Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects in Africa. Natural objects of the earth
Recently, ratings have become very popular. On the one hand, they seem to be conceived somehow primitive, PR and subjective. On the other hand, in my opinion, they help to structure large amounts of information and squeeze out a lot of water and information noise. I, too, decided to take aim at our William Shakespeare.
You could, of course, lighten up the topic with a catchy title like “10 must-see places in Africa” or something similar. But I won’t be like top bloggers :)
Naturally, the concept of “interesting” hints at the subjectivity of the list: what is interesting to one may be absolutely not interesting to another. Therefore, this is the most subjective, but unbiased list of African interesting things :)
The reasons why people travel to Africa can be divided into 3 components - animals, people and nature. For me, this is an axiom, which formed the basis of the list.
A unique place in Africa, and perhaps on the entire planet, where original tribes still remain, minimally affected by civilization. Mursi, Surma, Erbore, Hamer... Each tribe is unique in its way of life, traditions, and decorations of its own body. In the Omo Valley, it is as if you are traveling in a time machine many centuries, or even millennia, back to the primitive communal system.
Of course, the proximity to the benefits of civilization had an impact on the tribes of this part of Ethiopia. The war that lasted here for a considerable time also took its toll. Many men carry Kalashnikov assault rifles, for example, instead of spears and bows. The local population has already become accustomed to the fact that tourists are regularly brought to them, and have even learned to benefit from it. Don't expect to be able to photograph the exotic appearance of these proud sons of Africa for free. Every frame is taken into account and payment is inevitable :)
Perhaps the most popular national park in Africa, an icon of the Kenyan tourism industry, one of the best parks on the continent. The Masai Mara is often written in superlatives and, it should be noted, quite deservedly.
The park is like a continuation of the Serengeti, only on the territory of Kenya.
The Masai Mara is famous for its prides of lions, and in general it is one of best places in Africa to observe the big cat trio: lions, leopards and cheetahs.
And, of course, we should not forget about the great migration that takes place in the Masai Mara from July to October, when millions of wildebeest herds arrive in the park from Tanzania. at this time the most spectacular.
In general, we can say that none safari in Kenya
cannot be considered complete without the Masai Mara.
Kilimanjaro is the same symbol of Africa as Victoria Falls or the Cape of Good Hope, and, despite the fact that the mountain itself is located in Tanzania, the best and most picturesque view of it opens from national reserve Amboseli (Kenya). That is why even many Tanzanian travel websites and offline guides do not hesitate to illustrate articles about Kilimanjaro with photographs taken in Amboseli.
Elephants and Kilimanjaro, giraffes and Kilimanjaro, Masai and Kilimanjaro, African acacias and Kilimanjaro... If you want to add these subjects to your portfolio, then you are in .
The park is good in itself, there are all the big five, but it is Kilimanjaro that makes it special and unique.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tanzania
The highest concentration of wild animals in the world in their natural habitat. This argument immediately gives a head start and increases the attractiveness of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Animals here are separated from the rest of the world by the high slopes of the crater ancient volcano. As one client said: “Where will they go in a submarine” :)
Ngorongoro boasts the Big Five, and its relatively small size and confined space make the safari one of the most exciting in Africa.
Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda
Among the top three big waterfalls peace and that says it all.
Detailed solution paragraph § 27 on geography for 7th grade students, authors Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. 2017
Questions and tasks
1. Name the most significant geographical features South Africa.
Zambezi, Kalahari Semi-Desert, Drakensberg and Cape Mountains.
2. Using a comprehensive map, highlight the main types of economic activities in the countries of Southern Africa.
Agriculture and mining.
3. Name the main features of the nature and economy of South Africa.
South Africa is a country of diversity natural complexes and enormous natural resources. Most of the country is a flat plateau, which gradually rises in steps to the south and east, giving way to mountains. The country's territory is dominated by savannas. Natural conditions, as throughout South Africa, change not only from north to south, but also from east to west.
South Africa, with its wide variety of landscapes, has a very rich fauna. In many areas, hunting and fishing are still the main occupation of the local population. But with the arrival of Europeans, the number of wild animals decreased noticeably and many species almost disappeared. The number of herbivores has especially decreased - antelopes, zebras, giraffes, elephants, large black buffalos, and rhinoceroses. Lions and leopards have almost completely disappeared.
In order to preserve wild animals from complete extermination, as well as natural complexes in general, nature reserves and national parks have been created in South Africa. In the largest of them - national park Kruger - collected all species of animals found on the mainland.
Territories with fertile lands in the country belong to white farmers - owners of private agricultural enterprises. Farms widely use machinery and fertilizers and therefore receive high yields. They grow corn, wheat, beans, sugar cane, citrus fruits, cotton and other crops. Sheep and cattle farms are located on high plateaus with good pastures. Pasture farming occupies a very important place in agriculture.
The subsoil of South Africa is rich in a variety of minerals. This country is called a geological miracle. South Africa ranks one of the first places in the world in reserves and production of diamonds, gold, platinum, uranium and iron ores. The country's economy is dependent on British and American monopolists, who lead the development of mineral resources and receive huge profits.
There are many factories and factories in the country, and industry is developing rapidly.
4. Compare the nature, population and their economic activities of Northern and Southern Africa. What are the similarities and differences? Explain the reasons for the differences.
North Africa is part of the Middle East and is even sometimes included in it. North Africa is an undoubted and inseparable part of the Muslim Arab world, predominantly desert areas and it is inhabited mainly by Arabs, Berbers and other Semitic-Hamitic tribes, along with the traditional African population of Africa. South Africa is classic Africa except that it is more developed, along with North Africa, than other parts of Africa due to the larger white population there due to its mineral-rich lands.
GENERALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC
1. Name the main features of the surface structure of Africa. What explains them?
Based on the type of relief, Africa can be divided into two parts: low in the north and west, high in the east and south. The topography of the continent is dominated by plains and plateaus with heights from 200 to 1000 m, the largest territory of which is occupied by the East African and South African plateaus. Elevated areas of the continent alternate with basins, the largest of which are the Congo Basin and the Kalahari Basin. The highest parts of the mainland are the Ethiopian Highlands (up to 4500 m) and the Drakensberg Mountains (over 3000 m). Such features of the African relief can be explained by the fact that most of the continent was formed on the ancient Arabian-African platform; within the platforms, the relief is represented by plains. The Atlas, Cape and Drakensberg Mountains are confined to fold belts of different ages. In eastern Africa there is a large fault in the earth's crust - the continental rift. In the rift zone, heat flows escape and matter rises from the mantle; the resulting basins are occupied by lakes, along which volcanic cones rise. It is here that the highest peak in Africa is located - the Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m).
The well-known statement “Africa is the hottest continent” can be explained by the fact that the continent is located in the warmest climatic zones of the Earth (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical). Africa is located on both sides of the equator, within latitudes that receive significant amounts of solar radiation from 160 kcal/cm² to 200 kcal/cm². The temperature on the mainland is above +20⁰С throughout the year. The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the equator, since a belt of low atmospheric pressure is formed here, in which rising air currents form clouds saturated with moisture. The least amount of precipitation occurs in the tropical zone, where, on the contrary, in the zone of high atmospheric pressure the formation of clouds does not occur. The climate of the continental coasts is influenced by warm and cold currents.
2. What are the characteristics of the African climate? What do they depend on?
The climate features of Africa were formed as a result of the action of a system of various factors. Most of the continent is located between the tropics, and therefore the climate of Africa is characterized by high values of total solar radiation. Accordingly, a significant part of the continent has high temperatures, and therefore Africa is considered the hottest continent. There are areas where the air temperature sometimes exceeds 50°C.
In the latitudes of Africa, constant winds, the Trade Winds, dominate over the ocean, which significantly influence the distribution of precipitation. The southeast trade wind blows from Indian Ocean, therefore brings moist air masses. The Northeast Trade Wind is from Eurasia and causes dry weather. The southwestern ones are delayed by the Cape Mountains, which affect the redistribution of precipitation: coastal areas receive a large amount of it, while behind the mountains there is little precipitation.
Sea currents play a significant role in shaping the climate of the African coast. Therefore, low humidity is typical for the northwestern coast (due to the cold Canary Current), southwestern, eastern (Somalia). On the contrary, the western and southeastern coasts are well moistened due to warm currents (Guinea and Mozambique, respectively).
In the central part of the continent, the air warms up evenly throughout the year. Temperature fluctuations are clearly visible only in tropical and especially subtropical latitudes. The climate differs mainly in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Their greatest number occurs in the Equatorial regions: the Congo River basin (Zaire) and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea - 2000–3000 mm per year, and on the mountain slopes - up to 9000 mm. North of 20° Mon. w. and south of 18° S. w. The climate in Africa is tropical, in the Northern Hemisphere it is deserted and very dry. In the Sahara, precipitation decreases to 100 mm or less per year; Eastern Sahara is the driest region in Africa (10–20 mm of precipitation per year).
Africa lies within seven climate zones. Due to the fact that the equator cuts the continent in half, climatic conditions are mirrored from the equator to the edges of the continent. In Africa there are equatorial, two subequatorial and two tropical zones. The extreme southern and northern parts of the continent are located in subtropical zones.
The equatorial belt extends in a narrow strip along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and further inland to the eastern coast of Lake Victoria. In this belt all year round Constantly humid and uniformly hot equatorial air reigns. The air temperature here is high throughout the year: 26°С – +28°С. The total annual precipitation is more than 2000 mm, which is distributed evenly throughout the year.
3. List the main features of African rivers. Which of them depend on the terrain, which on the climate?
The longest river in the world is the Nile (6671 km). It begins on the East African Plateau and flows through Lake Victoria. In the upper reaches, the river, rushing down the gorges, forms rapids and waterfalls. Having reached the plain, it flows slowly and calmly and is called the White Nile. Near the city of Khartoum, the river merges with the waters of the largest tributary, the Blue Nile, flowing from the Ethiopian Highlands. After the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the river becomes twice as wide and receives the name Nile. In the middle course, the Nile cuts through a plateau composed of hard rocks, so there were rapids that interfered with navigation. Now, thanks to the dam built near Aswan, navigation conditions have been improved. In the lower reaches the river flows calmly. When it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, it forms a large delta, in the place of which several tens of thousands of years ago there was a bay of the Mediterranean Sea. The deepest and second longest river in Africa is the Congo (Zaire) (4320 km). In terms of water content and basin area, it is second only to the Amazon. The river crosses the equator in two places and is full of water all year round. Congo (Zaire) flows along the ledges of plateaus, so it has many rapids and waterfalls. Navigation is possible only in certain areas. The river, in contrast to the Nile, does not form a delta; its muddy fresh waters extend far into the Atlantic Ocean. The third largest river in Africa by length and basin area is the Niger. In its middle reaches it is a flat river, and in its upper and lower reaches there are many rapids and waterfalls. A significant part of the river crosses arid areas, so it is of great importance for irrigation; for this purpose, dams and irrigation canals were built on the river. The Zambezi is the largest of Africa's rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean. Here is one of the world's largest waterfalls - Victoria Falls. The river falls in a wide stream (1800 m) from a ledge 120 m high in a narrow gorge that crosses its bed.
The river's source is in the black swamp region of northwestern Zambia, among forested hills at an altitude of about 1,500 meters above sea level. To the east of the source there is a belt of hills with rather steep northern and southern slopes, lying between 11 and 12 degrees south latitude. The watershed between the Congo and Zambezi river basins runs along this belt. It clearly separates the Luapala River basin (the main tributary of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. In the vicinity of the source, the watershed is not clearly defined, but the two river systems are not connected. The Zambezi is a powerful river. Although the Zambezi ranks only fourth in Africa in terms of length, it ranks second in terms of annual flow and is second only to the Congo River. The Zambezi mainly receives its nutrition from heavy summer rains (at these latitudes, summer lasts from November to March). At other times of the year the river is much less full. The river regime is characterized by a rapid decrease in water level in March and a subsequent rise in November. In order to prove the relationship that exists between inland waters and relief, you need to trace the nature of the flow of rivers and the shape of lakes. Mountain rivers They differ from the plains in their fast flow, high banks, and the presence of rapids and waterfalls. Lake Tanganyika, located along the line of the Great African Rift, has an elongated shape in the meridional direction. The length of the lake is almost 10 times its width. The full flow of rivers and lakes and the regime of their filling with water depend on the nature of the climate. One of the main sources of nutrition for rivers and lakes is precipitation. Therefore, we can safely say that rivers and lakes located in the equatorial climate area are more full-flowing compared to rivers and lakes located within the tropical desert climate. Shallow Lake Chad, located within the subequatorial climate zone, periodically changes its shape, increasing and decreasing by half. This transformation is associated with the frequency of incoming water from the rivers flowing into the lake. Thus, we see a clear relationship that exists between relief, climate and inland waters.
Full water all year round (Congo), or dependence on rains in the lower reaches and high floods (Nile).
4. What natural areas predominate in Africa? What are their features and how do they explain them? Which zones have the most favorable nature for agriculture?
Africa is predominantly a flat continent. Mountain systems occupy only the northwestern (Atlas Mountains) and southern (Cape Mountains) outskirts of the mainland. Eastern Africa ( High Africa ) is occupied by the East African Plateau, which is highly uplifted and fragmented by crustal shifts. Here are the highest peaks of the continent - the giant extinct and active volcanoes Kilimanjaro, Kenya, etc. The peculiarities of the development of Africa determined the main features of the structure of its surface. Most of the continent is characterized by flat terrain with a wide development of planation surfaces from Permo-Carboniferous and Triassic to Neogene and even Quaternary with blocky and volcanic mountains protruding separately among them. Due to its geographical location (mostly in the hot zone of illumination), Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. Due to its geographical location (mostly in the hot zone of illumination), Africa is the hottest continent on Earth. It receives more solar heat and light than any other continent. It is the only continent that extends approximately equal distances from the equator into the northern and southern hemispheres. The sun stands high above the horizon throughout the year between the tropics, and twice a year it is at its zenith at any point. The main features of the climate are determined primarily by the position of the main part of the continent in tropical and equatorial latitudes. Against the backdrop of constantly high air temperatures, the main differences in the climate of individual regions are determined by the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season. In tropical latitudes there are huge deserts, closer to the equator there are areas of summer rains, in the equatorial zone precipitation falls throughout the year. Vast spaces experience an acute lack of moisture. The continental climate is especially pronounced in the northern part of Africa due to its large size and close proximity to Eurasia. The western shores of the continent in tropical latitudes are washed by cold currents - the Canary and Benguela, which cool the air above them so much that its lower layers to a height of about 500 m become noticeably colder than the overlying ones. This eliminates the possibility of the development of rising currents and precipitation. Therefore, along the western coasts in tropical latitudes lie oceanic deserts. The southeast coast, on the contrary, is washed by the warm Mozambique Current, which increases the instability of air masses and contributes to precipitation on the mountain slopes of Eastern and Southern Africa. Most of Africa is influenced by the trade wind circulation of both hemispheres. The northern hemisphere trade winds coming from land carry continental air with low relative humidity. The trade winds of the southern hemisphere, coming from the Indian Ocean, carry masses of moist, unstable air to the eastern edge of the continent. The distribution of the river network and flow across the continent is extremely uneven, which depends mainly on the difference climatic conditions, relief and nature of the rocks of certain areas. Along with areas that have a dense hydrographic network and large lakes, vast areas of Africa are almost or completely devoid of local river networks. Many rivers do not reach the ocean and end in inland drainage basins. Almost all the continent's rivers are fed by rain. Only in deserts and semi-deserts is their nutrition groundwater, and on high peaks The sources of the rivers in the Atlas Mountains and East Africa are also fed by meltwater from snow and glaciers. In the far north and south there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs, followed by zones of semi-deserts and deserts, savannas, variable and permanent wet forests. Latitudinal zoning is violated only in the mountains and highlands, but there are few of them on the mainland.
The nature of savannas is most favorable for agriculture. A distinctive feature of savannas is the alternation of dry and wet seasons, which take approximately six months, replacing each other.
5. Name some of the most outstanding natural sites in Africa.
Sahara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Victoria Falls, Nile River.
6. What natural resources does Africa have?
Crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, copper, diamonds, gold. chrome ore, tungsten, mica, silver, hydropower resources, fish, salt.
7. Give examples of changes in the nature of Africa by humans. What do you propose to stop the advance of deserts into savannas?
Back in the 19th century. Africa was presented as a continent of virgin nature. However, even then the nature of Africa was significantly changed by man. The area of forests, which had been uprooted and burned for arable land and pastures for centuries, has decreased. Especially great damage to the nature of Africa was caused by European colonialists. Hunting, carried out for profit, and often for sport, led to the mass extermination of animals. Many animals were completely destroyed (for example, some species of antelope, zebra), and the number of others (elephants, rhinoceroses, gorillas, etc.) was greatly reduced. Europeans exported expensive wood to their countries. Therefore, in a number of states (Nigeria, etc.) there is a danger of complete disappearance of forests. The territories in place of cleared forests were occupied by plantations of cocoa, oil palm, peanuts, etc. Thus, savannas were formed in place of equatorial and variable-humid forests (Fig. 59). The nature of primary savannas has also changed significantly. There are huge areas of plowed land and pastures here. Due to poor agricultural practices (burning, overgrazing, and cutting down trees and shrubs), savannas have been giving way to deserts for many centuries. Over the last half century alone, the Sahara has moved significantly south and increased its area by 650 thousand km2. The loss of agricultural land leads to the death of livestock and crops, and to starvation of people.
Stop cutting down forests, start planting vegetation, watering deserts, and streamline economic activities.
8. What do you think will happen to the boundaries of natural areas if measures are not taken to protect the nature of Africa?
The area of savannas and equatorial forests will decrease, and deserts, including the Sahara, will expand.
9. What maps will you use to describe the nature of Madagascar? What data can be obtained from each card?
Physical (relief), climatic (precipitation, average temperatures in January and July, currents), map of natural zones (vegetation, animals).
10. What peoples inhabit Africa and how are they distributed on the continent?
Africa is inhabited by a variety of peoples. Over the course of a long history, other peoples have been added to the indigenous inhabitants, whose origins are not connected with this continent. The colonization of Africa contributed to the resettlement of peoples living in the countries of Asia, Europe, and America. Arab peoples inhabit the north of the continent. The central and southern regions are inhabited by peoples of the Negroid race. Descendants of Europeans live in the north and south of the mainland: the French, the English, the Dutch.
11. What changes have occurred on political map Africa over the last 40–50 years? What do these changes indicate?
Many of the countries gained sovereignty. This indicates that peoples have received a chance to build their own states.
12. Name the African states you know and their capitals.
Algiers, capital Algiers. Ghana, capital Accra. Nigeria, capital Abuja. Ethiopia, capital Addis Ababa. Republic of South Africa, capital Pretoria. Egypt, capital Cairo, Tunisia, capital Tunisia.
13. Among the countries of Africa, distinguish those that are located on the plains and those that lie in the mountains.
On the plains are located: Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Algeria. The mountains are located in: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.
14. Which parts of Africa would you like to travel to? Why?
I would like to travel across the entire continent of Africa to see with my own eyes all the features, similarities and differences.
The people who lived not far from ancient Carthage were called “Afri” by the inhabitants of the city. From Phoenician the word afar means “dust”, and it is to this language that this name is attributed. When the Romans conquered Carthage, they named the province Africa. Later, regions that were known on this continent began to be called this way. And then the entire continent.
Another version says that the word has roots in the Berber word ifri, i.e. cave. This meant cave dwellers, the Afri people. Also, the Muslim province called “Ifriqiya”, which later arose in this place, also had the same root in its name.
I. Efremov, a famous writer and scientist, believed that the word “Africa” has roots in the ancient language Ta-Kem (“Afros” - foamy country, Egypt). This is due to the fact that when approaching the mainland in the Mediterranean Sea, several currents collide.
Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects of Africa
Gulf of Aden. Indian Ocean Gulf. It got its name from the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on an Arabic root meaning “settled life.” According to another interpretation, the name was formed by a term from the ancient Semitic-Hamitic languages edinu - plain, steppe, which clearly reflects natural features.
Azores. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese named Ilhas dos Azores - “islands of hawks” for the abundance of these birds off the coast and in the archipelago.
Amirant Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by Admiral Vasco's expedition to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "admiral's islands".
Augrabis.Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".
Ahaggar.mountain range in Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Ahaggar. The ethnonym is apparently based on the Arabic term “akhgar” - cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "dwellers of caves", "spirits of caves".
Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separates Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the Arabic words “bab” - gate, “mandib” - tears, i.e. means "gate of tears." The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.
White Nile.The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Blue River. The Arabic name for the Bahr el-Abyad river is “white river”. According to experts, the definition of "white" refers either to the cloudy color of the water or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.
Benguela Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given from the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means “land of reeds.”
Benue.Left tributary of the river Niger. The name comes from the Batta language, where be is “water”, nue is “mother”, i.e. means"mother of waters"
Bioko.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The Portuguese, having discovered Bioko, called it Formosa - "Beautiful" for the abundance of lush vegetation and the presence of fresh water. Later, the island was called Fernando Po in honor of the Portuguese discoverer, and in the 70s of the 20th century, Macias Nguema Biogo in honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.
Vaal. River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch Boer colonists for the color of the water: vaal - “muddy”, “gray”. The toponym is included in the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal - “beyond the Vaal”.
Wadi, wadi. The general name for the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - dry riverbed, valley.
Veld.The name of the arid plateaus in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of the Afrikaners), veld is a folk geographical term meaning "field".
Victoria.Lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingston in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speke. Therefore, at present, in young African countries located on the shores of the lake, other names are proposed: Umoja - “unity”, Uhuru - “freedom”, Shirikisho - “unification”, Uhuru na Umoja - the state motto of Tanzania, inscribed on the state coat of arms.
Victoria.Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named by him in honor of the Queen of Great Britain. Locals The waterfall is called Mosi-oa-Tunya - “thundering smoke”, or Seongo - “place of the rainbow”.
Virunga.Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name means "volcano" in the Nyoro language.
Volta.River in West Africa. The name Rio-da-Volta - "river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because... in the 15th century Their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. The Volta reservoir was created with the same name - one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2 ).
Guardafui.Cape in the east of the Somali Peninsula. Scientists believe that the name is derived from the Arabic corruption of the Portuguese word guardafu - “beware”, which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that there is a magnetic mountain at the very eastern tip of the Somali peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, ships approaching it crashed against the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. With strong winds, high waves, and poor visibility, ships were often carried onto the peninsula and crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "guardafuy" was a warning to sailors who sailed past this cape.
Gulf of Guinea.Gulf of the Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. Named after the historical and geographical region of Guinea, washed by it. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is based on the name of the Berber tribe Kinawa (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the Kinawa region in the 13th century). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym was formed by the Berber words “agvinau” - “black” or “iguaven” - “mute” (i.e., those who do not know the Berber language) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later Europeans corrupted the original word into Gunua, Ginua and finally Guinea.
Strait of Gibraltar.Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named after the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side of the strait. The modern form of the name of the rock arose as a result of centuries of use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - “mountain of Tariq”.
Blue Nile.The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia the river is called Abbay - "father of waters", and in Arab countries Bahr el-Azraq - "blue river". The color name, according to some scientists, reflects the color of the water in the river, carrying bluish silt.
Good Hope. Cape in southern Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named by him Cabo Tormentoso - “Cape of Storms”. King João II of Portugal did not like the name and, at his behest, the cape was renamed Cabo da Bona Esperanza - “Cape of Good Hope”, meaning the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that B. Dias immediately named the cape after Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, this hypothesis cannot be proven or refuted due to the lack of sources contemporary with Dias’ voyage.
Drakensberg Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonialists, Harrow Drakenstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - “dragon”, stein - “stone”.
Zambezi.River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on maps was conveyed in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local Bantu languages means “big river”. The name of the river in the middle reaches in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym, has the same meaning.
Zanzibar.An island in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian term “bar” - “shore”, “edge” and the ethnonym “zinj”, which is based on the Arabic or Persian “zang”, “zeng” - “black”. Zinji is a collective name for the Negroid tribes of East Africa in medieval Muslim literature.
Cape Verde.Located on the peninsula of the same name east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - “Cape Verde”, because. was the first land that sailors saw covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.
Cape Verde Island.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after metro Zeleny, opposite which it is located. The transfer of the name of the islands into other languages is accepted in the form of translation, in contrast to the name of the state located on them.
Needle.Cape, the southernmost tip of Africa. Discovered in 1488 by B. Dias and named by him Cabo Sao Brandao - Cape St. Brandan, because. the discovery took place on the day of this saint. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was put on maps under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the basis of the name as the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha meaning “peak”, “peak”. Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as “Cape of Peaks”, and the reason is a rocky cape.
Idi-Amin-Dada; Edward.Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Edward after the Crown Prince of Great Britain. In 1971, President Idi Amin Dada came to power in Uganda, and the lake was named after him. To this day, both names have been preserved for the reservoir.
Canary Islands.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Spain. The islands are known in ancient times under the Latin name Insulas Fortunatae. The Spaniards who visited the archipelago at the beginning of the 15th century called them islas Canarias - “islands of dogs”. According to one version, the sailors saw a large number of dogs on the shores of the islands, which was the reason for the appearance of the toponym. According to another version, the archipelago was named after the main island of Gran Canaria. and the island - by fairyland Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.
Kenya.Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Maasai term “kee-niya” - “white mountain” as the basis of the toponym, which is associated with the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.
Livingston Falls. Located in the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scotsman by birth, D. Livingston.
Limpopo.River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch Boer colonists called the river Krokodil River - “Crocodile River” for the abundance of these reptiles in its waters.
Madeira.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because. was indeed covered with forests, which were later completely cut down. The earliest names for the archipelago: among the Carthaginians Al-Agnam - “island of goats” (for the abundance of these animals), among the Romans Insulae Purpurinae - “islands of purple” (for the dye mined there).
Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distortion by the Portuguese and other Europeans of the Berber name of the river N "Egiren - "river". In different parts of the flow it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Jolib - "big water"; in the middle and lower Kuara - "river", Issa Bari - "great river"; Mayo - "river". Modern toponymists consider the explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning "black" from European languages to be incorrect.
Nile.The longest river in Africa. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is “hidden” (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called it Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "the river". The toponym Nile in the form Neilos was first found among the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one version, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term “nagal” - “river”, modified by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed the word lil - “water” from the Libyan tribes, distorting it into nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.
Nubian desert. Located in northeast Africa. Named after the historical region of Nubia, located between the Nile cataracts. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word “nuba” - “gold”. In ancient times, there were the largest mines here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.
Orange.River in South Africa. The Hottentots called her Kai Garib - big river, Dutch Boer settlers of Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often named objects (rivers, lakes) based on the color of the water or shore. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to it by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland), the Boers, in honor of the Princes of Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. With someone's light hand, and perhaps through transformation, the name Oranskaya turned into Orange.
Sao Tome.Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It was discovered by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (St. Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.
Somalia.Peninsula in eastern Africa. Named after the Somali people, who live in large parts of it. The ethnonym comes from the Cushitic languages and means “dark”, which is associated with the skin color of the people. Ptolemy (2nd century) called the peninsula the Southern Horn (nowadays the Horn of Africa is sometimes found). The cold current in the Indian Ocean is named after the peninsula - the Somali.
Tristan da Cuña.Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Tristan da Cunha and named after him.
Etymology of the names of physical and geographical objects of Africa
Gulf of Aden. Indian Ocean Gulf. It got its name from the city of Aden in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. According to one version, the toponym is based on an Arabic root meaning “settled life.” According to another interpretation, the name was formed by a term from the ancient Semitic-Hamitic languages edinu - plain, steppe, which clearly reflects natural features.
Azores. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. The Portuguese named Ilhas dos Azores - “islands of hawks” for the abundance of these birds off the coast and in the archipelago.
Amirant Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Discovered by Admiral Vasco's expedition to Gama and named after him llhas de Almitante - "admiral's islands".
Annobon. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Named by the Portuguese Anno Bon - “Good Year” (New Year), because They first set foot on the island on January 1, 1474.
Atlas. Atlas Mountains. In northwest Africa. The name has a direct connection with the name of the mythical titan Atlas, who holds the earth's firmament on his mighty shoulders. The ancient Greeks deified these mountains, worshiping the mountain spirit in the form of a petrified giant supporting the Earth. So says the legend. Apparently, this was facilitated by a possible primary source from (the Berber word "adrar", which means "mountain"
Augrabis. Waterfall on the river Orange. The name comes from the Hottentot aukrebis - "big noise".
Afar. Tectonic depression in Djibouti. The lowest place in Africa (-153 m sea level). The name is given by the name of the Afar people living in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Ahaggar. Mountain range in Central Sahara. The name comes from the name of the Tuareg tribe Kel-Ahaggar. The ethnonym is apparently based on the Arabic term “akhgar” - cave, i.e. "ahaggar" - "dwellers of caves", "spirits of caves".
Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Separates Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the Arabic words “bab” - gate, “mandib” - tears, i.e. means "gate of tears." The toponym-metaphor reflects the difficult navigation conditions in the strait.
White Nile. The name of the middle course of the Nile before the confluence of the Blue River. The Arabic name for the Bahr el-Abyad river is “white river”. According to experts, the definition of "white" refers either to the cloudy color of the water or corresponds to an unknown color orientation.
Benguela Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. The name is given from the city of Benguela in Angola: in one of the Bantu languages, benguela means “land of reeds.”
Benue. Ley tributary of the river Niger. The name comes from the Batta language, where be is “water”, nue is “mother”, i.e. means
"mother of waters"
Bioko. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The Portuguese, having discovered Bioko, called it Formosa - "Beautiful" for the abundance of lush vegetation and the presence of fresh water. Later, the island was called Fernando Po in honor of the Portuguese discoverer, and in the 70s of the 20th century, Macias Nguema Biogo and the honor of the President of Equatorial Guinea. Bioko is a modified name, so it is difficult to call the true meaning.
Bush. The general name for the bush formations of South Africa. The Dutch and English geographical term bush is "shrub".
Vaal. River, right tributary of the river. Orange, The name was given by the Dutch Boer colonists for the color of the water: vaal - “muddy”, “gray”. The toponym is included in the name of one of the provinces of South Africa - Transvaal - “beyond the Vaal”.
Wadi, wadi. The general name for the channels of temporary watercourses in North Africa, filled with water only during the rainy season. The Arabic geographical term "wadi", "wedd" - dry riverbed, valley.
Veld. The name of the arid plateaus in southern Africa. In Dutch and Afrikaans (the language of the Afrikaners), veld is a folk geographical term meaning "field".
Victoria. A lake in East Africa, the largest on the mainland. Unlike Victoria Falls, named by D. Livingston in honor of the Queen of Great Britain, the name of Lake Victoria was given by the traveler D. Speke. Therefore, at present, in the young African countries other names are proposed: Umoja - “unity”, Uhuru - “freedom”, Shirikisho - “unification”, Uhuru na Umoja - the state motto of Tanzania, inscribed on the coat of arms of the state.
Victoria. Waterfall on the river Zambezi. It was discovered by the outstanding English traveler David Livingston and named by him in honor of the Queen of Great Britain. Locals call the waterfall Mosi-oa-Tunya - “thundering smoke”, or Seongo - “place of the rainbow”.
Virunga. Volcanic mountains in East Africa. The name means "volcano" in the Nyoro language.
Volta. River in West Africa. The name Rio-da-Volta - "river of return" was given by the Portuguese, because... in the 15th century Their ships stopped at the mouth of the river before returning to their homeland. In Ghana on the river. Volta, a reservoir of the same name was created - one of the largest in the world (8480 km 2).
Guardafui. Cape in the east of the Somali Peninsula. Scientists believe that the name is derived from the Arabic corruption of the Portuguese word guardafu - “beware”, which is associated with dangerous navigation conditions. There has long been a legend that there is a magnetic mountain at the very eastern tip of the Somali peninsula, which attracts the iron parts of ships approaching it. As a result, ships approaching it crashed against the rocks. In fact, this is the narrowest shelf zone. With strong winds, high waves, and poor visibility, ships were often carried onto the peninsula and crashed on the coastal reefs. The word "guardafuy" was a warning to sailors who sailed past this cape.
Gulf of Guinea. Gulf of the Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Africa. Named after the historical and geographical region of Guinea, washed by it. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym Guinea. According to one of them, the name is based on the name of the Berber tribe Kinawa (the Arab scientist Ibn-Yakut mentioned the Kinawa region in the 13th century). Another point of view is based on the fact that the toponym was formed by the Berber words “agvinau” - “black” or “iguaven” - “mute” (i.e., those who do not know the Berber language) and referred to the territory inhabited by black tribes. Later Europeans corrupted the original word into Gunua, Ginua and finally Guinea.
Strait of Gibraltar. Separates Africa from the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Named after the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side of the strait. The modern form of the name of the rock arose as a result of centuries of use and transformation of the primary Arabic Jebel el-Tariq - “mountain of Tariq”.
Blue Nile. The largest tributary of the Nile. In Ethiopia, the river is called Abbay - “father of waters”, and in Arab countries Bahr el-Azraq - “blue river”. The color name, according to some scientists, reflects the color of the water in the river, carrying bluish silt.
Good Hope. Cape in southern Africa. It was discovered in 1488 by the Portuguese navigator B. Dias and named by him Cabo Tormentoso - “Cape of Storms”. King João II of Portugal did not like the name and, at his behest, the cape was renamed Cabo da Bona Esperanza - “Cape of Good Hope”, meaning the hope of achieving a fabulously rich and attractive India for Europeans. Some historians believe that B. Dias immediately named the cape after Good Hope, and the above version is only a historical legend. However, this hypothesis cannot be proven or refuted due to the lack of sources contemporary with Dias’ voyage.
Drakensberg Mountains. Located in South Africa. It is assumed that the mountains are named after one of the European colonialists, Harrow Drakenstein. Etymologically, the surname consists of two words: draken - “dragon”, stein - “stone”.
Zambezi. River in South Africa. Previously, the name of the river on maps was conveyed in a variety of ways; Ambezi, Luambezi, Liambey, etc. According to modern toponymists, the primary form of the name is Ambezi (or Ambey), which in local Bantu languages means “big river”. The name of the river in the middle reaches in the Tonga language - Murongo-Mucuri, which is a tracing paper of the main toponym, has the same meaning.
Zanzibar. An island in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The toponym comes from the Persian term “bar” - “shore”, “edge” and the ethnonym “zinj”, which is based on the Arabic or Persian “zang”, “zeng” - “black”. Zinji is a collective name for the Negroid tribes of East Africa in medieval Muslim literature.
Cape Verde. Located on the peninsula of the same name east of Cape Almadi. Named in 1445 by the Portuguese D. Dias Cabo Verde - “Cape Verde”, because. was the first land that sailors saw covered with tropical flora, which contrasted sharply with the sands of the Sahara.
Cape Verde Island. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after metro Zeleny, opposite which it is located. The transfer of the name of the islands into other languages is accepted in the form of translation, in contrast to the name of the state located on them.
Needle. Cape, the southernmost tip of Africa. Discovered in 1488 by B. Dias and named by him Cabo Sao Brandao - Cape St. Brandan, because. the discovery took place on the day of this saint. However, the name was soon changed, and the cape was put on maps under the name Agulhas - Agulhas. The word agulha in Portuguese means "needle", "arrow". Modern toponymists see the basis of the name as the Portuguese metaphorical term agulha meaning “peak”, “peak”. Based on this, the toponym is interpreted as “Cape of Peaks,” and the reason for the nomination was the sharpness of the rocky cape.
Idi-Amin-Dada; Edward. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. and named Edward after the Crown Prince of Great Britain. In 1971, President Idi Amin Dada came to power in Uganda, and the lake was named after him. To this day, both names have been preserved for the reservoir.
Kabarega. Waterfall and national park on the river. Victoria Nile in Uganda. The waterfall was discovered in the 19th century. and named Murchison in honor of Rodrick Murchison, an eminent geologist and president of the Royal Geographical Society of London. In 1962, it was renamed in honor of the national hero of Uganda, the fighter against the British colonialists Kabarega Chwa II.
Kalahari. Semi-desert region in South Africa. The toponym is based on a geographical term from the Hottentot language karaha - “terrain of sand and stone”. The interpretation of the name from the Tswana language, which was widespread in the past, where karri-karri - “thirst-tormented” or “tormenting”, is now recognized by toponymists as unlikely. The Dutch Boer settlers called the semi-desert Bosjeveld - “field of thorny bushes”, which reflected the specifics of the vegetation.
Cameroon. Volcanic massif in Equatorial Africa. The Portuguese merchant-slave trader Fernand Gomiz, sailing past the coast of Africa in the equatorial waters of the Gulf of Guinea, noticed a high mountain that he wanted to know more about. He sent a detachment of daredevils into the interior of the mainland. On the way, they encountered an obstacle in the form of a small river with clean, clear water, which was very useful, since they needed to replenish their supplies of drinking water. Having filled the barrels with tasty water, the sailors saw an abundance of crabs in the river, after which, for fun, they caught crabs and shrimp and brought them to the ship. And the river flowing in close proximity to the mountain was named Rio des Camaroеs (Camarues), which is translated from Portuguese as “river of crabs.” At the same time, Mount Cameroon received this name, and later the state was named this way. Locals have long had a superstitious fear of Cameroon's snowy volcanic peak and call it "Maongo ma Loba", which means "heavenly mountain" or "god's mountain".
Canary Islands. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Spain. The islands were known in ancient times under the Latin name Insulas Fortunatae. The Spaniards who visited the archipelago at the beginning of the 15th century called them islas Canarias - “islands of dogs”. According to one version, the sailors saw a large number of dogs on the shores of the islands, which was the reason for the appearance of the toponym. According to another version, the archipelago was named after the main island of Gran Canaria. and the island is based on the fabulous country of Canaria, mentioned in medieval European legends.
Canary Current. Cold current in the Atlantic Ocean. Named after the Canary Islands.
Cape Mountains. Located in southern Africa. They are named after the Cape Colony founded by the Dutch, which received its name from its original location on the Cape of Good Hope (Dutch Kaar - “cape”). With the expansion of the colony, the name extended to the mountains. Folk etymology connects the toponym with the Dutch kaar - “profit”, i.e. the colony was allegedly named so because it brought a lot of income to the treasury. However, there is no scientific evidence for this interpretation.
Karoo. The general name for semi-desert plateaus and intermountain depressions in South Africa. The name is based on the Hottentot geographical term karusa - “dry”, “waterless”, modified by the Boers, which clearly reflects the natural conditions.
Kenya. Volcanic massif in East Africa. Toponymists see the Maasai term “kee-niya” - “white mountain” as the basis of the toponym, which is associated with the presence of glaciers and snow on the top of the mountain.
Kilimanjaro. Volcanic massif in East Africa. The highest point of the continent. Scientists associate the origin of the name Kilimanjaro with a word from the Swahili language distorted by Europeans, meaning “mountain of the god of cold,” or, according to another version, “mountain that shines.”
Comoros Islands. Archipelago in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean. The islands have been known to the Arabs since the 8th century; it was they who named the archipelago Jezair al-Komr - “Islands of the Moon”, which was associated with the spread of the cult of this luminary. The Portuguese borrowed the Arabic name in a distorted form, Compos, which was fixed on European maps.
Congo; Zaire. River in Equatorial Africa. The mouth of the river was discovered in the 15th century. the Portuguese D. Kahn and named it Rio da Padrao - “padran river” (padran is a stone pillar that the Portuguese erected in honor of discoveries, carving on it the coat of arms, the name of the king and the discoverer). The name was not fixed, and the river was renamed Congo - that was the name of the country and the people who lived in it before the arrival of Europeans. Local residents call the river differently in different parts of its course: Nzadi or Nzari - “river that absorbs all others” or “great river” (the distorted form Zaire appeared from this name), Zembere - “mother of waters”; Kulla means "great water", and in the upper reaches Lualaba means "great rea".
Red sea. The sea of the Indian Ocean between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In Ancient Egypt it was called the Great Green, later - the Arabian Gulf, among the Greeks Pelagos Erythre ("erythros" - "red"), from where it came into European languages in translated form. There are several versions of the origin of the toponym. According to one of them, the name was given for the red tint of the water in the sea. Another version is based on the ancient color orientation of the peoples of the East, where the south was designated red. Another variant of interpretation of the toponym was noted - from the ethnic name of the ancient Hamarite tribe, which meant “red”.
Kruger. National park in South Africa. Named in honor of Stefanus Kruger - President of the Boer Republic of Transvaal: commander of the Boer army in the war with Great Britain 1899-1902.
Libyan desert. Located in the Sahara. The name is given from the ancient name of Africa - Libya, which comes from the ethnonym "libu".
Livingston Falls. Located in the lower reaches of the river. Congo (Zaire). Named in honor of the outstanding explorer of Africa, a Scotsman by birth, D. Livingston.
Limpopo. River in South Africa. The etymology of the name is unknown. Dutch Boer colonists called the river Krokodil River - “Crocodile River” for the abundance of these reptiles in its waters.
Mauritius. Island in the Indian Ocean. The Dutch, having captured the island, named it Mauritius - Mauritius in honor of the Dutch prince Mauritius (Mauritius; Maurice) of Orange.
Maghreb. The common Arabic name for north-west Africa since the early Middle Ages: "Maghreb" - west.
Madagascar. Island in the Indian Ocean. Known to Arab sailors as Jezira al-Komr - “the island of the Moon”, which is associated with the cult of this luminary. In the 16th century The Portuguese named the island Sao Lourenzo - St. Lawrence, because saw the land of Madagascar on the day of this saint. The French, having conquered the island in the 19th century, called it Ile Dauphine - “the island of the Dauphin” (i.e., the heir to the throne). The Malagasy call their homeland Nossi Damba - "island of wild boars" or Tani-Be - "great". The toponym Madagascar in the distorted form Madeigaskar was first found by Marco Polo (13th century). According to scientists, it is based on the ethnic name Malagasy, as the inhabitants of the island are now called.
Madeira. Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Belongs to Portugal. Named by the Portuguese Maderia - Forest, because. was indeed covered with forests, which were later completely cut down. The earliest names for the archipelago: among the Carthaginians Al-Agnam - “island of goats” (for the abundance of these animals), among the Romans Insulae Purpurinae - “islands of purple” (for the dye mined there).
Manyara. National park in Tanzania. Named after the lake. Manyara, around which it is located. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.
Mascarene Islands. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Opened in the 16th century. by the Portuguese expedition of Pedro de Mascarenhas (Mascarenhas) and named in his honor.
Mobutu-Sese-Seko. Lake in East Africa. Opened in the 19th century. by the British and named Albert in honor of the husband of Queen Victoria. In 1973, it was renamed in honor of the President of Zaire, Mobutu Ssse Seko. Locals call the pond Mbutan Nzighe - "pond of dead shells" for the abundance of shellfish on the banks, or Nyasa - a geographical term for "lake" in Bantu languages. Perhaps one of these names will become the new official one, due to the death of President Mobutu.
Mozambique Channel. Divides Africa and Fr. Madagascar. Named after the state of Mozambique. The name of the warm Mozambique Current in the Indian Ocean has a similar origin.
Nakuru. National park in Kenya. Named after the lake. Nakuru, within the limits of which it was created. The etymology of the hydronym is unknown.
Namib. Desert in southwest Africa. There are two versions of the origin of the toponym from the languages of the Hottentot tribes. According to one of them, namib means “shield”; on the other - “that which is bypassed” (dangerous, lifeless). The second interpretation reflects the complexity of natural conditions in the desert,
Nasser. Reservoir on the river Nile in Egypt. Named after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, during whose reign the reservoir was created and the Aswan Dam was built.
Ngorongoro. Reserve in Tanzania. Named after the volcano. Ngorongoro, in whose crater it is located. Etymology unknown.
Niger. River in West Africa. The name is a distortion by the Portuguese and other Europeans of the Berber name of the river N "Egiren - "river". In different parts of the flow it has different names in local languages: in the upper reaches of Jolib - "big water"; in the middle and lower Kuara - "river", Issa Bari - "great river"; Mayo - "river". Modern toponymists consider the explanation of the name from the word niger in the meaning "black" from European languages to be incorrect.
Nile. The longest river in Africa and the world. The oldest form of the name of the river Aur is “hidden” (i.e., with an unknown source). The Egyptians called it Hapi in honor of the god of fertility and harvest. Modern Arabs call the river El-Bahr - "the river". The toponym Nile in the form Neilos was first found among the ancient Greeks. The Romans borrowed it as Nilus. According to one version, the toponym is based on the ancient Semitic term “nagal” - “river”, modified by the Greeks. According to another version, the Greeks borrowed the word lil - “water” from the Libyan tribes, distorting it into nil. Philologists note the possibility of such a transformation.
Nubian desert. Located in northeast Africa. Named after the historical region of Nubia, located between the Nile cataracts. The toponym is based on the ancient Egyptian word “nuba” - “gold”. In ancient times, there were the largest mines here, from where gold came to the palace of the pharaohs.
Nyasa; Malawi. Lake in East Africa. The toponym is formed by a folk geographical term from the Bantu languages nyasa - “lake”. In the Republic of Malawi, the lake is officially called Malawi after the main people of this country.
Orange. River in South Africa. The Hottentots called it Kai Garib - Big River, and the Dutch Boer settlers called it Groat River with the same meaning. At all times, people often named objects (rivers, lakes) based on the color of the water or shore. But the name of the Orange River has nothing to do with color. This name was given to it by settlers from the Netherlands (Holland), the Boers, in honor of the Princes of Orange - the then rulers of the Netherlands. With someone's light hand, and perhaps through transformation, the name Oranskaya turned into Orange.
Principe. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. Opened in the 15th century. Portuguese expedition and named Principi - “first”, because. was the first island discovered by this expedition. According to another version - "prince".
Reunion. Island in the Indian Ocean. Named at the end of the 18th century by the French Reunion - “Connection”, because the inhabitants of the island decided to unite with Fr. Mauritius into a single administrative district. The name changed several times: in the 16th century. Portuguese Santa Apollonia (in honor of St. Apollonia), in the 19th century. - Bonapart (in honor of Napoleon), Ile de Bourbon - “Bourbon Island” (in honor of the dynasty of kings). Since 1848 - Reunion again.
Rwenzori. Mountain range in East Africa. The height of the mountains is reflected in their name: in local Bantu languages ruwenzori - “lord of the clouds”. The national park in Uganda is also named after the mountains.
Savannah. Borrowed by the Spaniards at the end of the 15th century. from the language of the Carib (or Arawak) Indians, where sabana means “high grass plain”, “open space”. General name for the zonal type of landscape.
Sao Tome. Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It was discovered by the Portuguese on the day of St. Thomas (St. Thomas) and named Sao Tome in his honor.
Sahara. Desert in North Africa. The name is formed by the Arabic geographical term "sahara" - "desert" in the plural form, i.e. Sahara - "desert". According to philologists, the term is based on the Arabic “askhar” - “reddish”, which reflects the dominant color and color background of the desert.
Sahel. A strip of semi-deserts and deserted savannas in North Africa. The name was given by the Arabs in the Middle Ages; "Sahel" - "coast", "edge", "border", or more precisely - "desert coast".
Saint Helena island. Located in the Atlantic Ocean. Opened by the Portuguese on St. Helena and named after her. It gained worldwide fame as the place of exile and death of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Seychelles. Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Named in the 18th century. by the French in honor of the Minister of Finance Moreau de Setelle (Seychelles)
Senegal. River in West Africa. According to one version, the toponym is based on the name of the Berber tribe Senega, go Sankhaya. Other toponymists believe that the name of the ancient city of Senegane was transferred to the river. In the past, the toponym was explained as “navigable”, but due to the lack of evidence, modern scientists do not consider this option.
Serengeti. National park in Tanzania. Named after the Serengeti plateau, within which it is located. The toponym is based on the term from the Maasai language serenget - “space”, which fully corresponds to geographical realities - vast savannas on the plateau.
Socotra. Island in the Indian Ocean. The name of the island was given by Indian sailors: Dwipa Sakhadara - “the island of the harbinger of good luck.” Later this name reflected the importance of the island as the most important junction point in the ancient sea routes from India to the west, transformed under the influence of Arabic into Socotra.
Africa Objects of geographical nomenclature. 7th grade Authors and compilers: Team “Astyr” (Astyrov Secondary School), team “Researchers” (Secondary School 118), team “Seeker” (Siberian Secondary School), team “Positiff” (Sherbakul Secondary School 1), organizers of the project “Fascinating Toponymy”
List of objects of nomenclature Seas: Mediterranean, Red.MediterraneanRed Gulfs: Guinea, Aden.GuineaAden Straits: Gibraltar, Bab el-Mandeb, Mozambique, Suez Canal.GibraltarBab el-Mandeb MozambiqueSuez Canal Islands: Madagascar, Canary.MadagascarCanary Semi island: Somalia. Somalia Landforms: mountains: Atlas, Drakensberg, Cape; East African Plateau, Ethiopian Highlands; volcanoes: Kilimanjaro, Kenya.AtlasDraconic CapeEast African PlateauEthiopian HighlandsKilimanjaro Kenya Rivers: Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi, Victoria Falls, Orange, Limpopo, Senegal.NileCongo NigerZambezi Victoria FallsOrangeLimpopoSenegal Lakes: Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika, Chad .VictoriaNyasaTanganyika Chad
Red Sea Sea of the Indian Ocean, between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The name is associated with the color orientation of the peoples of the East, according to which the southern side was designated red. For ancient Assyria and Babylon, in the south was the entire western part of the Indian Ocean, which was called Rubrugi, i.e. "Red Sea". Content
Strait of Gibraltar A strait between the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Africa, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Phoenicians were known as the “pillars of Hercules.” In the 8th century The rock on the shore of the strait began to be called Gibraltar in Spanish - “Mount Tariq”, and in Russian - Gibraltar. The strait is named after her. Content
The Orange River in southern Africa flows into the Atlantic Ocean. He examined the river and put it on the map in 1777 - 1779. Scottish officer R. Gordon. He also assigned the name in honor of the Dutch Oran dynasty - “Oran River”, but the Dutch oranje also means “orange”. Therefore, when translating the name into Russian, a mistake was made. This name has taken root in Russia. Content
Search
We can notify you about new articles,