Topographical Map of Africa

A topographic map highlights hills, mountains and valleys of a specific land area by exaggerated shading rather than by using contour lines. This topography map clearly shows the flatness of the Sahara Desert, the depression that Lake Chad sits in, the high mountains of the Great Rift Valley, and it also highlights Lake Victoria, all but surrounded by mountains.

Great Rift Valley African Map

This is a slice of a larger topographical map that highlights the Great Rift Valley, a dramatic depression on the earth’s surface, approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 km) in length, extends from the Red Sea area near Jordan in the Middle East,, south to the African country of Mozambique. In essence, it’s a series of geological faults caused by huge volcanic eruptions centuries back, that subsequently created what we now call the Ethiopian Highlands, and a series of perpendicular cliffs, mountain ridges, rugged valleys and very deep lakes along its entire length. Many of Africa’s highest mountains front the Rift Valley, including Mount Kilimanjaro,Mount Kenya and Mount Margherita.

For additional detail view on many of the land locations of African countries, countries and their locations

Africa Satellite View Map

This NASA satellite view of Africa can be useful in many applications, including agriculture, geology, forestry, meteorology, intelligence and warfare. In addition, it’s a great education tool as it provides an overview of Africa, with the desert areas of the north, the central fertile areas and the varied topography of the southern regions of the continent are clearly visible.

Historical African Map 1570

Beautifully designed the map represents a high mark of 16th-century mapmaking, it shows Africa in a recognizable shape, with a more pointed southern cape. Madagascar appears, as do the place-names of numerous towns along the coasts and in the interior, although large empty spaces begin to dominate there. No animal or plant life is indicated, but the oceans contain swordfish and a whale. Three ships in the lower right are caught in the smoke of battle.  The map was designed by Abraham Ortelius who published the Theatrum, the worlds first atlas.