African Canadian Studies 11

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.

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.

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.

African Commonwealth CountriesAfrican countries that are members of

the Commonwealth are:

Gambia Sierra LeoneGhana NigeriaUganda KenyaTanzania ZambiaMalawi ZimbabweBotswana SwazilandLesotho

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

Diamonds

Tin

Copper

Phosphates

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.

Cocoa – GhanaGroundnuts – UgandaPalm products – Sierra LeoneCoffee – TanzaniaTea – KenyaTobacco – South AfricaFruit – Côte d’IvoireDates – Egypt and other Northern countriesSugar – MozambiqueCotton – NigeriaRubber - Liberia

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

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

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

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

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

The lack of water, fertile soil, and the spreading of the desert makes crop production and vegetation survival difficult.

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

Volcanoes – Eastern Highlands• Nyiragongo Volcano is in the

Democratic Republic of Congo

Earthquakes – Eastern Highlands

Cyclones – Madagascar and south-eastern coast

Overall, Africa does not have many pollution issuesWater 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, AngolaSignificant 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

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

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.

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