Geography of Africa An Introduction

Standards SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse characteristics of early African societies before 1800 CE. e. Analyze the role of geography and the distribution of resources played in the development of trans-Saharan trading networks.

Physical Geography PHYSICAL FEATURES Sahara Desert smooth coastline lack of navigable rivers Great Rift Valley high plateau Fertile soil along the Nile River encouraged the rise of great civilizations (ex. Egypt)

Physical Geography RESULT Groups are kept separate 800 different languages are spoken in modern Africa Many geographic features in Africa have prevented contact, trade & unity among peoples Many of these same features limit European knowledge of Africa “the Dark Continent”

True desert spreads into semi-arid regions

Topography Deserts Sahara Desert 40% of the land surface of Africa slows cultural diffusion - does not totally prevent it Sahara -- North Africa Size of the U.S. majority is rock and gravel Kalahari--Southwest Africa Sahara Desert

Desertification - Causes Farmers use semi-arid land next to desert - yields poor crop Overgrazing by cattle and goats Overcutting of trees for firewood With no grass or tree roots, the topsoil blows away, the desert advances Somalia

Solutions Crop rotation Terracing to prevent soil from washing away Tree belts to stop erosion and hold soil in place

Rivers Congo - 3000 miles long Niger - ancient civilizations flourished here Zambezi - Victoria Falls, used for hydro-electric power Therefore, the interior of Africa remained largely unexplored Zambezi Gorge

The Nile 4,180 miles long (world’s longest!!) flows NORTH Source - - Lake Victoria Delta - - Egypt Floods annually One of the most densely populated region in Africa

Coastline Smooth Few natural harbors - hard to land ships Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Climate - determined by rainfall, latitude and elevation Savanna - 40%, safari!! Tropical Rainforest - 8%, Desert - 40% Mediterranean - 12%, good farm land About 85% of the land is not suited to farming

Natural Resources Farming Minerals Water peanuts, cotton, cocoa, coffee Minerals diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt Water hydroelectric power

A Satellite View of Africa

Rift Valley, Kenya

Savannah Savannah

Sahara Desert Sahel Deserts Kalahari Desert

The Sahel

Bodies Of Water Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Nile River Niger River L. Chad--> <--Gulf of Aden L. Albert--> Congo River L. Victoria L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Limpopo River Orange River Pacific Ocean

Mountains & Peaks Atlas Mts. Drajensburg Mts. Ruwenzori Mts. Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Ruwenzori Mts. Drajensburg Mts.

Vegetation Zones

The Complete Topography Of AFRICA Mediterranean Sea Atlas Mts. Libyan Desert The Complete Topography Of AFRICA Tropic of Cancer 20° N Sahara Desert Red Sea Sahel Nile River Niger River L. Chad--> Great Rift Valley <--Gulf of Aden L. Albert--> Equator 0° Δ Mt. Kenya Congo River L. Victoria Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Ruwenzori Mts. Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Namib Desert Kalahari Desert Limpopo River Tropic of Capricorn 20° S Orange River Drajensburg Mts. Pacific Ocean

Standards SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse characteristics of early African societies before 1800 CE. e. Analyze the role of geography and the distribution of resources played in the development of trans-Saharan trading networks. List 5 facts which will help you remember this lesson: