Quote of the Day Quote of the Day

Spencer Shuman Spencer Shuman

When the rich rage war it’s the poor When the rich rage war it’s the poor who suffer. who suffer.

Essential Question Essential Question

How do humans interact with the How do humans interact with the extreme African environment? extreme African environment?

Objectives Objectives

2.012.01 Identify key physical characteristics Identify key physical characteristics such as landforms, water forms, and climate such as landforms, water forms, and climate and evaluate their influence on the and evaluate their influence on the development of cultures in selected African, development of cultures in selected African, Asian, and Australian regions. Asian, and Australian regions.

4.024.02 Identify the main commodities of trade Identify the main commodities of trade over time in selected areas of Africa, Asia, over time in selected areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia and evaluate their significance and Australia and evaluate their significance for the economic, political, and social for the economic, political, and social development of cultures and regions. development of cultures and regions.

What caused Africa’s great rift to What caused Africa’s great rift to form? form?

(Sections of the African tectonic (Sections of the African tectonic plate are slowly pulling apart )plate are slowly pulling apart )

Population Info…Population Info…

The countries with the largest The countries with the largest populations in Africa are Nigeria populations in Africa are Nigeria

(107,000,000 people), Egypt (107,000,000 people), Egypt (64,800,000 people), and Ethiopia (64,800,000 people), and Ethiopia

(58,700,000 people). (58,700,000 people).

Highest and Lowest PointsHighest and Lowest Points::

The tallest point in Africa is Mt. The tallest point in Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania (eastern Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania (eastern Africa). Mt. Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet Africa). Mt. Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet (5895 meters) tall. Africa has no long (5895 meters) tall. Africa has no long mountain chains. mountain chains.

The lowest point in Africa is Lake The lowest point in Africa is Lake Assal, in Djibouti (in eastern Africa Assal, in Djibouti (in eastern Africa near the Horn of Africa); it is 512 feet near the Horn of Africa); it is 512 feet (156 meters) below sea level. (156 meters) below sea level.

LakesLakes::

Africa's largest lake is Lake Victoria; Africa's largest lake is Lake Victoria; it covers 26,836 square miles it covers 26,836 square miles (69,500 square kilometers). Other (69,500 square kilometers). Other large lakes in Africa are Lake large lakes in Africa are Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Chad.Chad.

RiversRivers::

The longest river in Africa is the Nile The longest river in Africa is the Nile River; it is 4,241 miles (6825 River; it is 4,241 miles (6825 kilometers) long. Other long rivers in kilometers) long. Other long rivers in Africa include the Congo River, the Africa include the Congo River, the Niger River and the Zambezi River. Niger River and the Zambezi River.

DesertsDeserts::

Africa has many vast deserts, Africa has many vast deserts, including the largest hot desert in including the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara. The Sahara the world, the Sahara. The Sahara Desert is located in northern Africa Desert is located in northern Africa and covers 3,500,000 square miles and covers 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 square kilometers). The (9,065,000 square kilometers). The Kalahari, in southern Africa, is Kalahari, in southern Africa, is another large desert.another large desert.

IslandsIslands

The biggest island off Africa is The biggest island off Africa is Madagascar, which is near the coast Madagascar, which is near the coast of southeast Africa. Madagascar of southeast Africa. Madagascar covers 226,658 square miles covers 226,658 square miles (587,000 square kilometers).(587,000 square kilometers).

How Is the Land in Africa How Is the Land in Africa Used?Used?

There is not enough water in Africa. Rivers are very important. Most of the farmland in Africa is There is not enough water in Africa. Rivers are very important. Most of the farmland in Africa is along rivers. In Egypt, the Aswan Dam was built on the Nile River. This dam supplies water to along rivers. In Egypt, the Aswan Dam was built on the Nile River. This dam supplies water to millions of people. A dam on the Zambezi (zam-millions of people. A dam on the Zambezi (zam-beebee-zee) River in southern Africa supplies power for -zee) River in southern Africa supplies power for electricity. In West Africa, the Niger River carries goods and people throughout the region.electricity. In West Africa, the Niger River carries goods and people throughout the region.

The land in southern Africa is rich in natural resources. There are gold, diamond, and iron ore mines. The land in southern Africa is rich in natural resources. There are gold, diamond, and iron ore mines. Large areas of copper mines stretch across Zambia.Large areas of copper mines stretch across Zambia.

Many African farmers practice slash and burn farming. This process is a way to clear land for Many African farmers practice slash and burn farming. This process is a way to clear land for planting by cutting and burning forests. This process of cutting down or burning all the trees in an planting by cutting and burning forests. This process of cutting down or burning all the trees in an area is called area is called deforestation.deforestation. Because the tree roots die, they can no longer hold the soil in place. Because the tree roots die, they can no longer hold the soil in place. Wind and rain carry the rich topsoil away.Wind and rain carry the rich topsoil away.

Deforestation causes floods during the rainy season. On the island of Madagascar, slash and burn Deforestation causes floods during the rainy season. On the island of Madagascar, slash and burn farming has destroyed 80 percent of the island's forests.farming has destroyed 80 percent of the island's forests.

Forested HillsideForested Hillside

After Deforestation

http://www.jrank.org/history/pages/8362/What-Geography-Africa.html