,

Neen, TE IEIIEIEEEEEEE EE

RELIEF FORMS OF THE CONTINENTS. 53

 

the plateaus of Abyssinia and Kajfa. The culmi-
nating point is probably to be found in the vol-
canic peaks of Kenia and Kilimandjaro, whose
estimated heights are taken at about 19,000: feet.
In the Abyssinian plateau, on the north, an aver-
age elevation of from 6000 to 8000 feet occurs.
Upon this, rising in detached groups, are peaks
the highest of which are over 15,000 feet.

From the Abyssinian plateau the system is con-
tinued northward to the Mediterranean by a suc-
cession of mountains which stretch along the
western shores of the Red Sea. Some of the
peaks are from 6000 to 9000 feet. South of the
plateau of Kaffa the system is continued by the
Lupata and Dragon Mountains to the southern
extremity of the continent. The Zambesi and
Limpopo Rivers discharge their waters into the
Indian Ocean through deep breaks in the system.

138. Secondary Systems.—On the south the
Nieuveldt and Snow Mountains stretch from east
to west, with peaks of over 10,000 feet.
Mountain is on the south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 53, Table Mountain,

On the west the Mocambe and Crystal Mountains
extend from the extreme south to the Gulf of
Guinea. Near the northern end of this range,
but separate from it, are the volcanic peaks of
the Cameroons Mountains, 13,000 feet high.

The Kong Mountains extend along the north-
ern shores of the Gulf of Guinea in a general
east-and-west direction. Some of the peaks are
snow-capped. In the;extreme north of Africa
are the Atlas Mountains, which rise from the
summit of a moderately elevated plateau. Some
of the peaks are 13,000 feet high.

139. The Great Intérior Depression north of
the equator is divided into two distinct regions.
A straight line extending from Cape Guardafui
to the northern shores of the Gulf of Guinea
marks the boundary. The mountain-systems |

Table .

 

north of this line have a general east-and-west
direction ; those south of it have a general north-
and-south direction.

The Plateau of the Sahara occupies the north-
ern part of the interior depression. Its general
elevation is about 1500 feet, though here and
there plateaus of from 4000 to 5000 feet occur,
and even short mountain-ranges with peaks of
6000 feet. The main portion of the region is cov-
ered with vast sand-fields, with occasional rocky
masses, and is one of the most absolute deserts
in the world.

   

Fig. 64, Desert of Sahara.

Near long. 14° E. from Greenwich, in the district of
Fezzan, the plateau is divided from north to south by a
broad valley. In this occur many remarkable depressions,
some of which are several hundred feet below the level of
the Mediterranean. Here fertile spots, called oases, are
common. ;

South of the Sahara is the Soudan, a remark-
ably well-watered and fertile region. Lake Tchad
occupies the greatest depression. The interior,
which lies south of this, is but little known. It
is probably a moderately elevated plateau. Ex-
tensive lake-basins—Albert and Victoria Nyan-
zas and Tanganyika—lie near the predominant
mountain-system.

140, Approximate Dimensions of Africa.

Area of continent, 12,000,000 square miles.

Coast line, 16,000 miles.

Greatest breadth from east to west, 4800 miles.

Greatest length from north to south, 5000 miles.

Culminating point, Mount Kenia, or Kilimandjaro,
about 19,000 feet. 7