Sub - Saharan Sub - Saharan AfricaAfrica

Leading countries of Leading countries of the areathe area

GDPGDP South AfricaSouth Africa GabonGabon BotswanaBotswana

Leading countries of the Leading countries of the area cont.area cont.

Land sizeLand size Democratic Democratic

Republic of the Republic of the Congo (Zaire)Congo (Zaire)

SudanSudan ChadChad MozambiqueMozambique MadagascarMadagascar

Leading countries of the Leading countries of the area cont.area cont.

PopulationPopulation NigeriaNigeria EthiopiaEthiopia Democratic Democratic

Republic of the Republic of the Congo (Zaire)Congo (Zaire)

TanzaniaTanzania KenyaKenya

Physical characteristicsPhysical characteristics Continent composed of a huge Continent composed of a huge

plateau and escarpmentplateau and escarpment River transportation is impeded River transportation is impeded

by waterfalls and rapidsby waterfalls and rapids Smooth coastline provides few Smooth coastline provides few

natural harborsnatural harbors

Plateau--raised area of land with a Plateau--raised area of land with a generally level surface. At least generally level surface. At least one side of the plateau rises one side of the plateau rises steeply above the surrounding steeply above the surrounding areaarea

escarpment--a steep cliff that escarpment--a steep cliff that separates two level areas of separates two level areas of differing elevationsdiffering elevations

The location of the equator in the The location of the equator in the middle of the region provides similar middle of the region provides similar climate patterns on both the North climate patterns on both the North and South sides of the equatorand South sides of the equator

Climate zonesClimate zones 1. Rainforest1. Rainforest 2. Tropical Wet and Dry 2. Tropical Wet and Dry 3. Semi Arid 3. Semi Arid 4. Arid4. Arid

The region has a large number The region has a large number of landlocked countriesof landlocked countries

landlocked--a country which is landlocked--a country which is completely cut off from a sea completely cut off from a sea and surrounded by land or and surrounded by land or other countriesother countries

The area is a storehouse of The area is a storehouse of mineralsminerals

The land of the rainforest has The land of the rainforest has limited fertility in the soil limited fertility in the soil because the rainforest leaches because the rainforest leaches the nutrients outthe nutrients out

Two main deserts-- Kalahari Two main deserts-- Kalahari and the Namiband the Namib

The region has many preserves The region has many preserves and national parksand national parks

Economic CharateristicsEconomic Charateristics Large percentage of the Large percentage of the

population is engaged in population is engaged in agriculture (primary activity.agriculture (primary activity.

Mainly subsistence agriculture Mainly subsistence agriculture and nomadic herdingand nomadic herding

They use slash and burn They use slash and burn agricultureagriculture

Slash and burn agricultureSlash and burn agriculture----cutting down trees and cutting down trees and vegetation to clear a field for vegetation to clear a field for planting. The field is only good planting. The field is only good for a few years before you have for a few years before you have to do it again. The land you to do it again. The land you leave is useless because you leave is useless because you have depleted it of nutrientshave depleted it of nutrients

There is some plantation There is some plantation agriculture where cash crops agriculture where cash crops and food crops are raised.and food crops are raised.

Cash crops—coffee, tea, Cash crops—coffee, tea, sugar, peanuts, cocoasugar, peanuts, cocoa

Food crops—millet, Food crops—millet, sorghum, wheat, cornsorghum, wheat, corn

Poorly developed infrastructure.Poorly developed infrastructure.

Large numbers of landlocked Large numbers of landlocked states.states.

Makes it difficult to trade with Makes it difficult to trade with the rest of the worldthe rest of the world

The area does have substantial The area does have substantial mineral wealth.mineral wealth.

EX: diamonds, gold, alloysEX: diamonds, gold, alloys

The region is a major exporter The region is a major exporter of raw materials, but this leads of raw materials, but this leads to a high trade deficit.to a high trade deficit.

There is a wide range of per There is a wide range of per capita income in the region.capita income in the region.

Production of products lags Production of products lags behind the growing population behind the growing population of the area and many goods of the area and many goods have to be imported.have to be imported.

The area is suffering from The area is suffering from desertification.desertification.

DesertificationDesertification--the process of --the process of destroying the grassland and destroying the grassland and other vegetation regions and other vegetation regions and having them turn into deserthaving them turn into desert

Demographics are typical of a Demographics are typical of a developing nationdeveloping nation low per capita GDPlow per capita GDP low life expectancylow life expectancyHigh population growth ratesHigh population growth ratesHigh infant mortalityHigh infant mortality large percentage of the population large percentage of the population

under the age of 15under the age of 15 low literacy rateslow literacy rates

Cultural CharacteristicsCultural Characteristics Uneven population distribution Uneven population distribution large numbers of refugees large numbers of refugees

due to constant conflict in due to constant conflict in many countriesmany countries

Many conflicts are caused by Many conflicts are caused by the many ethnic groups with the many ethnic groups with different languages and different languages and customscustoms

There are very few cities with There are very few cities with populations over one millionpopulations over one million

There knowledge of their history There knowledge of their history is based on an oral traditionis based on an oral tradition

Many of the country names today Many of the country names today are based on historical empires are based on historical empires such as Mali, Ghana & Zimbabwesuch as Mali, Ghana & Zimbabwe

The diversity of Africans are The diversity of Africans are reflected in their cultural reflected in their cultural heritageheritagemasksmasks •sculpture•sculpturedancedance •music•musiccolorful dresscolorful dress jewelryjewelry

Centers of Culture and TradeCenters of Culture and TradeLagos, NigeriaLagos, NigeriaDakar, SenegalDakar, SenegalJohannesburg, South AfricaJohannesburg, South Africa

MarketsMarkets churcheschurches mosques, and minaretsmosques, and minarets villagesvillages modern city coresmodern city cores

Waterfalls (Blue Nile Falls, Waterfalls (Blue Nile Falls, Ethiopia)Ethiopia)

African escarpmentAfrican escarpment

African masksAfrican masks

African clothingAfrican clothing

VillageVillage

MasksMasks

African MaskAfrican Mask

Catholic Church in MaliCatholic Church in Mali

Market Scene, Selling dry Market Scene, Selling dry fishfish

Market SceneMarket Scene

Statue in Burkina FasoStatue in Burkina Faso

Crops being transported Crops being transported for the marketfor the market

Grande Mosque in MaliGrande Mosque in Mali

Mud Brick Village in MaliMud Brick Village in Mali

Market in GhanaMarket in Ghana

Market in Mali, notice Market in Mali, notice clothingclothing

Namibia Village—thatched roofNamibia Village—thatched roof

Shantytown outside S. Shantytown outside S. AfricaAfrica