1. Sub - Sahara Africa

2. Leading countries of the area
GDP: Gross Domestic Product: The total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year
South Africa
Gabon
Botswana

3. Leading countries of the area cont.
Land size
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)
Sudan
Chad
Mozambique
Madagascar

4. Leading countries of the area cont.
Population
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)
Tanzania
Kenya

5. Physical characteristics
Continent composed of a huge plateau and escarpment
River transportation is impeded by waterfalls and rapids
Smooth coastline provides few natural harbors

6. Plateau--raised area of land with a generally level surface
Plateau--raised area of land with a generally level surface. At least one side of the plateau rises steeply above the surrounding area
Escarpment--a steep cliff that separates two level areas of differing elevations

7. Central Africa Climate zones 1. Rainforest 2. Tropical Wet and Dry
The location of the equator in the middle of the region provides similar climate patterns on both the North and South sides of the equator.
Climate zones
1. Rainforest
2. Tropical Wet and Dry
3. Semi Arid
4. Arid

8. Central Africa The region has a large number of landlocked countries.
landlocked--a country which is completely cut off from a sea and surrounded by land or other countries

9. Central Africa
The area is a storehouse of minerals such as gold and diamonds.
The land of the rainforest has limited fertility in the soil because the rainforest leaches the nutrients out.
Two main deserts-- Kalahari and the Namib
The region has many preserves and national parks.

10. Economic Characteristics
Large percentage of the population is engaged in agriculture (primary activity).
Mainly subsistence agriculture and nomadic herding.
They use slash and burn agriculture

11. Slash and burn agriculture--cutting down trees and vegetation to clear a field for planting. The field is only good for a few years before you have to do it again. The land you leave is useless because you have depleted it of nutrients.

12. There is some plantation agriculture where cash crops and food crops are raised.
Cash crops—coffee, tea, sugar, peanuts, cocoa
Food crops—millet, sorghum, wheat, corn

13. Challenges & Advantages:
Poorly developed infrastructure.
Large numbers of landlocked countries.
Makes it difficult to trade with the rest of the world

14. The area does have substantial mineral wealth.
EX: diamonds, gold, alloys
The region is a major exporter of raw materials, but this leads to a high trade deficit.

15. There is a wide range of per capita income in the region.
Production of products lags behind the growing population of the area and many goods have to be imported.

16. The area is suffering from desertification.
Desertification--the process of destroying the grassland and other vegetation regions and having them turn into desert

17. Demographics are typical of a developing nation
low per capita GDP
low life expectancy
High population growth rates
High infant mortality
large percentage of the population under the age of 15
low literacy rates

18. Cultural Characteristics
Uneven population distribution
large numbers of refugees due to constant conflict in many countries
Many conflicts are caused by the many ethnic groups with different languages and customs

19. There are very few cities with populations over one million
There knowledge of their history is based on an oral tradition
Many of the country names today are based on historical empires such as Mali, Ghana & Zimbabwe

20. The diversity of Africans are reflected in their cultural heritage
masks •sculpture
dance •music
colorful dress
jewelry

21. Major Cities
Centers of Culture and Trade
Lagos, Nigeria
Dakar, Senegal
Johannesburg, South Africa

22. Markets
churches
mosques, and minarets
villages
modern city cores

23. Waterfalls (Blue Nile Falls, Ethiopia)

24. African Escarpment

25. African Masks

26. African Clothing

27. Village

28. Masks

29. African Mask

31. Catholic Church in Mali

32. Market Scene, Selling dry fish

33. Market Scene

34. Statue in Burkina Faso

35. Crops being transported for the market

36. Grande Mosque in Mali

37. Mud Brick Village in Mali

38. Market in Ghana

39. Market in Mali, notice clothing

40. Namibia Village—thatched roof

41. Shantytown outside S. Africa