Africa Physical Geography: Climate and Vegetation

Africa Physical Geography: Climate and Vegetation

By Spencer Clark

Terms and Names

Sahara the largest desert in the world

aquifer natural store of underground water

oasis a place where water from an aquifer has reached the surface; it supports vegetation and wildlife

Serengeti Plain tropical grassland region in northern Tanzania

canopy uppermost layer of branches in a rain forest​

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​The Sahara, in North Africa, is the largest desert in the world. Sahara actually means “desert” in Arabic. The Sahara is about 3,000 miles across. It spans the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It is 1,200 miles from north to south. Temperatures can rise above 130° F in the summer. In winter, temperatures can fall below freezing at night.

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Multiple Choice

the largest desert in the world

• canopy

• aquifer

• Serengeti

• Sahara

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​Only about 20 percent of the Sahara consists of sand. Towering mountains, rock formations, and gravelly plains make up the rest of the landscape.

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​Extreme conditions make travel in the Sahara risky. Many travelers rely on the camel as transportation. A camel can go for up to 17 days without water. In addition, wind-blown sand has little effect on a camel.

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​Six thousand feet under this desert lie huge stores of underground water called aquifers. In some places, the water comes to the surface. Such a place is called an oasis. It supports vegetation and wildlife and is a critical resource for people living in the desert.

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stores of underground water

• army worm

• aquifer

• caterpiller

• aquatunnel

Multiple Choice

an area with water that supports vegetation and wildlife in a desert

• water zoo

• Oasis.

• aquahome

• abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

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​Africa has a large tropical area—the largest of any continent. In fact, nearly 90 percent of the continent lies within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. As a result, temperatures are high most of the year.

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The amount of rainfall in Africa can vary greatly from year to year, as well as season to season. The rain forest in Central Africa receives the most precipitation. Here, rain falls throughout the year. Most of the rest of Africa, however, has one or two rainy seasons. Africa’s tropical savanna stretches through the middle of the continent. It covers nearly half the total surface area of Africa. Rainy seasons in this area can last up to six months. The closer an area is to the equator, the longer the rainy season. The closer to the desert, the longer the dry season.

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SUNSHINE AND RAINFALL

Africa’s west coast also receives a great deal of rain. For example, the region around Monrovia, Liberia, experiences an average June rainfall of more than 120 inches. In contrast, many parts of Africa barely get 20 inches of rain all year. In the Sahara and other deserts, rain may not fall for years at a time.

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SUNSHINE AND RAINFALL

A Mediterranean climate exists on the northern and southern tips of the continent. Clear, blue skies in these places are normal. Rain falls usually in the winter.

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SUNSHINE AND RAINFALL

In Africa, the regions north and south of the equator seem to be almost mirror images of each other. This is true for the vegetation, just as it is for the climate.

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A GRASSY CONTINENT

Tropical grassland covers most of the continent. One example of this grassland is the Serengeti Plain in northern Tanzania. Its dry climate and hard soil prevent the growth of trees and crops. However, these conditions are perfect for growing grass. Some of these grasses can grow taller than the average person. The abundance of grass makes Serengeti National Park an ideal place for grazing animals. Huge herds of wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras roam there.

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A GRASSY CONTINENT

Multiple Choice

a grassland in Africa that is ideal for grazing animals

• Spaghetti

• Serenpretty

• Serengeti

• Serendipity

​The major rain forests of Africa sit on the equator in the area of the Congo Basin. One square acre of rain forest can contain almost 100 different kinds of trees. It may also be home to hundreds of species of birds.

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AFRICA’S EXTREMES

The huge number of plants, leaves, and trees block much of the sunlight that would otherwise reach the rain forest floor. Beneath this umbrella of vegetation, the air is hot and filled with moisture.

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AFRICA’S EXTREMES

​Most animals in a rain forest live in the canopy. The canopy is the top branchy layer of the forest. The canopy is about 150 feet above the ground.

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AFRICA’S EXTREMES

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the tops of trees in a rain forest, about 150 feet above the ground

• Canopy

• Umbrella

• reel high tree tops

• ahfsdphasfio

​Farmers using slash-and-burn agricultural methods are endangering the rain forest. They cut and burn trees and vegetation to create fields for planting crops. After they have exhausted the soil, they clear another patch. Experts estimatethat more than half of Africa’s original rain forest has been destroyed.

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AFRICA’S EXTREMES

​All of Africa’s regions contain a variety of vegetation. In West Africa, mangrove trees sprout up in swamps and river deltas. Mangrove tree roots are breeding grounds for fish.

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AFRICA’S EXTREMES