CWG - Sub-Saharan Africa

Contemporary World Contemporary World GeographyGeography

Cuevas, Neil PatrickSantos, Riccilyn Alexis

Villamor, Denise Ann

AB-Literature

I. Location

“Black Africa”lies south of the Sahara contrasts with North Africa which is considered part of the Arab World vast area is covered with grass and scrubland known as savannah

“Black Africa”lies south of the Sahara contrasts with North Africa which is considered part of the Arab World vast area is covered with grass and scrubland known as savannah

II. Landscapes

LAND FEATURESRiver Niger - West Africa’s longest river.

LAND FEATURESRiver Niger - West Africa’s longest river.

LAND FEATURESAdamawa Highlands – It is a mountainous spine that separates West Africa from the Congo Basin

LAND FEATURESAdamawa Highlands – It is a mountainous spine that separates West Africa from the Congo Basin

LAND FEATURESTibesti Mountains – These are chain of extinct volcanoes which now form solitary peaks in the midst of the Sahara

LAND FEATURESTibesti Mountains – These are chain of extinct volcanoes which now form solitary peaks in the midst of the Sahara

LAND FEATURESLake Victoria – It is Africa’s largest lake and the second largest freshwater lake in the world.

LAND FEATURESLake Victoria – It is Africa’s largest lake and the second largest freshwater lake in the world.

LAND FEATURESGreat Rift Valley – The Great Rift Valley is like a deep scar running 7000 km from north to south through East Africa. It has been formed by the movements of two of the Earth’s plates over millions of years

LAND FEATURESGreat Rift Valley – The Great Rift Valley is like a deep scar running 7000 km from north to south through East Africa. It has been formed by the movements of two of the Earth’s plates over millions of years

LAND FEATURESRiver Juba – This river rises in the highlands of Ethiopia and flows some 1200 km southwards to the Indian Ocean

LAND FEATURESRiver Juba – This river rises in the highlands of Ethiopia and flows some 1200 km southwards to the Indian Ocean

LAND FEATURESKilimanjaro – It is an old volcano, made up of alternating layers of lava and ash and is Africa’s highest mountain

LAND FEATURESKilimanjaro – It is an old volcano, made up of alternating layers of lava and ash and is Africa’s highest mountain

LAND FEATURESCongo Basin – The Congo River is Africa’s second longest river, flowing in an arc through the dense tropical forests of the Congo Basin

LAND FEATURESCongo Basin – The Congo River is Africa’s second longest river, flowing in an arc through the dense tropical forests of the Congo Basin

LAND FEATURESNamib Desert – It is one of the world’s driest deserts. The only water it receives is from mists that roll in from the sea.

LAND FEATURESNamib Desert – It is one of the world’s driest deserts. The only water it receives is from mists that roll in from the sea.

LAND FEATURESVictoria Falls – On its way to the Indian Ocean, the Zambezi River plunges over a 128 m cliff into a narrow chasm. The resultant spray rises up to 490 m, and the thunder of the water can be heard up to 40 km away.

LAND FEATURESVictoria Falls – On its way to the Indian Ocean, the Zambezi River plunges over a 128 m cliff into a narrow chasm. The resultant spray rises up to 490 m, and the thunder of the water can be heard up to 40 km away.

LAND FEATURESMadagascar – The world’s fourth largest island lies in isolation 250 km off the east coast of Southern Africa. The rainforests have a rich biodiversity and plants and animals are unique.

LAND FEATURESMadagascar – The world’s fourth largest island lies in isolation 250 km off the east coast of Southern Africa. The rainforests have a rich biodiversity and plants and animals are unique.

III. Economy

I. Natural Resources

Agricultural Industry- castor beans, sorghum, coffee, cotton,

okra, black-eyed peas, watermelon, gourd, and pearl millet

Mining Industry-gold, uranium, chrome, vanadium,

antimony, coltan, bauxite, iron ore, copper and manganese

II. Currency

II. Currency

II. Currency

II. Currency

II. Currency

II. Currency

IV. Culture

I. Ethnicity

Nguni – Pastorlist Group

I. Ethnicity

Sotho – Clan of Cowboys

I. Ethnicity

Tsonga – Shangaan – Spiritual Devotees

I. Ethnicity

Venda - Mythical People and Composite people

II. Language

III. Religion

IV. Environmental Problems

Environmental Problems

Deforestation Degradation Desertification Loss of Soil Fertility Dramatic Decline and Loss of

Biodiversity Air Pollution Water Pollution

Deforestation

It is defined as the “clearing and destruction of forests to harvest wood for consumption, clear land for agricultural uses, and make way for expanding settlement frontiers.” (DeBlij, Murphy, & Fouberg, 2007).

Result of the Logging Industry and Cattle Ranching

Proposed Solutions: Regulation of the Logging Industry Forest Protection Schemes Human Initiative

Degradation

Degradation is “the temporary or permanent deterioration in the density or structure of vegetation cover or species composition, resulting from the removal of plants and trees important in the life cycle of other species, from erosion, and from other adverse changes in the local environment” (Mabogunje, 1995). Caused by deforestation Caused by failure of replanting trees Caused by modernization (e.g. building of dams) Mostly applicable to wetlands; thus Wetlands

Degradation.

Desertification

It is “the encroachment of desert conditions on moister zones along the desert margins, where plant cover and soils are threatened by desiccation- through overuse, in part by humans and their domestic animals...” (DeBlij, Murphy, & Fouberg, 2007).

Caused by Human activities and climate change.

Loss of Soil Fertility

Caused by the kaingin system; land clearing; burning of dry grasses.

Dramatic Decline and Loss of Biodiversity Biodiversity is the “the total variety of

plant and animal species in a particular place; also known as biological diversity.” (DeBlij, Murphy, & Fouberg, 2007).

Loss of Biodiversity: (Sub-Saharan Setting) Mining Loss of Forestland Chemicals thrown into land or sea Illegal hunting Pollution

Air Pollution

Caused by charcoal or wood energy for various purposes.

Water Pollution

Caused by the acceptance of solid wastes from US, Japan, and the European Union. (DeBlij, Murphy, & Fouberg, 2007).

Caused by Human Waste.