Geography ofAfrica

Africa Unit

Guiding Questions for AFRICA(Write these down)

• 1. What physical processes and relationships support different African biomes?

• 2. How are people, places and the environment in Africa connected and interdependent?

• 3. How does the history of colonization continue to affect African countries today, especially in terms of culture, conflict and ability to profit from their vast natural resources?

The Continent

of Africa

Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

5000

MILES

4 6 0 0 M I L E S

The African Plateau

Bodies

Of

Water

Nile River

Congo River

Zambezi River

Niger River

Orange River

Limpopo River

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

Red Sea

L. Victoria

L. Albert-->

L. Chad-->

L. Tanganyika->

<--Gu

lf of A

den

The Mighty Nile River:“Longest River in the World”

Draje

nsburg

Mts

.

Ruwenzori M

ts.

Δ Mt. Kenya

Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mountains

&

Peaks

Atlas Mts.

Deserts Sahara Desert

Sahel

Kalahari

Desert

Nam

ib D

esert

Libyan Desert

The Sahara Desert

The Sahel

Five Geographic Regions of Africa

Africa Unit

North Africa

• Mountain Ranges (Atlas Mountains, Ahaggar Mountains)

• Sahara desert (world’s largest)

• Sahel region

North Africa

Ahaggar Mts.

Atlas Mountains

West Africa

• Grasslands

• Most populated

West Africa

Lagos, Nigeria

East Africa

• Mountainous

• Plateaus

• (Ethiopian Plateau)

• Grasslands

• Serengeti Plain

• Hills

East Africa

Mt. Kilimanjaro:Snow on the Equator?

The African Savannah:13 million sq. mi.

South Africa

• Namib & Kalahari Deserts

• Drakensberg Mountain Range

South Africa

Namib Desert

Kalahari Desert

Central Africa

• Equator

• Rain forests

Central Africa

African Rain Forest

# Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft.

# Rapid decomposition (very humid).

# Covers 37 countries.

# 15% of the land surface of Africa.

Countries of Africa

Africa Unit

How well do you know the countries of Africa?

Click on the words above to play a review game.

Desertification

• Desertification – The spreading of a desert region

• The region of Sahel is most affected by the spreading desert.

Desertification

Great Rift Valley

• Great Rift Valley – 4,000 mile giant fault, or break in the earth’s crust. From Red Sea to Zambezi River.

• Evidence has found that the earliest Humans first lived in

this area.

Great Rift Valley

3,000 miles long

Major Rivers

• Nile River – world’s longest (4,000 + miles)

Sources: White Nile (Uganda) & Blue Nile (Ethiopian highlands) flows into the Mediterranean

• Congo River – Central Africa – through rain forests, 2,720 miles long

• Niger River – Africa’s third longest- 2,600 miles long. Begins in West Africa (Guinea)

• Zambezi River – Fourth longest 2,200 miles – Southern Africa; contains Victoria Falls; flows into the Indian Ocean

Rivers in Africa are plenty, but very difficult to navigate due to cataracts.

What are cataracts?

Series of waterfalls

How does this affect transportation and communication?

Very difficult historically to travel and trade.

Climate and Diversity

• The equator runs nearly through the center of Africa

• 80% of the nation is tropical• Further from equator = colder• Higher Elevation = colder

Climate of Africa

Africa:

The“Tropical”Continent

Tropic of Cancer 20° N

Tropic of Capricorn20° S

Equator 0°

Geography of Africa Review

• Interactive Map of Africa

Human Environment Interaction

• 1. Agriculture• Difficult in many regions of Africa

due to elevation and climate.

2. Hydroelectric Power

3. Extraction of Natural Resourcestoday: OIL

Aswan High Dam 1970

• Positive:

• Gives region of Egypt and Sudan regular supply of water.

• Increased agriculture through irrigation.

• Negative:

• Many people displaced when built.

• Mosquitoes cause Malaria

So now what?• Open notes quiz over Ch 18 Sec 1&2

(Africa) on Tuesday, 9/25.

• Complete Summary of Landforms worksheet over Africa.

• Label Africa and Southwest Asia Maps

• Finish up Vocabulary Packet – will be checking for completion within the next few weeks.