1. The Plateau Continent
Africa

2. Landforms and Resources
Shape and landforms are result of location in Pangea.
Other continents moved a great amount while present day Africa moved very little

3. True size of Africa

4. Vast Plateau
Med
Nile
Majority of land lies on a plateau that stretches across the continent.
The majority of land is 1000 ft. above sea level
Basins: depressions in the ground
Nile River: world’s longest river, 4,000 mi. long, flows N to Egypt

5. Victoria Falls: One of the 7 Wonders of the World

6. Distinctive African Landforms
Rift Valleys: continental plates pull apart, form huge cracks, land sinks
Stretch 4,000 mi.
Lakes form at the bottom
Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s Highest Mount.) are both volcanoes
Escarpment: steep slope with a flat plateau

7. Resources Minerals Gold, platinum, chromium, cobalt, copper & diamonds
Because of colonialism, Africa hasn’t developed the infrastructure needed to make a profit
Diamond Miners

8. Oil Libya, Angola, Nigeria and Algeria are leading producers
American oil companies pay fee to Angola which turns and uses money to fund ongoing civil war.

9. Diversity of Resources
Coffee
Most profitable after oil
Lumber
Agriculture
Single most important econ. activity
60% of Africans earn their living in farming

10. Climate and Vegetation
Warm Continent
Sahara: largest desert in world. –Temp. H: 136.4° (day), below freezing at night
Aquifers: underground stores of H²O. Known as an oasis when they reach surface
Tropical weather all year long
90% of land lies between tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn
Sahara

11. Sunshine and Rainfall
Rain forest receives most rain (on or near Equator)
W coast receives a great deal
Moderate area (N & S tips) only receives rain in winter

12. Grassy Continent Tropical Grasslands cover most of Africa
Serengeti Plain: grassland in N. Tanzania
Perfect for animals to graze

13. Serengeti

14. Rain Forest Sits along Equator area of Congo basin
Wide variety of plant & animals
Most live in the canopy (near the tops of the trees)
Farmers using slash and burn have cut down ½ already, now endangered

15. Human Environment Interaction
Nigeria
Sixth leading oil producer, most shipped to U.S.
Oil spills (4,000 in 40 yrs)
Oil pipeline explosions, sabotage by rebels
Fires lead to acid rain

16. Desertification of Sahel
Sahel: shore of the desert
Desertification: expansion of dry conditions into moist areas that are near desert
Normal, natural process that is sped up because of grazing
Causes include: overgrazing, farming, pop. increase

17. Controlling the Nile 1st Aswan Dam completed in 1902 Aswan High Dam
4 miles up river form 1st Dam
Creates Lake Nasser (artificial), Egypt shares with Sudan
Increased farmable land by 50%
Natural renewal of silt (sediment), which occurs during floods, gone
Expensive fertilizers now used
Mosquitoes increased