Physical Geography And H.E.I. of Africa With thanks to Susan Pojer, Horace Greeley High School Chappequa, NY

Africa’s Size Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. 4 6 0 0 M I L E S 5 0 0 0 M I L E S Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. 10% of the world’s population. 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

A Satellite View What is shown by the brown and green colors on the map? Deserts and vegetation. Notice the northern 1/3 of Africa is desert. The southern tip is also fairly dry. Only the areas near the equator are have lush vegetation.

I can describe major landforms of Africa and the physical processes that caused their development. (WG4.8)

General Pattern of Landforms Africa is a large plateau surrounded by a narrow coastal plain Africa is basically a large plateau surrounded by a narrow coastal plain.

Africa is higher on the east side than the west. Plateau Continent Africa is higher on the east side than the west. This is a visual representation of the plateau.

Great Rift Valley Location: see maps below Formation: divergent continental plate boundary Characteristics: use images to write a description What type of plate boundary forms a rift valley? A: divergent The Great Rift Valley is located in East Africa and is so large, it can be seen from space.

Seismic Activity in Africa What landform is present in east Africa that would account for an increase in seismic activity? Seismic activity is focused near plate boundaries near the Mediterranean Sea and the Great Rift Valley.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: It is located on the Equator but has year round snow Mt. Kilimanjaro: It is located on the Equator but has year round snow. Why? Why is Mt. Kilimanjaro covered in snow year round even though it is very near the equator? A: As elevation increases, temperature decreases. The mountain is tall enough to have year round snow.

Longest River in the World Why desert surrounds the Nile? The Mighty Nile River: Longest River in the World Why desert surrounds the Nile? The Nile runs through many countries

I can identify and explain the major factors that influence the distribution of climate regions in Africa. (WG 4.C)

Factors Influencing Climate Latitude Altitude Prevailing Winds Distance from Ocean Ocean Currents Great Mountain Barriers

Latitude How would Africa’s location between the tropics influence temperature? Tropic of Cancer 23.5° N Equator 0° How does Latitude influence the climate of Africa? A: most of Africa is located between the tropics making temperatures warmer. Tropic of Capricorn 23.5° S

Altitude Notice the sudden endof the tropical wet climate in the red circle on the left. Look at the landform in the red circle on the right. How is the landform in the red circle on the right responsible for the sudden end of the tropical wet climate? Altitude does effect the change from rain forest to grassland located along the equator.

Prevailing Winds How do large storm systems in west Africa end up as hurricanes striking North America? Prevailing winds in Africa blow from East to West.

West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes Prevailing winds blow storms off of Africa into the Atlantic Ocean. These storms can strengthen to form the hurricanes that strike the USA.

Distance from Ocean Continentality is nullfied by tropical location

Ocean Currents Most of the continent is influenced by warm water currents. How will this effect the temperature and precipitation? What desert is located adjacent to the cold water current on the SW portion of Africa? What other continent has a desert located in a similar location (the SW side near a cold water current) How do cold water currents form deserts? Africa has mostly warm ocean currents with the exception of the southwest coast. This cold water current makes the SW coast of Africa extremely dry and is the home of the Namib desert.

Great Mountain Barriers Atlas Mts. Africa is the only continent with out a major bisecting mountain range Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Ruwenzori Mts. No mountain barriers. Drajensburg Mts.

General Pattern of Climates Climates are roughly mirrored on either side of the equator Climates are mirrored on the equator. As one moves further from the equator, climates become drier.

I can identify the locations of major biomes in Africa and the influence of climate on that distribution. (WG.4.C)

Distribution of Vegetation Zones: *Notice vegetation zones are also mirrored on the equator Africa has two major vegetation zones near the equator: rain forest and grassland. This is due to an elevation change near Lake Victoria. The land to the east of this elevation change is drier and does not rain enough to form a rain forest so it is a grassland.

Rain Forest Near what line of latitude are the rain forests located? In what type of climate is the African rain forest located? What type of negative agricultural practice is often practiced in rain forests?

Savannah and Serengeti Tropical Grasslands: Savannah and Serengeti The tropical grasslands are located on the edges of the rain forests. What climate differences must exist between the grasslands and rain forests?

Deserts Sahara Desert The Sahara desert is the result of low pressure zones located near 30 degrees N of the equator. The Namib is a result of a cold ocean current much like the Peruvian current forms the Atacama desert in SW South America. Namib Desert Kalahari Desert

The Sahara Desert The Sahara is approximately the same size as the USA. Notice the band of deserts that exist around 30 degrees N of the equator due to the low pressure zone located there.

Deserts formed by high pressure zones Low pressure zones have sinking dry air so these areas receive little precipitation.

The Sahel: a narrow band of dry grassland between the tropical grasslands and desert. Grassland bordering the Sahara. It is experiencing desertification due to mainly human causes such as overgrazing and cutting down too many trees.

Human Environment Interaction I can compare the ways humans depend on, adapt to, and modify the physical environment. (WG.8.A)

Effect of lack of navigable rivers Waterfalls, rapids, meanders prevent significant boat trade on most African rivers

Slash and burn agriculture Most common in rain forests Soil quickly depleted as nutrients are not replaced by decomposing matter

Desertification of the Sahel: Human influences: -Overgrazing of animals -Firewood collection -poor farming techniques Natural influences: -less rainfall -location near Sahara Grassland bordering the Sahara. It is experiencing desertification due to mainly human causes such as overgrazing and cutting down too many trees.

Natural Resources: Oil Which regions of Africa have sizeable oil production? Don’t name countries just areas. N/E/S/W, central, etc. Africa has many natural resources. Unfortunately, these resources rarely lead to significant levels of economic development. Foreign companies are needed to extract the materials and these companies receive that lion’s share of the profits from the resource. Most African countries supply the labor to extract the resources which is only a primary economic activity. Example: Who makes more money: the African worker in the diamond mine or the foreign company that sells the diamond ring? Who makes more money: the African worker working in the oil field or the foreign oil company selling the finished product? Furthermore, too much money from the sale of resources is misused by corrupt leaders and government officials.

Natural Resources: Gold & Diamonds Which regions of Africa have sizeable gold resources? Which regions of Africa have sizeable diamond resources? Africa has many natural resources. Unfortunately, these resources rarely lead to significant levels of economic development. Foreign companies are needed to extract the materials and these companies receive that lion’s share of the profits from the resource. Most African countries supply the labor to extract the resources which is only a primary economic activity. Example: Who makes more money: the African worker in the diamond mine or the foreign company that sells the diamond ring? Who makes more money: the African worker working in the oil field or the foreign oil company selling the finished product? Furthermore, too much money from the sale of resources is misused by corrupt leaders and government officials.