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Sub-Sahara Sub-Sahara Africa: The Africa: The
LandLandCh. 20 Sec. 1Ch. 20 Sec. 1
Sub-Sahara Sub-Sahara Africa: The Africa: The
LandLandCh. 20 Sec. 1Ch. 20 Sec. 1
Highland FeaturesHighland Features
• PlateausPlateaus make a series of steps make a series of steps make up most of Africamake up most of Africa
• Edges of plateaus are Edges of plateaus are escarpmentsescarpments (cliffs) (cliffs)–Most are <20 miles from coast Most are <20 miles from coast (Map (Map
on p. 501)on p. 501)–Hard to travel inland from coast Hard to travel inland from coast (bad (bad
for exploration)for exploration)
Highland FeaturesHighland Features
• Rivers plunge Rivers plunge down down escarpments escarpments making making cataractscataracts (waterfalls)(waterfalls)
Victoria Falls; b/w Zambia & Zimbabwe
Highland FeaturesHighland Features
• Africa has highest overall elevation Africa has highest overall elevation than any other continent…than any other continent…
• But still few mountainsBut still few mountains
• Mts. included in Eastern highlandsMts. included in Eastern highlands–Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes
Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. KenyaMt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya
Highland featuresHighland features
• Ruwenzori Mts.Ruwenzori Mts.–Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of
the Congothe Congo–Covered in snow and cloudsCovered in snow and clouds
• Drakensberg RangeDrakensberg Range–South AfricaSouth Africa–Lots of national parks, wetlandsLots of national parks, wetlands
Drakensberg Range; 11,420 ft.- “Barrier of Spears” in Zulu
Tugela Falls World’s 2nd tallest Waterfall
Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley
• Stretches from Syria to Stretches from Syria to MozambiqueMozambique
• Formed by shifting tectonic Formed by shifting tectonic plates plates (what kind??)(what kind??) millions of millions of yrs. agoyrs. ago–Volcanoes & earthquakes Volcanoes & earthquakes
continue to shape region continue to shape region TODAYTODAY
6,000 Miles Long!
Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley
• Forms two branchesForms two branches–Eastern branch = volcanic conesEastern branch = volcanic cones–Western branch= lakesWestern branch= lakes
• Lake Tanganyika Lake Tanganyika (2(2ndnd lgst. lgst. freshwater & 2freshwater & 2ndnd deepest in world) deepest in world)
• Lake Malawi Lake Malawi (mt. rimmed, >2,300 (mt. rimmed, >2,300 feet deep)feet deep)
• Lake Victoria Lake Victoria (2(2ndnd widest in world, widest in world, but shallow; source of White Nile)but shallow; source of White Nile)
Water SystemsWater Systems
• Lakes & rivers come from Lakes & rivers come from basins formed millions of yrs. basins formed millions of yrs. ago as land upliftedago as land uplifted
• Travel from plateaus in center Travel from plateaus in center of cont. to the seaof cont. to the sea– Hit escarpments Hit escarpments waterfalls waterfalls near impossible to navigate near impossible to navigate inland/ up riverinland/ up river
Water SystemsWater Systems
• Lake Chad: Lake Chad: –West-central AfricaWest-central Africa
• 20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it
–Faces desertification Faces desertification (droughts + (droughts + natural climate)natural climate)• So shallow, affected greatly by climate So shallow, affected greatly by climate ΔΔss
• 1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²
Water SystemsWater Systems
• Lake Volta:Lake Volta:–Man-made Man-made (1 of lgst. in world)(1 of lgst. in world)–Flooded 700 villages & displaced Flooded 700 villages & displaced
70,000 to create70,000 to create–Used for irrigation, fishing, Used for irrigation, fishing,
hydroelectric power hydroelectric power (Akosombo (Akosombo Dam)Dam) for major aluminum plant and for major aluminum plant and ppl of Ghanappl of Ghana
Water SystemsWater Systems
• Niger River:Niger River:–““great river”great river” main artery in W. Africa main artery in W. Africa
– 2,600 miles long 2,600 miles long (3(3rdrd in Africa) in Africa)• Forms arc across 5 countriesForms arc across 5 countries
–Vital for irrigation & transportationVital for irrigation & transportation
–Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria (150 (150 X 200 miles)X 200 miles)
Water SystemsWater Systems
• Zambezi River: Zambezi River: –Many waterfalls Many waterfalls (Victoria Falls- 355 (Victoria Falls- 355
foot drop– 2X size of Niagra)foot drop– 2X size of Niagra)• Congo River:Congo River:
–Meets sea at deep, Meets sea at deep, navigablenavigable estuary estuary (only one in Africa)(only one in Africa)
–Largest network of navigable water Largest network of navigable water in Africain Africa
–But still has major waterfalls & But still has major waterfalls & rapidsrapids
Physical BarriersPhysical Barriers• SaharaSahara prevents travel from North prevents travel from North
Africa to South/Central AfricaAfrica to South/Central Africa• Western Western deltasdeltas were treacherous were treacherous
to sail inland to sail inland • Eastern Eastern highlandshighlands made travel made travel
inland difficult inland difficult (cliffs)(cliffs)–Europeans controlled coastal trade Europeans controlled coastal trade
and Africans controlled inland tradeand Africans controlled inland trade
Natural resourcesNatural resources• Mineral resources are Mineral resources are abundantabundant
–Plentiful Plentiful oiloil reserves reserves
–Various metalsVarious metals across region across region
–S. Africa has ½ world’s S. Africa has ½ world’s goldgold, also , also found elsewherefound elsewhere
–Major Major diamonddiamond deposits deposits
Natural ResourcesNatural Resources
• Water is ABUNDANTWater is ABUNDANT• The problem lies with harnessing The problem lies with harnessing
power power (physical & financial problems)(physical & financial problems)– Congo River- More Congo River- More potentialpotential
hydroelectric power than U.S. hydroelectric power than U.S. – Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential
for hydroelectricity, but uses less than for hydroelectricity, but uses less than 10% of it.10% of it.
• More development is occurringMore development is occurring– Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power
systems from 86-96systems from 86-96
