Physical Geography of Africa Landforms of Africa Africa

Physical Geography of Africa

Landforms of Africa ● Africa is a huge plateau with several basins (depressions) where water collects ○ Called “Plateau Continent” ● Most distinctive landforms are in East Africa ○ Rift Valleys (long, thin valleys) ● Many volcanic mountains ○ Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro ○ Great Escarpment (steep slope with a nearly flat plateau on top)

Deserts of Africa ● Northern Africa ○ Sahara: largest desert in the world ■ Contains aquifers (underground water) 6, 000 feet under which can come to the surface in an oasis ○ Sahel: “Shore of the desert” ■ Narrow band of dry grassland good for farming and herding along the edge of the Sahara ● Southern Africa ○ Kalahari and Namib

Tropics of Africa ● Africa has the largest tropical area of any continent ● Tropical grasslands cover most of the continent ○ Serengeti Plain in northern Tanzania contains some of the best grasslands in the world ● Central Africa receives the most precipitation ● Major rainforest in the Congo Basin

Importance of Agriculture ● Agriculture is the single most important economic activity in Africa ● Coffee is 2 nd most profitable commodity in Africa after oil ● Other major commodities: sugar, palm oil, and cocoa

Bodies of Water of Africa ● Nile River ○ Africa’s longest river ○ Egyptians depend on it ○ Faces environmental problems ● Rivers are difficult for transportation because they contain many waterfalls and rapids

Africa’s Wealth of Natural Resources ● Has a huge amount of the world’s minerals ● Many African countries lack the industrial base and money to develop them ● Gold, platinum, chromium, cobalt, copper, phosphates, diamonds ● Ores and minerals account for more than half of the total value of Africa’s exports ● Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, and Angola are Africa’s leading petroleum producers ● Many African nations have been slow to develop their economies due to European colonial rule in the 19 th and 20 th centuries ● Mining and drilling for these resources causes environmental problems

Directions 1. Poster due TODAY! 2. African Imperialism Reading and Reading Questions due WEDNESDAY. 3. Case Study: Effects of Colonization in Africa due THURSDAY. You will need a textbook for this. 4. Africa Physical Map Quiz FRIDAY. 5. Terracotta Packet due FRIDAY. This is extra credit.