Africa Intro 09—Neumo Did It!!!

The name Africa probably came from the Latin word “aprica,” meaning sunny.

Africa’s Size # Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. # 10% of the world’s population. # 2 ½ times the size of the U. S. 5000MILES5000MILES M I L E S

Today, Africa is a continent with a fascinating diversity of people, who make up about 10% of the world population. These people together make up about 50 nations.

A Satellite View

Mirrored Images Coastal climate Desert-Sahara--arid/semiarid Sahel-scrub grassland Rainforest-tropical wet/tropical wet and dry Savannas-grasslands Desert-Kalahari/Namib--arid/semiarid Coastal climate

Vegetation Zones

The African Savannah: 13 million sq. mi.

African Rain Forest # Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft. # Rapid decomposition (very humid). # Covers 37 countries. # 15% of the land surface of Africa.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Snow on the Equator?

There are several thousand ethnic groups in Africa, ranging in physical stature from the short Pygmies to the tall Maasai, each with its own cultural traditions.

PYGMI TRIBE

Pygmies Found primarily in central and eastern Africa Rainforested areas

MAASAI TRIBE

Maasai Cattle ranchers Beef can make you tall One of the richest African tribes—land and food

More than 680,000,000 people live in Africa, and the population of this continent is rapidly expanding. It makes up a fifth of the earth's landmass

African Plateau

Plateau Continent Much of the continent is made up of raised, mostly level areas of land that drop off sharply near the sea

Although it is the second largest continent, its population density in some regions is rather low. This is due in part to the Sahara Desert, which occupies one- fourth of Africa's landmass and is not suitable for habitation. Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert

The Sahel

Desertification Growth of the desert

From the natural 'green belt' north of Tanout, two pictures taken in November 1993 from the same spot in different directions.

A salt-carrying camel caravan makes its way to Niger.

Winds that sweep across Niger’s desert can create sand dunes that often reach a thousand feet (305 meters) high.

The Namib Desert, Namibia

A young Ariaal girl from the Marsabit district of Kenya lugs water back from a well.

There are two major rivers in Africa, the Nile and the Congo. The Nile is the longest river in the world and plays a vital role in the areas lying north of the Equator. The Congo plays a vital role in the central- western portion of the continent.

The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World”

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

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

Hydroelectric Power

In the African countries with a more developed economic base, the birth and death rates are lower. In less developed countries the birth rate is high, but so is infant mortality as well as the death rate.

Famine, diseases, and wars over the last few decades have also affected population growth. Nevertheless, the continent as whole currently has a population growth rate of 3%.

3% GROWTH RATE THAT IS OVER 20 MILLION A YEAR!!!!!!

As a result infant mortality is high in those countries and life expectancy is only 40 years. In the more developed countries such as South Africa, Libya, Algeria, Reunion, and Mauritius the life expectancy is closer to 65 years of age.

There are over 50 countries in Africa, and some of these have 20 or more different ethnic groups living within their boundaries.

At least 1,000 different languages have been identified in Africa. They reflect the great ethnic diversity of this continent. Language is often a barrier between different ethnic groups. What are other barriers?

Great Rift Valley 3,000 miles long

Seismic Activity in Africa

Africa is known worldwide for its spectacular and unique wildlife species. The elephant, rhino, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, wildebeest, zebra, countless antelope, gazelle, giraffe, baboon, mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, lemur, hyena, African wild dog, are some of the more well known animals that live in the savanna and tropical rainforest regions. The need to protect some endangered species have resulted in the formation of a number of national parks.

Africa’s people live in diverse conditions that present extreme contrasts There is extreme poverty and vast wealth; there are people who suffer from droughts and famine and people who have plentiful food; there are vast, magnificent nature reserves with an abundance of wildlife and there are highly urbanized parts with major cities with high-rise buildings and modern amenities

Although the majority of the people in Africa lead a rural life, the continent is urbanizing at a fast pace. Over a third of the population now lives in cities.

Johannesburg

Cape Town, South Africa

Housing can be a problem

Diamonds come from Zaire, South Africa and Botswana. These three countries alone provide at least half of the world's diamonds.

Gold is mined in Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. These countries alone produce half of the world's gold.

Libya and Algeria have large amounts of petroleum, which is used to make gasoline.

Most of Africa’s workers are farmers

Subsistence Farmers Some live in areas with fertile soil and much rain. Most live on land that is difficult to farm because of poor soil or too little rain. Others lack enough land or tools to make a good living. Most are women and children farming

Men have moved to the cities $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Jobs to send money home If the women and children stay on the land, they get to keep what little they own If they move, no more land in the family

Half the world -- nearly three billion people -- live on less than two dollars a day. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (a quarter of the world's countries) is less than the wealth of the world's three richest people combined.

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. If the world spent less than one percent of what it spends every year on weapons, in education, every child could go to school