2. Africa: An Introduction
Theme: Boundaries
Africa’s history, geography, culture, economic and political systems have all been shaped by boundaries.
Boundaries have limited Africa’s development, isolated its interior people and contributed to the development of multiple cultures.

3. Geography: Africa is the 2nd largest continent in area.

4. Four major geographic regions:
1. Mediterranean/Coastal Region
Includes North Africa, immediate coastal areas and eastern tip of the continent.
Densely populated; most urbanized

5. Coastal Africa

6. Cairo, Egypt

7. Algiers, Algeria

8. Lagos, Nigeria

9. 2. Desert Region
Includes the Sahara, Namib & Kalahari
Major problem is desertification
Sahara is growing by 4-5 miles a year.
Sparse population; abundant wildlife

10. Namib Desert, Namibia

11. Cavavan in the Sahara Desert

12. 3. Sahel and Savanna
Includes the grassland areas along the edges of the three deserts.
Dry grasslands – abundant wildlife
Wet grasslands – densely populated; prime agricultural region

13. Cattle Grazing, Ethiopia

14. Zebras in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya

16. 4. Tropical Rainforest
Includes the equatorial region both north and south of the equator.
Major problem is deforestation.
Rich vegetation; vast amounts of wildlife; isolated population centers.