Sub-Sahara Africa: The Land Ch. 20 Sec. 1

Sub-Sahara Africa: The Land Ch. 20 Sec. 1

Highland Features Plateaus make a series of steps  make up most of AfricaPlateaus make a series of steps  make up most of Africa Edges of plateaus are escarpments (cliffs)Edges of plateaus are escarpments (cliffs) –Most are <20 miles from coast (Map on p. 501) –Hard to travel inland from coast (bad for exploration)

Highland Features Rivers plunge down escarpments making cataracts (waterfalls)Rivers plunge down escarpments making cataracts (waterfalls) Victoria Falls; b/w Zambia & Zimbabwe

Highland Features Africa has highest overall elevation than any other continent…Africa has highest overall elevation than any other continent… But still few mountainsBut still few mountains Mts. included in Eastern highlandsMts. included in Eastern highlands –Ethiopian Highlands, and volcanoes Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya

Highland features Ruwenzori Mts.Ruwenzori Mts. –Divide Uganda & Dem. Rep. of the Congo –Covered in snow and clouds Drakensberg RangeDrakensberg Range –South Africa –Lots of national parks, wetlands

Drakensberg Range; 11,420 ft. - “Barrier of Spears” in Zulu Tugela Falls World’s 2 nd tallest Waterfall

Great Rift Valley Stretches from Syria to MozambiqueStretches from Syria to Mozambique Formed by shifting tectonic plates (what kind??) millions of yrs. agoFormed by shifting tectonic plates (what kind??) millions of yrs. ago –Volcanoes & earthquakes continue to shape region TODAY

6,000 Miles Long!

Great Rift Valley Forms two branchesForms two branches –Eastern branch = volcanic cones –Western branch= lakes Lake Tanganyika (2 nd lgst. freshwater & 2 nd deepest in world)Lake Tanganyika (2 nd lgst. freshwater & 2 nd deepest in world) Lake Malawi (mt. rimmed, >2,300 feet deep)Lake Malawi (mt. rimmed, >2,300 feet deep) Lake Victoria (2 nd widest in world, but shallow; source of White Nile)Lake Victoria (2 nd widest in world, but shallow; source of White Nile)

Water Systems Lakes & rivers come from basins formed millions of yrs. ago as land upliftedLakes & rivers come from basins formed millions of yrs. ago as land uplifted Travel from plateaus in center of cont. to the seaTravel from plateaus in center of cont. to the sea – Hit escarpments  waterfalls  near impossible to navigate inland/ up river

Water Systems Lake Chad:Lake Chad: –West-central Africa 20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it20 mil. ppl in 4 countries depend on it –Faces desertification (droughts + natural climate) So shallow, affected greatly by climate ΔsSo shallow, affected greatly by climate Δs 1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²1960s = 26,000 km²; 2000= 1,500 km²

Water Systems Lake Volta:Lake Volta: –Man-made (1 of lgst. in world) –Flooded 700 villages & displaced 70,000 to create –Used for irrigation, fishing, hydroelectric power (Akosombo Dam) for major aluminum plant and ppl of Ghana

Water Systems Niger River:Niger River: –“great river”  main artery in W. Africa – 2,600 miles long (3 rd in Africa) Forms arc across 5 countriesForms arc across 5 countries –Vital for irrigation & transportation –Splits into Niger Delta in Nigeria (150 X 200 miles)

Water Systems Zambezi River:Zambezi River: –Many waterfalls (Victoria Falls- 355 foot drop– 2X size of Niagra) Congo River:Congo River: –Meets sea at deep, navigable estuary (only one in Africa) –Largest network of navigable water in Africa –But still has major waterfalls & rapids

Physical Barriers Sahara prevents travel from North Africa to South/Central AfricaSahara prevents travel from North Africa to South/Central Africa Western deltas were treacherous to sail inlandWestern deltas were treacherous to sail inland Eastern highlands made travel inland difficult (cliffs)Eastern highlands made travel inland difficult (cliffs) –Europeans controlled coastal trade and Africans controlled inland trade

Natural resources Mineral resources are abundantMineral resources are abundant –Plentiful oil reserves –Various metals across region –S. Africa has ½ world’s gold, also found elsewhere –Major diamond deposits

Natural Resources Water is ABUNDANTWater is ABUNDANT The problem lies with harnessing power (physical & financial problems)The problem lies with harnessing power (physical & financial problems) –Congo River- More potential hydroelectric power than U.S. –Africa hold’s 25% of the world’s potential for hydroelectricity, but uses less than 10% of it. More development is occurringMore development is occurring –Kenya installed 20,000 rural solar power systems from 86-96