What Region is South Africa In?
South Africa
Southern Africa is home to a number of river systems, the Zambezi River is the most prominent. The Tropic of Capricorn runs straight through the middle of the region, indicating that the southern portion of the continent is outside the tropics. South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, which lies mainly in Botswana, is an extensive desert region with an arid mixture of grasslands and sand. Southern Africa includes both type B and type C climates. Madagascar is included in this t does not share its cultural geography or biodiversity.
Demographics
Southern Africa has climates of both types B and C. The Tropic of Capricorn runs directly through the center of the region, indicating that the southern portion is outside of the tropics. There are several river systems in Southern Africa, including the Zambezi and Victoria Falls.
Many demographic characteristics of Southern African peninsular countries are shared with the rest of Africa. The continental region is vast, with numerous physical landscapes.
Southern Africa’s mainland region has extensive mineral deposits that provide resources for its countries to build national wealth. Different countries have taken different approaches to converting mineral deposits into wealth.
Location
Southern Africa is located along the Tropic of Capricorn and has a variety of climate zones, including tropical, desert, and moderate type C. South of the Tropic of Capricorn, where moderate climates prevail, there is extensive agricultural activity.
Colonialism Impact on the Region
Colonialism made its footprint on the region by creating borders and providing colonial names. The transition from colony to independent nation has caused political and economic difficulties. Many ethnic groups can be found in Southern Africa, ranging from the San in the Kalahari to the Zulu in the south.
South Africa redesigned its internal provincial boundaries in 1994. The two large former provinces of Cape in the south and Transvaal in the north were divided up into seven smaller units. The province of Orange Free State was changed to Free State and the province of Natal was changed to Kwazulu-Natal; both kept their main boundaries intact.
South Africa redrew its internal provincial boundaries in 1994. The large former Cape Province in the south, which had been a former British center of power, was divided into three smaller provinces. The large Transvaal Province in the north, which had been a center for Afrikaners, was divided into four smaller provinces. Orange Free State changed its name to Free State and Natal Province changed its name to Kwazulu-Natal. The changes were made based on the size and political management of the country that had come with the transfer of power when Mandela became president. The European colonial pattern of settlement was adjusted to represent a more South African pattern of political administration.
Swaziland has low mountains to the north with the grasslands and scrub forests of the savannas in the east and rain forests in the west. It is ruled by an absolute monarch, one of the last in the world. Political unrest has led to challenges to his rule. Reformers are pushing for modification of the government and for some element of democratic reform, but reforms are slow in materializing. The small country of Swaziland is about the size of the US state of New Jersey. There are more than one million people, and one-third of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS.
Southern Africa is located along the Tropic of Capricorn and is host to various climate zones, including tropical, desert, and moderate type C climates. Many ethnic groups can be found in Southern Africa, ranging from the San in the Kalahari to the Zulu groups to the south.
