Sub - Saharan Africa
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Transcript Sub - Saharan Africa
Sub - Saharan
Africa
Leading countries of the
area
GDP
South Africa
Gabon
Botswana
Leading countries of the
area cont.
Land size
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo (Zaire)
Sudan
Chad
Mozambique
Madagascar
Leading countries of the
area cont.
Population
Nigeria
Ethiopia
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo (Zaire)
Tanzania
Kenya
Physical characteristics
Continent composed of a huge
plateau and escarpment
River transportation is impeded
by waterfalls and rapids
Smooth coastline provides few
natural harbors
Plateau--raised area of land
with a generally level surface.
At least one side of the plateau
rises steeply above the
surrounding area
escarpment--a steep cliff that
separates two level areas of
differing elevations
The location of the equator in the
middle of the region provides
similar climate patterns on both
the North and South sides of the
equator
Climate zones
1. Rainforest
2. Tropical Wet and Dry
3. Semi Arid
The region has a large number
of landlocked countries
landlocked--a country which is
completely cut off from a sea
and surrounded by land or
other countries
The area is a storehouse of
minerals
The land of the rainforest has
limited fertility in the soil
because the rainforest leaches
the nutrients out
Two main deserts-- Kalahari
and the Namib
The region has many preserves
and national parks
Economic Charateristics
Large percentage of the
population is engaged in
agriculture (primary activity.
Mainly subsistence agriculture
and nomadic herding
They use slash and burn
agriculture
Slash and burn
agriculture--cutting down
trees and vegetation to clear
a field for planting. The field
is only good for a few years
before you have to do it
again. The land you leave is
useless because you have
depleted it of nutrients
There is some plantation
agriculture where cash crops
and food crops are raised.
Cash crops—coffee, tea,
sugar, peanuts, cocoa
Food crops—millet,
sorghum, wheat, corn
Poorly developed infrastructure.
Large numbers of landlocked
states.
Makes it difficult to trade with
the rest of the world
The area does have substantial
mineral wealth.
EX: diamonds, gold, alloys
The region is a major exporter
of raw materials, but this leads
to a high trade deficit.
There is a wide range of per
capita income in the region.
Production of products lags
behind the growing population
of the area and many goods
have to be imported.
The area is suffering from
desertification.
Desertification--the process of
destroying the grassland and
other vegetation regions and
having them turn into desert
Demographics are typical of a
developing nation
low per capita GDP
low life expectancy
High population growth rates
High infant mortality
large percentage of the population
under the age of 15
low literacy rates
Cultural Characteristics
Uneven population
distribution
large numbers of refugees
due to constant conflict in
many countries
Many conflicts are caused by
the many ethnic groups with
different languages and
customs
There are very few cities with
populations over one million
There knowledge of their history
is based on an oral tradition
Many of the country names today
are based on historical empires
such as Mali, Ghana & Zimbabwe
The diversity of Africans are
reflected in their cultural
heritage
masks
•sculpture
dance
•music
colorful dress
jewelry
Centers of Culture and Trade
Lagos, Nigeria
Dakar, Senegal
Johannesburg, South Africa
Markets
churches
mosques, and minarets
villages
modern city cores
Waterfalls (Blue Nile Falls,
Ethiopia)
African escarpment
African masks
African clothing
Village
Masks
African Mask
Catholic Church in Mali
Market Scene, Selling dry
fish
Market Scene
Statue in Burkina Faso
Crops being transported
for the market
Grande Mosque in Mali
Mud Brick Village in Mali
Market in Ghana
Market in Mali, notice
clothing
Namibia Village—thatched roof
Shantytown outside S. Africa