Africa Unit 7

Physical Geography of Africa ch. 20

Physical Geography of Africa Africa south of the Sahara is roughly three times the size of the continental United States. The northern edge of the region borders the massive Sahara. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans surround the rest of the continent. The annual rainfall rate for this region varies from more than 60 inches in the tropical rain forests near the Equator to less than 4 inches in the semiarid steppe climate.

Landforms Plateaus, Highlands, & Mountains The Great Rift Valley Africa's overall elevation is higher than that of any other continent. High plateaus cover the continents, rising in elevation from the coast inland and from west to east. Volcanic mountains, such as Kilimanjaro, are located in the Eastern Highlands The Great Rift Valley Shifting tectonic plates formed the Great Rift Valley, which runs from Syria to Mozambique. Most of the region's lakes are near the Great Rift Valley

The Sahara Desert Sign of things to come A desert climate predominates in the region, and the scarcity of water makes it a precious resource Sign of things to come Desertification Sahara covers over 25% of the region >10 in of rain/year

Water Systems Land of lakes A Lake Meets Many Needs The region's great rivers originate in the high plateaus and descend toward the sea. Sharp escarpments and steeps cataracts make navigation impossible on parts of these rivers Land of lakes Most are near the Great Rift Valley Lake Victoria is the larges lake in Africa A Lake Meets Many Needs Lake Volta- human made lake created by damming the Volta River The lake is a source for hydro-electric power, water for irrigation, and fishing

Water Systems River Basins Daunting physical barriers Niger River: main artery of western africa Forms important delta near the atlantic coast Congo River: 2,900 miles long Largest network of navigable waterways on the continent Daunting physical barriers Inland water travel is nearly impossible due to : Waterfalls Rapids Sandbars Dry riverbeds

Da Nile – its not just a river in Africa!! Major Rivers; Cradles of Civilization The Nile River Valley provides wather and a lush, fertile living space for about 90% of Egypt’s population

Natural Resources Mineral Resources Water Solar Power Africa south of the Sahara is rich in natural resources, including oil, gold, uranium, and diamonds Water Because of irregular and unpredictable rainfall, irrigation and harnessing hydroelectric power are difficult. Where avaliable water is a precious resource Solar Power Between 1986-1996, 20,000 small solar power systems were installed in Kenya to support other power systems

CLIMATE ZONES

Topical Climate Tropical Rainforest Crops & Cutting at a Cost Savanna Warm temps and 60 in. of rain/year lend the region to rainforest orchids and ferns grow amid the canopy of trees that tower up to 150 feet above the floor of the tropical rain forests Crops & Cutting at a Cost Cash crops include: bananas, pineapples, coffee, cocoa, & rubber Farmers and loggers use slash and burn techniques so much that the rainforest may disappear Savanna The harmatten dries the moisture left from rains Cool humid air blows in from the southwest Tornadoes sometimes occur there when harmattans collide with humid air blown in from monsoons Tropical grasslands, cover nearly half of the continent

Dry Climates Steppe Desertification Desert Further north and south of the savannas are drier steppe climates with low-growing grasses and acacia trees Desertification Increase of desert climate and vegetation People have stripped more and more of the steppe’s vegetation for firewood and farming Desert Namib: runs along the atlantic coast of namibia Kalahari: exists in e. Namibia, most of botswana, and part of S. Africa

Moderate Climates Coastal areas of s. Africa & highland regions in e. Africa enjoy enough rain for farming