Sub-Sahara Sub-Sahara Africa: The Africa: The

LandLandCh. 20 Sec. 1Ch. 20 Sec. 1

Highland FeaturesHighland Features

• PlateausPlateaus make a series of steps make a series of steps make up most of Africamake up most of Africa

• Edges of plateaus are Edges of plateaus are escarpmentsescarpments (cliffs) (cliffs)–Most are <20 miles from coast Most are <20 miles from coast (Map (Map

on p. 501)on p. 501)–Hard to travel inland from coast Hard to travel inland from coast (bad (bad

for exploration)for exploration)

Highland FeaturesHighland Features

• Rivers plunge Rivers plunge down down escarpments escarpments making making cataractscataracts (waterfalls)(waterfalls)

Victoria Falls; b/w Zambia & Zimbabwe

Highland FeaturesHighland Features

• Africa has highest overall elevation Africa has highest overall elevation than any other continent…than any other continent…

• But still few mountainsBut still few mountains

• Mts. included in Eastern highlandsMts. included in Eastern highlands–Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes

Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. KenyaMt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya

Mt. Kilimanjaro

19,330 ft; in Tanzania

Highest Free-Standing

Mountain in the world

Mt. Kenya

17,057 ft; in Kenya

Mt. KenyaMt. Kenya

Highland featuresHighland features

• Ruwenzori Mts.Ruwenzori Mts.–Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of

the Congothe Congo–Covered in snow and cloudsCovered in snow and clouds

• Drakensberg RangeDrakensberg Range–South AfricaSouth Africa–Lots of national parks, wetlandsLots of national parks, wetlands

Ruwenzori Mts.; 16,761 ft.

Ice Cap on Mount Margherita….Africa’s 3rd tallest mountain

Drakensberg Range; 11,420 ft.- “Barrier of Spears” in Zulu

Tugela Falls World’s 2nd tallest waterfall

Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley

• Stretches from Syria to Stretches from Syria to MozambiqueMozambique

• Formed by shifting tectonic Formed by shifting tectonic plates plates (what kind??)(what kind??) millions of millions of yrs. agoyrs. ago–Volcanoes & earthquakes Volcanoes & earthquakes

continue to shape region continue to shape region TODAYTODAY

Red Sea

Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley

• Forms two branchesForms two branches–Eastern branch = volcanic conesEastern branch = volcanic cones–Western branch= lakesWestern branch= lakes

• Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika (2(2ndnd lgst. lgst. freshwater & 2freshwater & 2ndnd deepest in world) deepest in world)

• Lake Malawi Lake Malawi (mt. rimmed, >2,300 (mt. rimmed, >2,300 feet deep)feet deep)

• Lake Victoria Lake Victoria (2(2ndnd widest in world, widest in world, but shallow; source of White Nile)but shallow; source of White Nile)

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Malawi

Lake Victoria

The African Great Lakes

Water SystemsWater Systems

• Lakes & rivers come from Lakes & rivers come from basins formed millions of yrs. basins formed millions of yrs. ago as land upliftedago as land uplifted

• Travel from plateaus in center Travel from plateaus in center of cont. to the seaof cont. to the sea– Hit escarpments Hit escarpments waterfalls waterfalls near impossible to navigate near impossible to navigate inland/ up riverinland/ up river

Water SystemsWater Systems

• Lake Chad: Lake Chad: –West-central AfricaWest-central Africa

• 20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it

–Faces desertification Faces desertification (droughts + (droughts + natural climate)natural climate)• So shallow, affected greatly by climate So shallow, affected greatly by climate ΔΔss

• 1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²

Water SystemsWater Systems

• Lake Volta:Lake Volta:–Man-made Man-made (1 of lgst. in world)(1 of lgst. in world)–Flooded 700 villages & displaced Flooded 700 villages & displaced

70,000 to create70,000 to create–Used for irrigation, fishing, Used for irrigation, fishing,

hydroelectric power hydroelectric power (Akosombo (Akosombo Dam)Dam) for major aluminum plant and for major aluminum plant and ppl of Ghanappl of Ghana

Akosombo Dam (creates Lake Volta)

Water SystemsWater Systems

• Niger River:Niger River:–““great river”great river” main artery in W. Africa main artery in W. Africa

– 2,600 miles long 2,600 miles long (3(3rdrd in Africa) in Africa)• Forms arc across 5 countriesForms arc across 5 countries

–Vital for irrigation & transportationVital for irrigation & transportation

–Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria (150 (150 X 200 miles)X 200 miles)

Water SystemsWater Systems

• Zambezi River: Zambezi River: –Many waterfalls Many waterfalls (Victoria Falls- 355 (Victoria Falls- 355

foot drop– 2X size of Niagra)foot drop– 2X size of Niagra)• Congo River:Congo River:

–Meets sea at deep, Meets sea at deep, navigablenavigable estuary estuary (only one in Africa)(only one in Africa)

–Largest network of navigable water Largest network of navigable water in Africain Africa

–But still has major waterfalls & But still has major waterfalls & rapidsrapids

Zambezi River

Victoria Falls

Congo River- 2nd longest

Physical BarriersPhysical Barriers• SaharaSahara prevents travel from North prevents travel from North

Africa to South/Central AfricaAfrica to South/Central Africa• Western Western deltasdeltas were treacherous were treacherous

to sail inland to sail inland • Eastern Eastern highlandshighlands made travel made travel

inland difficult inland difficult (cliffs)(cliffs)–Europeans controlled coastal trade Europeans controlled coastal trade

and Africans controlled inland tradeand Africans controlled inland trade

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources• Mineral resources are Mineral resources are abundantabundant

–Plentiful Plentiful oiloil reserves reserves

–Various metalsVarious metals across region across region

–S. Africa has ½ world’s S. Africa has ½ world’s goldgold, also , also found elsewherefound elsewhere

–Major Major diamonddiamond deposits deposits

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

• Water is ABUNDANTWater is ABUNDANT• The problem lies with harnessing The problem lies with harnessing

power power (physical & financial problems)(physical & financial problems)– Congo River- More Congo River- More potentialpotential

hydroelectric power than U.S. hydroelectric power than U.S. – Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential

for hydroelectricity, but uses less than for hydroelectricity, but uses less than 10% of it.10% of it.

• More development is occurringMore development is occurring– Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power

systems from 86-96systems from 86-96

Climate ReviewClimate Review

Ch 20.2Ch 20.2

Climate & VegetationClimate & Vegetation

• Match the location Match the location with its correct climate with its correct climate region:region:– SahelSahel– South AfricaSouth Africa– KalahariKalahari– CongoCongo– SaharaSahara– Serengeti PlainSerengeti Plain– NamibNamib

– DesertDesert– SteppeSteppe– SavannaSavanna– ModerateModerate– RainforestRainforest

Climate & VegetationClimate & Vegetation

• How can heavy rains be How can heavy rains be detrimental to farming in the detrimental to farming in the tropics?tropics?

• Name 3 factors leading to the Name 3 factors leading to the desertification of the Sahel.desertification of the Sahel.

Farming for the FutureFarming for the Future

SimulationSimulation

In your SpiralIn your Spiral

• How did the Impact Cards change your How did the Impact Cards change your situation as a subsistence farmer?situation as a subsistence farmer?

• What do you think would have happened if What do you think would have happened if this cycle of low food production and this cycle of low food production and malnutrition were to continue for several malnutrition were to continue for several years?years?

• What are structural solutions to the issues What are structural solutions to the issues of hunger and food security?of hunger and food security?