Physical Geography of Southern Africa

Physical Geography of Southern Africa​

​Objectives/Goals

Vocabulary

• Identify characteristics of Southern Africa's major features

• Evaluate the pros and cons of building the Kariba Dam

• Explain how Southern Africa's physical geography helps and hinders human activities

• Describe the climate and natural resource patterns of Southern Africa

• Endemic

• Escarpment

• Forest Fragmentation

• Rain Shadow Effect

• Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

​Essential Question: What are the major physical features of South Africa?

Open Ended

Where in the World is Comet?

(Location Name and Country)

Clue 1: This country has some of the world's oldest deserts.

Clue 2: This country is said to have the "World's largest graveyard" but not for people.

Clue 3: The original name for this location was "Star Island".

Clue 4: This location was used as a "Concentration Camp" by the Germans.

Clue 5: Today this location is used as a Nature Reserve.

Where is Comet?

Open Ended

Why do you think people might change the name of a country?

​Whats in a Name?

• Eswatini

  • 2018: 50 years of Independence from British rule

  • King Mswati II changed the name to Eswatini (Land of the Swazis)

  • Swaziland came from the English language

• Nyasaland to Malawi

  • Marks the end of Colonial Rule

• Rhodesia to Zambia and Zimbabwe

  • Named for British colonizer, John Rhodes

  • Zambia is named for the Zambezi River

  • Zimbabwe was named for the ancient medieval city

• Bechuanaland to Botsana

  • Named for the main ethnic group, Tswana

​Geography of Southern Africa

• This region of Africa is known as Southern Africa

• Countries South of the Congo River Basin

• Located on Africa's Southern tip

  • South Africa is a country located in southern Africa

  • Lesotho: a landlocked country that is surrounded by one country, South Africa. 

• The Great Escarpment (a long cliff or slope that seperates a plateau from lower land)

  • Located in Southern Africa

  • Large enough that it can be seen through satellites in space

  • The terrain is very rugged and difficult for humans to construct infrastructure (Drakensburg)

​The Great Escarpment

​Deserts of Southern Africa

• Namib Desert

  • One of the lowest population densities in the world

  • One of the oldest deserts in the world

• Kalahari Desert

  • Home of the San and Himba people

    • Desert wells

    • Hunters and Herders (cattle and goats)

  • Part of this desert is a Savana

​Zambezi River

• Southern Africa's largest river

• Forms a natural boundary between five countries

• Produces rich silt for farming (Commercial and Subsistence)

• Not navigable due to its shallow spots, rapids, waterfalls, etc.

  • Small sections of the river can be navigable but not for commercial use

• Kariba Dam

  • Creates power for 7 million homes in Zimbabwe and Zambia

  • 50 years old

• Lake Kariba: Largest artificial lake

• Mosi-oa-Tunya

  • The Smoke That Thunders and The Place of the Rainbow

  • Victoria Falls: one of the world's largest waterfalls

​Climate of Southern Africa

• Northeast: warm and dry; wet and dry seasons

• Central East: arid and semiarid; the hottest times of the year are January and February

• Southern tip: Interior of the region is much hotter then coastal regions

• Drakensberg Region: cool and wet; can see snow

• Northeastern: humid and warm; wet and dry season

​Unique Madagascar

• 4th largest island in the world

• Theory of Pangea: Madagascar was closer to India - now it's closer to Africa

• Rain Shadow Effect: air drops its moisture as it crosses over a mountain

  • East Coast receives more rain (145 inches)

  • West Coast receives less rain (40 inches)

• Madagascar's Rainforest

  • Endemic animal species (plants and animal species that can only be found in one specific location)

• Deforestation

  • Slash and Burn Agriculture

  • Forest Fragmentation: as humans remove trees to create settlements, smaller forest areas become separated from the main forest area 

• Human inhabitants

  • Indigenous people were seafarers from Southeast Asia

  • Culture is a mixture of Asian and African influence (brought through migration)

Southern Africa's Natural Resources

Word Cloud

Which animal from today's lesson would you want as a pet?