Geography of Africa

An Introduction

Note for Midterm

• Make sure you are taking comprehensive notes on the geographic features of Africa and their impact on the continent.

• Both the positive and negative effects for each geographic feature need to be identified with historical evidence.

• This material will be the basis for the short answer on the midterm.

Africa’s Location and Size

AFRICA: LOCATION AND SIZE • Africa is positioned astride the Equator, reaching as far

north as the latitude of Richmond, Virginia, and as far south as Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• The continent has no Pacific coastline and is located at the heart of the land hemisphere.

• Africa has an area of 30,186,000 square kilometers (11,698,111 square miles) which represents about 20 percent of the total planetary surface (world total land is 149,961,000 square kilometers or 57,900,000 square miles).

• Africa had a population of 861,000,000 people in 2003, which accounts for 13.6 percent of the world total population.

Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

5000

MILES

4 6 0 0 M I L E S

Africa’s Population Growth Trends

• 1950: 64 million

• 2000: 250 million

• 2050: 779 million

In 100 years Africa:

• Population grew 10x

• Second most populous region in the world

In 2050:

•1 of 4 humans live in Africa

•1 of 3 Africans live in East Africa

Africa’s Geography: People

• In 2007 Africa was home to more than 965 million people

• More than 60% of Africa’s population was still living in rural areas in 2005

• Africa now has the fastest urban growth rate in the world

• 2.7% of Africa’s population lives within 100 km of the coast

• 56.6% of African labour force is engaged in agriculture

Africa’s population grew 2.32% annually between 2000 and 2005—nearly double the global rate of 1.24% per year

Africa’s Changing Population

Africa’s “Shrinking” Land Base

1950

1970

1990

2005

2050

Increased population increases pressures on the land and its resources. In a hypotheticalsituation whereby land is shared equally among its population, each individual’s share of land would decrease with the increase in population as time passes, putting more pressure on resources.

Great Rift Valley

Great Rift Valley

# 4,000 miles long

#The Great Rift Valley is rich in minerals and metals

#Good soil for farming

#Because of volcanic ash there are well preserved bones and the world’s oldest human fossils have been found there

#2 largest lakes in Africa are along the Great Rift Valley: Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi

John Walter Gregory, a British geologist, named the Great Rift Valley

The valley is a treasure trove to all walks of science.

Compared to the rest of the world, the valley itself is very new, yet it contains the first signs of early man.

Sodium Carbonate is found in its pure form in the valley. It is the reason so many lakes support abundant colonies of algae and fish.

Flower farms are one of the fastest growing industries in the Great Rift Valley

Gre

at R

ift

Val

ley

Great Rift Valley

• Great Rift Valley – 4,000 mile giant fault, or break in the earth’s crust.

• From Red Sea to Zambezi River.

• Evidence has found that the earliest Africans first lived in this area.

Great Rift Valley

4,000 miles long

• Along these rift valleys lies the most popular mountain in all of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Rift Valleys

Often have long, narrow lakes

Rift Valley, Kenya

Volcanoes• Near rift valleys

• Eastern Congo

• Mt. Kenya

• Mt. Kilimanjaro…

Mt. Kenya

Lakes of Africa

Rift Valley Lakes

• East Africa has several large lakes that formed in the bottom of rift valleys.

A. Lake Victoria

B. Lake Tanganyika

Flamingos at Lake Naivasha feed on the rich algae.

Lakes in the valley range widely from very acidic to alkaline.

Rift Valley Lakes

• Lake Tanganyika

• Lake Malawi

Lakes of Africa

• Lakes– Lake Victoria– Lake Tanganyika– Lake Malawi (Nyasa)

• Many of the rivers in Africa occupy the trenches cutting through the East African Plateau

This lake is formed over the top of the separating plates of Africa and is the second

deepest lake in the world.

Lakes• Lake Victoria in GRV, 2nd

largest freshwater lake in the world, source of White Nile.

• Lake Tanganyika (420 miles) 1st largest lake in world.

• Lake Malawi in GRV• Outside GRV: Lake Volta,

Lake Chad (no natural outlet-loses water through evaporation.

Lake VictoriaAfrica’s largest lake by area

largest tropical lake in the world

world's second largest freshwater lake by surface area

Africa's largest inland fishery

Coastline

• Smooth coastline

• Few natural harbors - hard to land ships

• Narrow continental shelf

Bodies

Of

Water

Indian Ocean

Nile River

Congo River

Zambezi River

Niger River

Orange River

Limpopo River

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Red Sea

L. Victoria

L. Albert-->

L. Chad-->

L. Tanganyika->

<--Gu

lf of A

den

Rivers in Africa provide fish for food; water for irrigation; transportation routes; hydroelectric power (energy produced by moving water); and, are a source of precious metals.

Rivers of Africa

Rivers

• Depth varies depending on the season-if it’s the rainy season or the dry season

• Plateaus prevent easy navigation due to water falls.

• Therefore, the interior of Africa remained Therefore, the interior of Africa remained largely unexplored largely unexplored

Major Rivers1. Niger

2. Congo

3. Blue Nile

4. Victoria/White Nile

5. Zambezi

Rivers

• The rivers in Sub-Saharan Africa are difficult to navigate because they have many waterfalls and rapids.

Cataracts or rapids on the Zambezi River

Victoria Falls• On Zambezi River

– Zim/Zam border

Beautiful Waterfalls

Blue Nile Falls

Victoria Falls

Rivers • Rapids and Waterfalls…– Limits transportation

• Congo…– Good for Tourism

• Whitewater Rafting– Hydroelectric Production

Hydroelectric Power

Major Rivers• Nile River –

– world’s longest (4,000 + miles)

– Sources: White Nile (Uganda) & Blue Nile (Ethiopian highlands)

– flows into the Mediterranean

• Congo River – – Central Africa – – through rain forests, – 2,720 miles long

• Niger River –– Africa’s third longest- – 2,600 miles long. – Begins in West Africa

(Guinea)• Zambezi River –

– Fourth longest– 2,200 miles– – Southern Africa; – contains Victoria Falls;– flows into the Indian

Ocean

• The Congo and Niger river are the two largest rivers in West and Central Africa.

• The Congo flows northward from Zambia toward the Congo (DROTC) and then takes a West then South West course until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the border of the Congo and Angola.

• The Niger flows Northeast through the Sahel and then the Sahara until it reaches central Mali.

• It then flows Southwest until it empties into the Gulf of Guinea in Nigeria.

• Waterfalls and rapids prevent easy navigation

• Congo –over 2, 700 miles long

• Niger - ancient civilizations flourished here

• Zambezi - Victoria Falls, used for hydro-electric power

The Zambezi River

Victoria FallsLargest waterfall in the

worldconsidered to be among the

Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Rivers of Southern Africa

The Okavango River flows out of Angola to form a swampy delta in Botswana that is home to many animals.

The Orange River in South Africa flows over many waterfalls before it reaches the Atlantic.

The Limpopo River flows to the Indian Ocean. Waterfalls and other obstacles prevent ships from sailing up the river.

Example: Nile River

“Egypt, the gift of the Nile.”~ Herodotus, Greek historian (484-432 B.C.E.)

Examine this quote:

What do you infer from this quote, what did Herodotus mean by it? PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Nile River

• 4,180 miles long (world’s longest!!)

• flows NORTH

• Source - - Lake Victoria

• Delta - - Egypt

• Floods annually – One of the most densely populated region in

Africa

Nile RiverThe Nile is the world’s longest river at 4,160 miles.The Nile flows NORTH.The source (start) of the Nile is at Lake Victoria.

The Nile River• Length: From White Nile Source to Mouth- 4184 miles, longest river

in the world• Name: The Nile gets its name from the

Greek word "Nelios", meaning River Valley.• Sources: The White Nile: Lake Victoria, Uganda. The Blue Nile: Lake Tana, Ethiopia.

The Mighty Nile River:“Longest River in the World”

Geography of Egypt• The Nile flooded every year

– Predictable floodwaters with spring rains

– Left rich, black silt

• Narrow band of fertile soil

• Became home of Egyptian civilization

Geography and Early Egypt• The Nile

– Most important physical feature in Egypt

– 4,000 miles long; flows through the Sahara Desert

• Without the Nile’s waters, no one could live there.

• Nile afforded protection itself

• Flowed through cataracts to the south

• Currents and waterfalls made sailing impossible

• Not an easy invasion route

Cataracts

• Egypt’s most fertile soil in Nile Delta

• Silt deposits at mouth of river

• Black Land of rich arable soil

• Red Land unlivable but afforded protection

Delta

Geographical Features

• The Nile River is the longest river in the world.

– Flows more than 4,000 miles northward through the desert

– Formed by the union of two rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile

– Empties into the Mediterranean Sea

• The land along the Nile is very fertile.

– Floods on the river deposit silt, or finely ground fertile soil, all along the river.

– Before it reaches the sea, the Nile fans out into a huge fertile delta.

• The Aswan High Dam controls flooding on the Nile.

– Because of the lack of silt, farmers need to use fertilizer to grow crops.

• Two rivers form in Northern Sudan to make the Nile River---The Blue Nile and the White Nile.

• The headwaters of the Nile River are located in two different countries.

• The White Nile’s origins are in Lake Victoria and run northward until it meets with the Blue Nile near Khartoum, Sudan.

• The Blue Nile’s origins are in the Ethiopian Highlands and run south-southeast before taking a West- Northwest turn into Sudan.

Blue Nile Falls

Example: Congo River

The Congo River# Produces hydroelectric power.

# Has many waterfalls and rapids preventing boats from traveling the entire river.

# 2,922 miles long

# Africa's most powerful river and the second most voluminous river in the world with a discharge of 1,500,000 cubic feet of water per second.

# It is the fifth longest river in the world, draining a basin of nearly 1.5 million square miles

The Congo River Basin covers the area (forested and non-forested)

drained by the Congo River.

The Congo River Basin

# Covers 12% of thecontinent.

# Extends over 9countries.

# 2,720 miles long.

# 99% of the countryof Zaire is in theCongo River basin.

Congo RiverDeepest river in the world

(measured depths of 750 ft+)

Navigable only in section (not navigable from the sea)

Three major waterfalls

Potential source of hydroelectric power

Region built by Region built by movementmovement::

a.a. The big river, The big river, CongoCongo & its & its tributaries:tributaries:

Total Total 9,0009,000 mostly navigable mostly navigable milesmiles

Living-Highway providing, Living-Highway providing, foodfood, water and , water and transporttransport

CONGO RIVERCONGO RIVER

b.b. Boats travel from areas Boats travel from areas deep deep within the countrywithin the country to to KinshasaKinshasa

c.c. However, below Kinshasa are However, below Kinshasa are waterfalls and rapidswaterfalls and rapids

CONGO RIVERCONGO RIVER

The Congo River at Sunset

Example: Niger River

The Niger River Basin

# Covers 7.5% of the continent.

# Extends over 10 countries.

# 2,600 miles long.

#Used for irrigation and transport

Niger River

The Niger River Basin

# Covers 7.5% of the continent.

# Extends over 10 countries.

# 2,600 miles long.

Niger RiverPrincipal river of western Africa

Floods yearly

Flows into the Niger River Delta

Used for irrigation and electricity

Navigable only part of the year

Niger River

Water Issues in Africa

High None

Stress

Fig. 11-6, p. 241

Stress on World’s River Basins

North America

Europe

Asia

Australia

Africa

South America

Water Pollution• Many countries in Africa do not have enough clean water

even though they have large rivers.• The Nile River runs the length of Egypt and most Egyptians

live along its banks. • The river is used for water and transportation, however,

overpopulation and poor sanitation regulations have made life along the Nile more difficult.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8iuyaS16-c&feature=related

• Many who study this region believe Africa is headed for a “water war”.• The Nile River runs through Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt and they all

have growing populations and growing needs.• The Niger River supplies the dry Sahel area before flowing into Nigeria.

As more water is drawn for the Sahel, less is available down the river.• Clean water is needed for basic health and sanitation and those who are

not able to have access to it are at risk for many diseases.• Lack of clean water to wash with also increases the frequency of skin

and eye infections. • Some people in Africa also face the problem of water borne diseases

spread by parasites living in standing water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xel82kovCgI&feature=related

Water Pollution Issues

• Less than 50% of the population in sub-Saharan African has access to safe drinking water from environmental pollution.

• This has caused a decrease in the country’s economic growth.

• Some governments ignore industrial pollution of major rivers and waterways because they want their industries to make more profits.

WATER QUALITY ISSUES

% of disinfected and contaminated water supply

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Africa Asia LA&C

Per

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age

Disinfected

Contaminated

WHO et al. (2000)

                                                                                                            

260 international basins: +/- tensions: longstanding, always, growing with demand

“Fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict & wars in

the future.” Kofi Annan, March 2001

21

The risks of water insecurity• What are the potential implications of an increasingly ‘water insecure’

world?

Water supply problemsIncreasing water shortages

may be more important than energy shortages-

because there is no alternative!

Water conflictsWhere demand exceeds supply and no effective management

operates, then there will be conflicts between the various

players involvedWater geopolitics

The conflicts between nation states, despite the international agreement called the Helsinki Rules designed to create more

equitable use of water extending across boundaries

Water transfersOf this precious resource by either diverting the actual river, or using

canals . Long carried out at a small scale but increasingly over larger

distances, and even transboundary

Present and potential water conflict hotspots• As water supply decreases, tensions will increase as different players try to access common water supplies• Many conflicts are transboundary in nature, either between states or countries

Insert Figure 2.11 page 47

River basins currently in dispute

River basins at risk in the future

Large International drainage basins

Zambezi

Orange

Okavango

La Plata

Mekong

Ganges

Ob

Lake Chad

Nile hotly disputed between Ethiopia and Sudan ,who control its headwaters, and Egypt .

Tigris-Euphrates Iraq + Syria concerns that Turkey’s GAP project will divert their water

The Aral Sea, an inland drainage basin, once the world’s 4th largest inland lake has shrunk sine the 1950s after the 2 rivers feeding it: the Amu Dayra and Syr Darya were diverted for irrigation. By 2007 the sea was 10% of original volume and split into 2 lakes. The ex soviet states are in conflict: Uzbekistan , Turkmenistan and Kazakstan.

Colorado: disputes between the 7 US states and Mexico it flows through. The river is so overused, that it no longer reaches the sea!.90% abstracted before reaches Mexico

Note: although there have been rising tensions globally, many areas demonstrate effective management to diffuse the situation and create more equitable and sustainable demand-supply balance, such as the Mekong River Committee,& the Nile River Initiative

Evidence of more effective co-operation• The Nile Basin Initiative, system of

cooperative management which started late 1990s

• All countries except Eritrea working with The World Bank and bi-lateral aid donors .

• Community level involvement .• Managers visited Colorado River recently to

see how effectively the 1922 River Water Compact and its ‘law of the river’ works

Hydropolitics and geopolitics

•The Nile is the world’s longest river , 6,500kms, 2.9km2 catchment,10% of Africa, running through 10 countries with 360 million people depending on it for survival.•Growing issues of desertification & salination and increased evaporation linked to climate change•About 85 % water originates from Eritrea and Ethiopia, but 94 % is used by Sudan and Egypt.

• 1996 Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers - regulating how transboundary rivers and groundwater are managed

• The Nile Basin is an example that ‘Water Wars’ may be averted

History of hydropolitics in Nile Basin•tensions due to the dominance of Egypt• civil wars in Sudan Ethiopia • tensions from Egypt’s treaties dating back to the 1929 and 1959 Nile Water Agreements.• Upstream states increasingly challenging Egypt’s dominance.•Ethiopia wants to use the Nile River for HEP plants and industrial development.

Tech Fix ;The megaprojects of dams like Aswan are

famous. Latest high tech is the 1990sproject called

‘Tecconile’ a joint GIS system to help monitor

and plan the basin

Political negotiations centred on conflicts over the shared use of water sources

Some facts about structural inequalities in access to safe, sufficient water

• The minimum amount of water needed for drinking, cooking, bathing, and sanitation is 13 gallons (50 liters) (WHO figure)

• The average person in the United States uses between 65 to 78 gallons of water (250 to 300 liters) per day for drinking, cooking, bathing, and watering their yard.

• The average person in the Netherlands uses only 27 gallons (104 liters) per day for the same tasks.

• The average person in the African nation of Gambia uses only 1.17 gallons (4.5 liters) of water per day.

• 12 percent of the world's population uses 85 percent of its water• Global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, more than twice

the rate of human population growth.• Presently, 1.2 billion people lack access to improved water supply and 2.4

billion to improved sanitation -- i.e. one in six people still have no regular access to safe drinking water

• Lack of clean drinking water leads to nearly 250 million cases of water-related disease each year and between 5 and 10 million deaths.

Factors Influencing Water Scarcity

Hydrologic Cycle

Population Growth

Poverty

Use Patterns

Contamination

http://www.wmo.int

Water scarcity

WORLD WATER CHALLENGES

Evolution of water shortages in 100 years

Africa’s Geography: Water Resources

• It is estimated that over 300 million people in Africa face water scarcity

• • Per capita water consumption in

Africa is 31m3 per year

• About 75% of the African population relies on groundwater as its major source of drinking water

• Renewable water resources for the whole of Africa amount to about 3 930 km3

Africa’s Changing Environment

Natural Change and Population Africa’s population grew 2.32% annually between 2000 and 2005—nearly double the global rate of 1.24%

Air and Atmosphere Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change - towards the end of the 21st century, climate change will have caused sea-level rises that will affect Africa’s highly populated low-lying coastal areas Land Cover and Land Use

Africa is losing more than four million hectares of forest every year—twice the world’s average deforestation rate

Water By 2050 it is expected that areas experiencing water shortages in sub-Saharan Africa will have increased by 29%

Biodiversity Africa contains 3 044 protected areas including 198 Marine Protected Areas, 50 Biosphere Reserves, 80 Wetlands of International Importance, and eight of the world’s 34 international biodiversity hotspots

Africa’s Changing Environment

Renewable Water Africa’s freshwater supplies represent less than 9% of global renewable water resources

Water StressIt is estimated that over 300 million people in Africa face water scarcity conditions

Water StressPer Capita Renewable Water

WATER STRESS – FACTS• Africa

– 12 African countries considered to be in a “Water Stress” situation.

– Further 10 African countries will be stressed by 2025 (1.1 billion people or 2/3’s Africa’s population).

NON-IRRIGATION CONSUMPTION

Total non irrigation water consumption by region

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Con

sum

ptio

n(cu

bic

km)

1995 2025

Rosegrant et al. (2002)

DAILY PER CAPITA WATER USE (EAST AFRICA)

Mean daily percapita water use by type of use

0

10

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Wat

er u

se(l

itre

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Piped

Unpiped

Thompson et al. (2001)