Sub-Sahara Africa: The Land Ch. 20 Sec. 1

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? The land area of the U.S. fits into the land area of Africa a little over three times FALSE- over four times! Africa is composed most of desert, jungle, and some grassland. FALSE- 25% desert, 10% jungle, 55% grassland

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? 3. Lions, giraffes, tigers, and many other wild animals are native to Africa. FALSE- no tigers (only in Asia) The cultures of Africa are very similar. FALSE- about 3,000 ethnic groups! 5. Most of Africa experiences four seasons each year. FALSE- mostly tropical year round

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? Africa is one of the largest countries in the world. FALSE- 2nd largest continent The “Afro” is a hair style from Africa FALSE- originated in U.S. There are very few tribes left in Africa today. FALSE- many, many, many tribes today

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? Outside of South Africa, there are very few ethnic problems in Africa. FALSE- leaders overthrown in Uganda, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia… Africa is a poor land with few resources. FALSE- lots of water, 70% of world’s diamonds The people in Africa live in huts. FALSE- all types of housing from huts to modern skyscrapers

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? The male lion is the best hunter of all African cats. FALSE- Female lion called “Queen of Savanna” Africa has no early history or any advanced civilizations. FALSE- Egyptians; no written record of others for a while 14. The largest river in the world is the Nile. FALSE- longest river

How Much Do You Know about… AFRICA?? Most Africans speak the same language. FALSE- speak tribal or European lang.

Sub-Sahara Africa: The Land Ch. 20 Sec. 1

A Satellite View

The African Plateau

Highland Features Plateaus make a series of steps make up most of Africa Edges of plateaus are escarpments (cliffs) Most are <20 miles from coast (Map on p. 501) Hard to travel inland from coast (bad for exploration)

Highland Features Rivers plunge down escarpments making cataracts (waterfalls) Victoria Falls; b/w Zambia & Zimbabwe

Highland Features Africa has highest overall elevation than any other continent… But still few mountains Mts. included in Eastern highlands Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya

Highest Free-Standing Mountain in the world Mt. Kilimanjaro 19,330 ft; in Tanzania Highest Free-Standing Mountain in the world Mt. Kenya 17,057 ft; in Kenya

Mt. Kenya

Highland features Ruwenzori Mts. Drakensberg Range Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of the Congo Covered in snow and clouds Drakensberg Range South Africa Lots of national parks, wetlands

Ruwenzori Mts.; 16,761 ft. Ice Cap on Mount Margherita….Africa’s 3rd tallest mountain

Tugela Falls World’s 2nd tallest Waterfall Drakensberg Range; 11,420 ft. - “Barrier of Spears” in Zulu Tugela Falls World’s 2nd tallest Waterfall

Stretches from Syria to Mozambique Great Rift Valley Stretches from Syria to Mozambique Formed by shifting tectonic plates (what kind??) millions of yrs. ago Volcanoes & earthquakes continue to shape region TODAY

Seismic Activity in Africa

6,000 Miles Long!

Red Sea

Great Rift Valley Forms two branches Eastern branch = volcanic cones Western branch= lakes Lake Tanganyika (2nd lgst. freshwater & 2nd deepest in world) Lake Malawi (mt. rimmed, >2,300 feet deep) Lake Victoria (2nd widest in world, but shallow; source of White Nile)

Lake Malawi Lake Tanganyika

Lake Victoria

The African Great Lakes

Travel from plateaus in center of cont. to the sea Water Systems Lakes & rivers come from basins formed millions of yrs. ago as land uplifted Travel from plateaus in center of cont. to the sea Hit escarpments  waterfalls  near impossible to navigate inland/ up river

Water Systems Lake Chad: West-central Africa 20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it Faces desertification (droughts + natural climate) So shallow, affected greatly by climate Δs 1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²

Water Systems Lake Volta: Man-made (1 of lgst. in world) Flooded 700 villages & displaced 70,000 to create Used for irrigation, fishing, hydroelectric power (Akosombo Dam) for major aluminum plant and ppl of Ghana

Akosombo Dam (creates Lake Volta)

Water Systems Niger River: “great river” main artery in W. Africa 2,600 miles long (3rd in Africa) Forms arc across 5 countries Vital for irrigation & transportation Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria (150 X 200 miles)

Water Systems Zambezi River: Congo River: Many waterfalls (Victoria Falls- 355 foot drop– 2X size of Niagra) Congo River: Meets sea at deep, navigable estuary (only one in Africa) Largest network of navigable water in Africa But still has major waterfalls & rapids

Zambezi River Victoria Falls

Congo River- 2nd longest

Physical Barriers Sahara prevents travel from North Africa to South/Central Africa Western deltas were treacherous to sail inland Eastern highlands made travel inland difficult (cliffs) Europeans controlled coastal trade and Africans controlled inland trade

Mineral resources are abundant Natural resources Mineral resources are abundant Plentiful oil reserves Various metals across region S. Africa has ½ world’s gold, also found elsewhere Major diamond deposits

Natural Resources Water is ABUNDANT The problem lies with harnessing power (physical & financial problems) Congo River- More potential hydroelectric power than U.S. Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential for hydroelectricity, but uses less than 10% of it. More development is occurring Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power systems from 86-96