AFRICA The Land THE LAND OF AFRICA The

AFRICA The Land

THE LAND OF AFRICA The Savanna = a grassland which covers almost half the continent. It lies in the wet & dry tropical climate zone & is home to many species of wildlife. 3 Problems that challenge Africa’s savanna: 1. Unpredictable rainfall 2. Drought 3. Flooding

The Savanna

The Sahara is the world’s largest desert located in Northern Africa. (It is larger than the United States. ) Oasis = a fertile desert area that has enough water to support plant & animal life. Desertification = the turning of semi desert land into desert.

The Sahara

Oasis

Causes & Effects of Desertification Causes = 1. Human activity (cutting down trees) 2. Animal grazing 3. Drought Effects = Land turns to desert, plant life ends & animals leave the area.

Adapting to the Land Climate, water resources & soil influence where people live in Africa. Many live near water sources and areas with rich soil (Nile Valley)

Tropical Climate The tropical climate often affects African’s health. Many insects breed in this type of weather & spread diseases to the people. Malaria – spread by mosquitoes Sleeping sickness – spread by the tsetse fly and infects both people & livestock Many homes have open areas and need to use mosquito netting to try to protect them from mosquito bites while they sleep. During the day many cover themselves with mud to also protect them from insect bites.

Mosquito Netting

Five Types of Societies Farming Herding Fishing Hunting & Gathering Urban – individuals living in a city Africans speak more than 1, 000 different languages!!