Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa I. Landforms and Waterways A. Countries of the Region 1. Egypt is the easternmost country in North Africa. a) Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is considered to be part of Asia. 2. North Africa includes 5 countries: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. a) All 5 countries have northern shores on the Mediterranean Sea. b) Morocco has a western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. c) South of Morocco lies an area called the Western Sahara which Morocco claims, but the United Nations disputes.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa 3. North Africa is a large region. a) It is as wide as the distance from Maine to Washington State. B. Coastal Plains and Mountains 1. In North Africa, low, narrow plains sit on the margins, or edges, of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. a) In the west lie the Atlas Mtns. b) This mountain range is the longest in Africa and greatly influences the region’s climate. 2. The Atlas Mtns. are actually two sets of mountains that run beside each other. a) A high plateau sits between them. b) The southern chain is higher and includes Mt. Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa 3. South of these mtns. is a low plateau that reaches across most of North Africa. a) In Egypt, the southern reaches of the Nile River cut through a highland region to form a gorge, or valley. b) Southeastern Egypt has low mountains on the shores of the Red Sea. c) Egypt’s highest point is Gebel Katherina. d) Another set of low mountains lies in northern Libya. C. Lowlands 1. Northwestern Egypt has a large area of lowlands called the Qattara Depression which is the size of New Jersey. a) The marshes deter transportation.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa D. Waterways 1. For centuries, North Africa has been linked by the Mediterranean Sea to other lands. a) trade, new ideas, and conquering armies. 2. The 2nd important body of water is the Nile River. a) At 4,160 miles long, the Nile is the longest river in the world. b) Lake Victoria  north to the Mediterranean Sea. c) The most important tributary is the Blue Nile from the highlands of Ethiopia. 3. The Nile has a massive delta, or an area formed by soil deposits that build up as river water slows down. a) The delta is relatively the size of the state of New Hampshire.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa 4. The Nile brings life to dry Egypt. a) In ancient times the Nile would flood each year leaving silt, a fine, rich soil that is excellent for farming. b) This generated a large amount of food which generated a large civilization. c) Ancient Egypt was called “ The Gift of the Nile”. 5. Today, several dams control the floods, the largest being Aswãn High Dam. a) An important benefit to this water control is that Egyptian farmers can grow food year round. b) A negative consequence is that the silt no longer settles on the land and enriches the soil.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa 6. Egypt also controls the Suez Canal which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. a) International trade depends on this canal because ships can avoid going all the way around Africa. II. Climate A. Causes of North Africa’s Climates 1. The Atlas Mts. Play a major role in controlling the climate in the western part of North Africa. a) Rain shadow affect. b) Air blows north to south making the land south of the mountains arid. 2. The vast inland area of North Africa is also dry because of constant high pressure systems that are present for much of the year.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa a) On the rare occasions when it does rain in the desert, the southern winds soon follow. b) They dry the land and leave behind wadis, or dry streambeds. B. Desert and Semiarid Areas 1. Much of North Africa, then, is covered by a desert: the Sahara. a) 3.5 million square miles (= the area of the United States). 2. The Sahara’s vast stretches of sand are called ergs. a) Dust storms b) Sand dunes are always changing due to the wind. 3. Ergs cover only about a quarter of the Sahara. a) In other areas, rocky plateaus called hamadas and rocks eroded by wind are common.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa b) Some areas contain oases, areas fed by underground sources of water. c) Nomads, people who move about from place to place in search for food, rely on these oases during their travels. 4. In the North African part of the Sahara, temperatures soar during the day in the summer. a) 136°F in the summer b) 55°F in the winter C. Mediterranean and Other Climates 1. North of the desert are other climate zones. a) A band of steppes encircle the desert immediately to the north. b) Rainfall is slightly higher than the desert.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa 2. A Mediterranean climate dominates the western coast. a) Warm dry summers, mild rainy winters. b) More rain along the coast. c) Coastal areas of Morocco receive more rain. 3. Mountain areas with highland climates also receive more rainfall – as much as 80 inches per year. a) Snow can be found in the Atlas Mountains. III. Resources A. Oil, Gas, and Other Resources 1. Libya is the most oil-rich country in North Africa. a) Libya is 9th in the world.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa b) Oil and natural gas has fueled the Libyan economy. 2. Algeria has large reserves of natural gas and oil. 3. Egypt has larger reserves of natural gas than oil. 4. Tunisia’s main resources are iron ore and phosphates, chemical compounds that are often used in fertilizers. a) Phosphates and fishing are important to Morocco as well. B. Water 1. Limited rainfall and high temperatures in this region leave little freshwater on the surface. a) Sandy soil absorbs rain fall and dry winds evaporate the rest.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa b) Only the Nile is a reliable water source for farming. 2. 95% of all Egyptians live within 12 miles of the Nile River. 3. Outside of the Nile valley, most of the region’s water needs are met with water that comes from oases and aquifers, underground layers of rock in which water collects. a) wells are dug to tap into aquifers. b) Libya relies on aquifers for all of its water needs. 4. A growing population in this region poses problems for the future. a) Demand for the water in an aquifer shared by Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia has increased ninefold in recent years.

Ch. 19 L1 The Physical Geography of North Africa b) Aquifers in North Africa refill slowly and in the coming years a water shortage is looming.