A Satellite View
Africa’s Size # Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi. # 10% of the world’s population. # 2 ½ times the size of the U. S. 5000MILES5000MILES M I L E S
Bodies Of Water Nile River Congo River Zambezi River Niger River Orange River Limpopo River Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Red Sea L. Victoria L. Albert--> L. Chad--> L. Tanganyika-> <--Gulf of Aden
The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World”
The Congo River Basin # Covers 12% of the continent. # Extends over 9 countries. # 2,720 miles long. # 99% of the country of Zaire is in the Congo River basin.
The Niger River Basin # Covers 7.5% of the continent. # Extends over 10 countries. # 2,600 miles long.
Hydroelectric Power
Impact of Al Wahda reservoir in Morocco These images illustrate the change in land cover 1987: The area before the construction of dams 2001: The area after the construction of 110 large dams
Shrinking Lake Chad shared by Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon Persistent drought has shrunk Lake Chad to about a tenth of its former size 1972: Larger lake surface area is visible in this image 2001: Impact of drought displays a shrunken lake, comparatively much smaller surface area than in 1972 image
LLaLake Chad – Overpopulation leads to overuse of water What are the impacts of this trend?
Population Growth Around Lake Victoria, Uganda The population growth around 100 km buffer zone of the Lake Victoria Population growth around Lake Victoria, East Africa, is the highest in Africa
Drajensburg Mts. Ruwenzori Mts. Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Mountains & Peaks Atlas Mts.
The African Plateau
Deserts Sahara Desert Sahel Kalahari Desert Namib Desert Libyan Desert
The Sahara Desert
Desertification
The Sahel
Valleys & Plains Great Rift Valley
3,000 miles long
Lake Kivu-one of Africa’s “killer lakes” Congo/Rwanda These images show dramatic changes before and after the eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo in : Before the January 2002 eruption 2003: Shows the track of the lava flow
Seismic Activity in Africa
Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Tropic of Cancer 20° N Tropic of Capricorn 20° S Equator 0°
African Trade Winds
West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes
Vegetation Zones
Undergoing Steady Urban Growth - Tripoli, Libya *Grasslands have been converted into agricultural fields *Urban expansion is especially notable in Libya (shades of grey) Libya began using their oil resources when planting trees along their Southern border in order to stop desertification.
The African Savannah: 13 million sq. mi.
African Rain Forest # Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft. # Rapid decomposition (very humid). # Covers 37 countries. # 15% of the land surface of Africa.
Impact of Civil Wars on Guinea These images show impact of civil wars in Liberia on neighboring Guinea 2002: The light green color is the result of deforestation in the “safe area” where refugees set up camp *The civil wars resulted in refugees creating camps in neighboring countries which causes deforestation.
These images show deforestation rate in Cote d’Ivoire, believed to be one of the highest in the world 1988: Shows destruction of small forest fragments 2002: The lighter green strip bisecting the images shows the result of extensive deforestation and intensive cultivation Tai National Park, Côte d’Ivoire – site of world’s highest deforestation rate *Intensive cultivation is causing extensive deforestation
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Snow on the Equator?
The Complete Topography Of AFRICA Nile River Congo River Zambezi River Niger River Orange River Limpopo River Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Red Sea L. Victoria L. Albert--> L. Chad--> L. Tanganyika-> <--Gulf of Aden Drajensburg Mts. Ruwenzori Mts. Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Sahara Desert Sahel Kalahari Desert Namib Desert Libyan Desert Great Rift Valley Atlas Mts. Tropic of Cancer 20° N Tropic of Capricorn 20° S Equator 0°
What kind of effect do these have on the people of Africa (where they work, live, and their transportation)? Sahara –Historically a trade route –Work is trade or farming –Live near water supplies (scarce) –Rely upon camels for transport Sahel –People rely upon farming –Some areas are rich in natural resources –Live near water supplies (scarce) –Rely upon camels and waterways for transport –Many people live without running water, electricity, or proper sewers –Very susceptible to bad weather Savanna -Mostly farming -Wildlife parks/tourism -People gather near good farmland and water supplies (also a source of their jobs) -Roads and waterways for transport Rain Forest -farming, mining, & timber industry= major occupations -deforestation is taking place (cutting down trees so that there is more room for farming) -transportation can be difficult because of poorly maintained roads -people live where the jobs are