Aafrika

Aafrika, also known as Africa in many languages, is the world's second-largest continent by land area and population. It covers about 30.37 million square kilometers and hosts roughly 1.4 billion people. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Geography and environment: The continent contains a wide range of environments, from the Sahara desert in the north to tropical rainforests in Central Africa and savannas in the east and south. The Congo Basin hosts Africa's largest rainforest; major river systems such as the Nile, Congo, and Niger shape settlements and agriculture. Notable geological features include the East African Rift and extensive coastal plains.

Population, languages, and culture: Africa is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and languages. Estimates place thousands of distinct languages across the continent, with lingua francs including Swahili, Arabic, French, English, and Portuguese. Religious landscapes are diverse, with significant populations of Islam, Christianity, and traditional beliefs. The continent shows considerable cultural variety in music, art, cuisine, and social structures, alongside rapid urbanization in many countries.

History and economy: Africa has ancient civilizations and empires, including Egypt and Nubia, with long-standing trade networks across the Sahara and beyond. In the 19th and 20th centuries, much of Africa experienced colonization by European powers, followed by independence movements after World War II. Today, African economies are diverse, rich in natural resources, agriculture, manufacturing, and services, and shaped by regional cooperation through organizations such as the African Union.