1. Africa & The Five Themes of Geography

2. AFRICA
2nd Largest Continent 54 independent nations More than 1000 languages spoken
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia/Oceania

4. Africa: Geographic Diversity

5. Location: Position on Earth’s Surface
Tropic of Cancer: the most northerly position at which the sun may appear directly overheard
Tropic of Capricorn: the most southerly position
Relative: Centrally Located – Interconnected
Exact: 80+% between tropics Cancer and Capricorn

6. Place: Physical/Human Characteristics: Lakes and Rivers
Major source of transportation and communication
Transportation routes often developed along river valleys.
Escarpments and rapids make some rivers unnavigable
Provide food and irrigation for crops
Population density is higher near water sources
Transportation routes developed along river valleys because…
Escarpments: Steep cliffs near coasts
Unnaviagable: Not able to be sailed on by ships or boats

7. Place: Topography, Vegetation, & Climate
Majority of continent: plateau- high flat raised land
Escarpments- steep cliffs (off sides of plateaus)
Cataracts- Waterfalls over escarpments
80% of Africa has tropical climate – Between Capricorn and Cancer
Rainy season in north and dry season in the south
Plateau: high plain consisting of flat terrain
Further from equator is shorter rainy season and longer dry season
Rain is uneven and varies from year to year so it is difficult for farmers.

8. LOCATION
North and South of the equator are mirror images in terms of climate
Steppe: Extensive Plain without trees
Savanna: Grassland with widely spread trees
Mediterranean: No freezing temp in winter and dry summers

9. Human-Environment Interactions
Aswan Dam: Across the Nile River in Egypt
Suez Canal- man made waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas
Desertification: turning semidesert to desert (Sahel south of Sahara)
Leaching- process of heavy rains washing nutrients from soil
Desertification: Heavy rains force people to semidesert areas, cut down foliage for farms, livestock grazes on grass, topsoil turns to sand
Aswan Dam: Control Floods by blocking water and retaining it, provide water for irrigation by releasing water for planting crops, and generate hydroelectricity (movement of water creates electricity by harnessing energy) Generate electricity through electric towers and turbines. Electricity goes to a grid. This is renewable energy that will always exist

10. Movement: Migration, trade, interdependence, ideas spread
Islam spreading to Northern Africa from Mecca (Saudi Arabia: birthplace of Islam)

11. Region: Unifying Characteristics

13. IT’S YOUR TURN