I. Geography of Africa

A.Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Tropic of Cancer 20° N A.Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Equator 0° Tropic of Capricorn 20° S

Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. 10% of the world’s population. 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

Mountains & Peaks Atlas Mts. Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Ruwenzori Mts. Drajensburg Mts.

B. Mountains The highest mountains are the Atlas Mountains in the northwest, near the Mediterranean Sea. They rise to 13,600 feet (4,160 m) above sea level. Sub-Saharan Africa does not have large mountain ranges, but there are several tall mountains that are volcanoes. The tallest mountain is Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at 19,341 feet. The second tallest mountain is Mt. Kenya at 17,058 feet.

C. Bodies Of Water Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Nile River Niger River Congo River L. Victoria L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean

Map showing major rivers in Africa

1. Nile River The Nile River is the longest river in the world. Flows more than 4,000 miles northward through the desert Formed by the union of two rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile Empties into the Mediterranean Sea The land along the Nile is very fertile. Floods on the river deposit silt, or finely ground fertile soil, all along the river. Before it reaches the sea, the Nile fans out into a huge fertile delta.

2. The Congo River Basin Covers 12% of the continent. 99% of the Democratic Republic of Congo is in the Congo River basin. Extends over 9 countries. 2,720 miles long.

3. The Niger River Basin Extends over 10 countries. 2,600 miles long. Covers 7.5% of the continent

Hydroelectric Power

4. Aswan High Dam- Controls the Nile River Benefits Fewer floods More farmable land Lake Nasser was created behind it Finished in 1970

D. Climate Zones

Libyan Desert Deserts Sahara Desert Sahel Namib Desert Kalahari Desert

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Largest hot desert in the world, covering most of North Africa Very dry, so very few people live there Nearly every settlement in the Sahara is located near an oasis, a wet and fertile area in a desert where a spring or well provides water. Common features in the Sahara include broad gravel plains, tall sand dunes, and dry streambeds.

The African Savannah: 13 million sq. mi.

Grasslands Savanna is a type of grassland located in tropical wet and dry climates. Most of the savanna in Africa is located in east Africa in Kenya or Tanzania. Steppe is a dry grassland located on the edges of the deserts.

The Sahel

Sahel- narrow band of dry grassland on the southern edge of the Sahara.

The Sahel

Sahara Desert