Chapter 20: The Transition Zone

Physical Geography of the Transition Zone Landforms The Transition Zone lies south of the Sahara, where the land undergoes a radical change in climate. The Sahel, or the Arabic word for shore, marks the border between the Sahara desert and the tropical savanna of Equatorial Africa. The topography is mainly flat with a series of plateaus. The steppe region of the Sahel is one of the largest pastoral zones in the world.

Between what two climates zones is the Sahel? VIDEO QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION Between what two climates zones is the Sahel? How does drought effect human and animal life during the dry season? How does the landscape of the Sahel change after the monsoon season?

Physical Geography of the Transition Zone Water Systems Ghana’s Lake Volta, made by damming the Volta River, has been a benefit, or gain, for irrigation, but also a detriment to the river’s ecology. The Niger River is the main artery of western Africa, important to agriculture and transportation, with inland deltas, or areas where the river slows down and spreads out into smaller channels. Two major tributaries of the Nile River, the Blue and White Nile, flow through the area and provide hydroelectric power to some areas in the region.

Climate, Biomes, & Resources Physical Geography of the Transition Zone Climate, Biomes, & Resources Two hot seasons occur in the region with one rainy season, but the location and amount of rainfall is unpredictable. In many areas, rainfall is the only water source. A vicious cycle of soil erosion, insufficient water, deforestation, and drought have plagued the area for decades, leading to famines. This biome is home to a diverse population of flora, fauna, and wild animals. Few natural resources exist in the region.

Chapter 20: The Transition Zone

Human Geography of the Transition Zone History & Government Many empires and kingdoms ruled the sub- region, in the past, including the Egyptians, the Kush, and the Mali Empires. In the 1800s, Europeans saw the sub-region as a source of raw materials and a potential, or likely, market for finished goods. At the Berlin Conference, European rulers created artificial boundaries putting all of the Sahel under their control without regard to cultural, religious, or traditional boundaries.

Human Geography of the Transition Zone Population Patterns The area is a cultural, as well as geographical, transition between Muslim North Africa and the animist and Christian south. Population density remains low with uneven distribution and high growth rates; these cause concern as resources cannot support continual increases. There are relatively few cities: the ancient city of Timbuktu still stands, and Nouakchott, Khartoum, and Port Sudan have many residents.

Society & Culture Today Human Geography of the Transition Zone Society & Culture Today Many different African languages are spoken throughout the subregion, with French also widely used because of colonial rule. Islam is the dominant religion in the north, while Christianity is practiced south of the Transition Zone, along with many indigenous religions throughout the region. Rural-to-urban migration has increased as drought and overworked land force people into cities to find jobs. Poverty, lack of access to clean water, and sanitation are major health concerns.

Human Geography of the Transition Zone Economic Activities Subsistence farming, where the farmer consumes most of what is produced leaving little to sell, and semi-nomadic herding continue as the traditional economy of the subregion. Nigeria is the sub-region’s only member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Most of area is rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, but these resources have yet to be fully developed.

Managing Resources People and Their Environment: the Transition Zone Precipitation has decreased while the number of people depending on it has increased. Over the past several decades there have been chaotic shifts in rainfall, causing problems for crops. Desertification, or the destruction of land in arid and semiarid areas, is the result of variations in climate and causes food insecurity, poverty, and further water shortages.

Human Impact People and Their Environment: the Transition Zone Overgrazing, deforestation, and overpopulation are all causes of desertification in the sub-region. Climate change has created water management problems. In an effort to combat water problems, people have tried different methods of irrigation and providing access to freshwater, with varying results. Poorly conceived water projects can cause problems, including attracting disease-carrying insects, increasing overgrazing, and contributing to desertification.

People and Their Environment: the Transition Zone Addressing the Issues Remediation may be possible with better water management and land use practices. Many nongovernmental agencies are working to stave off desertification by enhancing knowledge and understanding of the challenges. Local people are experimenting and discovering ways to reclaim dry land. By monitoring and studying areas affected by desertification, scientists hope to find solutions to the problem.

Great Green Wall of the Sahel