Major Physical Features of Africa

Atlas Mountains Mountain range across NW of Africa Through Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia Highest peak is 15,000 ft. high Harsh winters with lots of snow Lots of rain in summer

Mount Kilimanjaro Dormant volcanic mountain in Tanzania Highest mountain in Africa Highest free-standing mountain in world (19,341 ft.)

Saharan Desert World’s hottest desert (summer temps = 100-114 degrees) 3rd largest desert Covers most of North Africa, From the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean Above the Sahel Savanna

Kalahari Desert Southern Africa Supports more animals and plants than a normal desert due to small amounts of rainfall

Sahel Savanna Tropical semi-arid climate Below Sahara Stretches from Red Sea to Atlantic Ocean Historically home to some of the most advanced kingdoms of Africa

Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa.

Nile River Flows north into Mediterranean Sea Longest river in the world Egyptian civilization relied on Nile

Congo River World’s deepest river, 2nd longest in Africa Runs through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo Used to be called Zaire River

Niger River Main river of western Africa Empties in Atlantic Ocean 3rd longest river in Africa

Congo River Basin Watershed of Congo River Some of largest tropical rainforests in the world

Lake Chad is economically important, providing water to more than 30 million people living in the four countries surrounding it (Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria) on the edge of the Sahara

Lake Tanganyika second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second- largest by volume, and the second-deepest, in all cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia

Atlantic Ocean World’s 2nd largest ocean (20% of Earth’s surface) Bounded by N and S America, Europe, and Africa

Indian Ocean 3rd largest ocean Bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west, and Australia to the south

Lake Victoria Africa’s largest lake Surrounded by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya

Mediterranean Sea Surrounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia Important route for merchants

Red Sea Inlet of the Indian Ocean Between Africa and Asia

Cape of Good Hope Rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.