SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africa. Locate on a world and physical map: • The Sahara • Kalahari Desert • Sahel • Savanna • Tropical rain forest • Atlas Mountains

Geographical Features of Africa SS7G1a Locate on a world map: the Sahara, Sahel, savanna, tropical rain forest, Congo River, Niger River, Nile River, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Atlas Mtns, and Kalahari Desert

Essential Question What is the importance of geography in the lives of people living in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Sahara • The Sahara is the world’s largest desert • It covers Northern Africa, from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Kalahari Desert • The Kalahari is located in Southwestern Sub-Saharan Africa. • The area is surrounded by semi-arid areas that are becoming drier

Sahel • The Sahel runs from the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. • It separates North Africa’s Sahara Desert from a semi-arid savanna. • The Sahel is mostly covered with grasslands and savanna.

Savanna Vast area of grassland and more tropical areas Good area for grazing animals – lions and elephants Lack of rainfall makes farming difficult

Tropical Rain Forest Located in central Africa, near the equator and has high temperatures year round These areas typically have 50-60 inches of rain per year. The ecosystems are being damaged by people cutting down trees for fuel and to accommodate growing populations

Atlas Mountains Located in Northern Africa separating the coastal regions from the Sahara Desert

SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africa. Locate on a world and physical map: • Congo River • Niger River • Nile River • LakeTanganyika • Lake Victoria

Congo River Flows from central/west Africa towards the Atlantic Ocean Flows through the rainforest (2nd largest rainforest in the world)

Niger River Located in Western Africa and is the 3rd largest river in Africa Flows for 2,600 miles into the Guinea Basin

Nile River The Nile River is the longest river in the world The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea Begins in Lake Victoria

Nile Niger Congo

Lake Victoria • The largest lake in Africa • The eco-system has been nearly devastated by human influence.

Lake Tanganyika The world’s second largest fresh water lake The water flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This lake is very important to the daily lives of people living in Africa.

Congo Nile Niger Lake Victoria Lake Tanganyika

SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africa. b. Locate on a world and political map: • Democratic Republic of The Congo • Egypt • Kenya • Nigeria • South Africa • Sudan South Sudan