1. African Geography

2. Relative Location of Africa
Bordered by:
Atlantic Ocean on west
Indian Ocean on east
Mediterranean Sea on north
Red Sea on northeast

3. Land Features of Africa
Called “plateau continent” because plateaus are most dominant landform in Africa
Plateau: high flat or gently rolling land
Coastline
Narrow and even with few inlets or bays to form good harbors
Harbor: part of a body of water protected and deep enough for ships to dock

4. Great Rift Valley Geographic features Located in eastern Africa
Giant trench groove out of the plateau; giant ditch
Stretches 6,000 miles from Red Sea into Southern Africa
More than 1 mile deep

5. Great Rift Valley-continued
Caused by shifting movements of the earth’s crust, causing faults
Faults: cracks in the earth’s surface

6. Major Mountain Ranges of Africa
Mt. Kilimanjaro
Africa’s highest peak
Located in East Africa
Atlas Mountains
Located in NW Africa
Drakensberg Mountains
Located in SE Africa

7. Lakes of Africa Major lakes: Lakes described as “life-giving waters”
Lake Victoria
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Nyasa
Lakes described as “life-giving waters”
Provide waters for drinking, irrigation, and transportation
Irrigation: to supply dry land with water by means of ditches, pipes, or streams

8. Major Rivers of Africa Nile River Congo River Niger River
World’s longest river
Source (where river begins) flows from center of Africa northward into Mediterranean Sea
Congo River
Located in Central Africa
Crosses equator twice
Niger River
Flows through west Africa

9. Major Rivers-continued
Rivers not useful for long distance travel
Cataracts and shallow rapids flow over escarpments
Cataracts: huge waterfalls
Escarpments: steep cliffs
Water levels are low at mouths of river
Mouth: place where stream enters a larger body of water
Rivers too shallow for navigation during dry season

10. HEI and Cataracts Positive HEI Negative HEI
Provide hydroelectric power which generate electricity
Negative HEI
Limits river travel
Slows movement

11. Vocabulary Cataracts: huge waterfalls Escarpment: steep cliffs
Continental Drift: explanation of how the continents move
Plateau: high flat or gently rolling land