Eastern Africa contains some of the most varied physical landscapes on the African continent. The region includes high mountains, deep valleys, large lakes, grasslands, forests, and dry areas. These differences affect vegetation, water availability, and the ways people use the land.
One important reason for this variety is topography, or the shape and elevation of the land. Much of Eastern Africa is influenced by the Great Rift Valley, a long system of valleys and faults created by movement in Earth’s crust. The Rift Valley extends through much of eastern Africa and has helped form mountains, valleys, and lakes. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa, rises within this broader region.
Water is also unevenly distributed. Eastern Africa contains some of Africa’s largest lakes, including Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. The Nile River system is connected to the region as well. These waterways provide water for people, agriculture, animals, and other human activities.
Other areas have much less available water. Rainfall varies greatly from place to place and from season to season. Some areas experience distinct rainy and dry seasons. Areas with less rainfall tend to have drier vegetation such as desert, semidesert, or steppe, while wetter areas can support forests and other dense vegetation.
These patterns help explain why vegetation varies so much across the region. The Horn of Africa contains extensive dry and semidry areas, while parts of the Great Lakes region receive more rainfall and contain more forests and productive agricultural land. Mountains and other changes in elevation also create local differences in temperature, rainfall, and vegetation.
Physical geography therefore influences where people can farm, graze animals, obtain water, and build communities. At the same time, human activities can change these environments. Farming, grazing, settlement, deforestation, and water use can alter vegetation and place additional pressure on land and water resources.