A Satellite View Bodies Mediterranean Sea Of Water • Most of the rivers in Nile River Africa south of the L. Chad--> Sahara are hard to navigate from source to L. Albert--> mouth. L. Victoria • Droughts and a dry L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean climate have contributed to the shrinking size of Atlantic Ocean Lake Chad. Zambezi River • Lake Victoria the largest Limpopo River lake in Africa, is located Orange River between the eastern and western branches of the Pacific Ocean Great Rift Valley. Bodies Mediterranean Sea Of Water • The course of the Nile River Zambezi River to the L. Chad--> sea is interrupted by Victoria Falls on the L. Albert--> border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. L. Victoria L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean • Does Africa have plenty of water? Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Limpopo River Orange River Pacific Ocean Soil and water • Why are soils in the tropical wet areas of Africa not very fertile? • Heavy rains leach, or dissolve and carry away, nutrients from the soil. African Rain Forest # Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft. # Rapid decomposition (very humid). # Covers 37 countries. # 15% of the land surface of Africa. The Congo River Basin # Covers 12% of the continent. # Extends over 9 countries. # 2,720 miles long. # 99% of the country of Zaire is in the Congo River basin. # @Realsworth The Niger River Basin # Covers 7.5% of the continent. # Extends over 10 countries. # 2,600 miles long. Hydroelectric Power Mountains & Peaks • Highest point in Africa is Mt. Kiliminjaro. Δ Mt. Kenya • Lake Assal is a saline Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro lake which lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level is the lowest point on land in Africa and the third lowest land depression on Earth after the Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee. Deserts Libyan Desert Sahara Desert Sahel • Botswana Holds most of The Kalahari Desert • The steppe region south of the Sahara is called the Sahel. • The factor that has the greatest influence on climate in Africa south of the Sahara is? • rainfall The Sahara Desert Urbanization in Africa south of the Sahara is growing faster than any other region on earth! What does that mean? The Sahel What are the most abundant natural resources in Africa south of the Sahara? Minerals and water Desertification • The expansion of agricultural lands in Africa south of the Sahara poses a serious threat to rain forests. Valleys & Plains The Great Rift Valley was formed, in part, by shifting tectonic plates. Great Rift Valley 3,000 miles long Seismic Activity in Africa Africa: Tropic of Cancer The 20° N “Tropical” Continent • The tropical wet climate Equator 0° zone in Africa south of the Sahara can receive more than 60in of rain a year. • Where are tropical rain forests located in Africa south of the Sahara? Tropic of Capricorn • Equator 20° S West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes Vegetation Zones • Tropical grasslands are also referred to as savannas. • Desertification occurs when long periods of drought and land use destroy the vegetation. • Increasing desertification and deforestation in the Sahel have forced people to migrate to cities such as Dakar and Miamey, and Bamako. The African Savannah: 13 million sq. mi. Mt. Kilimanjaro: Snow on the Equator? Mediterranean Sea Libyan Desert Tropic of Cancer The 20° N Sahara Desert Sahel Nile River Complete L. Chad--> L. Albert--> Topography Equator 0° Δ Mt. Kenya L. Victoria Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro L. Tanganyika-> Indian Of Ocean Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River AFRICA Tropic of Capricorn Limpopo River 20° S Orange River Pacific Ocean THE END .