Geography of Africa Continent of Extreme and Diverse Environments.
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Transcript of Geography of Africa Continent of Extreme and Diverse Environments.
Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa
Continent of Extreme and Continent of Extreme and Diverse EnvironmentsDiverse Environments
22ndnd Largest Largest ContinentContinent
Stationary Part of Pangaea Stationary Part of Pangaea Rugged coastlineRugged coastline
Not many high Not many high mountains like in S. mountains like in S. Asia, (Kilimanjaro is Asia, (Kilimanjaro is highest)highest)
Many plateaus inland – Many plateaus inland – 90% of Africa is 500ft. 90% of Africa is 500ft. or higheror higher
Victoria FallsVictoria Falls One of the Largest One of the Largest
Waterfalls in the Waterfalls in the WorldWorld
Sahara DesertSahara Desert
Northern Plateau – Sahara Desert Northern Plateau – Sahara Desert covers 30% of continent (size of US)covers 30% of continent (size of US)
SahelSahel
Dry semi-arid scrubland home to Dry semi-arid scrubland home to nomadic herdersnomadic herders
SavannaSavanna
20-60 inches of rainfall a 20-60 inches of rainfall a year – where zebras, year – where zebras, antelopes, giraffes and antelopes, giraffes and elephants etc. live.elephants etc. live.
Tropical RainforestsTropical Rainforests
From West Africa through From West Africa through Democratic Republic of CongoDemocratic Republic of Congo
70 in. rain annually70 in. rain annually Gorillas, exotic birds and Gorillas, exotic birds and
plants – all in danger todayplants – all in danger today
Africa’s RiversAfrica’s Rivers 40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power NileNile
– 4,100 miles (longest)4,100 miles (longest)– Two sources, Blue and White intersectTwo sources, Blue and White intersect
NigerNiger– 2,600 miles 2,600 miles – In West Africa, In West Africa,
center of ancient center of ancient kingdoms kingdoms
CongoCongo– 3,000 miles3,000 miles– Central locationCentral location
Rich in Mineral DepositsRich in Mineral Deposits
diamonds, gold, platinum, oil, diamonds, gold, platinum, oil, copper, coal, cobalt, uranium, copper, coal, cobalt, uranium, bauxite and iron-ore…why so poor?bauxite and iron-ore…why so poor?
What turned out to What turned out to
be Africa’s most lucrative be Africa’s most lucrative
trade industry? trade industry?
AgricultureAgriculture
African societies are African societies are primarily based on primarily based on agricultureagriculture
Subsistence farming & Subsistence farming & cash cropscash crops
Cash crops are Cash crops are problematic – Why?problematic – Why?
Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley– Africa's most diverse Africa's most diverse
regionregion
– Habitats include Habitats include deserts to snowfields, deserts to snowfields, active volcanoes to active volcanoes to deep water abyss, deep water abyss, lowland rainforest to lowland rainforest to savanna, and soda savanna, and soda lakeslakes
– It is growing It is growing continuously continuously
Clip on Great Rift ValleyClip on Great Rift Valley
Discovery Streaming Atlas 4D GRVDiscovery Streaming Atlas 4D GRV– Geology of the GRVGeology of the GRV– The Danakil DepressionThe Danakil Depression– White GoldWhite Gold– How the Great Lakes FormedHow the Great Lakes Formed– The Food Chain in the SerengetiThe Food Chain in the Serengeti– The Masai The Masai – The future of the GRVThe future of the GRV
Environmental Issues Environmental Issues of Africaof Africa
DesertificationDesertification Degradation of:Degradation of:
– AridArid– Semi-AridSemi-Arid– Sub-humid LandsSub-humid Lands
SahelSahel region is very region is very susceptiblesusceptible
Causes
DroughtDrought
Desiccation---irreversible Desiccation---irreversible damage to soil after long damage to soil after long periods of droughtperiods of drought
RamificationsRamifications Limited crop productionLimited crop production
– Damage food supplyDamage food supply Disruption of various culturesDisruption of various cultures
Deforestation
13 million acres of forest 13 million acres of forest lost from 1990-2000lost from 1990-2000
CausesCausesCleared for AgricultureCleared for Agriculture
Flooded b/c of dams builtFlooded b/c of dams built
Pollution and developmentPollution and development
RamificationsLoss of environmentLoss of environmentCultures disruptedCultures disrupted
Traditional African CultureTraditional African Culture
Some important pointsSome important points
Traditional African ReligionANIMISM
1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being.
3. Ancestor veneration.
4. Belief in magic and charms
5. Diviner mediator between the tribe and God.
2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things.
Islam and Islam and Christianity Christianity also make up also make up a large a large percentage of percentage of the population the population of Africaof Africa
An African’s “Search for An African’s “Search for Identity”Identity”
1. Nuclear Family2. Extended Family3. Age-Set
4. Clan
5. Lineage (ancestry)
TRIBE (communal living)
1000 different languages; 1000+ different tribes
Problems of Tribalism Today
1. The tribe is more important than the nation.2. Communication problems.
3. Inter-tribal warfare civil wars.
4. Tribal favorites for government jobs: Nepotism Urbanization:
Breaks down tribal traditions.Tribal intermingling on the job.
SlaverySlavery
What were some of the reasons Europeans sought to enslave What were some of the reasons Europeans sought to enslave Africans?Africans?
Why did some Africans sell fellow Africans into slavery?Why did some Africans sell fellow Africans into slavery?
How were enslaved Africans treated by traders and their masters?How were enslaved Africans treated by traders and their masters?
Read – Letters from Affonso, Olaudah’s experienceRead – Letters from Affonso, Olaudah’s experience
Slave Trade?Slave Trade?
What were the African Advantages?What were the African Advantages?
Protection – middle Protection – middle man man
Availability of foreign Availability of foreign goods goods
Get rid of enemiesGet rid of enemies $$$$$$$$
What were the African What were the African disadvantages?disadvantages? Slow down Slow down
other/traditional tradingother/traditional trading Hurt Africa in the long Hurt Africa in the long
run – took focus off of run – took focus off of other business venturesother business ventures
Lost intelligent and Lost intelligent and strong peoplestrong people
Decrease in populationDecrease in population Cultures destroyedCultures destroyed Slave experienceSlave experience
What were the What were the European European Disadvantages?Disadvantages?
Resentment from Resentment from AfricansAfricans
Increased contact – Increased contact – lead to more diseaselead to more disease
Slaves were cheaper Slaves were cheaper labor force, labor force, competition for jobcompetition for job
Morality Morality
What were the European What were the European Advantages?Advantages?
US and Europe US and Europe eventually take on eventually take on some African culturesome African culture
$$$$$$$$$$$$ Faster colonization of Faster colonization of
the New World the New World
Why did Slavery End?Why did Slavery End?
After a little over 300 years, why did After a little over 300 years, why did European countries eventually European countries eventually abolish the slave trade and slavery?abolish the slave trade and slavery?
The White Man’s Burden – The White Man’s Burden – Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism
Effects of ColonialismEffects of Colonialism
What were the overall effects of What were the overall effects of colonialism on the development of colonialism on the development of Africa? (Use Maps, DBQ, and Parable Africa? (Use Maps, DBQ, and Parable of the Eagle) of the Eagle)