Getting to Know Africa

1. Getting to Know Africa African Canadian Studies 11

2. Highs and Lows • Africa is the second largest continent on earth at 30 000 000 km². • The highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – 5895 metres above sea level. • The lowest point is Lake Assal in Djibouti – 156 metres below sea level.

3. Deserts • The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world at 9 065 000 km². • Other deserts in Africa are: Namib desert; Kalahari desert; Nubian desert.

4. Commonwealth Countries • The Commonwealth is an organization of 54 independent member states. • These countries have diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds, but are regarded as equals. • It promotes democracy, free trade, individual liberty, human rights, world peace, among many other things.

5. African Commonwealth Countries • African countries that are members of the Commonwealth are: Gambia Sierra Leone Ghana Nigeria Uganda Kenya Tanzania Zambia Malawi Zimbabwe Botswana Swaziland Lesotho

6. Population • Most densely populated areas include: Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Burkina • Cities with over 2 million inhabitants include: Abidjan, Alexandria, Algiers, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda

7. Top Four Mineral Deposits • Diamonds • Tin • Copper • Phosphates

8. Farming • Predominant types of farming include: nomadic farming, shifting cultivation, grazing and stock rearing. • Percentage of labour force involved in agriculture ranges from 12-32% in most of the continent; however, some countries are much higher. Equatorial Guinea is 58%; Tanzania is 51%; Ghana is 4%. • Major types of agriculture production are, for example, rice and grain. Cash crops are also important. Cash crops are crops that are grown for a profit.

9. Cash Crops • Cocoa – Ghana • Groundnuts – Uganda • Palm products – Sierra Leone • Coffee – Tanzania • Tea – Kenya • Tobacco – South Africa • Fruit – Côte d’Ivoire • Dates – Egypt and other Northern countries • Sugar – Mozambique • Cotton – Nigeria • Rubber - Liberia

10. Nutrition Levels • Many countries in Africa have a significant percentage of the population who are undernourished. • 45% of the population in Central Africa is undernourished • 42% of the population in East Africa is undernourished • 43% of the population in Southern Africa is undernourished

11. Climate • In January, it is warmest in countries that are south of the equator. • In July, it is warmest in countries that are north of the equator. • Most precipitation in January: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique • Least precipitation in January: Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sahara • Most precipitation in July: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire • Least precipitation in July: Angola, Nambia, Algeria, Libia, Egypt

12. Climate • Based on temperature and rainfall, the best areas to live in year round are: just south of the equator in Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya

13. Water • Areas/countries with water surplus are: Madagascar and the Coastal lowlands and into the Congo Basin • In Gabon and Libya, 90-99% of the population have access to clean water • Overall, Africa has a water deficiency and thus can only support crops that are drought-hardy. • Many countries do not have access to clean water

14. Soil • Grassland (fertile) soils can be found in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, southern Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Zambia • Expansion of the Sahara Desert is affecting the Sahel region, and is reducing crop production • Thelack of water, fertile soil, and the spreading of the desert makes crop production and vegetation survival difficult.

15. Tropical Rainforests • Africa has some areas with no dry season, which are known as the tropical rainforests. • Tropical rainforests can be found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, southern Guinea, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea

16. Natural Hazards • Volcanoes – Eastern Highlands • Nyiragongo Volcano is in the Democratic Republic of Congo • Earthquakes – Eastern Highlands • Cyclones – Madagascar and south-eastern coast

17. Pollution • Overall, Africa does not have many pollution issues • Water pollution: • Severe coastal pollution along the southern coast of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria • Persistent coastal pollution along coasts of South Africa, Madagascar, Kenya, Angola • Significant oil spills: • Off of Cape Town, South Africa • Central Libya • Deep-sea dump sites: • 3 off the southern coast of South Africa • 1 off eastern coast of South Africa • 2 off western coast of Western Sahara • Air pollution and acid precipitation areas in Nigeria and Cameroon

18. Endangered Species • Development is having a negative effect on numerous species in Africa. Population growth, resource consumption, and urban development are causing many species to become endangered. • Some animals affected are: cheetah, chimpanzee, gazelle, lemurs, mountain zebra, African penguin, crocodile, gecko, Great White shark, Southern Bluefin tuna

19. Quality of Life • Majority of countries have a life expectancy of 42-50 or 51-60 • Algeria the life expectancy is 71-75 and South Africa is 61-65 • On the other hand, Mali’s life expectancy is 46 and Sierra Leone’s is 42. • Infant mortality rates are generally high: Guinea is 225; Mali is 260.

20. List 10 things you now know about Africa: • 1. • 2. • 3. • 4. • 5. • 6. • 7. • 8. • 9. • 10.