Africa’s Terrian

Warm-Up Questions

  • True or False:

    • Africa is the hottest continent on Earth.

    • Africa has a rainforest.

    • There are over 1500 languages spoken in Africa.

    • Africa is the 2nd largest continent.

Geography of Africa

  • Overview:

    • Africa is the second largest continent measuring approximately 11,700,000 square miles.

    • It is home to 52 countries, 1,000 different languages, and has a population of around 800 million people.

    • Represents 10% of the world’s population.

    • Features a diverse range of landforms and climates.

    • Can be divided into several regions including the Sahara, the Sahel, the savannas, and the tropical rainforests.

Physical Features of Africa

  • Plateaus and Basins

    • Plateau:

    • Defined as a high elevation area that is flat.

    • Large plateaus cover most of Africa; much of the continent lies above 1,000 feet.

    • In some regions, the plateau slopes down to a coastal plain, while in others there is a sharp drop to the sea.

    • Basin:

    • Describes a large depression forming low-lying areas within the plateau.

    • Often have major rivers flowing through them.

Major Basins in Africa

  • Central African Basins:

    • Congo Basin

    • Kalahari Basin

    • Chad Basin

    • Sudan Basin

    • Senegal Basin

Major Mountains and Highlands

  • Mountains:

    • Atlas Mountains: Located in Northwest Africa.

    • Ahaggar Mountains: Characteristic of the Sahara region.

    • Ethiopian Highlands: Highest region in Africa.

    • Mount Kilimanjaro:

    • Tallest mountain in Africa, located at the border of Kenya and Tanzania, with a height of 19,341 feet (5,895 meters).

Water Bodies in Africa

  • Rivers:

    • A number of long, prominent rivers including:

    • Nile River: Longest river in the world, where the Blue and White Nile meet in Sudan.

    • Congo River

    • Niger River

    • Zambezi River

  • Waterfalls:

    • Created by high plateaus.

    • Most rivers are of limited use for trade and transportation.

    • Victoria Falls: One of the largest waterfalls in the world.

Great Rift Valley

  • Description:

    • A long, narrow valley in East Africa formed by tectonic plates pulling apart.

    • Extends from the Red Sea to Mozambique.

    • Known for volcanic activity and hot springs.

Lakes of Africa

  • Lake Tanganyika:

    • Longest lake in the world, situated within the Great Rift Valley.

  • Lake Victoria:

    • Largest lake in Africa and second largest in the world.

Deserts of Africa

  • Namib Desert:

    • Coastal desert located in southern Africa, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean.

    • Considered the oldest desert in the world with some of the highest sand dunes.

  • Sahara Desert:

    • World’s largest hot desert, located in northern Africa, roughly the size of the United States.

  • Kalahari Desert:

    • Located in southwestern Africa, covering parts of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

Review Questions

  • What is the longest river in the world?

    • Nile River

  • Which of the following rivers is NOT in Africa?

    • Hudson River

  • What is the name of the largest waterfall in Africa?

    • Victoria Falls

  • Highland area in East Africa:

    • Ethiopian Highlands

  • Tallest mountain in Africa:

    • Mount Kilimanjaro

  • Example of a location where land is being pulled apart:

    • Great Rift Valley

  • Largest lake in Africa:

    • Lake Victoria

  • Longest lake in the world:

    • Lake Tanganyika

  • World's largest desert located in northern Africa:

    • Sahara Desert