AFRICAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Here are some factoids about Africa: world s second largest continent (11,700,000 miles). Home to 52 countries, 1,000 languages, 800 million people. 10% of the world s population lives in Africa. Africa Africa can be divided into many different regions: The Sahara The Sahel Savannahs Tropical Rain Forests Southern Africa.
Climate and Vegetation Tropical Wet - Located near the equator = warm temperatures 60 inches of rainfall, seasonal Dense shrubs, ferns and mosses (rainforests) Soil is not fertile because of the heavy of rains leach = dissolve, and carry away nutrients Crops: Bananas, pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee and cotton Tropical Dry Savanas Not very fertile soil Wettest near the equator Wet Season > daily rainfall for 6 months Dry Season > no rain Duelling Winds - Harmattan Hot dry air streams from the Sahara, NE trade winds dries up the summer moisture Cool, humid air from the Southwest Collision of two winds = tornadoes
SAHARA DESERT Largest desert in the world Covers 1/3 of continent Divides Continent in 2 North Africa Sub-Saharan There are two main types of landscape in the Sahara Erg sand dunes Reg gravel covered plain
Semi-arid region just south of the Sahara - dry grasslands The word Sahel means border or margin. Region between the desert to the north and the grasslands and rainforest to the south. Vegetation is sparse Relatively flat with few mountains and hills.
SAHEL Separates the tropical dry savanna and deserts From Senegal to Sudan Slowly turning into desert. Caused by climate changes and over grazing Desertification the transformation arable land to desert
SAVANNAS Tropical grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs located near the Equator Cover 1/2 of Africa North and South of Rainforest Region This is where many of the African Safaris take place Large populations of wildlife Lions, zebra and elephants Good farming but little rainfall Mostly heavily populated area Serengeti means endless plains Largest mammal migration and game reserve
Located along the central coast of Africa, near the Equator. It lies in the Congo River Basin. Tropical Rain Forest Covers 1/5 th of the land surface and touches 37 countries. The rain forest has a hot, humid climate. The annual rainfall is over 17 feet. There is a large variety of animals found in this region. Trees: Teak and mahogany Trees are so thick and tall that sunlight never reaches the forest floor! Second largest rain forest in the world Variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, leaves and flowers Attracts a variety if animals Tse Tse Fly - harmful to humans and fatal to most hoofed animals
CONGO RIVER Located in Western and Central Africa Begins near Lake Tanganyika Flows west Second largest river in Africa
Niger River Great River Originates in the highlands of Guinea Creates and arc by flowing Northeast then Southeast to the Nigerian coast Located in western Africa. It flows through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, & Nigeria. Third largest river in Africa. It runs over 2,600 miles
The Nile River Longest River in the World White Nile and Blue Nile meet in Sudan to form the Nile River Flows northward, emptying in the Mediterranean Sea Without the annual flooding in Egypt land would not be arable
Other Water Systems Lake Chad Located in Western/Central Africa Threatened with extinction, it is shrining Landlocked Global Warming Irrigation Desertification Lake Malawi - Mountain rimmed lake Lake Volta Located in West Africa Largest human made lake Created in 1960 and is used for hydroelectric power Damed south of Ajena, Ghana
The Great Rift Valley Located in Eastern Africa Largest Rift Valley in the world Caused by the diverging Indian Tectonic Plate Surrounding lakes and rivers are very deep
Lake Victoria Located in the middle of the Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa It is a shallow depression Largest lake in Africa
Zambezi River Located in South/Central Africa Forms the Zambia and Angola Border flows into the Indian Ocean 2,200 miles but interrupted by waterfalls biggest is Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Creates the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe Second largest waterfall in the world
Lake Tanganyika Located in central Africa. Divided between Burundi, Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Deepest lake in Africa and one of the deepest in the world. One of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.
Mount Kilimanjaro: Africa s highest mountain at 19,341 feet Located on the Equator in Tanzania near Kenya Formed by volcanic activity from the Great Rift Valley Only year round snow capped mountain in Africa Known in Swahili as Shining Mountain
Mountains and Plateaus Eastern Highlands Located in Ethiopia down to the Cape of Good Hope Highest summits are Mt Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya Ruwenzori Mountains Mountains of the Moods West of the Eastern Highlands Snow and cloud covered due to the moist air from the Indian Ocean Divides Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo Drakensberg Range South Africa and Lesotho Forms an escarpment along the southern edge of the continent
Okavango Swamp/ River Worlds largest inland river delta River is absorbed by the Kalahari Desert Large game reserve in the desert
Kalahari Desert Largest Desert in Southwestern Africa Has many oasis which makes it habitable Oasis vegetated areas in a desert caused by fresh water springs
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Southern mot point of Africa Converging currents from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans make waters dangerous for sailing but great wildlife Only Place in the world Great Whites breach South African Penguins
Post Lecture Assignment Due - Thursday January 11th or Friday January 12th 1. Complete one of the following 1. Write a fictional story (1 page in length) about the time you and your family took a trip safari through Africa. Begin in the Sahara desert and continue through the Sahel, Savanna and the rainforest. Describe your surroundings and the people you encounter. You must use all the information provided in the lecture, but you are welcome to add information you find from your country fact sheets and other research 2. Write a poem/rap/song to help use visualize the physical landscape of Africa. You must use all the information provided in the lecture. 2. Complete the following 1. Using unlined paper create a postcard depicting one of the physical features described in the lecture that you thought was the most interesting. (see next slide for sample/directions) 1. Front of Post Card = Picture of landscape 2. Back of Post Card = Brief description of what and where the landscape is located (i paragraph)
Right top corner = extra points, create an African stamp Front of postcard is a picture of the location Back of Postcard Left side = description (1 paragraph) Right side = use my name and school address as the person you are sending this to