1. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF

2. North America Latin America Europe Russia & the Republics SW Asia

4. VEGETATION

7. PLATEAU CONTINENT Most of Africa = one large plateau -broad, flat area higher than the surrounding land

8. BASINS Large depressions in the land -rivers flow through most of them

9. SAHARA DESERT World’s largest -growing due to over-cultivation, deforestation, over-grazing, soil erosion, mismanagement of land. Only 20-30% is sand What is the other 70-80% Rocky plains

11. MOUNTAINS Mt. Kilimanjaro -tallest in Africa Atlas Mountains

12. GREAT RIFT VALLEY Caused by continental plates pulling apart Makes travel to eastern Africa difficult Eastern Africa will eventually break off * 3,000 miles long

13. BODIES OF WATER

14. AFRICA’S RIVERS Most are winding with waterfalls, rapids, & gorges -makes traveling by boat difficult and sometimes impossible

15. NILE RIVER Formed by merging of White & Blue Nile rivers Allowed ancient Egypt to grow and prosper in the desert

16. LAKES Lake Victoria -largest in Africa, 2 nd largest fresh lake in world -on Ethiopian Plateau -source of White Nile Lake Chad -shrinking rapidly

17. CLIMATE Warm temp. throughout -proximity to equator Rainfall -matter of extremes (too much or too little)

18. VEGETATION Grasslands -cover most of Africa -Serengeti Plain Rainforests -mainly in Congo Basin -slash and burn farming Oak & pine forests -in Atlas Mountains

19. RICH IN RESOURCES Oil Gold -30% in South Africa Diamonds Platinum -80% in South Africa Coffee -20% of world’s supply Cocoa - #1 in world

20. DESERTIFICATION The Sahel receives little rainfall making it very fragile. Farming, overgrazing,& burning wood begin to damage the Sahel.

21. DESERTIFICATION, CON’T. The native grasses are replaced by shrubs that do not cover the soil as well. With little grass now covering the soil, any rain evaporates quickly. Winds then blow away the fertile soil.