HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
Name: _____________________ Class (no.): _________ Block: _______ Date: ___________
Unit 5.3 – What are the characteristics of nomadic herding in the Sahel?
A. Where is the Sahel?
Textbook p. 23
1. Figure 1 shows a map of northern Africa. Figure 2 shows some information about the Sahel.
Complete Figure 2 about the information of the Sahel by referring to Figure 1.
Figure 1
Information about the Sahel
•
It is the strip of land at the ( northern / southern ) edge of the Sahara Desert in Africa.
•
It extends over 6,000 km from east to west across Africa and is 400–600 km wide.
•
It lies approximately between
•
It is the transitional zone between the ______________ Desert in the north (drier) and the
Savanna to the south (wetter).
°N and
Figure 2
1
°N.
HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
B. What is the physical environment of the Sahel and its physical farming
constraints?
Textbook pp. 24–5
1. Based on Figures 3, 4 and 5 in Table 1, complete the blanks in Table 1 about the climate of the
Sahel.
Table 1
1
Climate

‚
ƒ
Figure 3 Climatic graph of
Mopti in the Sahel
Figure 4
Annual rainfall and prevailing winds in the Sahel
„
Figure 5
Rainfall variability in the Sahel
Air temperature

Rainfall
‚
Air temperature is
throughout the year à High
rate
Annual rainfall is ( high / low ), between 200 mm and
600 mm
ƒ
Rainfall concentrates in ( winter / summer ) months
„
Rainfall is ( stable / unstable ). It may be wet in one year
and then very dry in other years
2
HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
Textbook pp. 24–5
•
Complete the flow chart below to show how prevailing winds bring about such climatic characteristics
in the Sahel.
The Sahel has hot and dry ( onshore /
offshore ) winds in both summer and
winter
In summer,
winds from the south
cannot penetrate inland and lose most of the
when they reach the Sahel
It is ( hot / cold ) and ( wet / dry ) throughout the year in the
Sahel. It has a
climate
2. Based on the information in Table 1 about the climate of the Sahel, are there any physical
farming constraints you can think of?
(*Hint: Think about the temperature and amount of rainfall. Is it favorable for farming? Why or
why not?)
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HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
Textbook pp. 24–5
3. Based on Figures 6 and 7 in Table 2, complete the blanks in Table 2 about the relief, drainage,
soil and vegetation of the Sahel.
Table 2
2
Figure 6
Relief and drainage
Relief and drainage of the Sahel
Relief
Drainage
 Much of the Sahel has a
‚ Two major rivers — the ___________ River and the ___________
( high / low ) relief. Highlands
River cover a ( large / small ) area in the Sahel.
are only found in the area west of
the River Nile
•
Lake Chad is the largest lake in the region, but its size has shrunk
in recent decades.
3
Soils and vegetation
Soils
ƒ Mainly thin and
Vegetation
„ Vegetation are ( densely / sparsely )
( infertile / fertile )
sandy soils. The
distributed
•
The major type of vegetation is
moisture content is
grassland, with some areas covered by
( high / low ).
thorny shrubs.
Figure 7 Landscape in the Sahel
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HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
4. Based on the information in Table 2 about the relief, drainage, soil and vegetation of the Sahel,
are there any physical farming constraints you can think of?
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5
HKCCCU Logos Academy
MS2 Geography
Module 5.3 Class handout 1
C. What is the socio-economic environment of the Sahel?
Textbook pp. 26–7
1. Complete the Table 3 below about the socio-economic environment of the Sahel.
Table 3 Socio-economic environment of the Sahel
Population
Characteristic
Impact
Ÿ
Populous
( Small / Large ) demand for food
Ÿ
( Fast / Slow ) population
growth rate
Employment structure
Education level and
literacy rate
Mostly engaged in
Ÿ
Income per capita is ( high / low )
Ÿ
( Have / Lack ) the knowledge, skills
( High / Low )
and capital to improve agriculture
Ÿ
( Able / Not able ) to use farming
technologies to increase production
Ÿ
Political situation
The economic development of the
region is ( high / low ).
Social unrest and conflict hinder the
agricultural and economic development of
the region
( Stable / Unstable )
As a result of the physical and socio-environment of the Sahel, the
region has a low
Figure 8
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