1. Africa: Land and Water
Chapter 1, Section 1

2. The Regions of Africa
When historians and geographers talk about Africa, they usually divide it into four regions.
These regions are
North Africa
West Africa
East Africa
Central/Southern Africa
Each of these regions has different climates and landforms.

3. North Africa
North Africa is known for its hot deserts and its steep mountains.
Much of North Africa is covered by the Sahara, the largest desert in the world.

4. West Africa
Western Africa is a fertile region made up primarily of grasslands.
A grassland is a large, open area of land covered in grasses and edible plants.
West Africa is the region of Africa that has the highest population.
Why might that be?

5. East Africa
East Africa is known for its elevation. Though it has some grassland, much of the land is high above sea level, as it is made up of many mountains and plateaus, or large raised areas of land.
Many of Africa’s most famous mountains, such as Mount Kilimanjaro and the Virunga Mountains, can be found in East Africa.
How might this affect life in East Africa?

7. East Africa The Great Rift Valley is almost 4,000 miles long!
East Africa is also home to the Great Rift Valley.
The Great Rift Valley is a deep trench or cut in the land of Africa. It was formed millions of years ago as the continents shifted across the globe.
The Great Rift Valley is
almost 4,000 miles long!

8. Central and Southern Africa
Central and Southern Africa are unique in that they have many different types of climates and landforms.
There is a lot of fertile grassland, but you can also find rain forest, mountains, deserts, swamps and jungles.

9. Africa’s Four Rivers
One important feature of the African continent are its many rivers:
the Nile River
the Congo River
the Niger River
the Zambezi River

10. The Nile River
The Nile River flows northward from Central Africa to North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea.
It begins as two smaller rivers called the White Nile and the Blue Nile.
At over 4,000 miles long, it is the longest river in the world!
Why is the Nile River important to life in Africa?

11. The Congo River
The Congo River flows through Central Africa. With a length of over 2,900 miles, it is the second-largest river in Africa.
The Congo River is notable for its large tributary system.
Tributaries are smaller rivers or streams that connect with and flow into a bigger river.
What countries does the Congo River system spread across?

12. The Niger River
The Niger River is located in West Africa. It is Africa’s third biggest river and it flows for 2,600 miles.
What countries does the Niger flow through?

13. The Zambezi River
The Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-largest river, is in southern Africa. It is over 2,200 miles long.
What countries does the Zambezi River flow through?