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Unit 7: Africa
20.1: The Land
Landforms
• Deserts—– Sahara—largest desert in the
world located in North Africa– Kalahari—located in
Southern Africa• Mountain Ranges—
– Atlas Mountains—longest range in Africa along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
– Ethiopian Highlands—located in Eastern Africa• Mt. Kilimanjaro—highest
peak in Africa
Landforms cont…
• The Great Rift Valley– Large crack in the Earth’s surface (tectonic movement)– Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common
Water Systems• Rivers—
– Nile• Longest river in the world• Provided fertile land for
farming during annual floods
• Over 95% of the population in Egypt live near the river
• Nile Delta contains 80% of the population
– Congo—drains Africa’s central basin flowing to the Atlantic Ocean
– Zambezi—flows west to the Indian Ocean• Victoria Falls
– Niger—located in West Africa
Water Systems cont…
• Lakes—– Lake Victoria—
Largest lake in Africa– Over 20 major lakes
in the Rift Valley– Nasser Lake—Upper
Nile• Controls flooding• Prevents silt deposits
Natural Resources
• Gold—half the world’s gold is contained in South Africa
• Petroleum—Nigeria, Algeria and Libya (OPEC)
• Uranium—energy source
• Various deposits of metals and minerals
• Hydroelectric power
20.2: Climate and Vegetation
Tropical Rain Forest
• Near Equator• Wettest climate in
the region (60+ inches of precipitation a year)
• 150 ft canopy
Savanna
• Tropical grasslands with scattered trees
• Covers half the continent• Seasonal rainfall (wet &
dry seasons)• Home to diverse and
abundant wildlife• Up to 6 months of no rain• Serengeti Plain (Tanzania)
—largest savanna in Africa
21.1: Population Patterns
• Most live in rural areas• High birthrates
contribute to population growth
• Nigeria is the most populated country
• Many Africans suffer from:– Disease (AIDS)– Famine– Poor health care– Poor sanitation
Ethnic Diversity
• Over 300 ethnic groups– Mursi, Maasai, Zulu,
etc.• Rapid urbanization
21.2: History and Government
• 1600-1700’s—Slave Trade– Most going to the
Americas• 1800’s colonization– Raw materials
History and Government
• Mid 1900’s—independence movements
• Apartheid—segregation of Blacks and Whites– Nelson Mandela
fought against apartheid and was the first elected Black African president
21.3: Cultures and Lifestyles
Language
• Over 800 languages are spoken
• Most common languages are English and French
Religion
• 3 main religions:– Christian (Sub-
Sahara)– Muslim (Sahara
and West Africa)– Traditional• Polytheistic• Spirit world
Education
• 60% literacy rates– Lower in rural areas
• Poor funding for schools, teachers and materials
• Little access to technology, such as, computers and the internet
Arts
• Ritual masks• Drums and
dance• Story telling• Textiles
22.1: Africa Today
Economy
• 2/3 of the people are involved in agriculture– Subsistence farming– Nomadic herding
• Logging and Fishing– Loggers are cutting down the rain forest at alarming
rates to make room for agriculture– Fishing makes up a small portion of economic activity– Gold, aluminum and oil are mined• Foreign investment
– Many countries are still in the early phases of industrialization