in mineral resources such as diamonds, copper ore, coal and asbestos, etc., making it occupy an important position in the global resource market.
In eighth place is Mali, located in the interior of West Africa, with a total area of about 1.24 million square kilometers and a population of about 21.9 million people. Mali's topography is mainly composed of low-altitude plains and plateaus, mostly desert and semi-desert, which poses a great challenge to its economic development, making it one of the least developed countries in the world.
In seventh place is Angola, located in southwest Africa, with a land area of 1.25 million square kilometers and a population of about 34 million people. The terrain of Angola is complex and diverse, with a predominantly highland landform and a small number of plains in the coastal area, with an average altitude of more than 1 km. However, the country's economic lifeline is greatly boosted by abundant mineral resources such as oil, gas, copper and diamonds, especially in the diamond industry.
Next is Niger, located in West Africa, with a total area of 1.27 million square kilometers and a population of about 25 million people. Niger is mostly covered by the Sahara Desert, while the southern part has a savannah climate and is one of the hottest countries in the world. Despite the harsh environmental conditions, the territory is rich in natural resources.
In fifth place is Chad, located in northeastern Africa, with a total area of 1.27 million square kilometers and a population of about 17 million people. The territory of Chad is surrounded by mountains on three sides, mainly desert and semi-desert, and has a savannah climate in the south. It is worth mentioning that Chad has a valuable freshwater resource, Lake Zad, which is the largest inland freshwater lake in central Africa, which plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological environment and the livelihood of its residents.
In fourth place is Libya in northern Africa, with a total area of 1.76 million square kilometers and a relatively small population of about 6.7 million people. Libya is known as the "Kingdom of the Desert" because of its vast desert covering more than 95% of the area, showing the characteristics of a vast and sparsely populated area.
In third place is Sudan, located in northeastern Africa, with a total area of 1.88 million square kilometers and a population of about 46 million people. Due to its weak economic foundation, backward industry and high dependence on foreign countries, Sudan is listed by the United Nations as one of the least developed countries in the world.
In second place is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in central Africa, with a total area of 2.34 million square kilometers and a population of about 95 million people. Despite its abundant mineral resources such as ** and diamonds, the economic development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still lagging behind due to technological limitations and insufficient development.
Algeria is located in northwest Africa, with a total area of 1.38 million square kilometers and a population of about 44.5 million. Although the country's topography is dominated by mountains and the Sahara Desert, which account for more than 85% of the country's land area, its abundant natural gas and oil resources have earned it the reputation of "North Africa's oil depot".
Finally, I would like to leave you with a small question: Do you know which is the smallest country in Africa? This question will lead us to a deeper understanding of the fascinating continent of Africa.