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
Congo River
Zambezi River
Niger River
Orange River
Limpopo River
Mediterranean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
Red Sea
L. Victoria
L. Albert-->
L. Chad-->
L. Tanganyika->
<--Gu
lf of A
den
The Congo River Basin
# Covers 12% of thecontinent.
# Extends over 9countries.
# 2,720 miles long.
# 99% of the countryof Zaire is in theCongo River basin.
The Niger River Basin
# Covers 7.5% of the continent.
# Extends over 10 countries.
# 2,600 miles long.
Desertification
• Desertification – The spread of a desert region.
• The region of Sahel is most affected by the spreading desert.
Climate and Diversity
• The equator runs nearly through the center of Africa
• 80% of the nation is tropical
• Further from equator = colder
• Higher Elevation = colder
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
Complete
Topography
Of
AFRICA
Nile River
Congo River
Zambezi River
Niger River
Orange River
Limpopo River
Mediterranean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
Red Sea
L. Victoria
L. Albert-->
L. Chad-->
L. Tanganyika->
<--Gu
lf of A
den
Drajensburg Mts.
Ruw
enzori Mts.
Δ Mt. Kenya
Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro
Sahara Desert
Sahel
Kalahari
Desert
Nam
ib D
esert
Libyan Desert
Gre
at R
ift
Val
ley
Atlas Mts.
Tropic of Cancer 20° N
Tropic of Capricorn20° S
Equator 0°
Africa: Where Civilization Began
• Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania.
• Archaeologists Mary and Louis Leakey discovered bone in Olduvai Gorge that was over 2 million years old.
• This has led scientists and historians alike to believe that the first people were from Africa.
Issues in Africa Today
• Struggling with the independence
• Economic concerns
• Civil War
• Exploitation of natural resources
• AIDS/other diseases
• Genocide
• Corrupt governments
Disease Statistics
Major infectious diseases > Degree of risk
Very highVery high
Drug access 50%50%
HIV AIDS > Adult prevalence rate 4.1%4.1%
HIV AIDS > DeathsHIV AIDS > Deaths 78,00078,000
Hospital beds > per 1,000 peopleHospital beds > per 1,000 people 0.920.92
Malaria cases > per 100,000Malaria cases > per 100,000 4646
Physicians > per 1,000 peoplePhysicians > per 1,000 people 0.080.08
Life expectancy at birth, years > Life expectancy at birth, years >
Total populationTotal population 4949
Maternal mortalityMaternal mortality 510 per 100,000510 per 100,000
Children living with AIDS (per Children living with AIDS (per
capita)capita) 4.03388 per 1,000 people 4.03388 per 1,000 people