Africa: the Plateau Continent The physical geography of Africa

Vocabulary Basin Nile River Rift Valley Mount Kilimanjaro Escarpment

Throughout the plateau there are several basins. A huge plateau covers most of Africa. It rises over most of Africa’s inland, leaving behind only a narrow strip of coastline. Throughout the plateau there are several basins. Basins – depressions where river systems usually drain. Imagine a bowl 5000 ft deep 625 + miles across

Why is there no basin here? Notice the plateau outline.

The Congo Basin: From the inside The Congo Basin second largest tropical forest, 700,000 square miles in six countries, quarter of the world’s remaining tropical forest. over 10,000 species of plants, 1,000 species of birds, 400 species of mammals. home to more than 24 million people, most of whom depend on the forest for their livelihoods.

Rivers Since water is drawn by gravity it naturally flows toward, into, and through basins. As the rivers cut through the basins toward the sea, they fall over the edge of the plateaus in a series of waterfalls and rapids through narrow gorges. They are not useful for navigation because of this. The Nile: the longest river in the world The Congo River is the continent’s largest network of waterways.

The origin of the Nile, where it leaves Lake Victoria and begins its journey northward.

A cataract is a part of the river that is impassable to ships.

Distinctive African Landforms Rift valley – a long thin valley created by the moving apart of the continental plates. Photo of the Great Rift Valley from the International Space Station

The volcanoes are at the edges of the plates where they are moving apart from each other, tearing Africa apart. When do you expect Africa to be ripped completely apart?

What do the red triangles represent?

Mountains Mount Kilimanjaro- Africa’s highest mountain. Also a volcano. Escarpment – a steep slope with a nearly flat plateau on top. The Great Escarpment Southern edge of the continent

Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania

Minerals and Resources Africa produces 80% of the world’s platinum 30% of the world’s gold 42% of the world’s cobalt Much of the worlds oil is located in North Africa Africa possesses a huge amount of the world’s minerals, but many African countries lack the industrial base and money to develop them

Minerals attract others Africa in the Early Twentieth Century Minerals attract others Africa’s great mineral wealth attracted many colonial powers from Europe. They came to harvest the minerals and ship them to Europe.

Resources Oil and Coffee are the most profitable commodities in Africa. Commodity is something that can be sold (specifically agricultural or mining) Lumber is another important commodity. 66% of Africans earn their living from farming. Subsistence agriculture is the single most important economic activity in Africa.

Africa: A Land of Extremes Climate and Vegetation

Deserts Sahara-largest desert in the world 3000 miles from Atlantic to Red Sea 20% sand (erg) 80% rock formations, gravelly plains (reg) 136° to below freezing Kalahari Desert in the south Namib Desert in the southwest Aquifers-underground water Oasis-where water comes to the surface

Tropics Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn No noticeable difference between seasons Day length equals night (12 hours day, 12 night) 90% of Africa is in the tropics Cooler at night

Rainforest Congo Basin Madagascar Canopy Nearly destroyed through slash and burn farming Canopy Uppermost layer of branches 150 feet above the forest floor

Sunshine and Rainfall Congo Basin rainforest receives rain year round The rest of the continent has either no rain or two seasons – wet and dry

Tropical Grassland Serengeti Plain Northern Tanzania Hard soil and dry climate prevent trees but are good for grass Lots of animals (think Lion King)

Human Environment Interaction Africa: Human Environment Interaction

Desertification of the Sahel An expansion of dry conditions into moist areas next to deserts Before After

Causes of Desertification Human factors Over grazing of livestock exposes soil Animals trample soil Farming Increased population

Result of Desertification Loss of grasslands and farm areas

Stopping Desertification Very difficult to slow this process Tree planting More efficient use of farm and forest lands To fight soil erosion of the land during the dry season, these women in Burkina Faso prepare the ground by pounding it and terracing it in order to catch the water when the rains finally come. UN Photo #167616 by J. Isaac

Harming the Environment in Nigeria Oil discovered here in 1956 80-90% of national income Most of it purchased by U.S. High oil prices in 1970’s made Nigeria one of wealthiest nations in Africa

So, why are they poor now? Government mismanagement and corruption Poor planning Decline in oil prices

Destroying the Land and People 4,000 oil spills in the Niger Delta in the past 4 decades Slow & non-existent clean-up Fires resulting from spills have caused acid rain, massive deposits of soot Increased respiratory diseases

This type of oil spill is widespread in the Niger Delta This type of oil spill is widespread in the Niger Delta. Amukpe is near a major city of Sapele and therefore attracted attention of the public. In rural areas, such spills would go on for months before any action is taken. The Federal Government of Nigeria owned the facilities from which oil gushed into River Ethiope. Note the immediate impact of the spill on plants. The spill's impact on fish life was probably tremendous. But it remains unmeasured. "PPMC's ruptured pipeline empting P.M.S. (Premium Motor Spirit) into Okpe river for over one month. Amukpe community, Sapele L.G.A., Delta State, Nigeria."

Pipeline Exploitation “Bandits” and corrupt government officials (is there a difference?) drain the pipelines and resell the oil Villagers collect spilled oil in small cans and resell it

Oil emptied into the Okpe River just above the Niger Delta for a month before any effort was made to stop it. This spill only took 1 month to stop because it took place in a larger community A man washed soot from his face in Lagos, Nigeria, after a gas pipeline ruptured by thieves exploded. At least 260 people were killed in the blast, which spewed fire and black smoke. It was the latest oil-industry disaster in Nigeria, Africa’s largest petroleum producer. December 27, 2006

Nile River

Controlling the Nile Aswan High Dam was built in 1970 with Russian help. Created Lake Nassar

Problems With the Dam Relocation of people; altering of traditional lifestyles Removal of ancient artifacts and cultural treasures Loss of ancient artifacts (now at the bottom of Lake Nasser) Decreased soil fertility Loss of silt deposits Use of chemical fertilizers Increased rates of malaria

Satellite image of the dam