The Plateau Continent Africa
Landforms and Resources Shape and landforms are result of location in Pangea. Other continents moved a great amount while present day Africa moved very little
True size of Africa
Vast Plateau Med Nile Majority of land lies on a plateau that stretches across the continent. The majority of land is 1000 ft. above sea level Basins: depressions in the ground Nile River: world’s longest river, 4,000 mi. long, flows N to Egypt
Victoria Falls: One of the 7 Wonders of the World
Distinctive African Landforms Rift Valleys: continental plates pull apart, form huge cracks, land sinks Stretch 4,000 mi. Lakes form at the bottom Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s Highest Mount.) are both volcanoes Escarpment: steep slope with a flat plateau
Resources Minerals Gold, platinum, chromium, cobalt, copper & diamonds Because of colonialism, Africa hasn’t developed the infrastructure needed to make a profit Diamond Miners
Oil Libya, Angola, Nigeria and Algeria are leading producers American oil companies pay fee to Angola which turns and uses money to fund ongoing civil war.
Diversity of Resources Coffee Most profitable after oil Lumber Agriculture Single most important econ. activity 60% of Africans earn their living in farming
Climate and Vegetation Warm Continent Sahara: largest desert in world. –Temp. H: 136.4° (day), below freezing at night Aquifers: underground stores of H²O. Known as an oasis when they reach surface Tropical weather all year long 90% of land lies between tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn Sahara
Sunshine and Rainfall Rain forest receives most rain (on or near Equator) W coast receives a great deal Moderate area (N & S tips) only receives rain in winter
Grassy Continent Tropical Grasslands cover most of Africa Serengeti Plain: grassland in N. Tanzania Perfect for animals to graze
Serengeti
Rain Forest Sits along Equator area of Congo basin Wide variety of plant & animals Most live in the canopy (near the tops of the trees) Farmers using slash and burn have cut down ½ already, now endangered
Human Environment Interaction Nigeria Sixth leading oil producer, most shipped to U.S. Oil spills (4,000 in 40 yrs) Oil pipeline explosions, sabotage by rebels Fires lead to acid rain
Desertification of Sahel Sahel: shore of the desert Desertification: expansion of dry conditions into moist areas that are near desert Normal, natural process that is sped up because of grazing Causes include: overgrazing, farming, pop. increase
Controlling the Nile 1st Aswan Dam completed in 1902 Aswan High Dam 4 miles up river form 1st Dam Creates Lake Nasser (artificial), Egypt shares with Sudan Increased farmable land by 50% Natural renewal of silt (sediment), which occurs during floods, gone Expensive fertilizers now used Mosquitoes increased