Sub-Saharan Africa

Current News and Weather Setting the Boundaries Physical Geography Desertification Deforestation Return Exam 2

For Next Class: Read Chapter 7

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Setting the Boundaries

• Africa south of the Sahara Desert– 48 states plus one

territory

• Young population• Heavy burden of

slave trade and colonialism

• Known for poverty, disease, violence, and refugees

Victoria Falls

Physical Geography

• Plateau continent– Gondwana

• Great escarpment– The Rift Valley

• Volcanic Mountains– Kilimanjaro

• Infertile soils

Congo River

Watersheds

• Major river systems– Congo– Nile– Niger– Zambezi

• Source of water and energy

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• Bisected by equator– Climates and

vegetation patterns are almost a mirror image

• Abrupt escarpment near the coast

• Absence of major mountain ranges

• Few good natural harbors

Interesting Observations

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Climate

• Describe the climate zones you pass through as you travel from the Equator south to the Tropic of Capricorn.

Vegetation

• Tropical forests– The Congo Basin

• Savannas – Large fauna

• Deserts

Savanna

Namib Desert

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African Biomes

Tropical Forest

Figure 6.8Deserts

Savanna

Figure 6.7

Figure 6.5

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13Figure 6.9

Environmental Issues – Overview

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Environmental Issues

• Desertification

• Deforestation

• Climate change

• Urban challenges

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Desertification in the Sahel

• Sahel– Zone of

ecological transition

– Transhumance

• Desertification– Prolonged

drought– Overgrazing– Colonial influence

on agricultureSahel in Bloom

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Deforestation

• Issues – Increased run off– Soil erosion– Wildlife habitat– Hardship

• NGOs – Green Belt

Movement– Experiments with

bambooPlanting Bamboo