Africa at a glance

Africa, the second-largest continent, is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is divided in half almost equally by the Equator. The continent includes the islands of Cape Verde, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros. It is also considered the birthplace of humankind. Its landscapes range from vast deserts like the Sahara to dense rainforests, savannas teeming with wildlife, and major rivers like the Nile.