Test Prep for Africa Unit Test

Biome

a large naturally occurring community of plant and animal life occupying a major habitat.

Congo River

3000 miles long, 5th largest river in the world, flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and is an estuary.

Estuary

Where freshwater meets seawater.

Tributaries

Many _ flow into the Congo River or streams that flow into larger rivers

Cataracts

Large waterfalls,  are created when rivers flow downstream with lower elevation.

Lagos, Nigeria

• Most populous city in Sub-Saharan Africa: 17.5 million.

• Financial center for all of Africa: highest GDP in the region.

• Houses one of the biggest and busiest ports on the continent.

Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry

• Member of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)

  • 10% of Nigeria’s GDP is from petroleum exports

  • Revenue from petroleum exports represents 86% of total export revenue

• Natural resources also being excavated: Natural gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc

Poaching

illegally hunting or catching game or fish on land that is not one’s own threatens wildlife populations. Poaching for tusks, or killing animals    for “sport” affects the ecosystem

On water (Movement)

The Congo River and its tributaries act as “natural highways” that are navigable by smaller boats.

Belt and Road Initiative

China’s “Belt-and-Road Initiative” BRI started in 2013, resulting in significant investment in: Infrastructure of African nations. Millions of dollars in humanitarian aid.

Imperializing

a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Affect of Imperialism

Europeans began by sending missionaries to spread their religion to the Native African population.

Horn of Africa 

Characterized as a region due to its geographic shape and climate.

Great Rift Valley

Caused by shifts in the Earth’s tectonic plates

Serengeti

World Heritage Site with over 12,000 square miles of unfenced, protected plains.

Located in Tanzania

Largest remaining unaltered animal migrations in the world  

Lake Victoria

Second largest freshwater lake in the world (26,828 sq miles)

Borders Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya

Hydroelectricity in East Africa

Due to the amount of freshwater, as well as elevation changes caused by the Great Rift Valley, many 

East African 

countries rely on hydroelectric power as a source of energy

Deforestation

Deforestation is driven by the region’s population growth and extreme timber logging.  East Africa has lost 9.3% of its forest cover from 2001-2009.

Tanzania is losing between 320,000 and 1.2 million acres of forest land each year (2023)

Why is there such a high Fertility rate? (In Uganda Population chart)

1. Widespread unmet need for contraception, lack of government support for family planning, and a cultural preference for large families

2.  Lack of educational and employment opportunities for women

These factors contribute to a high fertility rate in Uganda, as families often rely on children for economic support and social security.

Islam

ISLAM spreads from North Africa through the major kingdoms in East Africa, becoming the dominant religion

Subsistence Farming

When farmers grow food crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families; farm output is typically for survival and local requirements, with little or no surplus.

Swahili

A Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca* in East Africa and has official status in several countries.

Lingua Franca

a language adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages differ.

Dhow

A traditional sailing vessel with one or more masts or sails

Endemic 

(Of a plant or animal) native and restricted to a certain place

Mount Kilimanjaro 

Dormant volcano in Tanzania

The highest mountain in Africa (19,341 feet above sea level

The Seychelles

The Seychelles is made up of over 115 islands

Most of the islands were uninhabited until the 18th century

There are 150,000 giant tortoises on the island of Aldabra Atoll

Services and industry total 84% of the country’s GDP due to tourism

Ethiopian Highlands

 Highlands that form the largest contiguous area of elevation in Africa

Sahel

large, semi-arid grasslands that are dry 8-9 months a year.

Sudan

Grasslands with dry seasons 5-7 months a year. Consists of the African Savanna.

Guinea

Relatively high rainfall. Deciduous and semi-deciduous forests

Congolian

Wettest area in West Africa, dense forests.

Savanna

West Africa is home to the African Savanna. The savanna is a tropical grassland with warm temperatures year round. It also has tall grasses and scattered trees.

Gulf of Guinea

A large gulf on the west coast of Africa, bordered by several countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, and known for its significant marine biodiversity.

Guinea Highlands

A mountainous region in southeastern Guinea, characterized by its rich natural resources and diverse ecosystems.

Karfiguela Waterfalls

Waterfalls in Burkina Faso are surrounded by step-like rock formations that make it easy to navigate to the top of the falls.

Lake Volta

Largest artificial reservoir in the world.

Akosombo Dam

Generates electricity for Ghana.

Niger River

Runs 2,600 miles and is the 3rd longest river in Africa.

Slash and Burn farming

Fires that are deliberately set to manage land, and burn grass or crop land.

Pirogue

A long, narrow canoe made from a single tree trunk. Found in many countries once colonized by France

Conflict Diamonds

Diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces opposed to internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments

Zemidjan

Means to “get me there fast,” it is a motorcycle taxi that is popular in Benin.

 Desertification

The process in which fertile land becomes desert.

Safari

A safari is a journey to see and observe wild animals and plants.

Headland

A headland is a head of a coastal landform, a high point of land with a large drop that drops to a body of water.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a form of nature, it is a natural environment that has local people.

Acid Rain 

Acid rain is rain or any rain that has precipitation that is weirdly acid meaning that there are high levels of hydrogen.

Apartheid

(in South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.

Afrikaan word meaning separateness

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection. This makes a person more susceptible to other infections and diseases. Spreads with contact with certain bodily fluids.

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Late stage HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged due to the virus.