Download 08WGC Chapter 20

Introduction
Section 1:
The Land
Section 2:
Climate and Vegetation
Visual Summary
Africa south of the Sahara
is a region of dramatic
landforms and tremendous
natural resources. A study
of its physical geography
will explain some of the
processes that have
shaped and continue to
shape the diverse
landscapes, climates, and
vegetation of Africa south
of the Sahara.
Section 1:
The Land
Physical processes
shape Earth’s surface.
Africa south of the Sahara
was formed millions of
years ago by various
physical processes that
continue to influence and
shape the region today.
Section 2: Climate
and Vegetation
Physical processes
shape Earth’s surface.
Location near the Equator,
elevation, rainfall, and
ocean air masses
influence the region’s
climates and natural
vegetation.
The Land
This section discusses the
landforms, water systems,
and natural resources of
Africa south of the Sahara
and the physical processes
that have shaped them.
The Land
• rift valley
• desertification
• fault
• delta
• escarpment • estuary
• cataract
• region
• network
The Land
A. Great Rift Valley
B. Lake Tanganyika
C. Ruwenzori Mountains
D. Drakensberg Range
E. Lake Victoria
F. Niger River
G. Zambezi River
H. Victoria Falls
I.
Congo River
The Land
Can you explain why writer
David Quamman refers to
Africa as “a million places”?
0%
C
C. Somewhat
B
B. No
A. A
B. B
C.
0% C
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A
A. Yes
Landforms
Africa south of the Sahara is a region of
step-like plateaus, rising to mountains and
slashed in the east by a rift valley, which
was formed by shifting tectonic plates.
• The Great Rift Valley:
– Kilimanjaro
– Lake Tanganyika
– Lake Malawi
The Great Rift Valley
Landforms (cont.)
• Mountains and plateaus:
– This region is a series of plateaus that rise in
elevation from the coast inland and from west
to east.
– Ethiopian Highlands
– Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya
– Ruwenzori Mountains
– Drakensberg Range
Which mountains are referred to
as the “Mountains of the Moon”?
A. Ruwenzori
B. Drakensberg Range
C. The Alps
D. Mount Kenya
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A
A.
B.
C.
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D.
B
A
B
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C
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D
Water Systems
Landforms and physical processes have
influenced the region’s water systems,
which include deep lakes, spectacular
waterfalls, and great rivers.
• Land of lakes:
– Lakes Tanganyika and Malawi
Water Systems (cont.)
– Lake Victoria—world’s second-largest
freshwater lake
– Lake Chad—threatened with extinction
Water Systems (cont.)
• A Human-made lake:
– Lake Volta
• River basins:
– Niger
– Zambezi
– Congo
Water Systems in Africa
South of the Sahara
Which of following is a benefit
due to Lake Volta?
A. Irrigation for farming
B. Fish supply
C. Hydroelectric power
D. All of the above
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A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
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D
C
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D
Natural Resources
Mineral resources and water are among the
region’s most abundant natural resources.
• The wealth of natural resources is not distributed
evenly among the region’s countries.
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Resources:
– Mineral resources—copper, iron ore,
manganese, zinc, uranium
– Half the world’s gold lies in Africa.
– Diamonds
– Water
– Solar power
African vs. U.S. Crude Oil Reserves
How much of the world’s
oil is located in Africa?
A. 4%
B. 10%
C. 25%
D. 40%
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
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D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
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D
Climate and Vegetation
Location near the Equator,
elevation, rainfall, and
ocean air masses influence
the region’s climates and
natural vegetation.
Climate and Vegetation
• leach
• harmattan
• savanna
• maximum
• undergone
• recover
Climate and Vegetation
A. Serengeti Plain
B. Sahel
C. Namib Desert
D. Kalahari Desert
Climate and Vegetation
Which of the following influences this
region’s climate and natural vegetation?
D. Rainfall
0%
B
E. All of the above
A
0%
0%
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E
C. Ocean air masses
A
B
C
D
E
D
B. Elevation
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
C
A. Location near the Equator
Tropical Climates
The region’s location in the Tropics near the
Equator influences its climate and
vegetation.
• Tropical climates:
– Tropical wet
– Tropical dry—savanna; Serengeti Plain
Africa South of the Sahara:
Climate Regions
Is the harmattan located in the
tropical wet or tropical dry climate?
A. Wet
B. Dry
0%
C
A
0%
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
C. Both
Dry Climates
The dry climates of Africa south of the
Sahara are located in the north and south.
• Dry climates:
– Steppe—Sahel
– Desert—Namib, Kalahari
The Steppe as Transition Zone
Dry Climates (cont.)
• Possible reasons for desertification:
– Climate change
– Human land use and animal activities
Dry Climates (cont.)
• Midlatitude climates:
– Marine west coast—Southern coastal areas
– Humid subtropical—Southern coastal areas
– Mediterranean—Cape Town
– Highland—areas in East Africa
Which climate region is a
transition zone between
two other regions?
A. Desert
B. Tropical dry
C. Steppe
D. Highland
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
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D.
B
A
B
C
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D
C
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D
A. Niger River
•
Main artery in
western Africa; a
major means of
transportation for
people in the area
•
Splits into a large
delta in southern
Nigeria
•
Flows through
tropical and dry
climate regions
B. Eastern Highlands
and Mountains
•
Stretch from Ethiopia
almost to the Cape of
Good Hope
•
Include Ethiopian
Highlands as well as
volcanic summits of
Kilimanjaro and
Mount Kenya
•
Ruwenzori Mountains
are located in
Uganda and the
Democratic Republic
of the Congo.
•
Drakensberg Range
in South Africa
C. Great Rift Valley
•
Formed by the
shifting of tectonic
plates
•
Stretches from Syria
in Southwest Asia to
Mozambique in the
southeastern part of
Africa
•
Lakes Tanganyika,
Malawi, and Victoria
located in or near
Great Rift Valley
D. Lake Volta
•
Among the largest
human-made lakes
in the world
•
Powers hydroelectric
plant that generates
electricity used
throughout Ghana
•
Important for crop
irrigation
E. Congo River
•
Forms largest
network of navigable
waterways on the
continent
•
Reaches the sea
through a deep
estuary, which is
easily navigated
by oceangoing ships
•
Flows through rain
forests in tropical
wet climate region
F. Deserts
•
Namib Desert located
along coast in
southern Africa;
Kalahari Desert
located in interior of
southern Africa
•
Hot weather with little
rainfall
•
Deserts support
some plant, animal,
and human life
G. Escarpments
•
Edges of African
plateaus marked by
steep, jagged slopes
or cliffs
•
Most escarpments
located close to coast
•
Rivers flowing across
plateaus plunge
down escarpments in
waterfalls
H. Diamonds and Gold
•
Major diamond
deposits found in
South Africa,
Botswana, and
Congo River basin
•
About half the world’s
gold deposits in
South Africa
rift valley
a crack in the Earth’s surface created
by shifting
fault
a crack or break in the Earth’s crust
escarpment
steep cliff or slope between a higher
and lower land surface
cataract
a large waterfall
desertification
process in which arable land is turned
into desert
delta
alluvial deposit at a river’s mouth that
looks like the Greek letter delta (Δ)
estuary
an area where the tide meets a river
current
leach
to wash nutrients out of the soil
savanna
a tropical grassland containing
scattered trees
harmattan
a dust-laden wind on the Atlantic
coast of Africa in some seasons
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