African Geography Relative Location of Africa Bordered by
African Geography
Relative Location of Africa • Bordered by: – Atlantic Ocean on west – Indian Ocean on east – Mediterranean Sea on north – Red Sea on northeast
Land Features of Africa • Called “plateau continent” because plateaus are most dominant landform in Africa – Plateau: high flat or gently rolling land • Coastline – Narrow and even with few inlets or bays to form good harbors • Harbor: part of a body of water protected and deep enough for ships to dock
Great Rift Valley • Geographic features – Located in eastern Africa – Giant trench groove out of the plateau; giant ditch – Stretches 6, 000 miles from Red Sea into Southern Africa – More than 1 mile deep
Great Rift Valley-continued • Caused by shifting movements of the earth’s crust, causing faults – Faults: cracks in the earth’s surface
Major Mountain Ranges of Africa • Mt. Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak – Located in East Africa • Atlas Mountains – Located in NW Africa • Drakensberg Mountains – Located in SE Africa
Lakes of Africa • Major lakes: – Lake Victoria – Lake Tanganyika – Lake Nyasa • Lakes described as “life-giving waters” – Provide waters for drinking, irrigation, and transportation • Irrigation: to supply dry land with water by means of ditches, pipes, or streams
Major Rivers of Africa • Nile River – World’s longest river – Source (where river begins) flows from center of Africa northward into Mediterranean Sea • Congo River – Located in Central Africa – Crosses equator twice • Niger River – Flows through west Africa
Major Rivers-continued • Rivers not useful for long distance travel – Cataracts and shallow rapids flow over escarpments • Cataracts: huge waterfalls • Escarpments: steep cliffs – Water levels are low at mouths of river • Mouth: place where stream enters a larger body of water – Rivers too shallow for navigation during dry season
HEI and Cataracts • Positive HEI – Provide hydroelectric power which generate electricity • Negative HEI – Limits river travel – Slows movement
Vocabulary • Cataracts: huge waterfalls • Escarpment: steep cliffs • Continental Drift: explanation of how the continents move • Plateau: high flat or gently rolling land
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