The Countries of North Africa - Overview

When most people think of "Africa," they think of safaris, malaria, grubs, lions, zebras and giraffes. There is a section of Africa that is more Middle Eastern than typically African. It's the Northern section. This little thing called the Sahara Desert separates what we typically think of Africa and the northern, more Middle Eastern Africa. It's full of ancient history (Egypt, for instance - yes, African country) . People define the section called "North Africa" differently, but I want to share a few things about the countries of North Africa in the next few blog posts. Did you realize Egypt was an African country? Is it surprising that these countries are more "Middle Eastern" than "African?"

                                            

•  North Africa is 2,400 miles across (the US is about 3,000 miles across)
• Population: approx. 168 Million
• Mediterranean Sea to the North
• Sahara Desert is to the South
• Atlantic Ocean is the Western Boundary
• Red Sea is the Eastern Boundary
• Climate: summers are hot and dry, winters are mild and rainy