geography: ch 12

Africa

Second largest continent in the world, with an area of 1.2 billion people, 54 countries, and 1500 languages.

Great Rift Valley

A lowland region in East Africa formed by the movement of Earth's tectonic plates.

Nile River

The longest river in the world, flowing from south to north, known as the father of African rivers.

Mt Kilimanjaro

The tallest mountain in Africa, located in Tanzania, with a height of 5895 metres.

Mt Kenya

A volcanic mountain in central Kenya, standing at 5199 metres high.

Sahara Desert

The world's largest hot desert, covering parts of Algeria, Chad, and Egypt, characterized by a harsh environment.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.

Climate

The long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.

Biomes

Huge regions that share similar vegetation, animals, and climates; Africa contains four main biomes.

Desert Biome

Characterized by extremely low rainfall, home to cacti, snakes, and lizards.

Savannah Biome

A biome with relatively low rainfall, featuring grasslands and wildlife like lions and elephants.

Deciduous Woodland Biome

Biome with relatively high rainfall, containing plants like mahogany and animals like monkeys.

Tropical Rainforest Biome

A biome with high rainfall, home to species like gorillas, jaguars, and rubber trees.

Sahel Region

Located at the southern edge of the Sahara, including countries like Algeria, Mali, and Sudan.

Drought

A period of abnormally dry weather that can cause water shortages and crop failure.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to droughts and deforestation.