The Geography of Africa

1. The Geography of Africa

2. Africa’s Size • Second largest continent  11.7 million sq miles • 10% of the world’s population. • 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

3. Topography Of AFRICA… A giant plateau! Mediterranean Sea Atlas Mts. Libyan Desert Tropic of Cancer 20° N Sahara Desert Red Sea Sahel NileRiver NigerRiver L. Chad--> Great Rift Valley <--Gulf of Aden L. Albert--> Δ Mt. Kenya Equator 0° Congo River L. Victoria Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Ruwenzori Mts. Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Namib Desert Kalahari Desert LimpopoRiver Tropic of Capricorn20° S OrangeRiver Drajensburg Mts. Pacific Ocean

4. Climate & Vegetation latitude & trade winds = “striped” climate & vegetation pattern on the continent. Absence of coastal mtn ranges also impacts climate.

5. Landforms • Highest point : Mt Kilimanjaro • Lowest point : Lake Assal • Victoria Falls in Zambia

6. Mt. Kilimanjaro: Tanzania Glacier has been melting… 80% loss from 1912 to present day. What element of LEMPOSA contributes to the glacier and the snow found on Kilimanjaro?

7. The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World” Farmers DEPEND on this River as a source of water for their farms, and before the Aswan High Dam was built, farmers depended on the nutrients left behind as natural fertilizer for the soil and thus their crops. Negative impact for people being relocated & for farmers.

8. Hydroelectric Power Hydroelectric Power: An example of how humans have MODIFIED their environment

9. Over the last 11,000 years the Sahara has been growing…Causes:1. Overgrazing 2. Farming “average” land3. Destruction of plants4. Incorrect irrigation 5. Changes in the Earth’s orbit 6. Atmospheric & vegetation changes in the subtropical regions. The Sahara Desert:Desertification

10. African Savannah: 5 million sq miles Rolling grassland scattered with shrubs & isolated trees. Can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome

11. African Rain Forest • Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft. • Rapid decomposition (very humid). • Covers 37 countries, 15% of the land surface of Africa.

12. Seismic Activity in Africa What physical features lie along these areas of seismic activity?

13. West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes

14. Natural Resources

15. SOCIAL/CULTURE

16. Bantu Migrations • 1000-1800 AD: Large wave of migrations from W to E Africa. • 1st to arrive: The Bantu from the Congo or Niger Delta Basin • “Bantu” = group of people who speak the same/similar language with common word “NTU”, means “a person”

17. The Middle Passage • The portion of the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to North America as their need for people to farm the land rose. • Slaves were sold, or often kidnapped.

18. Age-Group Differences Developing vs. Industrialized countries

19. Education • Compulsory in much of Africa. • Obstacles: • Lack of teachers in rural areas • Gov’t spend more $$ on military • Boys education takes priority over girls. • College limited & hard to get into.

20. Global Water Stress

21. Health • A combination of new diseases and reemerging old ones is putting the lives of millions of Africans in serious jeopardy. • HIV/AIDS • 1st case – 1959 in Belgian Congo • Reasons for spread: • Multiple partners. • Mother-to-child • Lack of education & superstitious beliefs • Malaria “silent killer” • Spread by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito • Kills 700,000 children every year.

23. Global AIDS

24. Religion • Animist/traditional • Centered around Creator • Life does not end, you become one of the ancestors. • No written holy text • Islam • Christianity Be sure to review “religion” notes

25. Traditional African Society

26. 1000 different languages 1000+ different tribes

27. Common Traits or Characteristics of Traditional African Tribal Life • The good of the group comes ahead of the good of the individual. • All land is owned by the group. • Strong feeling of loyalty to the group. • Important ceremonies at different parts of a person’s life. • Special age and work associations. • Deep respect for ancestors. • Religion is an important part of everyday life. • Government is in the hands of the chiefs [kings].

28. ECONOMY http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html

29. African Economy • Many = subsistence farmers & herders. • Colonial Period brought transportation & trade routes • African governments trying to develop economy through manufacturing.

30. Levels of Development Dark Blue: Very High Blue: High Light Blue: Medium White: Low Grey: Data Unavail

31. Level of Development Look at the chart from 1870 to 2007: What do you notice? Africa stopped catching up to Asia & Latin Am

32. Life Expectancy:: Education:: Income Africa

33. “Brain Drain” • “brain drain” when a country becomes short of skills b/c people with expertise emigrate. • Why leave? Education • Why not return home? economic & political issues • 1960-1975: 27,000 Africans left • 1960 – 1975: 40,000 left • By 1990 at least 20,000 leave the continent annually.

34. POLITICS

35. Political • Many, but not all of the political, economic & human rights issues in Africa are a result of the corrupt governments in this region. • Libya is no longer a military dictatorship…