PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Sub-Saharan Africa

1
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICSSub-Saharan Africa
2
Sub-SaharanAfrica

• The area SOUTH of the Sahara Desert.

http//www.towson.edu/users/dherman/wrg/ssafrica.h
tm
3
Physical 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
4
Plateaus and Escarpments
Makonde Escarpment - Tanzania

• These kept people OUT of interior Africa.

5
http//www.mrdowling.com/611africatoday.html
Mount Kilimanjaro East African Mountains
THIS is why we see snow at the Equator!
6
Settlement 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
7
Rivers 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
8
River 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
9
Other issues with rivers?
Flooding in Mozambique
http//www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?Id91
26_837_4168_1831_7011
10
Settlement in Cities and Towns

• European styles of settlement patterns-
• Town Square

A town square in Nigeria
http//www.marekinc.com/PhotosHeadllines2003.html
11
Climate Patterns

• Africa is the only continent to have the Equator,
  Prime Meridian, and BOTH Tropic Lines to run
  through it.

12
C 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??
13
Tropical Rainforest
Desert
Savannah
Mediterranean
14
Coastal 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.

15
Note the disparity of wealth!!!


http//www.africanculturalcenter.org/5_2_3wealth.h
tml
16
HOWEVER...

• 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?