Title: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Sub-Saharan Africa
1PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICSSub-Saharan Africa
2Sub-SaharanAfrica
- The area SOUTH of the Sahara Desert.
http//www.towson.edu/users/dherman/wrg/ssafrica.h
tm
3Physical Features
- Plateau level highland that rises above
surrounding areas - Escarpments line of steep cliffs rimming a
plateau - Cataracts rapids in a river waterfall
http//www.ded-tanzania.de/fglw/newal_pictures.htm
l
4Plateaus and Escarpments
Makonde Escarpment - Tanzania
- These kept people OUT of interior Africa.
5http//www.mrdowling.com/611africatoday.html
Mount Kilimanjaro East African Mountains
THIS is why we see snow at the Equator!
6Settlement in Africa
- David Livingstone and Henry Stanley - African
Explorers. - Settlement Patterns also impacted by plateau
How? - Coastal Areas were settled, too difficult to go
inland
Dr. Livingstone, I presume?
Stanley
Livingstone
http//www.portsmouthbookshop.com/Book_Pages/B06xx
/B0635afri.htm
http//www.mrdowling.com/610-livingstone.html
7Rivers in Africa
- Settlements developed at the base of the
escarpment and along river banks.
- Zambezi River- in southern Africa
- Congo River- in the Dem. Rep. of the Congo
- Nile River- eastern and northern Africa
- Niger River- west Africa
http//www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/rivers/River20Artic
les/victoriafalls.htm
Victoria Falls
8River Transportation
- River Transportation impacted by cataracts
- Port cities developed along fall lines at mouth
of rivers (deltas)-site situation - Few natural harbors in Africa (thin coast)
http//www.zamsoc.org/photo_gallery/pages/f_scener
y04_jpg.htm
http//www.zamsoc.org/photo_gallery/pages/e_aerial
03_jpg.htm
9Other issues with rivers?
Flooding in Mozambique
http//www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?Id91
26_837_4168_1831_7011
10Settlement in Cities and Towns
- European styles of settlement patterns-
- Town Square
A town square in Nigeria
http//www.marekinc.com/PhotosHeadllines2003.html
11Climate Patterns
- Africa is the only continent to have the Equator,
Prime Meridian, and BOTH Tropic Lines to run
through it.
12C L I M A T E
A F R I C A N
- There are similar climate patterns found at the
north and the south of the continent EXCEPT that
theyre...
reversed and mirrored ---WHY??
13Tropical Rainforest
Desert
Savannah
Mediterranean
14Coastal Settlements Countries
- Many landlocked countries
- Interior of Africa is a PLATEAU
- Africa is a storehouse of mineral wealth gold
and diamonds - Africa can make money by exporting RAW MATERIALS
and then purchasing what they need by importing
MANUFACTURED GOODS. - Potential for HYDRO-ELECTRIC power.
15Note the disparity of wealth!!!
http//www.africanculturalcenter.org/5_2_3wealth.h
tml
16HOWEVER...
- Africa has a lack of sustainable agriculture
- because of the lack of arable land seasonable
rainfall... - and the problem
of infertile soil.
17- There is also an extensive range of climates
from desert to rainforests - Arid vs. semi-arid land
18- Finally, there are scarce water resources
Oasis, wadis, water holes - Man-made temporary water deposits
reservoirs, wells
19 QUESTIONS
- Why was it difficult for explorers to get to the
middle of Africa? - What are some characteristics of Africas
climate? - Why is there a large population along the coast
in Africa? - What kinds of resources does Africa have that
help its economic base?