Sub-Saharan Africa

Countries South Africa Gabon Botswana Democratic Republic

of Congo Sudan Chad Mozambique Madagascar

Nigeria Ethiopia Tanzania Kenya Zimbabwe Mali Ghana

Physical CharacteristicsHuge Plateau and

escarpmentsRivers hindered by

waterfalls and rapids

Equator in middle of region

Smooth coastlineFew harbors

Mineral WEALTH!Landlocked

countriesLimited fertility in

rain forests

Physical Characteristics

Deserts:KalahariNamib

Bodies of Water:Nile RiverZambezi RiverNiger RiverCongo RiverAtlantic Ocean Indian OceanRed Sea lake VictoriaLake Tanganyika

Economic Characteristics

Agriculture is the primary activity:SubsistenceNomadic

herdingSlash-and-burnPlantation

Economic CharacteristicsCash and food

cropsPoor infrastructureMany landlocked

countriesSubstantial Mineral

wealth:DiamondsGoldMetals

Economic Characteristics

Exporters of raw materials

Wide range of incomes

Productivity that lags behind population growth

Desertification

Economic CharacteristicsDeveloping Countries

Low:GDP per capita

Life expectancy

Literacy rate

High:Population growth rate

Infant mortality rate

Percentage of population under age 15

Cultural CharacteristicsUneven population

distributionMany ethnic and

language groupsLarge number of

refugeesOral traditions

Cultural Characteristics

Major cities of culture/trade:LagosDakarJohannesburg

Cultural CharacteristicsMasksSculptureDance MusicColorful

Dress Jewelry