A Satellite View

Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent ���� 11,700,000 sq. mi.

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

5000

MILES

4 6 0 0 M I L E S

Bodies

Of

Water

Nile River

Zambezi River

Orange River

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

L. Victoria

L. Albert-->

L. Chad-->

L. Tanganyika->

The Mighty Nile River“Longest River in the World”

The Nile River

• Regarded as the “longest river in the world”

• 4,132 miles long

• “International" river as its water resources are shared by eleven countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt)

∆ Mt. Kenya

∆ Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mountains

&

Peaks

Mt. KilimanjaroSnow on the Equator?

Mt. Kilimanjaro

• Dormant volcanic mountain

• Tallest mountain in Africa

• Tallest free standing mountain in the World

• 19,341 feet above sea level

• One of the world’s most accessible summits– Most people just walk

Deserts Sahara Desert

Sahel

Libyan Desert

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert

• World’s hottest desert

• World’s 3rd largest desert

• 3,600,000 square miles– Covers most of North Africa

– Almost as large as the USA in size

• Sand dunes can reach up to 560 ft. in height

Valley

Great Rift Valley

• 3,000 miles long

• Divergent tectonic plates

• Splitting African into two

• Increased seismic activity

Seismic Activity in Africa

Africa:

The“Tropical”Continent

Tropic of Cancer 20° N

Tropic of Capricorn20° S

Equator 0°

Vegetation Zones

The African Savannah:13 million sq. mi.

African Rain Forest

# Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft.

# Rapid decomposition (very humid).

# Covers 37 countries.

# 15% of the land surface of Africa.

Natural Resources