Africa

one of the three great divisions of the Old World, and the third in area of the five continents, lies nearly due S. of Europe and S. W. of Asia. It is of a compact form, being nearly equal at its extreme points in length and breadth. The N. section of the continent, however, has an average breatith of nearly double the 8S. This great change of form arises mostly from the greater projection of the upper part toward the W., and the transition on this side from the broad to the narrow section is effected suddenly by an inward turn of the W. coast, which faces S. for _ nearly 20° of longitude, forming the Gulf of Guinea, the greatest indentation of the coast.