A Closer Look at Africa!! 50 Countries “The Plateau Continent” Much of the land has a high elevation All regions have mountains Mount Kilimanjaro- Highest point in Africa at 19,341 ft

4 Main Regions North Africa – Mountains Sahara Desert West Africa – Grassland Most populated region – Good farmland

4 Main Regions (continued) East Africa – Many Mountains, few plateaus Grasslands and hills Central and Southern Africa – Flat or rolling grassland – Namib and Kalahari Deserts – Thick rainforests, mountains, and swamps

Coastal Plains Strip that runs along much of Africa’s Coast – Dry and Sandy – Marshy and Moist

Great Rift Valley Valley was formed millions of years ago, when the continents pulled apart (leaving a rift, or deep trench) (4,000 miles long) Most of Africa’s major lakes are located in or near the Great Rift Valley

Rivers 4 Major Rivers – Nile, Congo Niger, and Zambezi Rivers are broken in places by large waterfalls or steep rapids (ships can’t travel all the way through Africa on the rivers)

Nile River Longest River in the World (4,000 miles) – 2X the Mississippi River Flows N into the Mediterranean Sea – White Nile in Sudan – Blue Nile in the highlands of Ethiopia » Tributaries (rivers and streams that flow into a larger river) that feed the Nile River Flooding – Aswan High Dam » Irrigation and Hydro-electricity

Congo River Flows through the rainforest of the Central African countries of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,900 miles long (2 nd longest in Africa) – Fed by hundreds of tributaries Planting and fishing

Niger River 2,600 miles long (3 rd Longest River in Africa) – Begins in Guinea – Provides water for farms (irrigation) – Fishing

Zambezi River 2,200 miles long (4 th Longest River in Africa) Forms the border of 6 countries Boats can travel 460 miles because waterfalls and rapids break up the journey – Halfway before the Indiana Ocean, the River drops over a canyon and creates the Victoria Falls Mist from the falls can be seen from over 40 miles away