The Geography of Africa

A Vast Continent

  2nd largest continent

  3Xs larger than U.S.

  Transportation routes important

North Africa

West Africa

East Africa

Masai

Masai Sheild

Central Africa

Pygmies, or Baca

Southern Africa

Plateau – Elevated plain

  Escarpments: steep cliffs that divide the plateau from the coastal plain

Cataract – rapids or a waterfall

Great Rift Valley

  Eastern Africa

  Two plates pulling apart

  Origin of Humans

Rivers

  Hydroelectric power: energy produced by moving water

Nile River

  longest in world

  Annual flooding in ancient times

  Aswan High Dam

Congo River

  Central Africa

  Hydroelectric Power

Niger River

  West Africa

  Fishing

  Farming

  Irrigation

Zambezi River

  Southern Africa

  Victoria Falls

Mineral Exports

  Copper

  Diamonds

  Oil

Human Environment Interaction

 Humans adapt to conditions in the environment

 or  Humans change

the environment

Resources are unevenly distributed

Question

 Why is it that people in Africa who live in areas with natural resources tend to be worse off than those who live in areas without natural resources?