Africa

Land of Contrasts

The continent of Africa means many different things to people in Africa and around the world.

To some people it is the home they love. To others it is a mysterious, far off land that they know little about.

To geography students, Africa is a large, diverse land meant to explore.

Things to know about Africa

• 53 independent countries• 732 million people• 800 ethnic groups• Hottest temperature ever recorded on

Earth, was 136.4 degrees F., in Libya in 1922

• The Nile is the world’s longest river at a distance of 4,145 miles long

• Second largest of the Earth’s continents• Africa has an area of 11,798 square miles

Vocabulary for the Study of Africa

•Continent – one of seven large land masses of the earth

•Equator – an imaginary line around the Earth, halfway between the North and South poles

•Tropical – a warm, rainy area near the equator

•Plain – a large, flat area of land

•Savanna – large area of grassy plains with small shrubs

•Rain Forest – area of great rainfall, tall evergreen trees

•Desert – an area where almost no rain falls, where almost nothing grows, and no one lives permanently

Africa is a large continent with many different land regions. Elephants play in the water in the tropical region along the equator where there is plenty of food to feed the large herds. The African elephant has very large ears that are as unique as a human’s fingerprints.

The grassy lands in much of Africa are known as savannas.

A good climate and the right amount of rain make the savanna a good place to live. The African savanna region is home to

large herds of animals like these giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests, as well as lions, gazelles, and others.

Africa’s rivers seem to swirl with life, like this huge crocodile, quietly sunning himself on a rock.

Mount Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet, seems to watch over the herds of animals grazing on the plains below. This mountain in Tanzania is Africa’s highest point.

From the rocky coastline…to the sandy desert…

…and from the lazy flowing Nile River…to the roaring waters of Victoria Falls…Africa seems to defy description…to refuse to be tamed…even by words.

Africa’s people are as diverse as the land in which they live. These desert nomads in Egypt still live the same nomadic life as their ancient ancestors, moving from place to place in search of food and water.

While many Africans have adopted a more practical form of dress, these girls continue to dress in the traditional African clothing of their family group.

Most of the people of North Africa are Arabs, following the Muslim religion after their lands were conquered by the followers of Muhammad.

Africa is a land in a state of transition… trying to change and modernize while keeping the traditional values and customs of their people.

This woman in Mali continues to wear traditional clothing and prepare food in the familiar ways of her ancestors. Her customs have preserved her land and heritage through the centuries, while some efforts to modernize have led to disaster.

Poverty, pollution, crime, and disease are all problems that trouble the people of Africa as they begin to develop a more modern way of living. Many think the old ways were better.

Africa – Land of Contrasts

We end as we began this presentation.

Africa is a very diverse land with many different kinds of people and many different kinds of problems. There is no one solution that will

solve all the problems.

Africa and the rest of the world will have to work together to solve these problems that may one day affect all

of us.

Keep your eye on the second largest continent!