Unit 7: Africa

20.1: The Land

Landforms

• Deserts—– Sahara—largest desert in the

world located in North Africa– Kalahari—located in

Southern Africa• Mountain Ranges—

– Atlas Mountains—longest range in Africa along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

– Ethiopian Highlands—located in Eastern Africa• Mt. Kilimanjaro—highest

peak in Africa

Landforms cont…

• The Great Rift Valley– Large crack in the Earth’s surface (tectonic movement)– Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common

Water Systems• Rivers—

– Nile• Longest river in the world• Provided fertile land for

farming during annual floods

• Over 95% of the population in Egypt live near the river

• Nile Delta contains 80% of the population

– Congo—drains Africa’s central basin flowing to the Atlantic Ocean

– Zambezi—flows west to the Indian Ocean• Victoria Falls

– Niger—located in West Africa

Water Systems cont…

• Lakes—– Lake Victoria—

Largest lake in Africa– Over 20 major lakes

in the Rift Valley– Nasser Lake—Upper

Nile• Controls flooding• Prevents silt deposits

Natural Resources

• Gold—half the world’s gold is contained in South Africa

• Petroleum—Nigeria, Algeria and Libya (OPEC)

• Uranium—energy source

• Various deposits of metals and minerals

• Hydroelectric power

20.2: Climate and Vegetation

Tropical Rain Forest

• Near Equator• Wettest climate in

the region (60+ inches of precipitation a year)

• 150 ft canopy

Savanna

• Tropical grasslands with scattered trees

• Covers half the continent• Seasonal rainfall (wet &

dry seasons)• Home to diverse and

abundant wildlife• Up to 6 months of no rain• Serengeti Plain (Tanzania)

—largest savanna in Africa

21.1: Population Patterns

• Most live in rural areas• High birthrates

contribute to population growth

• Nigeria is the most populated country

• Many Africans suffer from:– Disease (AIDS)– Famine– Poor health care– Poor sanitation

Ethnic Diversity

• Over 300 ethnic groups– Mursi, Maasai, Zulu,

etc.• Rapid urbanization

21.2: History and Government

• 1600-1700’s—Slave Trade– Most going to the

Americas• 1800’s colonization– Raw materials

History and Government

• Mid 1900’s—independence movements

• Apartheid—segregation of Blacks and Whites– Nelson Mandela

fought against apartheid and was the first elected Black African president

21.3: Cultures and Lifestyles

Language

• Over 800 languages are spoken

• Most common languages are English and French

Religion

• 3 main religions:– Christian (Sub-

Sahara)– Muslim (Sahara

and West Africa)– Traditional• Polytheistic• Spirit world

Education

• 60% literacy rates– Lower in rural areas

• Poor funding for schools, teachers and materials

• Little access to technology, such as, computers and the internet

Arts

• Ritual masks• Drums and

dance• Story telling• Textiles

22.1: Africa Today

Economy

• 2/3 of the people are involved in agriculture– Subsistence farming– Nomadic herding

• Logging and Fishing– Loggers are cutting down the rain forest at alarming

rates to make room for agriculture– Fishing makes up a small portion of economic activity– Gold, aluminum and oil are mined• Foreign investment

– Many countries are still in the early phases of industrialization