Chapter 18
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Africa has a diverse climate, with over 50% experiencing inadequate precipitation. The longest river in the world, the Nile, provides water for 95% of Egyptians and is formed from its two main tributaries, the White Nile and Blue Nile. Rift valleys formed as the eastern part of Africa pulled away from the rest of the continent. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak at over 4,600 meters. Coffee is Africa's second most profitable commodity after oil, with Ethiopia being its largest producer. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world, and the Niger Delta in Nigeria is an oil-rich region that has faced environmental damage.
Chapter 18
- 1. Chapter 18: Africa World Geography Mr. Allen
- 2. Climate
- 3. Climate Over 50% of Africa has inadequate precipitation 92% of the continent of Africa experiences climatic contrasts; shortage of water where it is needed most and oversupply of water where it cannot be fully used About 8% of Africa has a tropical climate with 10 to 12 months of rainfall
- 4. Climate Africa has about one-third of all the arid lands in the world Climate definitions are based on the Koppen System. Snow-capped mountains make up the smallest climate area in Africa
- 5. Nile River The longest river in the world. Provides 95 percent of Egyptians with their water. The Nile gets its name from the Greek word " Nelios ", meaning River Valley.
- 6. White Nile & Blue Nile 2 main tributaries of the Nile River White Nile flows into Lake Victoria The White Nile is the longer of the tributaries, but the Blue Nile is the main source of water and fertile soil.
- 7. Rift valleys Long, thin valleys that formed in Africa as continental plates pulled apart. Geographers know that the eastern part of Africa is pulling apart from the rest of Africa because of rift valleys .
- 8. Mount Kilimanjaro Africa's highest peak in north-eastern Tanzania rising 4,600 m (15,100 ft) from its base.
- 9. Escarpment & Silt Escarpment - A steep slope with a nearly flat plateau on top. Silt - increases the fertility of soil.
- 10. Coffee The second most profitable commodity in Africa after oil. Ethiopia is Africa's biggest coffee producer about 12 million workers and 331,00 peasant farms.
- 11. Sahara Desert The largest desert in the world. The highest peak in the Sahara is Emi Koussi (3,415 m/11,200 ft) in the Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad.
- 12. Aquifer Stores of underground water . Africa has 38 of the 273 shared aquifers in the world.
- 13. Oasis An area with water that supports vegetation and wildlife in a desert.
- 14. Canopy The tops of trees in a rain forest, about 150 feet above the ground.
- 15. Sahel Means "shore of the desert“ Narrow band of grassland found along the southern edge of the Sahara desert.
- 16. Desertification Shift of the desert. Increasing desert-like conditions ( dry ) in arid and semi-arid lands. Causes of Desertification: Farming drilling for water overgrazing of livestock
- 17. Niger delta Extends over about 70,000 km² and makes up 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass. Rich oil deposits were discovered in the Niger delta in 1956 . Oil has caused severe environmental damage in the region.
- 18. Aswan High Dam Built to regulate water supply along the Nile River Produces around 15% of Egypt's electricity production. The dam mitigated the effects of dangerous floods in 1964 and 1973 and of threatening droughts in 1972–73 and 1983–84, but has not solved all of Egypt's water problems.
- 19. Serengeti Tropical grassland area in north-central Tanzania. The Serengeti host many different animals including giraffes, elephants, flamingo and wildebeest .