Population.

The population of the Rhinelands is far more than that of East Africa. Even the population density of East Africa is rather low and is about 20 people per sq. km, except in the Lake region and the highland areas where the population density goes as high as 200 persons per sq. km.

The population density of the Rhinelands is generally high and the region has Europe's most densely populated countries, Belgium and Netherlands with an average of more than 320 people per sq. km.

Surburbs of cities like this one of Nairobi have a very high population

Wealth:

The people of the Rhine lands are generally rich. The income per capita of those countries is among the highest in the world. People therefore enjoy a high standard of living unlike East Africa where most of the people are very poor. For many years, the income per capita of the three countries has been around 360 dollars per annum.

A typical African village in Southern Tanzania

Most of the people are very poor with the per capita income being below 1000 dollars.

In terms of unity and language, the people of the Rhinelands are generally more united than East Africans. They refer to themselves as the Dutch, Germanys and Swiss. They have a small number of regional languages, while East African countries have more than 250 different tribes each speaking a language the other cannot understand. This is also a hinderance to the unity because there is the practice of tribalism.

Relief:

The relief of East Africa is dominated by plateaus made of old basement rocks and over some places there are volcanic peaks. The rocks of the Rhine lands are generally young. However, both areas have been affected by volcanic action and glaciation at varying degrees.

In East Africa vulcanism has been more effective in terms of land formation and development of soils while in the Rhinelands glaciation is more common and responsible for landforms, soils and different economic activities.

Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, lies in northeastern Tanzania near the border of Kenya. The mountain has two volcanic peaks, spaced 11 km (7 mi) apart, with the higher of the two rising 5,895 m (19,341 ft). Farmers cultivate coffee beans and plantains on Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes.

In addition, the two regions have examples of the rift valley, while the East African rift valley is quiet spectacular extending from the Red Sea southwards up Mozambique. Within East Africa, it has two arms; the Western and the Eastern arm, the Rhine rift valley is small-extending 290 km from Basel in Switzerland to Mainz in Germany.

Climate

The Major factor governing the climate of East Africa is rainfall especially quantity and distribution while the climate of the Rhine land is highly determined by the factor of temperature. Rainfall affects the agricultural sector and generally the economy while temperatures determine the seasons of winter, spring and summer and also the varying length of day and night thus affecting the economy especially in agriculture and industry.

Economy

In terms of agriculture the highlands of East Africa constitute the most fertile areas reflected in the population densities in these areas. In the Rhinelands however, the highlands are generally unsuitable for farming and settlement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aircraft Manufacture in Germany

Manufacturing and heavy industry make up an important segment of the German economy. In addition to being a leading producer of motor vehicles, cement, iron and steel, and machinery, Germany also manufactures aircraft for Airbus, a major European aerospace company. Shown here, an Airbus A321 is assembled at a facility in Hamburg.

In terms of industry, the Ruhr industrial region and coalfields form the backbone to industrialization in the region. There is some coal in Southern Tanzania but until recently, the exploitation was hindered by transport difficulties. The industries in the Rhineland countries manufacture expensive and high value goods. In E. Africa there are mainly processing industries.

 East   Africa and the   Rhinelands Compared

Transport:

The Rhine lands are fortunate in having a well-developed railway transport network, which is the cheapest means of transporting bulky goods. In addition to rivers such as the Rhine, the Mainz, Danube etc there is a network of canals connecting the main water ways for example the Dortmund Ems canal.

The rivers of East Africa on the other hand are not navigable most of the time. This is because of the following reasons: firstly, they do not have constant volume and secondly, there are numerous rapids and waterfalls within the water channels as well as having the floating vegetation like sudds and water hyacinth in some parts.

Railways and roads are in a bad state although efforts are being made to repair and even to construct new few new roads. Uganda in particular, railway transport broke   down in 1994 and together with Kenya the railway system has been privatized.

Power

East Africa generally relies on Hydro- electric power since it has no large reserves of coal and since the development of geo-thermal energy is expensive, in this, the area is similar to Switzerland because it produces HEP.

Switzerland and Uganda are both landlocked countries. The river Rhine provides economic lifeline to Switzerland as the rail from Kenya to Uganda.

Drainage Pattern

River Rhine originates from the -Alps in Switzerland and flows through Germany and the Netherlands into the North Sea. The Rhine river has a number or tributaries for example river Main. River Rhone also originates from the Alps in Switzerland, flows through France into the Mediterranean Sea.

Rhine at Arnhem, Netherlands

Since Roman times the Rhine River has been an important shipping route, and its natural beauty makes it a popular destination for visitors from all over the world.

River Po originates from the Alps in Switzerland and flows through Italy into the Adriatic Sea.

River Danube originates from Germany and flows through Austria and former East Germany into the North Sea.

Danube River at The Iron Gate, on the Romanian–Serbian border ( Iron Gate natural park and Đerdap national park)

River Weser also originates from Germany and flows into the North Sea.