Geographic Understandings (Physical) Africa Geographic Understandings (Physical)

GPS and E.Q. GPS: SS7G1.a. The student will locate on a world and regional political-physical map: the Sahara, Sahel, savanna, tropical rainforest, Congo River, Niger River, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Atlas Mountains, and Kalahari Desert. E.Q.: How do I locate selected features on a map of Africa?

Africa is an enormous continent. It has almost every type of climate and geography.

Atlas Mountain Range Northern Africa Group of mountains Separates coastal regions from Sahara

Sahara Across entire width of northern Africa Largest desert in the world Has sand dunes, rolling rocky hills, and gravel plains Few people live here Travel by caravan, jeeps and trucks

Sahel South of Sahara Dry, semi-arid region Desertification – people cut down trees and let animals overgraze – causes drier soil and erosion

savanna Middle of Africa, close to equator Grassland Many animals (lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras…) Farming good when it rains

Tropical Rainforests Along central coast Hot, humid climate, dense, tall trees Home to many species Threat: rapid population growth – fuel needs = more trees cut down than can be replanted

Kalahari Desert Southern part of Africa Surrounded by semi-arid areas – desertification here, too

Lake Victoria Largest lake in Africa; largest tropical lake in the world

Lake Tanganyika 2nd largest & deepest freshwater lake in the world (4820 feet deep)

Nile River Longest river in the world Begins in central mountains as White Nile & Blue Nile Flows NORTH 4000+ miles to Mediterranean Sea at Alexandria, Egypt White Nile begins at Lake Victoria

Congo River Flows 3,000 miles through central and west Africa Through largest rainforest in Africa (2nd largest in the world) Begins near Lake Tanganyika Empties into Atlantic Ocean

Niger River 3rd largest river in Africa Flows from Guinea 2,600+ miles to Atlantic Ocean Mouth of river is called “oil delta” because of petroleum industry there

Independent Work Using a map of Africa, locate and label the following geographic features: Sahara and Kalahari Deserts Sahel Savanna Tropical rainforests Congo, Niger, and Nile Rivers Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria Atlas Mountains

Summary How is Africa similar to the U.S. geographically? How is it different?