110 likes | 258 Views
Chapter 3 Section 1. The Shape of the Land. Mt. Kilimanjaro. Made from hot ash and melted rock 19,340 ft over Tanzania (snow covered). A Vast Continent. Second largest continent 3 times the size of the U.S Africa could hold the land occupied by China, India, Europe , Argentina,
E N D
Chapter 3 Section 1 The Shape of the Land
Mt. Kilimanjaro • Made from hot ash and melted rock • 19,340 ft over Tanzania (snow covered)
A Vast Continent • Second largest continent • 3 times the size of the U.S • Africa could hold the land occupied by China, India, Europe, Argentina, New Zealand and the continental United States, with room to spare!
Location • Between two major oceans • (To the west is the Atlantic Ocean and East lies the Indian Ocean)(Mediterranean Sea in the North and Red Sea in the Northeast) • Placed in the center of world transportation routes.
Regions • Regions • Main regions: North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Central and Southern Africa.
Landforms • Most is a vast plateau • Towards the coast , the land drops sharply • Escarpments, or steep cliffs, divide the plateau from the coastal plain • Discouraged early Europeans who tried to explore • cataracts
Rivers • Provide fish, water for irrigation, transportation • Hydroelectric power • Energy produced by running water
The Nile • Longest in the world • Until recently, flooded each year • Deposited silt in the River Valley, adding nutrients to the soil • Technology changed the flooding • construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960's meant that from 1970 the annual flood was controlled.
Natural Resources • Africa’s rivers are a source of precious metals • Mined • Unevenly distributed • ex)oil • Sudan and Nigeria are two of the main oil producers. China owns 40% of Sudan's oil production. Oil is provided by both continental and offshore productions. Sudan's oil exports in2010 are estimated by US State Department at $9 billion with United States dollars. • Much of Africa is not fertile and uncertain rainfall often makes farming difficult.