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Africa Geography

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Open Ended

What do you already know or think you know about the continent of Africa?

Open Ended

Step 1: Watch the video

Step 2: After checking your work, what countries of Africa or surrounding bodies of water did you already know before learning the map?

Step 3: What 3 countries will you add to your study list tonight?

Step 4: Take screen shots of the next 2 slides and add them to your map in Notability.

Step 5: When you are finished with all the slides remaining, continue to study for your upcoming Africa Map Quiz. Check the date of your quiz on Schoology.

Multiple Choice

What country is number 10 on the map?

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• China

• Senegal

• Nigeria

Multiple Choice

What body of water is letter E on the map?

• Niger River

• Amazon River

• Nile River

• Mississippi River

Multiple Choice

What body of water is letter D on the map?

• Mediterranean Sea

• Red Sea

• Black Sea

• Atlantic Ocean

Multiple Choice

What body of water is letter C on the map?

• Black Sea

• Yellow Sea

• Mediterranean Sea

• Red Sea

Multiple Choice

What body of water is letter B on the map?

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Southern Ocean

Multiple Choice

What body of water is letter A on the map?

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Southern Ocean

Multiple Choice

What country is number 21 on the map?

• Libya

• Liberia

• Egypt

• Mediterranean Sea

Multiple Choice

What country is number 14 on the map?

• Zimbabwe

• Atlantic Ocean

• Madagascar

• Mozambique

Multiple Choice

What country is number 7 on the map?

• Niger River

• Ghana

• Liberia

• Nigeria

Multiple Choice

What country is number 20 on the map?

• Libya

• Liberia

• Sudan

• Egypt

Multiple Choice

What country is number 19 on the map?

• Egypt

• Sudan

• Ethiopia

• Iraq

Multiple Choice

What country is number 18 on the map?

• Kenya

• Sudan

• Somalia

• Ethiopia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 17 on the map?

• Rwanda

• Ethiopia

• Somalia

• Egypt

Multiple Choice

What country is number 16 on the map?

• Rwanda

• Kenya

• Sudan

• Somalia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 15 on the map?

• Rwanda

• Kenya

• Ethiopia

• Somalia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 13 on the map?

• South Africa

• Zimbabwe

• Botswana

• Mozambique

Multiple Choice

What country is number 12 on the map?

• Atlantic Ocean

• Botswana

• Zimbabwe

• Madagascar

Multiple Choice

What country is number 11 on the map?

• Botswana

• Madagascar

• Mozambique

• Zimbabwe

Multiple Choice

What country is number 9 on the map?

• South Africa

• Botswana

• Zimbabwe

• Mozambique

Multiple Choice

What country is number 8 on the map?

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Republic of the Congo

• The Congo

• Botswana

Multiple Choice

What country is number 6 on the map?

• Guinea

• Ghana

• Kenya

• Rwanda

Multiple Choice

What country is number 5 on the map?

• Madagascar

• Sierra Leone

• Libya

• Liberia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 4 on the map?

• Guinea

• Ghana

• Sierra Leone

• Liberia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 3 on the map?

• Guinea

• Ghana

• Senegal

• Nile River

Multiple Choice

What country is number 1 on the map?

• Kenya

• Morocco

• Egypt

• Saudi Arabia

Multiple Choice

What country is number 14 on the map?

• Zimbabwe

• Atlantic Ocean

• Madagascar

• Mozambique

Multiple Choice

What country is number 2 on the map?

• Indian Ocean

• South Africa

• Sierra Leone

• Senegal

Remember, you have access to the the Africa Map Quiz to play!

• Play as many times as you need to

• Play until you know the map

• Find the Code in Schoology

• OR find it on quizizz assigned to you!

Africa’s

Geography

AFRICA

•Africa is the world’s second largest
continent (11,700,000 miles).

•It is home to 54 countries, 1,000
different languages, and 800 million
people.

•10% of the world’s population
lives in Africa.

•The vast African continent has almost
every type of landform and climate.

•Africa can be divided into several
regions, including the Sahara, the
Sahel, the savannahs, and the
tropical rain forests.

The Sahara

• The Sahara is the world’s largest hot

desert (3,500,000 miles).

• It runs across the width of

northern Africa and covers 1/3rd
of the continent.

• It divides the continent into two

distinct regions – North Africa and
sub-Saharan Africa.

• The Sahara is covered with sand

dunes, rocky hills, and stretches of
gravel that continue for miles and
miles.

The Sahara

• Very few people live in the desert

because it is considered one of the
harshest places to live in the world.

• The people who do live here are

called nomads.

• They move from place to place,

usually traveling by camel, looking
for food & water.

​You will need to write down two facts after the video.

Open Ended

What are two things you learned about the Sahara from the video?

The Sahel

• The Sahel is a strip of dry grassland

that is located south of the Sahara
and north of the equator that
separates the desert from tropical
rainforests.

• The word “Sahel” means “border” or

“margin”.

• It is a dry, semi-arid region that is

slowly turning into desert.

• It gets more rainfall than the desert,

but still receives very little (ranging
from 6-20 inches).

The Sahel

• The Sahel is relatively flat with few

mountains and hills.

• People have tried to live here but

generations of overgrazing and
desertification have caused soil
erosion.

• Vegetation is sparse here—grasses

and shrubs are unevenly distributed.

Multiple Choice

Which one is NOT true about the Sahel?

• Overgrazing and desertification have caused soil erosion.

• It is a dry, semi-arid region.

• Vegetation is unevenly distributed.

• It receives 20-30 inches of rain each year.

Savanna

• The African savannas are hot, dry

grasslands that are located near the
Equator and cover almost half of Africa.

• They cover the regions just north and

south of the rainforests that lie along the
equator.

• The African savanna is the largest in the

world (over 4.5 million square miles).

Savanna

• There is a large variety of wildlife in

the African savannas, including lions,
zebras, & elephants.

• Farming is good here, but only if

there is good rainfall.

• Grasses and grains like wheat,

oats, and sorghum grow in the
region.

• The area receives enough rain to

support drought resistant
undergrowth, but not enough to
support forest-type vegetation.

• Grasses are tall and thick, while

trees are short and scattered.

Fill in the Blank

Wildlife can survive in the savanna because ________ resistant crops/plants can survive if there is enough rain.

Tropical Rainforest

• Africa’s tropical rain forest is located

along the central coast of Africa,
near the Equator, and lies in the
Congo River Basin.

• The rain forest covers 1/5th of the land

surface of Africa and touches 37
countries.

• The rain forest has a hot, humid

climate with an annual rainfall of over
17 feet.

Tropical Rainforest

• Africa’s tropical rain forest is home to

a large variety of animals.

• Trees are so thick and tall that

sunlight never reaches the forest
floor!

• The trees grow hundreds of

feet tall.

• It’s the second largest rainforest in

the world; the Amazon rainforest in
Brazil is the largest.

• Unfortunately, about 90% of this rain

forest has shrunk due to
deforestation.

Multiple Choice

How much has this rainforest shrunk due to deforestation?

• 50%

• 60%

• 75%

• 90%

Congo River

• The Congo River is in west central Africa.

• It begins in central Africa, near Lake

Tanganyika, and flows west.

• It crosses the equator twice and is

surrounded by rainforest.

Congo River

•The Congo River is the second
longest river in Africa and the fifth
longest in the world.

•It’s over 3,000 miles long.

​As you watch, pay attention to why there has been so much conflict in this area. You will need be specific.

Open Ended

Why has there been so much conflict in this region? BE SPECIFIC.

Niger River

• The Niger River is in western Africa.

• It flows through Guinea, Mali, Niger,

Benin, & Nigeria.

•The Niger River is the third largest
river in Africa.

•It runs over 2,600 miles.

• The mouth of the Niger River flows

through a large delta, often referred to
as the “Oil Delta” because of the
petroleum industry that’s centered
here.

Multiple Choice

The Niger River is also known as

• The River with No End

• The Oil Delta

• Petroleum Valley

• Alligator Delta

Lake Victoria

•Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa
and the second largest freshwater lake in
the world. (Lake Superior is the largest.)

•It is in central Africa and extends into three
countries: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

•Lake Victoria is a headwaters reservoir for
the Nile River.

Lake Victoria

•Even though it is shallow, Lake Victoria is vital in supporting the millions of
people that live nearby.

•It provides a living for many fishermen and attracts millions of tourists each
year.

Fill in the Blank

The ______ River starts at Lake Victoria

•The Great Rift Valley is a giant dip in the Earth’s
surface.

•It was created about 35 million years ago when
the African and Eurasian tectonic plates
separated.

•The valley runs north to south for over 3000
miles, from Syria in Southwest Asia to
Mozambique in east Africa.

Great Rift Valley

Great Rift Valley
•The Great Rift Valley varies in width from about 20 to 60 miles.

•The valley is surrounded by highlands.

•It contains three of Africa’s most important lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika,
and Lake Malawi.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

•Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest
mountain in Africa.

•It is in Tanzania and rises
approximately 16,100 feet at its
base to 19,340 feet above sea level.

•The mountain is a dormant
volcano.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

•Mt. Kilimanjaro is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major climbing
destination.

•The first climbers proven to have reached the summit of the mountain were Hans
Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller in 1889.

Kalahari Desert
•The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to
semi-arid sandy area that’s located
in southwestern Africa.

•It covers parts of Botswana,
Namibia, and South Africa.

•Its dunes range from 20 to 200 feet
high and can be 50 miles long.

•The region is surrounded by
semi-arid areas that are slowly
becoming drier due to
desertification.

Kalahari Desert
•The Kalahari Desert is not a “true”
desert because it receives 3-10
inches of rain per year.

•Because of the precipitation and
underground water supplies,
grass, shrubs, and wild animals
manage to live in the Kalahari
desert.

Multiple Choice

Why is the Kalahari Desert not a "True" desert?

• It gets 3-10 inches of rain.

• It can support wildlife, like lions.

• It gets less rain than the Sahara desert.

• Nothing can survive there.

​You will need to write down two facts after the video.

Open Ended

What are two thing you learned about the Kalahari desert from the video?

SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL MAP

Look carefully at the political map to have a general idea of the main official borders, provinces and more →

QUICK FACTS

LOCATION: Southern Africa

CAPITAL CITY: Cape Town

OFFICIAL BORDERS: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique

CURRENCY: South African rand

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic

RELIGION(S): Christianity and Animism

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S): Afrikaans and English

SURFACE AREA: 1.220.813 km²

POPULATION: 57.725.600

SOUTH AFRICA physical MAP

Look carefully at the physical map to have a general idea of the main geographical features you will encounter later on →

territory

Watch the following videos to learn more about the territory and the typical landscapes of South Africa:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7zif_DTniM

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoxrQr-w8Kg

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw0lxXI8Ibo

territory

• South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, as it is located at the very tip of the African continent

• The territory is four times as big as Italy

• Its coastlines border the South Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east

• Within the territory, there is an enclave, the country of Lesotho: much of South Africa's water comes from the snowcapped peaks of this mountainous kingdom

geography

• The majority of South Africa landscape consists of high and flat areas, called plateaus

• These lands could be:

  • covered with rolling grasslands in the
    hinterland (highveld)

geography

• However, plateaus could be:

  • tree-dotted plains along the coast (bushveld)

• These lands are also called savannah, inhabited by several African wild animals

wildlife

Watch the following video to learn more about the South Africa wildlife and the so-called Big Five:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPBVCvs91eM

wildlife

• The country, even if is pretty small, is home to almost 10% of the world's known bird, mammal and plant species

• The seas around it are also crowded with wildlife: each June, a world-famous sardine run takes place in the east coast, drawing thousands of hungry sharks, dolphins, and birds

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxgi0qc1nC4

wildlife

• South Africa works to preserve its wildlife with dozens of protected land and marine areas, including the famous Kruger National Park in the north part of the country

• However, we must say that many animals are hurt by illegal hunting and loss of habitat, while dozens of species are in danger of extinction, including the black rhinoceros, the cheetah, and the African wild dog

WILDLIFE

Black rhinoceros ↑

Cheetah ↓

African wild dog ↑

climate

• Due to its location, South Africa has a typical Mediterranean temperate climate

• As a result, winters are mild and rainy instead summers are hot and dry

typical landscapes

The Karoo ↑

Kalahari Desert ↓

Drakensberg ↑

the karoo

• It is a semi-desert natural region, in which there are low rainfall, arid air, cloudless skies and extremes of heat and cold

• The Karoo can be divided into:

  • Great Karoo, that is located in the north-east

  • Little Karoo, that is located in the south-west

• The name Karoo comes from an ancient African word meaning Land of Great Thirst, referring to the arid landscape and the harsh climate found there

kalahari desert

• It is a large semi-arid sandy savannah, covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa

• The territory has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water

• It was not always a dry desert, as the fossil flora and fauna from a cave located in Botswana indicates that the region was much wetter and cooler long time ago

drakensberg

• It is the most important mountain range, in which there is the highest peak that reaches 3842 m

• During winters it snows regularly, while frequent precipitations and fog occur throughout the year

• These mountains play a significant role in tourism industry, as they are climbed and hiked: since 2000, the Drakensberg's National Park has been granted UNESCO Heritage site

rivers and lakes

• The country has no commercially navigable rivers and no significant natural lakes

• However, the government has created several artificial lakes, mainly for agricultural irrigation

• The Orange River is the longest one and it originates from the Drakensberg, flowing into Atlantic Ocean: it is part of the international boundary line between Namibia and South Africa and between Lesotho and South Africa

Physical Geography of North Africa

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Fill in the Blank

_______ is the landform that runs through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Multiple Choice

How has the Aswān High Dam had an adverse effect on human health?

• It contaminated underground water sources by drawing in salt water from the sea.

• It caused a build up of soil contaminated by raw sewage and oil by-products.

• It created new ecosystems in which diseases such as malaria flourished.

• It discharged raw sewage and other wastes into Lake Nasser.

Multiple Choice

What do Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya have in common?

• They average less than 10 inches of rain a year.

• They average less than 14 inches of rain a year.

• They have both an arid and semi-arid climate.

• They have a mild Mediterranean climate along the coast.