The Geography of Africa

A Satellite View

Africa’s Size Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. 4 6 0 0 M I L E S 5 0 0 0 M I L E S Second largest continent  11,700,000 sq. mi. 10% of the world’s population. 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

Africa There are 53 independent countries in Africa

Africa Africa is the 2nd largest continent(Asia largest) Famine—Extreme shortage of food—MAJOR problem in Africa. Sudan is Africa’s largest Country *Deforestation: Cutting down forests for buildings and houses. Huge problem in Africa. Africa is divided into FIVE geographical regions: North Africa (desert) South Africa (some desert) East Africa (lakes) West Africa (rich in resources and mountains) Central Africa (rainforest) The Sahara desert divides Africa into two parts: 1. North Africa 2. Sub-Sahara-all countries south of the desert

Climate Equator cuts across Africa resulting in hot and tropical region. The major climatic regions of Africa south of the Sahara are: desert-extremely dry, gets less than 10 inches of rain a year semiarid-gets more rainfall than the desert but still receives very little tropical-gets 70 inches of rain per year and temperatures average 80 degrees Temperatures along the coast and in the mountains are more moderate: Highlands-cool climate and rich soil because of ample rainfall South Africa –temperatures can be cold during the winter

Waterways-Important to trade Africa’s Rivers Africa’s Lakes & Canal Nile River-starts in E. Burundi and flows north emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. World’s longest river. Nile flows over six cataracts on its way to sea Other important rivers: Niger River –Western Africa Congo River-Central Africa Nile River—Longest river from Egypt to Eastern Africa Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest source of a fresh water lake. VERY IMPORTANT LAKE to Eastern Africans Lake Tanganyika-is the second largest lake in Africa, located below Lake Victoria Suez Canal -connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Important to trade!!! Located in Egypt

How physical features affect where people live, the work they do, and how they travel. Sahel- a strip of land that divides the Sahara from wetter areas (ex: Mauritania, Chad, Sudan, and Mali) Sahara-Sahara desert world’s largest desert(ex: Egypt Libya,) Rainforest-area near the equator that gets high amounts of rain year round(ex: Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda) Savanna- subtropical grassland with scattering trees and shrubs(ex: Kenya) Oasis-is a wet, fertile area in a desert where a natural spring or well provides water

Physical Features Sahara desert-world’s largest desert, covers almost 1/3 of the continent Atlas Mountains-range stretches along the Northwestern part of Africa Kalahari Desert-found in Southwestern Africa and covers 360,000 square miles, plants and animals are able to live in this desert due to an underground water supply Nile River- located in Egypt and runs through several African countries, world’s longest river Rainforest- found in Central Africa and provides a lot of rain for the area Lake Tananikya -- Largest lake in Africa. Located in East Africa below Lake Victoria Lake Victoria- Africa’s largest fresh water lake, which located in East Africa.