About National Parks
Africa is the ancient stage where humankind is believed to have evolved millions of years ago. Second only to Asia in size, much of Africa is rocky plateau covered by grasslands, with huge interior lakes feeding rivers such as the Nile, the world’s longest. The first great civilization in Africa arose 6,000 years ago on the banks of the lower Nile. The search for maritime trade routes opened Africa to Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Slavery and colonialism followed. Although illiteracy, poverty, disease, and civil strife plague much of the continent, Africa’s substantial natural resources offer hope.
Facts National Parks
- Africa covers one-fifth of the total land surface of the Earth and is the second largest continent after Asia.
- The Nile is the longest river in the world and flows through Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
- The world’s largest desert — larger than the continental United States — is also found in Africa.
- Humankind is thought to have originated in Africa about five million years ago.
- Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. It is found in Tanzania and rises 5,895 meters/19,340 feet.
- The largest number of lake-dwelling fish species in the world are found in Lake Malawi.
- The Sahara keeps growing! It is expanding southward at an average of 0.8 kilometers/0.5 miles a month.
Bonus Offer Downloads from National Geographic
Below are a few highlights of what’s available to you as a bonus offer with the purchase of PNY flash memory products. For access to the complete selection of bonus material, purchase any PNY product that bears the National Geographic bonus offer call out and within the packaging you will receive instructions to gain access to the complete catalog of downloads including: Images, Videos, Maps, Music, Ringtones, Games, Traveler, Adventure, and Books.
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BioBlitz
The National Geographic Society and the National Park Service have joined forces to bring BioBlitz to communities across the country. A BioBlitz is a 24-hour community event with the goal of motivating the public to better appreciate their natural surroundings, including the broad array of plants and animals that inhabit their local national parks. The 2010 BioBlitz will be held from April 30 to May 10, 2010, at Biscayne National Park in Florida. It will provide a unique opportunity, as this BioBlitz will be one of the first —if not the first— conducted in a marine environment due to the fact that Biscayne National Park is almost entirely underwater and features a range of natural communities found nowhere else within the National Park System.
Get More Information on BioBlitz.
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