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Exploring the Diverse Physical Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa, a region spanning 9.5 million square miles, is renowned for its remarkable physical geography, characterized by diverse landforms including plateaus, mountains, and the Great Rift Valley. The region features volcanic mountains, deep lakes like Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, and significant river basins such as the Niger and Congo Rivers. Home to rich mineral resources, Sub-Saharan Africa's climate varies from tropical wet rainforests to dry savannas, influencing its vegetation and agriculture. Understanding these aspects is crucial for appreciating the continent's natural heritage and challenges.

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Exploring the Diverse Physical Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa

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  1. Chapter 20 Physical Geography of Africa South of the Sahara

  2. 1. The Land • Known for extraordinary physical geography • Very diverse

  3. Landforms • MI: Africa south of Sahara is a region of plateaus, mountains and rift valley in east • Massive region covers 9.5 million square miles

  4. The Great Rift Valley • Runs from Syria in SWA to Mozambique in SE Africa • Rift valley – large depression in Earth’s surface, formed by tectonic plate movement • Volcanic mountains at it’s edges, deep lakes • Includes Mt. Kilimanjaro, one of largest mtns. in world • Lake Tanganyika, one of deepest and longest freshwater lakes in world, lies on western branch of GRV • Lake Malawi, more than 2300 ft deep

  5. Mountains and Plateaus • Series of plateaus, rise in elevation from coast inland • Plateaus range in elevation from 500 ft to 8000 ft • Edges lined by escarpments, steep jagged cliffs, and cataracts, or waterfalls • Largest mountains include Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya

  6. Water Systems • MI: Landforms and physical processes have influenced the regions water systems (lakes, waterfalls, rivers) • Lakes/rivers, located in basins, formed by tectonic activity • Rivers start at high elevations, make their way to the sea

  7. Land of Lakes • Most lakes near Great Rift Valley, E Africa • Lake Victoria, largest freshwater lake in Africa, second largest in world behind Lake Superior • Lake Chad, W. Africa, shrinking due to irrigation, desertification, global warming • Desertification – long periods of drought and land use destroy vegetation

  8. Human Made Lake • Lake Volta, W. Africa (Ghana), among largest HM lake in the world • Created in 1960’s by damming Volta River • Dam built for hydroelectric power in Ghana

  9. River Basins • Niger River, main river in W. Africa • 2600 miles long • Important for agriculture and transportation in region • Forms Niger Delta upon entering Atlantic Ocean, 200 miles wide • Delta – a triangular section of land formed by sand and silt carried downriver

  10. River Basins • Zambezi River, S. Central Africa • 2200 miles long • Headwater near the Zambia-Angola border, flows to Indian Ocean • At border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Zambezi falls 355 feet, forming Victoria Falls

  11. River Basins • Congo River, Central Africa • About 2,900 miles long • Reaches sea through an estuary, or passage where freshwater meets seawater

  12. Natural Resources • MI: Mineral resources and water are among the region’s most abundant natural resources • Oil – Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Congo and Cameroon • 4 percent of world oil in Sub-Saharan Africa • South Africa – half of worlds gold • Uranium – South Africa, Botswana • Water is abundant, but irregular and unpredictable, difficult to control for irrigation and hydroelectric power

  13. 2. Climate and Vegetation • MI: Rain helps determine: • climate • vegetation growth

  14. Tropical Climates • Causes of variation in climate and vegetation: • rainfall • ocean currents • prevailing winds • elevation • latitude

  15. Tropical Wet • Map of p. 516 • TW Zone located near equator • More than 60 inches of rain per year • Produces variety of vegetation • Rainforest levels: • Low: ferns, moss, shrubs • Mid: Trees, palms • Canopy: leafy trees, max height of 150 ft • Soil not fertile • Heavy rains leach, or dissolve and carry away, nutrients from soil • Crops grown: bananas, pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee, timber, cotton

  16. Tropical Dry • Savanna, or grassland with scattered trees, covers half of Africa • Alternating wet and dry seasons • 35-45 inches annual rainfall • Hot, dry air from Sahara, called harmattan, affects TDZone • Cool, humid air from SW affect TDZone • Combination at times forms tornadoes • Animals: zebras, gazelles, hyenas, lions, giraffes and cheetahs

  17. Dry Climates • MI: Dry climates of Sub-Saharan Africa located in the north and south, away from the equator

  18. Steppe • Transition zone between tropical dry savanna and desert • Northern steppe called the Sahel, from Senegal to Sudan • 4-8 inches annual rainfall

  19. Desertification • Sahel, undergone desertification over past 50 years • May be caused by climate change • May be caused by human activities, animal grazing, logging, farming, etc.

  20. Desert • Namib Desert, Atlantic coast of Namibia • Kalahari, eastern Namibia, Botswana and part of South Africa • Daily temps in Kalahari vary widely, from 50 dg., night, to 120 dg., day

  21. Midlatitude • Coastal areas of South Africa, humid subtropical climates • Highland East Africa, moderate climates, adequate rainfall for farming, some snow at high elevations

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