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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
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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 • 4. 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
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
