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Chapter 20

Chapter 20. Physical Geography of Africa South of the Sahara. 1. The Land. Known for extraordinary physical geography Very diverse. Landforms. MI: Africa south of Sahara is a region of plateaus, mountains and rift valley in east Massive region covers 9.5 million square miles.

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Chapter 20

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  1. Chapter 20 Physical Geography of Africa South of the Sahara

  2. 1. The Land • Known for extraordinary physical geography • Very diverse

  3. Landforms • MI: Africa south of Sahara is a region of plateaus, mountains and rift valley in east • Massive region covers 9.5 million square miles

  4. The Great Rift Valley • Runs from Syria in SWA to Mozambique in SE Africa • Rift valley – large depression in Earth’s surface, formed by tectonic plate movement • Volcanic mountains at it’s edges, deep lakes • Includes Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of largest mtns. in world • Lake Tanganyika, one of deepest and longest freshwater lakes in world, lies on western branch of GRV • Lake Malawi, more than 2300 ft deep

  5. Mountains and Plateaus • Series of plateaus, rise in elevation from coast inland • Plateaus range in elevation from 500 ft to 8000 ft • Edges lined by escarpments, steep jagged cliffs, and cataracts, or waterfalls • Largest mountains include Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya

  6. Water Systems • MI: Landforms and physical processes have influenced the regions water systems (lakes, waterfalls, rivers) • Lakes/rivers, located in basins, formed by tectonic activity • Rivers start at high elevations, make their way to the sea

  7. Land of Lakes • Most lakes near Great Rift Valley, E Africa • Lake Victoria, largest freshwater lake in Africa, second largest in world behind Lake Superior • Lake Chad, W. Africa, shrinking due to irrigation, desertification, global warming • Desertification – long periods of drought and land use destroy vegetation

  8. Human Made Lake • Lake Volta, W. Africa (Ghana), among largest HM lake in the world • Created in 1960’s by damming Volta River • Dam built for hydroelectric power in Ghana

  9. River Basins • Niger River, main river in W. Africa • 2600 miles long • Important for agriculture and transportation in region • Forms Niger Delta upon entering Atlantic Ocean, 200 miles wide • Delta – a triangular section of land formed by sand and silt carried downriver

  10. River Basins • Zambezi River, S. Central Africa • 2200 miles long • Headwater near the Zambia-Angola border, flows to Indian Ocean • At border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Zambezi falls 355 feet, forming Victoria Falls

  11. River Basins • Congo River, Central Africa • About 2,900 miles long • Reaches sea through an estuary, or passage where freshwater meets seawater

  12. Natural Resources • MI: Mineral resources and water are among the region’s most abundant natural resources • Oil – Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Congo and Cameroon • 4 percent of world oil in Sub-Saharan Africa • South Africa – half of worlds gold • Uranium – South Africa, Botswana • Water is abundant, but irregular and unpredictable, difficult to control for irrigation and hydroelectric power

  13. 2. Climate and Vegetation • MI: Rain helps determine: • climate • vegetation growth

  14. Tropical Climates • Causes of variation in climate and vegetation: • rainfall • ocean currents • prevailing winds • elevation • latitude

  15. Tropical Wet • Map of p. 516 • TW Zone located near equator • More than 60 inches of rain per year • Produces variety of vegetation • Rainforest levels: • Low: ferns, moss, shrubs • Mid: Trees, palms • Canopy: leafy trees, max height of 150 ft • Soil not fertile • Heavy rains leach, or dissolve and carry away, nutrients from soil • Crops grown: bananas, pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee, timber, cotton

  16. Tropical Dry • Savanna, or grassland with scattered trees, covers half of Africa • Alternating wet and dry seasons • 35-45 inches annual rainfall • Hot, dry air from Sahara, called harmattan, affects TDZone • Cool, humid air from SW affect TDZone • Combination at times forms tornadoes • Animals: zebras, gazelles, hyenas, lions, giraffes and cheetahs

  17. Dry Climates • MI: Dry climates of Sub-Saharan Africa located in the north and south, away from the equator

  18. Steppe • Transition zone between tropical dry savanna and desert • Northern steppe called the Sahel, from Senegal to Sudan • 4-8 inches annual rainfall

  19. Desertification • Sahel, undergone desertification over past 50 years • May be caused by climate change • May be caused by human activities, animal grazing, logging, farming, etc.

  20. Desert • Namib Desert, Atlantic coast of Namibia • Kalahari, eastern Namibia, Botswana and part of South Africa • Daily temps in Kalahari vary widely, from 50 dg., night, to 120 dg., day

  21. Midlatitude • Coastal areas of South Africa, humid subtropical climates • Highland East Africa, moderate climates, adequate rainfall for farming, some snow at high elevations

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