Transcript Africa South of the Sahara

Africa South of the
Sahara
Chapter 10
I. Geography of Africa
Africa: One Continent
Many Countries
A. African Continent
• Africa is three times larger (size) than the
United States
• Africa has twice as many people
• Home to some of the world’s poorest
countries
• The top 10 poorest countries in the world
today are located on the African continent
• World's Poorest Countries
B. Landforms
• Mount Kilimanjaro – Highest
mountain in Africa
• Located along the boarder of Kenya
and Tanzania
• Peak is covered with snow year round
even though it very close to the
equator
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro Video
• Most of Africa sits on a plateau
• Plateau – Raised area of relatively
level land
• African tectonic plates are slowly
pulling a part
• Great Rift Valley – Large area of
steep-walled valleys
Satellite Image of the
Great Rift Valley
C. Waterways
• Nile River – Longest river in the world
• Africa has many lakes and rivers providing
water and fish
• Waterfall and rapids make boat travel
almost impossible
• Victoria Falls – One of the highest
waterfalls in the world
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Video
D. Desert and Semiarid Climates
• Areas with little rain, high temperatures,
and few plants and animals
• Sahel – Large semiarid region south of the
Sahara
• Desertification – Process by which a
desert spreads
• Drought – Lack of rainfall over an
extended period
The Sahel
E. Tropical and Equatorial
• Savannas – Flat grasslands with
scattered trees and shrubs
• Home to many of Africa’s most
famous animals
• Equatorial regions are home to some
of the world’s largest remaining
rainforest
Cheetahs on the Savannas
near Mount Kilimanjaro
F. Resources
• Africa is home to many types of
resources
• Nonrenewable – Resources that can
not be easily remade
• Renewable – Resources that can be
replace in a short time period