GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA

Kathy Lund Rogers7th Grade Social Studies

Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

5000

MILES

4 6 0 0 M I L E S

AFRICAAfrica is the second largest continent in the

world.

Africa currently has 58 countries. The largest country is Algeria. (Oct., 2014)

The largest was Sudan until July 9, 2011, when South Sudan became a country

Africa is divided into five regions:

1. North Africa (desert)2. West Africa (resources)3. East Africa (lakes)4. Central Africa (rainforest)5. South Africa (some desert)

The Sahara divides Africa intotwo parts:

1. North Africa2. Sub- Saharan Africa (all countries south of the Sahara)~~~~~~~~~~~The equator also dividesAfrica into two parts.

Major Climate Zones South of Sahara

desert-extremely dry, less than 10 inches of rain a yearsemi-arid- more rainfall than desert , but still receives very littletropical-gets 70 inches of rain per year and temperatures average 80 degrees

Temperatures along the coast and in the mountains are more moderate.

Highlands-cool climate and rich soil because of plentiful rainfall

South Africa –temperatures can be cold during the winter

Rivers and Lakes

Important because:Water source,Food source, andTrade/travel routes

Rivers

Nile River:• starts in E. Burundi and flows north emptying

into the Mediterranean Sea.• world’s longest river.• Nile flows over six cataracts on its way to sea

Rivers

Congo River:• largest river in western-central Africa• flows through the second largest rain forest in

the world

Rivers

Niger River:• principal river in western Africa• runs through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and

Nigeria • significant water source for the city of

Timbuktu

LakesLake Victoria:• largest lake in Africa • 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world• vital in supporting the water needs of the

millions of people that live nearby

Lakes

Lake Tanganyika:• deepest lake in Africa• located in central Africa• divided between Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia

Deserts

Sahara Desert:• in northern Africa• covers almost 1/3 of the continent• largest desert in the world

Deserts

Kalahari Desert:• in Southwestern Africa • not a “true” desert because it receives 3-10

inches of rain per year• plants and animals are able to live in this desert due to an underground water supply

Mountains

Atlas Mountains:• range stretches along the Northwestern part

of Africa between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert