NORTH AFRICA

Boundaries

The subregion is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the West, the Red Sea in the East and the Mediterranean Sea to the North.

Countries in the North Africa:

the Maghrib, Arabic meaning “where the sun sets” (the western sub region that includes Morocco/Western Sahara, Algeria, and Tunisia)

the Mashriq meaning “where the sun rises” (the eastern sub region including Libya and Egypt)

Climate The subregion is characterized, in

general, by a hot and dry to very dry climate. Its northern part falls under the temperate influence of the Mediterranean, while the central and southern regions are desert. Owing to the latitude range from 19° to 37° N and altitude of up to 4 165 m in the High Atlas of Morocco, the rainfall regime is quite variable. The average annual precipitation is below 100 mm in the Sahara but as high as 1 500 mm in the regions of Ain Draham and Djebel El Ghorra in Tunisia and up to 2 000 mm in the mountains of Morocco. However, less than 10 percent of the subregion receives more than 300 mm per year. A hot, dry sirocco wind blowing north from the Sahara is frequent during the summer season, bringing blinding sand and dust storms to the coastal regions.

Physical Map of North Africa

SAHARA DESERT Covering almost one-third of the continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the world at approximately 3,500,000 sq. miles (9,065,000 sq. km) in total size. 

Sand dunes – winds blowing across sahara

NUBIAN DESERT

- is in the eastern region of the Sahara Desert, spanning approximately 400,000  There is virtually no rainfall in the Nubian, and there are no oases. The traditional inhabitants of the area are the Nubians.

ATLAS MOUNTAINS

ATLAS MOUNTAINSThis mountain system runs from southwestern Morocco along the Mediterranean coastline to the eastern edge of Tunisia. Several smaller ranges are included, namely the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Maritime Atlas. The highest peak is Mt. Toubkal in western Morocco at 13,671 ft. (4,167m). 

NILE RIVER SYSTEM The longest river in the world (flows north), rising from the highlands of southeastern Africa and running about 4,160 miles (6,693 km) in length, to then drain in the Mediterranean Sea. In simple terms it's a series of dams, rapids, streams, swamps, tributaries and waterfalls. Numerous (major) rivers comprise the overall system, including the Albert Nile, Blue Nile, Victoria Nile and White Nile. 

NILE DELTA

As the river nears the Mediterranean, it separates into small streams.

ResourcesMain livelihood: Farming (arable land) and Exporting minerals

Products: Wheat, Barley, Citrus Fruits, Olives, Dates, Tomatoes, Onions, Pepper, Cotton

Minerals: iron ore, silver, zinc, copper, lead, manganese, barytine, gold, salt, limestone, gypsum, coal, petroleum and natural gas exports

• North Africa also produces forest products, including furniture and cabinet wood

• Western Sahara is a major phosphate producer

• a leading producer of cork.

Livestock: cattle, sheep, camels

Languages: Arabic (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia ), Berber dialects, Niger-Congo languages (Mauritania)

Berber Dialects:

Algeria- Kabyle, Shawiya, Tuareg

Libya- Nafusi, Tuareg

Mauritania- Zenaga, Tamasheq

Morocco- Riff, Shilha, Central Morocco Tamazight

Tunisia- Djerbi / Shelha

Races: Arabs, Berbers, Caucasians, Moors

Islam 90.5 % Christianity 5.20 %

Traditional Religion 4.10

%

Baha'i 0.1 % Judaism 0.1 %

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Religion

CurrenciesDinar (Algerian, Libyan, Tunisian)

Egyptian Pound

Dirham (Morocca, Western Sahara)

Environmental Issues

Drought

Many people in Africa suffer greatly because of the hot dry climate. Countries such as Chad, Burkina Faso and Nigeria can often go for many weeks without rain. The land becomes dusty and infertile, and crops cannot be grown. Thousands of families are forced to leave their homes in search of food and aid.

Drought

Drought

Overgrazing  occurs when plants are exposed to

intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.

Overgrazing reduces the usefulness, productivity, and biodiversity of the land and is one cause of desertification and erosion. Overgrazing is also seen as a cause of the spread of invasive species of non-native plants and of weeds.

Overgrazing

Stripping of vegetation

For fuel food and animal fodder

This has reduced the already limited amount of land available for farming

Desertification is the degradation of land in any dry

land. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most significant global environmental problems.

The Sahara is currently expanding south at a rate of up to 48 kilometers per year.

Desertification in the Sahel is progressing at an alarmingly rapid rate, with 2,500 hectares, an area the size of Luxemburg, being desertified each year.