Climate & GeographyClimate & GeographyNorth Africa has a primarily desert and semi-arid climate, which means there is little to no rainfall in the area.

The climate doesn’t allow for very much vegetation. Soil in the area is poor. The best vegetation occurs around rainy coastal areas along valley floors of rivers.

When it rains the regions deltas, rivers, oases, and wadis are subject to

seasonal flooding which deposits rich silt for farming.

Rainfall and FloodingRainfall and Flooding

The northernmost region of the African continent is separated from the rest of Africa by the Sahara Desert.

Sahara DesertSahara Desert

The Sahara Desert stretches over most of North Africa, it is the world’s largest dry desert.

Even though this is a dry area, water plays a very large role. There are

several large bodies of water which play a major role in world politics.

The region’s MOST PRECIOUS resource.

The Nile is the main source of water for Egypt. All of the population lives along the Nile River valley. It is the only river that runs south to north.

Nile RiverNile River

Atlas MountainsAtlas Mountains

Northern Northern

Morocco & AlgeriaMorocco & Algeria

It is a transportation corridor located in Egypt. It enhanced shipping routes in the region.

Suez CanalSuez Canal

Aswan High DamAswan High Dam

Positive Effects Controls flooding Recreation areas Power

Negative Effects Land losing

fertility Lost homes when

built

AlgeriaAlgeria – Parliamentary RepublicParliamentary Republic

EgyptEgypt – In transitionIn transition

LibyaLibya – In transitionIn transition

MoroccoMorocco – Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

TunisiaTunisia – RepublicRepublic

GovernmentsGovernments

EconomyEconomyThe area has a heavy reliance on primary economic activities such

as oil drilling and agriculture.

The area is the home of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Many countries are still members.

Large oil revenues - major producers

of world’s oil.

Positive Effects Jobs Revenue Position of power

Negative Effects Reliance on one

industry Pollution Unequal distribution

of wealth

Trade has been important to the region from the earliest time.

Today regional conflicts and political unrest have affected trade and tourism.

The area today has contemporary trade routes (sea lanes).

TradeTrade

Cairo, Egypt – is a major center for trade and culture because of its location in the middle of North Africa and Southwest Asia.

City Center of Trade and City Center of Trade and CultureCulture

Cultural Cultural CharacteristicsCharacteristics

The area has experienced rapid urbanization, moving or changing from country to city.

Most modernization has centered around urban areas, while the traditional lifestyle has continued in the rural, the country area or lifestyle, areas.

The population is generally unevenly distributed due to the environment and resources.

PopulationPopulationA large percent of the population is under the age 15 due to conflict, disease, and the hardships associated with the region.

LanguagesLanguages

In Northern Africa, language is an extremely important cultural feature that is often linked to religion.

ArabicArabicIs the official language spoken in most countries in North Africa. It spread through the area because of the Islamic religion.

There are dialect differences between the North African countries.دياناديانا

BerberBerber

It is still spoken by some Moroccans, Algerians, and Libyans.

Is the language of the native people (Berbers) in the area before Arabic was spread through Islam.

Ramses II Ramses II

Languages by CountryLanguages by Country

AlgeriaAlgeria - Arabic , French, Berber

EgyptEgypt - Arabic , English, French (widely understood by educated classes)

LibyaLibya - Arabic, Berber, Italian, English (widely understood in major cities)

MoroccoMorocco - Arabic , Berber, French (often used for

business & government), Spanish, English

TunisiaTunisia - Arabic , French (business)

ReligionReligion

North Africa and S.W. Asia are the birthplace to 3 major monotheistic

religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Religions by CountryReligions by CountryAlgeriaAlgeria - Islam 99%

Christianity and Judaism 1%

EgyptEgypt - Islam 90% Coptic 9% Christianity 1% Other 6%

LibyaLibya - Islam 97% MoroccoMorocco - Islam 98%

Christianity 1% Judaism and other 1%

TunisiaTunisia - Islam 98%Christianity 1% Judaism and other 1%

Since 1949, the region has been in conflict over the area known as the West Bank and Gaza. This area was once PALESTINE and is present day ISRAEL.

Religious ConflictReligious Conflict

Great variation in the standard of living in the region. It ranges from the relatively high to the poverty stricken.

Standard of LivingStandard of Living

Bedouins - desert dwellers in Arabic.

Bedouins/Bedouins/Nomadic Nomadic LifestyleLifestyle

Many cultures have been traditionally nomadic. Today, many nomads have settled, but there are still some in the region.

NOMADS – people who follow a food source from place to place never settling down.

Cultural LandscapeCultural Landscape

Oil rigs in LibyaOil rigs in LibyaPyramids in Cairo, EgyptWalled citiesWalled cities

in Moroccoin Morocco

Mosques - Mosques - minarets minarets

(architectura(architectural feature)l feature)

Bazaars – Souks Bazaars – Souks

(marketplaces)(marketplaces)

The art of the region reflects the The art of the region reflects the diversity of the religions:diversity of the religions:

ArtArt

Stained Stained glassglass

Prayer rugPrayer rug

Geometric tilesGeometric tiles CalligraphyCalligraphy

MosaicsMosaics