Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent 11.7 million sq miles

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

TopographyOf AFRICA…A giant plateau! 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->

<--Gulf of Aden

Drajensburg

Mts.

Ruwenzori M

ts.

Δ Mt. Kenya

Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro

Sahara Desert

Sahel

Kalahari

Desert

Namib Desert

Libyan Desert

Gre

at R

ift

Valle

y

Atlas Mts.

Tropic of Cancer 20° N

Tropic of Capricorn20° S

Equator 0°

latitude & trade winds = “striped” climate & vegetation pattern on the continent.

Climate & Vegetation

Absence of coastal mtn ranges also impacts climate.

Landforms Highest point : Mt

Kilimanjaro Lowest point : Lake Assal Victoria Falls in Zambia

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Tanzania

Glacier has been melting… 80% loss from 1912 to present day.

What element of

LEMPOSA contributes to the glacier and the

snow found on Kilimanjaro?

The Mighty Nile River:

“Longest River in the World”Farmers DEPEND on this River as a source of water for their farms, and before the Aswan High Dam was built, farmers depended on the nutrients left behind as natural fertilizer for the soil and thus their crops. Negative impact for people being relocated & for farmers.

Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power: An example of how humans

have MODIFIED their environment

The Sahara Desert:Desertification• Over the last 11,000 years

the Sahara has been growing…

Causes:1. Overgrazing 2. Farming “average” land3. Destruction of plants4. Incorrect irrigation 5. Changes in the Earth’s orbit 6. Atmospheric & vegetation changes in the subtropical regions.

African Savannah: 5 million sq miles

Rolling grassland scattered with shrubs & isolated trees.

Can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome

African Rain Forest

# Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft.# Rapid decomposition (very humid).# Covers 37 countries, 15% of the land surface of Africa.

Seismic Activity in AfricaWhat physical

features lie along these

areas of seismic

activity?

West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes

Natural Resources

SOCIAL/CULTURE

Bantu Migrations

1000-1800 AD: Large wave of migrations from W to E Africa.

1st to arrive: The Bantu from the Congo or Niger Delta Basin

“Bantu” = group of people who speak the same/similar language with common word “NTU” , means “a person”

The Middle Passage The portion of

the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to North America as their need for people to farm the land rose.

Slaves were sold, or often kidnapped.

Age-Group Differences Developing vs. Industrialized countries

Education Compulsory in much of

Africa. Obstacles:

Lack of teachers in rural areas

Gov’t spend more $$ on military

Boys education takes priority over girls.

College limited & hard to get into.

Global Water Stress

Health A combination of new diseases and reemerging

old ones is putting the lives of millions of Africans in serious jeopardy. HIV/AIDS

1st case – 1959 in Belgian Congo Reasons for spread:

Multiple partners. Mother-to-child Lack of education & superstitious beliefs

Malaria “silent killer” Spread by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito Kills 700,000 children every year.

Global AIDS

Religion Animist/traditional

Centered around Creator

Life does not end, you become one of the ancestors.

No written holy text

Islam Christianity

Be sure to review “religion” notes

Traditional African Society

1000 different

languages

1000+ different

tribes

Common Traits or Characteristics of Traditional African Tribal Life

1. The good of the group comes ahead of the good of the individual.

2. All land is owned by the group.3. Strong feeling of loyalty to the group.4. Important ceremonies at different parts of

a person’s life.

5. Special age and work associations.6. Deep respect for ancestors.7. Religion is an important part of everyday

life.8. Government is in the hands of the chiefs

[kings].

ECONOMY

http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html

African Economy

Many = subsistence farmers & herders.

Colonial Period brought transportation & trade routes

African governments trying to develop economy through manufacturing.

Levels of Development

Dark Blue: Very High

Blue: HighLight Blue: MediumWhite: Low Grey: Data Unavail

Level of Development Look at the chart from

1870 to 2007:

What do you

notice? Africa

stopped catching

up to Asia & Latin

Am

Life Expectancy:: Education:: IncomeAfrica

“Brain Drain” “brain drain” when a

country becomes short of skills b/c people with expertise emigrate.

Why leave? Education Why not return home?

economic & political issues

1960-1975: 27,000 Africans left

1960 – 1975: 40,000 left By 1990 at least 20,000

leave the continent annually.

POLITICS

Political Many, but not all

of the political, economic & human rights issues in Africa are a result of the corrupt governments in this region.

Libya is no longer a military dictatorship…