Africa's Physical Features and Climate

Africa's Physical Features

Learning Intention

• To explore how Africa's physical features influence the climate, population, and human activities across the continent.

Introduction to Africa’s Physical Geography

• Africa is the second-largest continent in the world.
• It covers about 30 million square kilometers.
• Home to diverse landscapes, from vast deserts to tropical rainforests.
• Africa's physical features influence the continent's climate, human settlements, and ecosystems.

Major Physical Features

Sahara Desert

• The largest hot desert in the world, spanning most of Northern Africa.
• Area: 9 million km^2
• Mostly made up of sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and dry lakes.

The Nile River

• The longest river in the world: 6,650 kilometers.
• Flows northward from Uganda to Egypt.
• Crucial for agriculture, providing water in an otherwise dry region.

Mount Kilimanjaro

• Located in Tanzania.
• Highest mountain in Africa: 5,895 meters.
• A dormant volcano with a variety of ecosystems from rainforest to alpine meadows.

The Great Rift Valley

• A geological fault line stretching from Syria to Mozambique.
• Known for its deep valleys, volcanoes, and lakes, such as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria.

Key Landforms

Plateaus and Highlands

• Africa’s central region is dominated by plateaus and highlands.
• Examples: Ethiopian Highlands and the East African Plateau.

The Atlas Mountains

• Located in North Africa, stretching across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Coastal Plains

• Areas of low, flat land along the coastline of Africa.
• Example: West Africa

Climate Zones of Africa

Tropical Rainforest

• Found around the equator.
• The Congo Basin is a vast area of tropical rainforest.
• Known for its high biodiversity, including elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

Desert Climate

• Dominated by dry conditions.
• Examples: Sahara Desert in the north and the Kalahari Desert in the south.
• These areas receive very little rainfall and are extremely hot.

Savanna

• Grasslands with a few scattered trees.
• Mainly found in East and Southern Africa.
• Ideal climate for large herbivores like elephants, giraffes, and zebras.
• Experiences seasonal rains, making it prone to dry seasons.

Mediterranean Climate

• Found along the coast of Northern Africa, including parts of Morocco.
• Experiences mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
• Perfect for agriculture like olives and grapes.

The Impact of Physical Features on Human Life

• Rivers like the Nile and Congo support large populations by providing water and fertile soil for farming.
• Deserts like the Sahara limit human settlements, but oases provide vital water sources.
• Mountains and Plateaus often form natural barriers, leading to distinct cultural and regional differences.
• Rainforests and Savannas have rich biodiversity and influence the development of tourism and wildlife conservation efforts.