Africa Unit
African Landforms
Plateau A huge plateau covers most of Africa, as a result it is known as the “Plateau Continent” BLUE NILE IN THE ETHIOPEA PLATEAU
Africa also has many Basins, also called depressions. CONGO BASIN
Africa's Major Rivers
Nile River Longest river in the World North Africa
Aswan High Dam on the Nile River (located in Egypt)
Niger River Major river in West Africa
The Niger River flows through the ancient city of Timbuktu.
Congo River Major river of Central Africa
Congo River flows through the rainforest of Central Africa.
Zambezi River & Victoria Falls Southern Africa Worlds most dangerous river
Rafting the Zambezi
The Great Rift Valley The Eastern part of Africa is pulling away from the rest of Africa. The rift valley stretches over 4,000 miles long.
Views of the Great Rift Valley
Lake Victoria Africa’s largest lake 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world
SHRINKING LAKE CHAD WILL BE 'PUDDLE' LAKE CHAD, once the fourth-largest body of water in Africa, has shrunk by almost 95 per cent over the past 38 years, according to research sponsored by the US space agency Nasa. Worse, climate change and increasing demands for water have drained the lake to such an extent that it will shortly be nothing more than a “puddle”.
Africa contains mainly volcanic mountains like Mt Africa contains mainly volcanic mountains like Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest peak)
Due to global warming, the mountains glaciers on the top are slowly melting. (There will be no more ice on the top in less than 10 years)
The Atlas mountains in Northwest Africa are the continents longest mountain chain
The Great Escarpment of Southern Africa
An escarpment is a steep slope with a nearly flat plateau on top.
Sahara Largest Desert in the world dominates Northern Africa
Sahel Area Is the shore of the Sahara desert The process in which arable land turns into desert is called (Desertification)
Kalahari Large desert in Southern Africa Bushman tribes of the Kalahari
90 % of Africa lies within the Tropic of Cancer & Capricorn
Tropical grasslands cover most of the continent of Africa
A famous tropical grassy plain in Africa is the Serengeti, home to many National Wildlife Parks
Most of the rain forest of Africa lie along the equator The great tropical rainforests of Africa are some of the most species-rich natural habitats in the world. Powered by sunlight, heat, and abundant rainfall, these ancient, complex ecosystems teem with life, providing homes to a unique assemblage of plants, animals, and fungi, most of which are found nowhere else on earth.
Northern Africa Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt & Sudan
Make a pilgrimage to Mecca Northern African countries are mostly Arabic people they follow the Islamic Religion Pray 5 times a day Fast during Ramadan Believe in one god and Mohamed was his last prophet Pay alms to the needy Make a pilgrimage to Mecca
The economies of N. Africa is dominated by Oil
Major Cities of Northern Africa
Cairo Egypt
Alexandria Egypt Originally founded by Alexsander the Great
Casablanca Morocco
West Africa Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Liberia, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone
Bantu Migration The Bantu originated in the north western area that they now occupy. Their migration throughout Africa is one of the largest migrations in human history. This migration began in about 1000 BC and continued until the 3rd or 4th century AD.
Slave Trade Started in the 15th century and lasted until 1870. European powers used the slaves to fill their need for labors. Most slaves were from West & Central Africa.
Liberia was developed by former slaves from America Liberia was developed by former slaves from America. The capital Monrovia was named after President James Monroe.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populated country
Cameroon/Central African Republic /Democratic Republic of Congo/Gabon
Colonialsim In the 19th and 20th centuries the Belgians and French colonized central Africa.
Effects from colonialism in Africa European colonial powers established political boundaries in the region that — strengthened European rule in the region set African groups against one another split apart similar language and ethnic groups
It is believed that much of Africa’s political violence and ethnic conflicts during the 20th century were caused by European colonization
Southern Africa Angola/ Zambia/ Malawi/ Zimbabwe/ Namibia/ South Africa/ Mozambique/ Madagascar/ Lesotho/ Swaziland
Gold Trading Spans Great Zimbabwe From the 1200s to the 1400s Great Zimbabwe became the capitol of a thriving gold-trading area.
Apartheid in South Africa
AIDS in Southern Africa out of control
Eastern Africa Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Djibouti
Olduvai Gorge Located in Tanzania, it’s a place where archaeologist have discovered many fossils of Homo Habilis (early humans)
Berlin Conference 1884, European Powers divided up Africa & spit many ethnic groups apart.
East Africa countries rely on cash crops such as tea, coffee & sugar.
Growing cash crops decreases the amount of farmland used, so East Africa has had large scale famine for many years.
Masai Major ethnic group who live in Kenya & Tanzania