Lesson 1 Africa's Geography

Chapter 2: Newcomers Arrive
West African Culture

Africa’s Geography

Lesson 1 Pages 50-51

• Key Points

  • Much of Africa is called "the plateau continent" because much of it is high and level.

  • ​Africa has a few large bays.

  • Some of its large rivers have waterfalls and rapids where they flow into the ocean which has sometimes caused a challenge for ocean-going ships to sail up or down them

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​Africa's Geography

Multiple Choice

It has sometimes been a challenge for ocean-going ships to easily sail up and down the oceans in Africa. What is the cause?

• Large rivers that have waterfalls and rapids that flow into the ocean.

• Lack of navigational technology
• High levels of piracy
• Frequent storms and hurricanes

Multiple Choice

What is a plateau?

• A plateau is a body of water.

• A plateau is an area of mostly level, high ground.

• A plateau is a deep valley.
• A plateau is a type of mountain.

• Due to the waterfalls and rapids most Africans often traveled inside the continent, not around it by sea.

• The first Africans to interact with both the American and European societies were from West Africa.

• West Africa is near the equator, so it is one of the warmest places on Earth.

West Africa- page 51

• The Sahara Desert is to the north and it the largest desert in the world.

• West Africa has dry grassland to the north and tropical forest to the south.

• The Niger River runs through West Africa, it flows more than 2,600 miles.

• The Niger River was important it supplied people with fish and water, and was a trade route for moving goods and services

  
  

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West Africa- page 51

Open Ended

Why was the Niger River important to the people of West Africa?

Multiple Choice

What is the largest desert in the world?

• Sahara Desert
• Antarctic Desert
• Gobi Desert
• Kalahari Desert

Multiple Choice

Which type of natural vegetation can be found in the northern part of West Africa?

• Temperate grassland
• Sahelian vegetation
• Dry Grassland

• Desert vegetation

Multiple Choice

What is a major use of the Niger River in West Africa?

• It served as trade route for moving goods, and may villages were built on the banks.

• Mining and oil extraction.
• Fishing and tourism.
• Hydroelectric power generation.