Download Africa Geography

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THROUGH
AFRICA
• Africa is the world’s
second largest continent
and is 3x’s the size of
mainland U.S.
• It has 55 independent
nations
• It has 5 main regions
– North Africa
– West Africa
– East Africa
– Central Africa
– South Africa
• Most of Africa is a vast plateau, the highest
plateaus being in the east and the south. The
continent then tilts gradually downward toward
the west and north.
• As you move from the plateaus to the coast you
will see escarpments, or steep cliffs. There are
also cataracts, or large waterfalls, and rapids in
Africa’s rivers.
• It is a giant fault or break in the
Earth’s crust that runs along the
eastern part of the continent.
– is a series of mountains and
valleys
– formed millions of years ago
– very fertile farmland
– rich in minerals and metals
• Rivers are a supply of
fish, water for irrigation,
and a means of
transportation
• They also supply
hydroelectric power, or
energy produced by
moving water
– Located along
the eastern part
of Africa
– Longest river in
the world 4,160
miles long
– Flows northward
– Leaves behind
fertile silt
– Aswan Dam
• Zaire River
– Located in Central Africa
– Enormous body of water that
provides hydroelectric power
– Only a small part can be used for
travel because of falls and rapids
• Niger River (western Africa) and
Zambezi River (Southern Africa)
• Resources
–
–
–
–
–
Gold and Diamonds
Copper
Platinum and Cobalt
Oil
Uneven distribution of
resources
• Climate
– Tropical, Wet, and Dry
climates
– Water distributed
unevenly
– Sahara Desert: largest
desert in the world
– Deserts cover 40% of
Africa