AfricaChapter 1: Physical

GeographyPg. 10 - 33 1

Guiding Questions

1. Geography – What are the main physical features of Africa?

5. Economics – What factors influence the ways in which Africans make a living?

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Section 1

Land and WaterPages 10 - 15

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Africa’s Regions and Landforms

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The Four Regions

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The Plateau Continent

•Much of Africa is made of Plateaus•Very high in elevation–Height above sea level

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Mountains• All four regions have mountains• Highest Mts. In East Africa–Mt. Kilimanjaro•Tanzania•Tallest Mt. – 19,341 feet–Taller than 385 Holly Shelters7

The Great Rift Valley

• Located in East Africa• On the edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro• Formed millions of years ago – Continents

pulled apart• Rift – deep trench– 4000 miles long– Most major lakes located here

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Africa’s Rivers

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Nile River• Longest River in the world• 4000 miles long– Twice as long as the Mississippi R.– 2600 miles from Wilmington to LA

• Tributaries – rivers and streams that flow into a larger river.– Nile Tributaries

• White Nile• Blue Nile

• Nile flows north to the Mediterranean Sea 10

Farming Along the Nile

• Thousands of years• Floods deposited silt– Silt make soil fertile– Rich in the substances that plants need to grow

• 1960s – Aswan High Dam– Controlled flooding– Created Lake Nasser– Water from the dam helps

• Crops grow in the desert• Produce electricity 11

Congo River• 2900 miles long• Second longest in Africa– Still more miles than

Wilmington to LA• Fed by hundreds of

tributaries• Economy– Farmers grow yams and

cassava– Many types of fish are

caught 12

Niger River• Starts in Guinea along western coast• 3rd longest– 2600 miles – still longer than Wilmington to LA

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Zambezi River• Located in Southern Africa• Forms boarder for 6 countries

1. Angola2. Zambia3. Namibia4. Botswana5. Zimbabwe6. Mozambique

• 2200 miles long • Victoria Falls– Beautiful waterfalls– Major tourist destination 14

Section 2Climate and Vegetation

Pages 16-23

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What Influences Climate?

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Distance From the Equator

Equator runs right through AfricaMost of Africa has a tropical climateSeason in Africa are mismatched

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Role of Elevation

• Elevation = height above sea level• Higher elevation – cooler temperature• Elevations affect on climate– Ethiopia – High plateau• Mild temps and good rainfall• Farmers grow lots of crops

– Somalia – Low elevation• Dry and hot• Farmers only grow near river or oasis

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Unpredictable Rainfall

• West Coast– Wind brings moisture from ocean– Average 100+ inches of rain per year

• Sahara and Namib deserts– No rain for YEARS

• Farmers in dry regions plant multiple crops– Hope one will grow

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Vegetation Regions of Africa

• Near the Equator = Rain forests• On either side of rain forest = Savanna– Region of tall grasses and scattered trees

• On either side of Savanna = Desert– Sahara in the N– Namib and Kalahari in the S

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Tropical Rain Forests

• West and Central Africa– Covers almost 20% or 1/5 of continent

• Rain supports lots of life in RF• Cacao grows here– Plant to make chocolate

• Logging threatens the rain forest

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Tropical Savannas

• Most common in Africa• Large herd animals – Think Lion King• Two seasons

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Deserts in Africa• Sahara Desert– Most of North Africa– Almost as big as US– Southern edge = Sahel• Hot and dry • 4-8 inches of rain per year

• Namib and Kalahari in S. Africa

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Desert Living

• Nomads – people with no permanent home– Mostly herders– Travel to find food and water

• Camels– Store fat in their hump– Can survive for days w/ no food or water

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Climate and Health

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Section 3Resources and Land Use

Pages 26-30

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Agricultural Resources•Most Africans farm– Some have fertile land– Some have poor soil or little rain– Some lack land and tools

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Agricultural Resources Cont’d

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Natural Resources

• Economy – System for producing, distributing, consuming, and owning goods and services.• Farming is important to Africa•Mining is just as important 29

Mining

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Improving Economic Health

•Specialized Economy–Dependant on one thing–Africa = Farming

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Strengthening Economies

• Africa wants to diversify – add variety • Diverse economy is best– One piece can fail– Everything else can succeed

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Where does the Money Go?

• Foreign companies– Mine Africa– Take the profits

• Few factories– Africa does not produce much– No production = no money

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