AFRICA: Physical Features
______________ Chapt 19, Sect 1
1.
What are the four regions of Africa and how do they differ geographically?
While the text describes four regions, in class we discussed five regions – North
Africa and four Sub-Saharan regions (East, West, Central, South). North Africa
includes most of the Sahara Desert (arid climate); religion is primarily Islam; ethnic
groups and language are Arabic primarily; and coastal plains are Mediterranean
climate. West Africa is the most populated, as it has the best farming area (flat,
good soil, plenty of rain, great climate), as it is most grassland. The Niger River is
located in West Africa. East Africa is sparsely populated, as it is the area that
includes mountains and high, rocky plateaus. This is the area that includes the Great
Rift Valley, and the beginning of the Nile River (Blue Nile and White Nile). Central
Africa contains the Congo River Basin, and is hot and humid. Central Africa includes
a rain forest that is about the same size as India. Southern Africa is comprised
mainly of rocky plateaus and low coastal plains. The Zambezi River flows through
this region.
2.
What are Africa’s three major landforms?
Plateaus (Africa’s nickname is the Plateau Continent), deserts (Sahara, Namib, and
Kalahari), and the Great Rift Valley.
3.
What effects do Africa’s rivers have on the land and people?
The rivers in Africa often overflow and flood the nearby agricultural area, thereby
depositing rich alluvial soil for farming. Irrigation for crops is another important
agricultural use of the water. Africa’s rivers also provide bountiful fish (food
source) and hydroelectricity (energy).
plateau
large, raised area of mostly flat land
elevation
height of land above sea level
escarpment
steep cliff
rift
deep trench
cataract
rock-filled rapids
transportation
barrier
physical features that make it difficult to travel or transport goods from one region to
another
silt
tiny bits of rock and dirt that build up on the bottoms of rivers and lakes
fertile
containing substances that plants need in order to grow well
tributary
small rivers and streams that flow into a larger river.
Nuggets:



Africa is more than three times the size of the U.S. and includes more than 1/5 of
all the land in the world.
The Sahara Desert is almost the size of the U.S. (or about 1/3 of all of Africa),
with a population of less than 2 million people.
Namib and Kalahari Deserts are located in Southern Africa.
AFRICA: Physical Features
NOTE TAKING
Physical
Features
Sahara
Desert
Plateaus
______________ Chapt 19, Sect 1
North
West
X
Zambezi
River
X
X
South
X
X
X
X
Congo River
Niger River
Central
X
Great Rift
Valley
Nile River
East
X
X
X
Nuggets (continued):
Each of the five regions in Africa has mountains, but the highest area is in East
Africa. In East Africa you will find Mt. Kilamanjar, the highest peak in Africa.
 Great Rift Valley was formed millions of years ago when the continents pulled apart.
 Most of Africa’s major lakes are located in or near the Great Rift Valley.
 Africa’s four major rivers carry water from the mountains and high plateaus to the
sea. The rivers are useful for traveling, but cataracts (rock-filled rapids) make
them unacceptable for shipping.
o Nile River: Longest river in the world; Blue Nile (beginning in Uganda) and
White Nile (beginning in Ethiopian highlands) are the tributaries that form
the Nile River; begins in East Africa, flows through North Africa, empties
into the Mediterranean Sea; while most rivers flow toward the Equator, the
Nile flows away (to the north) instead, as the land is higher in the south and
the river flows toward lower lands in the north; regular flooding allowed
rich, alluvial soil to blanket the area near the river, making it a rich farming
area (in the desert!); in the 1960s, the Egyptian government built the Aswan
High Dam to control flooding and to create hydroelectricity for its major
cities.
o Congo River is the second largest river in Africa; Central Africa; flows to
the Atlantic Ocean; hundreds of tributaries flow into the Congo River Basin
(just like the Amazon River Basin); creates a hot, humid climate for Africa’s
rain forest (which is about the same size as India).
o Niger River is the third largest river in Africa; West Africa; flows to the
Atlantic Ocean; provides water for farms throughout West Africa, the
richest farming area.
o Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa; begins in Central Africa,
but flows through Southern Africa; flows to the Indian Ocean; forms the
borders of six countries; Victoria Falls is located along the Zambezi River;
river is also used for hydroelectricity.
_______________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY: Africa is a huge continent with a variety of regions and physical features that affects how people
live and work in different regions.
