landforms and resources
DESCRIPTION
Chapter 18, Section 1. Landforms and resources. A Vast Plateau. Present day Africa moved very little from Pangea Most of Africa is one big plateau “Plateau Continent” – 2 nd Largest Huge basins Up to a mile deep and 625 across!. Nile River. World’s longest! - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
LANDFORMS AND RESOURCESChapter 18, Section 1
A Vast Plateau
• Present day Africa moved very little from Pangea– Most of Africa is one big plateau• “Plateau Continent” – 2nd Largest
– Huge basins• Up to a mile deep and 625 across!
Nile River
• World’s longest!– 95% of Egyptians depend on it!• Population density comparison• Cradle of Civilization
– Waterway systems• Transportation – cataracts
– Meandering courses
Distinctive Landforms
• No long chain of mountain ranges – Rift Valleys • Continent is pulling apart
– Sometimes, lakes form at the bottom» Lake Tanganyika – almost a mile deep and 420 miles long!
– Lake Victoria – 2nd largest freshwater lake, 270 ft. deep» Or 5000 feet less than Lake Tanganyika
– Mountains• Mount Kilimanjaro
– Most mountainous areas are formed by volcanoes– Great Escarpment
Wealth of Resources
• Africa is home to many different valuable resources– Gold, diamonds, oil, cobalt, chromium, platinum…• Africa is behind the times because of Colonial Rule
– The problem of natural resources
Diversity of Resources
• Major Commodities – 1. Oil– 2. Coffee – Fair Trade Coffee• Also – cocoa beans, lumber, sugar…
• 66% of Africans farm– Farm products = 1/3 of Exports