kathy lund rogers 7 th grade social studies. # second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi. # 10% of...
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GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA
Kathy Lund Rogers7th Grade Social Studies
Africa’s Size
# Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.
# 10% of the world’s population.
# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.
5000
MILES
4 6 0 0 M I L E S
AFRICAAfrica is the second largest continent in the
world.
Africa currently has 58 countries. The largest country is Algeria. (Oct., 2014)
The largest was Sudan until July 9, 2011, when South Sudan became a country
Africa is divided into five regions:
1. North Africa (desert)2. West Africa (resources)3. East Africa (lakes)4. Central Africa (rainforest)5. South Africa (some desert)
The Sahara divides Africa intotwo parts:
1. North Africa2. Sub- Saharan Africa (all countries south of the Sahara)~~~~~~~~~~~The equator also dividesAfrica into two parts.
Major Climate Zones South of Sahara
desert-extremely dry, less than 10 inches of rain a yearsemi-arid- more rainfall than desert , but still receives very littletropical-gets 70 inches of rain per year and temperatures average 80 degrees
Temperatures along the coast and in the mountains are more moderate.
Highlands-cool climate and rich soil because of plentiful rainfall
South Africa –temperatures can be cold during the winter
Rivers and Lakes
Important because:Water source,Food source, andTrade/travel routes
Rivers
Nile River:• starts in E. Burundi and flows north emptying
into the Mediterranean Sea.• world’s longest river.• Nile flows over six cataracts on its way to sea
Rivers
Congo River:• largest river in western-central Africa• flows through the second largest rain forest in
the world
Rivers
Niger River:• principal river in western Africa• runs through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and
Nigeria • significant water source for the city of
Timbuktu
LakesLake Victoria:• largest lake in Africa • 2nd largest fresh water lake in the world• vital in supporting the water needs of the
millions of people that live nearby
Lakes
Lake Tanganyika:• deepest lake in Africa• located in central Africa• divided between Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia
Deserts
Sahara Desert:• in northern Africa• covers almost 1/3 of the continent• largest desert in the world
Deserts
Kalahari Desert:• in Southwestern Africa • not a “true” desert because it receives 3-10
inches of rain per year• plants and animals are able to live in this desert due to an underground water supply
Mountains
Atlas Mountains:• range stretches along the Northwestern part
of Africa between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert