Introduction and Geography Africa Introduction and Geography

1. Africa facts World’s 2nd largest continent About 11.7 million square miles in size US fits into Africa three times with extra room Population: About 891 million people (US is about 291 million) Equator runs right through the middle of the continent Rainforests cover 10% of the land Longest River: Nile River (4,160 miles) Largest Desert: Sahara (3.5 square miles)

2. Africa fun facts Over 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa Due to rapid population, more than half of the population is under the age of 25 in many African states Copper and iron have been mined in Zambia for over 2,000 years Uganda is home to 11% of the world’s bird population Zambia is home to Victoria Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders and the largest waterfall in the world) The Republic of Sudan has 223 of its own pyramids (twice the number of Egypt) Coffee was first discovered by goat herders in Ethiopia in the 9th century Literacy rate in Zimbabwe is 92%

3. Africa’s geography 1906: Hans Vischer explored what he called the “Death Road” Trade route connecting western Africa to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea No European or American had ever risked the journey before “Death Road” crossed more than 1,500 miles of the Sahara, the world’s largest desert If you got lost it surely meant death Only nomads living in the region knew the way but Vischer hoped to map the route.

4. Africa climate zones Mediterranean Desert Savanna Rainforest

4. Africa climate zones TROPICS SAVANNAS DESERTS Dry, sweeping grasslands for thousands of miles SAVANNAS Tropical grasslands that have high temperatures and uneven rains Perfect for raising herds of animals DESERTS Sahara to the north Kalahari to the southwest Blocked travel and people had to follow the coast if they wanted to get past the desert

Tropical rainforest& savanna

The sahara and kalahari desert

5. African plateau PLATEAU: an area of high flat land RIVERS East: movement of the earth’s crust millions of years ago cracked the continent and parts of the plateau’s surface dropped Great Rift Valley RIVERS Nile River (Egypt and Kush along the banks) Niger River (West Africa) Rich soil grows crops and many civilizations begin United the region because merchants and travelers spread goods and ideas up and down the river

plateau

Nile and niger rivers

Discussion questions How might Africa’s geography affect civilizations? How might Africa’s geography affect trade?