1. Introduction and Geography
Africa
Introduction and Geography

2. 1. Africa facts World’s 2nd largest continent
About 11.7 million square miles in size
US fits into Africa three times with extra room
Population: About 891 million people (US is about 291 million)
Equator runs right through the middle of the continent
Rainforests cover 10% of the land
Longest River: Nile River (4,160 miles)
Largest Desert: Sahara (3.5 square miles)

3. 2. Africa fun facts Over 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa
Due to rapid population, more than half of the population is under the age of 25 in many African states
Copper and iron have been mined in Zambia for over 2,000 years
Uganda is home to 11% of the world’s bird population
Zambia is home to Victoria Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders and the largest waterfall in the world)
The Republic of Sudan has 223 of its own pyramids (twice the number of Egypt)
Coffee was first discovered by goat herders in Ethiopia in the 9th century
Literacy rate in Zimbabwe is 92%

4. 3. Africa’s geography
1906: Hans Vischer explored what he called the “Death Road”
Trade route connecting western Africa to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
No European or American had ever risked the journey before
“Death Road” crossed more than 1,500 miles of the Sahara, the world’s largest desert
If you got lost it surely meant death
Only nomads living in the region knew the way but Vischer hoped to map the route.

5. 4. Africa climate zones
Mediterranean
Desert
Savanna
Rainforest

6. 4. Africa climate zones TROPICS SAVANNAS DESERTS
Dry, sweeping grasslands for thousands of miles
SAVANNAS
Tropical grasslands that have high temperatures and uneven rains
Perfect for raising herds of animals
DESERTS
Sahara to the north
Kalahari to the southwest
Blocked travel and people had to follow the coast if they wanted to get past the desert

8. Tropical rainforest& savanna

9. The sahara and kalahari desert

10. 5. African plateau PLATEAU: an area of high flat land RIVERS
East: movement of the earth’s crust millions of years ago cracked the continent and parts of the plateau’s surface dropped
Great Rift Valley
RIVERS
Nile River (Egypt and Kush along the banks)
Niger River (West Africa)
Rich soil grows crops and many civilizations begin
United the region because merchants and travelers spread goods and ideas up and down the river

11. plateau

12. Nile and niger rivers

13. Discussion questions
How might Africa’s geography affect civilizations?
How might Africa’s geography affect trade?