Physical Geography of Africa October 13, 2014

Africa’s Geography Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world (after Asia). Africa is divided into 5 regions North, South, East, West, Central Because the continent is so large, there are many different types of landforms located there

Rivers of Africa The longest river in the world Congo River: In central and west Africa Begins in southern Congo near Lake Tanganyika and flows in a huge curve to drain into the Atlantic Ocean Niger River: In western Africa Begins in Guinea and flows east to drain into the Gulf of Guinea West Africa’s most important river and the 3rd largest river in Africa Nile River: in Northern and Eastern Africa The longest river in the world Formed by the Blue Nile and White Nile, it flows northward through the eastern Sahara through Sudan and Egypt Drains into the Mediterranean Sea

Rivers of Africa

Lakes Lake Tanganyika: bordered between Congo and Tanzania in East/Central Africa One of the largest and deepest freshwater lakes in the world Lake Victoria: In East Africa The source of the White Nile River Africa’s largest lake

Lakes

Deserts Sahara Desert: covers most of North Africa Largest desert in the world It is not totally made of sand; the Sahara also has long stretches of rocky hills and gravel Kalahari Desert: Mostly lies in Botswana, in southern Africa

Deserts

Mountain Ranges and Mountains Atlas Mountains: In North Africa On the northwestern side of the Sahara, in Morocco and Algeria Mt. Kenya: Africa’s 2nd highest mountain In the country of Kenya, in East Africa Mt. Kilimanjaro: Africa’s highest mountain In northern Tanzania in East Africa

Mountain Ranges and Mountains

Other African Physical Features Sahel: a region of dry grasslands immediately south of the Sahara Very dry area, with some years having no rain at all Savanna: another grassland region south of the Sahel Rainier than the Sahel, with better soil for farming Congo River Basin: Large tropical rainforest area in Congo surrounded by mountains and plateaus Has a humid tropical climate that is warm and rainy all year

Questions 8. Which countries are the Atlas Mountains located in? 1. Which river flows west through Congo to drain into the Atlantic Ocean? 2. Which river is the 3rd largest in Africa? 3. Which body of water does the Nile River drain into? 4. Which 2 countries border Lake Tanganyika? 5. Which lake is the source of the White Nile River? 6. Which desert is the largest in the world? 7. Which country does the Kalahari Desert lie in? 8. Which countries are the Atlas Mountains located in? 9. Which region of Africa is Mt. Kenya in? 10. What is Africa’s tallest mountain? 11. What is the Sahel? 12. What is the grassland region south of the Sahel called? 13. What is the Congo River Basin?