the physical geography of africa
DESCRIPTION
The physical geography of africa. Regions of Africa. Traditionally there are five main regions: NORTHERN SOUTHERN EASTERN WESTERN CENTRAL OR MIDDLE. Regions of Africa. Fertile land lies along the Mediterranean Coast in the North and at the tip of southern Africa. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF
AFRICA
Regions of Africa Traditionally there are five main regions:
NORTHERN SOUTHERN EASTERN WESTERN CENTRAL OR MIDDLE
Regions of Africa Fertile land lies along the Mediterranean
Coast in the North and at the tip of southern Africa.
There are many mineral resources including:
salt, gold, copper, diamonds, oil
Regions of AfricaSavannah – largest and most populated
grassy plaingood soil but irregular rainfalllong droughtstsetse fly infects cattle and humans
Tsetse fly
Regions of AfricaBelow the savanna are dry steppes and then two major deserts: The Sahara (world’s largest desert) and the Kalahari (along with the smaller Namib) in the south.
Bantu and other Migrations
The Sahara was originally an area of neolithic farming villages.
Desertification and Migration
The Sahara area dries out due to climate change; process known as desertification which continues to the present day. (Yes the desert is growing!)
Cropland and pastureland disappears People must find new areas to live
WHAT EFFECTS WILL THESE SITUATIONS HAVE ON THE ECONOMIES OF THE VARIOUS NATIONS?
Sahara, Savanna , Sahel
Migration and Trade Movement in Africa has been difficult due
to geographic barriers:
A. deserts B. Long coast line but few natural harbors C. Interior is a high plateau D. Rivers turn into cataracts/waterfalls at the
coasts hinders travel between coast and interior
Bantu Migrations Bantu Area 3-phase
migration
Bantu Migrations Traced by studying language patterns West African farmers and herders
migrated to the south and east between 1,000BC and 1,000AD.
Common root language was the Bantu family of languages.
This is how the migration was traced.
Results of Migration People adapted to the varying climates
Developed Diversity of Cultures Nomadic cattle herders Farmers (grain and root crops) Several large farming empires developed