1. North Africa Preview Section 1: Natural Environments
World Geography Today
8/2/2018
North Africa
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 21

2. Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
What landform regions are found in North Africa?
What factors influence the region’s climates?
What natural resources does the region have?

3. Section 1: Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
Coastal plains along Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
Atlas Mountains parallel to the coast
The Sahara—Ergs (sand areas), regs (gravel plains), depressions (quicksand, salt marshes, dry lakebeds), wadis (dry streambeds)
Nile River

4. Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What factors affect the climate of North Africa?

5. Section 1: Natural Environments
Factors Affecting North African Climate
Causes
Effects
• Atlas Mountains
• Rain shadow
• Harmattan
• Arid climate
• Subtropical high-pressure system
• Sandstorms
• Mediterranean climate
• Coastline

6. Section 1: Natural Environments
Climate Factors
Coastal Zone—Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers and mild rainy winters
Sub-tropical high pressure keeps region dry
Rain shadow caused by Atlas Mountains contributes to dryness
Hot dry wind (harmattan) sweeps south across Sahara causing violent sandstorms

7. Section 1: Natural Environments
Natural Resources
Oil and natural gas—Especially in Libya
Minerals—Iron ore, lead, phosphates, zinc
Fishing off Moroccan coast
Water from irrigation and oases—Produces grapes, olives, dates, grains, vegetables
Nile Delta—Rich farmland, cotton and rice

8. Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
What peoples have settled in and ruled North Africa?
What are the people and culture of the region like today?

9. Section 2: History and Culture
Settlers and Rulers
Egyptian civilization arose along the Nile around 3000 B.C.
Phoenicians established trade colonies like Carthage by 800 B.C.
Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in 332 B.C.
Roman Empire controlled the area after 146 B.C.
Vandals set up a kingdom in Libya in the A.D. 400s.

10. Section 2: History and Culture
Settlers and Rulers (continued)
The Byzantine Empire claimed North Africa in A.D. 500s.
Arab Muslims conquered the region in 600s.
Ottoman Turks ruled from 1500s to late 1800s.
Europeans came in 1800s—French, Spanish, Italians, British.
Independence came after World War II.

11. Section 2: History and Culture
Question
What languages, religions, peoples, and types of clothing are found in North Africa?

12. Section 2: History and Culture
Religions
Mostly Muslim, some Christians and Jews
Peoples
Mostly Arab and Arab-Berber, some Bedouins
North African Culture
Clothing
Caftans, hooded robes, gallibiya, women mostly covered
Languages
Mostly Arabic, also Berber, French, Italian, English

13. Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
What are the economies and cities of North Africa like?
What challenges do the people there face?

14. Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Activities
Issues typical of developing countries—Government spending, inflation, trade
Oil and natural gas—Key in several countries
Agriculture also important
Tourism—Especially important in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia
Unemployment causes migration

15. Section 3: The Region Today
Cities
Largest cities are Casablanca and the capitals: Cairo, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat
Mix of modern and traditional architecture
Becoming crowded with population growth and migration from rural areas
Older cores surrounded by rings of crowded slums
Lack of housing; people living in tents, boats, tombs

16. Section 3: The Region Today
Question
What political and environmental issues currently exist in North Africa?

17. Section 3: The Region Today
Issues in North Africa
Political
Political unrest
Clashes between government and religious groups
Civil war in Algeria
Clashes between Libyan government and United States
Environmental
Desertification
Pollution from oil refining
Polluted water supplies
Fertilizer pollution in the Nile
Nile Delta shrinking

18. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
World Geography Today
8/2/2018
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
How have wind and water shaped important physical features of the Sahara?
Why are plants and animals in Egypt limited mostly to areas along the Nile Valley and Delta?
Which ethnic group makes up the majority of North Africa’s population? When did this ethnic group first move into North Africa?
What is the main religion of North Africa? What are two minority religions there?
Why have many people in the region left to find work elsewhere? What has made the problem worse?
Chapter 21