AFRICA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPjQGYaBDtg

Africa is a huge, diverse continent home to many different kinds of physical features from deserts to plains, and highlands to rainforests. The Sahara is the world’s largest desert, dominates land and life in North Africa Grassy plains called Savannas stretch across large parts of the continent. Home to much African wildlife In East Africa, Earth’s crust is slowly being pulled apart causing wide rift valleys to form. The Sahara Savannas Rift Valleys

Political Map V. Resources Map Turn to pages 484-485. Look at the Resources map. What are the major resources of Africa? Coal, natural gas, oil, hydroelectric power, gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, uranium, other minerals, seafood Where is oil found? How does it affect economies in the region? Most oil is located along the west-central coast and in northern Africa. These countries may have strong economies because they can export so much oil.

Political Map V. Resources Now compare the Resources map to the Political Map: What countries use water resources to produce hydroelectric power? Egypt, Nigeria, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1) What mainland countries have no resources? 2)What economic activities do you think they depend upon? Mali, Chad, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Uganda, Malawi. Economic activities in this country may include farming and raising livestock.

Climate Types

Africa is divided into 5 Regions:

North Africa: Physical Features The Nile The Nile River is the world’s longest river flowing upward about 4,000 miles; empties into the Mediterranean Sea For centuries rain to the south caused floods in the north leaving rich silt in the surrounding fields. Silt: finely ground fertile soil that is good for growing crops

North Africa: Physical Geography The Sinai and Suez Canal Desert and rocky mountains cover the Sinai Peninsula. Between the Sinai and rest of Egypt is the Suez Canal: a narrow waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.

North Africa: Physical Geography The Sahara Largest desert in the world. Few people live there. Small settlements are located near a water source such as an oasis; a wet fertile area where a natural spring or well provides water. The Sahara desert is not flat. Some sand dunes and ridges are as high as 1,000 feet and the Atlas Mountains rise as high as 13,600 feet!

North Africa: Climate and Resources Three Main Climates: Desert: Very dry covers most of the region. Very hot during the day ( up to 136° F) and drop quickly after sunset. Mediterranean: northern coast consists of moist, mild winters and hot, dry summers. Steppe: Areas between coast and Sahara Oil and gas are important resources.

West Africa: Physical Features Plains and Highlands: Coastal plain is home to most of the region’s cities. Interior plains provide land where people grow crops. Tibesti Mountains to the northeast The Niger River Flows 2,600 miles, empties into the Gulf of Guinea Many people farm along its banks or fish Important transportation route especially during rainy season

West Africa: Climate Four different climate regions: “zonal”, meaning organized by zone Sahara- hardly any vegetation, dry climate, few or no people Sahel- strip of land dividing desert from wetter areas, steppe climate. Desertification- spread of desert-like conditions Savanna- Tall grasses, scattered trees and shrubs Humid tropical- lies along coasts of Atlantic and Gulf of Guinea

West Africa: Resources Variety of resources including agricultural products, oil, and minerals (diamonds, gold, iron ore, bauxite- main source of aluminum) Ghana leading producer of cacao (used to make chocolate) West Africa’s main exports include coffee, coconuts, and peanuts

West Africa: History One of the earliest kingdoms was Ghana. Controlled the Sahara trade in gold and salt became rich and powerful in 800. Empire of Mali replaced Ghana in about 1300 gaining control of the trade routes Mansa Musa was Mali’s most famous king Invasions caused the decline of Mali in the 1500s Replaced by kingdom of Songhai Timbuktu was the cultural center with a university, mosques, and over 100 schools Declined around 1600 when Europeans began trading along coast

West Africa: History The Slave Trade For a while European and Africans traded with each other however demand for labor in American colonies changed that. European traders met demand by selling enslaved Africans to the colonists Devastated West Africa: families were split apart, many died on the voyage. By the end of the slave trade in 1800s millions had been enslaved. After end of slave trade France, Britain, Germany, and Portugal claimed colonies to access resources. Most of these did not become dependent until after WWII

East Africa: Physical Features Rift Valleys: Places on Earth’s surface where the crust stretches until it breaks. Great Rift Valley is the largest rift on the Earth Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa rising 19,340 feet! Home to one of the largest plains called the Serengeti Plain. Wildlife includes elephants, giraffes, lions, and zebras. Lake Victoria- Africa’s largest lake

East Africa: Climate and Vegetation Location on equator and differences in elevation influence climate and vegetation. North of the equator has cool, highland climate. Most of the population lives in highland region. Areas near equator receive greatest amount of rainfall Areas farther from equator are much drier and droughts are common causing crops and grasses for cattle die, people begin to starve

East Africa: Religion Christianity and Islam influenced the lives of many East Africans. Other influences included trade, the arrival of Europeans, ethnic conflict, and independence Christianity was first introduced as early as 300 AD By about 700 AD Islam spread from Egypt to Northern Sudan and spread to the Indian Ocean coast to what is now Somalia Many city-states became major Islamic centers controlling trade on the coast

Central Africa: Physical Features Congo Basin- generally flat region surrounded by higher land such as mountains and plateaus Congo River is fed by hundreds of smaller rivers. Provides important transportation route to the interior of the region Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River

Central Africa: Climate, Vegetation, and Animals Lies along the equator. Congo Basin has a humid tropical climate. Large, dense tropical forest Gorillas, elephants, wild boars, okapis live on the forest floor. People hunt large animals for food. National Parks have been set up to promote protection Forests are in danger: rapidly being cleared for farming and logging.

Central Africa: Resources Most people are subsistence farmers ( grow coffee, bananas, and corn) People trade products in periodical markets, open air trading markets set up once or twice a week Copper is the most important resource in this region. Poor transportation systems and political problems have kept regions resources from being fully developed.

Daily life in Cameroon Mosquito netting on bed to protect from insects and Malaria My friend with her “host sister” Eating with her “host family”, the family she lived with while in the Peace Corps

Lokoti, Cameroon

Cameroon Girls at school in Lokoti, Cameroon

Southern Africa: Physical Geography Most of the land lies on a large plateau. The steep face at the edge of the plateau is called an escarpment. Many rivers flow in this regions providing irrigation for farmland. Also home to animals such as crocodiles, zebra, hippos.

Southern Africa: Climate and Vegetation Climate varies from east to west. The east coast is wet, whereas the west is very dry.