The Government is Corrupt (2)


Nile River- World’s longest river at 4,135 miles; flows North through 11 countries; supports agriculture and transportation


Lake Victoria- Africa’s largest lake; 2nd largest in the world; transportation and tourism; source fo the White Nile, located in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania


Chad Basin- Covers 8% of northern-central Africa; natural resources, water, biodiversity; home to Lake Chad 


Sudan Basin- North-eastern Africa; access to water, agriculture, hydropower, and economy; mainly divided by Nile River


Congo Basin- 2nd largest rainforest; home to many plant and animal species; home to Indigenous people (Pygmies); people are challenged by deforestation, climate change


Congo River- 2nd longest river after the Nile; West-central Africa; transportation, biodiversity, and hydroelectric power support the Congo basin


Atlas Mountains- Separates the Mediterranean basin and the Sahara Desert; North African mountain range; stretches across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; influencing climate and human settlement


Niger River- Crucial waterway for West Africa; supports agriculture, hydroelectricity, biodiversity, and transportation; supports countries such as Mali and Nigeria


Lake Nyasa- HIGH biodiversity; 9th largest, 3rd deepest; Southern end of the East African Rift Valley; Shared by Malawwi, Mozambique, and Tanzania


Mount Kilimanjaro- highest mountain w/ the highest peak (Africa); dormant volcano w/ glaciers on top; good for tourism; the altitude causes snow and ice at and near the peak


Sahel Region- (Atlantic Ocean) Mediterranean basin to the Red Sea (across Africa); southern Sahara; semi-arid climate; desert and savanna transition zone; a victim of desertification and drought

Tropical wet- consistently high temperatures, abundant rainfall year-round; equatorial regions (Congo Basin and East Africa); supports rainforests

Tropical wet and dry- “Savanna” regions; distinct wet and dry seasons w/ mild temperatures (60s- high 70s); Across East, West, and Southern Africa


Highland- temperatures vary with altitude (typically cold), high rainfall (80 in annually); Ethiopia Mts and Northeast Africa 


Savanna- warm temperatures year-round; rainfall (10-30) inches annually; great agricultural grasslands


Desert- extremely dry, high temperatures, significant temperature swings; little to no rainfall or vegetation; Sahar, Namib, and Kalahari


Desertification- dry conditions overcoming fertile land and turning it into deserts; affected by climate change, deforestation, and overgrazing


Oil in Nigeria- 8th leading oil producer; 80%-90% of the country’s income; Nigeria- Africa’s top oil producer; mismanagement of oil caused environmental damage (Niger Delta)


Controlling the Nile River- Egypt and Suda; Aswan High Dam was built in 1970; it helped Egypt’s agriculture and avoided droughts and floods; regulates hydroelectric power and water for irrigation


Niger Delta- contains most of Nigeria’s oil; poor management of this area led to fires and explosions that kill thousands of Nigerians; suffers from pollution and conflict over resource control


Causes of Desertification- overgrazing, deforestation, overuse of the soil, increase in population/demand for food and mismanagement


Silt- helps soil; deposited by waterways (rivers); essential for farming; Dams prevent the silt from assisting in agriculture


Lake Nassar- Result of the Aswan High Dam; stretches about 300 miles; used for irrigation and hydroelectric power; minimizes silt


Sahara Desert- covers about 31% of Africa; largest desert; extreme temperatures and limited water



Highest point in the Sahara- Emi Koussi: extinct Volcano in Chad; tallest peak in the Sahara


What is the evidence that suggests the Sahara was once a lush savannah?- ancient rock paintings that depicted animals, plants, and humans; fossils of savannah animals; ancient river beds suggesting high biodiversity a long time ago


Significance of european colonialism- resulted in economic, social, and political transformations and European dependency; caused worse issues like environmental degradation and ethnic/political tensions


Why did europe want to colonize Africa?- They sought to expand their influence and compete with other European powers; economic motives, political competition; ideological reasons (spreading Christianity and European culture)


How did europeans divide africa effect the continents future?- Arbitrary borders that ignored ethnic groups resulted in political instability, tensions, and economic dependence; it impacted borders, government, and development