EAST AFRICA

Climate – Savannah, mostly (dry and cool) Think “Lion King” Great Rift Valley - Runs from Southwest Asia to Mozambique in East Africa Mt. Kilimanjaro - Highest mountain in Africa (located in Tanzania)

Lake Victoria Largest lake in Africa 3rd largest in the world Horn of Africa - Juts out into the Arabian Sea; a center for trade, historically

Religion - Islam and Christianity Products/Industries - Coffee, cotton, tea, corn

Ethnic groups Masai - Semi-nomadic group located in Kenya and Tanzania Known for their running & jumping abilities Hutus & Tutsis - Largest ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi They have a bloody history of conflict

Language - Many of the countries along the Indian Ocean speak Swahili, a language influenced by trade It’s a blend of African, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, and Portuguese

Sudan Largest country in Africa The ancient Kingdom of Kush built pyramids in the region of Nubia (modern-day Sudan) In 2011, Sudan split into 2 countries following a civil war (South Sudan is the world’s newest country)

Kenya & Tanzania The Masai tribe live in both of these countries Many tourists visit them to go on safaris Serengeti Plain – A huge grassland, famous for its wildlife (lions, zebras, antelopes, etc.) Poaching is the illegal hunting of protected animals. This happens often in Kenya.

Uganda It has the largest population of gorillas in Africa, and many wildlife refuges Idi Amin was the dictator of Uganda during the 1970’s, known for his brutality (he was nicknamed “The Butcher of Uganda”)

Rwanda and Burundi Hutus and Tutsis make up most of the population of these countries. A civil war broke out amongst these two groups in the 1990’s as they struggled over power. Genocide, the deliberate murder of a group of people because of their race or culture, has been common among these groups.

Ethiopia Many believe Ethiopia to be the first Christian nation The famous rock-cut churches of Lalibela were built around the 12th century They are built in the ground out of a single block of stone and are in the shape of a cross. During the 1980’s, famines due to civil wars struck this country hard. They have since recovered and have the biggest economy in East Africa.

Somalia Somalia is a very divided country with many civil wars. In 1993, the U.S. tried to help restore the country and bring food to the people who needed it most. Fighting continued through all of this aid. There is still no real government in charge in Somalia. Somali pirates operating off the coast have become a problem in recent years