Transcript
Central Africa
Mr. Rinkel
Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Capital: Kinshasa
• ¼ the size of the U.S.
• The Congo River stretches 2,733 miles throughout the country
• Savanna and park forest vegetation predominate the north and south of the forest belt
Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Highest altitudes found along the Great African Rift Valley– Mt. Ruwenzori reaches 16,795 ft.
• Some mountains are volcanic
Rainforests
• Cover 1/3 of Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Canopy: umbrella-like forest covering made up of tree tops– Very thick (sunlight rarely reaches the jungle
floor)
• Home to monkeys, birds, snakes, and other small animals
• Over 750 species of trees grow in the R.F.
Highlands and Savannas
• Mountains rise on the eastern border
• Vast open grasslands– Home to giraffes, lions, leopards, zebras, and
rhinos
Rivers and Lakes
• Congo River (2800 miles long)– Runs through Central Africa to the Atlantic
Ocean– Known as the country’s highway for trade and
travel
• Lake Tanganyika– The world’s longest freshwater lake– The world’s 2nd deepest lake
Climate
• The country is located near the equator (tropical climate)
• 80” of rain annually
• Savannah and highlands are cooler and drier
Economy
• Has the potential to become wealthy
• Mining is the major economic activity– The Congo leads the rest of Africa in diamond
mining
• Farming especially subsistence farming is very important to this area
Energy Sources
• Rivers provide the main source for energy
• 13% of the world’s hydroelectricity– Electricity created by moving water
The People
• Population of 49 million
• Home to many different ethnic groups
• Culture– African with European influences– 75% are Christians– 70% live in rural villages
Katanga (Shaba)
• Attempted to secede from Congo
• Very mineral rich part of the country
• U.N. troops were called in and clashed with Katangan Army
• 1963- fighting ended and Katanga remained a part of the Congo
Congo problems
• 1990s- very disintegrated
• Sewage flowed in open ditches in the capital
• Highways were full of potholes
• Hospitals lacked needed medicines
Section 2
Other Countries of Central Africa
Central African Republic
• Capital: Bangui
• Population: 4,303,356
• Landlocked and in completely tropical climate
• Most of the land is a plateau varying from 2,000 to 2,500 ft.
Central African Republic
• Land is well drained by the Ugangi and the Shari and Longone river systems
• Natural Resources: diamonds, uranium, timber
• Environmental issues: poaching, non-potable water, desertification
Cameroon
• Capital: Yaounde
• Population: 17,340,702
• Four geographic regions– Southern region (coastal plains and forested
plateau)– Central region (transitional region in which the
forest gives way to the savanna
Cameroon
• Four geographic regions continued…– Northern region (vast savanna that slopes
down to the Chad River basin– West (dominated by forested mountains with
peaks reaching 8,000 ft.)
• Mount Cameroon- is an active volcano
• Benue River is navigable during several months of the year
Cameroon
• Natural Resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore
• Environmental Issues: waterborne diseases, overgrazing, overfishing
Gabon
• Capital: Libreville
• Population: 1,424,906
• Highest peak: Mt. Iboundiki (5,165 ft)
• Ogowe River is navigable for 150 miles
Gabon
• Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamonds
• Environmental Issues: deforestation and poaching
Equatorial Guinea
• Capital: Malabo
• Population: 540,109
• Natural Resources: petroleum, timber, gold
• Environmental issues: water not potable, deforestation
Equatorial Guinea
• Mainland consists of coastal plains rising to interior thickly forested hills
• Bioko- island formed from three extinct volcanoes– Malabo the capital is located on this island
Sao Tome and Principe
• Capital: Sao Tome
• Population: 193,413
• Natural Resources: Fish, hydropower
• Environmental issues: soil erosion/exhaustion, deforestation
Sao Tome and Principe
• Formed by a chain of extinct volcanoes
• Situated in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the equator
Chapter 21
South Africa and It’s Neighbors
South Africa
• Capital: Pretoria
• Population: 44,187,637
• Natural Resources: gold, chromium, coal
• Environmental Issues: lack of rivers and lakes, air pollution, desertification
South Africa
• Spreads across the southern end of Africa
• Three times the size of California
• Landscapes:– Winding coastlines– Tall mountains– Deep valleys– High plateaus
South Africa
• Enclaves- small countries surrounded or nearly surrounded by a larger country.– Lesotho– Swaziland
• Coasts– West coast borders the Atlantic Ocean– South and east coast borders the Indian
Ocean
South Africa
• Cape of Good Hope- the southernmost point of Africa
• Great Karroo- a dry flat land between the mountain ranges of southern Africa
• High Veld- south African plateau made up of flat, grass-covered plains– Isolated rocky hills rise as high as 100 feet
• The Great Escarpment- mountains and cliffs that circle the plateau and divide the coastal areas
The Climate
• Lies south of the Equator• Winter
– Cool and sunny, some rainfall– Temperatures sometimes drop to freezing
• Summer– Mild due to high elevation
• Cape Town- a major port city– Eastern warm winds from the Indian Ocean
bring a humid subtropical climate
The Economy
• Has the most developed economy in Africa
• ½ of Africa’s minerals are mined in S.A.
• 2/5 of Africa’s manufactured goods come from South Africa
• In rural areas, South Africans are poor and depend on subsistence farming
Economy
• South Africa is one of the richest countries in the world
• 1/3 of all gold is mined there
• Witwatersrand- an area around the city of Johannesburg holds the largest goldfield
• South Africa also contains the world’s largest deposits of diamonds
Economy
• Manufacturing– Industrial workers produce manufactured goods– Exports metal products, chemicals, clothing, and
processed foods
• Farming– Is either too dry or too hilly to farm– Grow enough food for themselves and some to export– Herding sheep and livestock is a major economic
activity on the plateau
People
• 74% of the population is made up of various African ethnic groups
• 14% of the people are of European origin
• 3% of the people are of Asian origin
• 9% are a mixed of European, Asian, and African
People
• Apartheid- “apartness” or practices that separated South Africans of different ethnic groups
• Townships- neighborhoods outside cities
• 57% of people live in urban areas
Recent history in South Africa
• 1994- Mandela became president (all races were able to vote for the 1st time)
• 1997- new constitution went into effect to complete the transition from white minority rule to democracy
Mandela’s Government
• Tried to improve the lives of blacks while keeping support of other races
• Promised to preserve free enterprise
• Brought South Africa’s economy to the strongest in Africa
• Stepped down in 1999, ANC leader Thabo Mbeki became president
South Africa’s continued problems
• 1/3 of South African’s were unemployed
• ¼ lived in inadequate housing
• 1/5 have HIV (highest incidence in the world)
Section 2
Atlantic Countries
Angola
• Capital: Luanda
• Population: 12,127,071
• Natural Resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore
• Environmental Issues: overuse of pastures, soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest
Angola
• Larger than Texas and California combined
• Includes a tiny exclave called Cabinda– Exclave- is a tiny area of a country that is
separated from the main part
Angola
• Huge inland plateau
• Rivers cross Angola draining into the Congo River in the North and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans
• Hilly grasslands cover northern Angola
• Lowland has little vegetation except for rainforests in the North
Angola
• Three types of Climates:– Steppe– Desert– Tropical savanna
• The tropical savanna receives enough rainfall for farming
The Economy
• Major economic activity is agriculture
• 58% of the people live in rural areas
• Coffee is the leading export crop
• Oil and mining provide for most of the income
• Most oil deposits are found off the coast of Cabinda
Namibia
• Capital: Windhoek
• Population: 2,044,147
• Natural Resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold
• Environmental Issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching
Namibia
• Became independent in 1990 after 75 years of South African rule
• Is about half the size of Alaska
• Namib Desert runs almost the entire length of Namibia’s Atlantic Coast
• The Kalahari Desert stretches across the southernmost part of the country
• Very hot and dry climate
The Economy
• Depends on the export of minerals
• Has a major difficulty in feeding its people, due to the desert climate
• Most Namibians are herders who raise cattle, goats, and sheep
Namibia
• Receives just enough rainfall to grow corn
• One of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa
Section 3
Inland Southern Africa
Zambia
• Capital: Lusaka
• Population: 11,502,010
• Natural Resources: copper, cobalt, zinc
• Environmental Issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
Zambia
• Landlocked and near the equator
• Mild climate due to high elevation
• Covered by a high plateau
• Kariba Dam- one of Africa’s hydroelectric projects on the Zambezi River
Economy
• One of the world’s largest producers of copper– 80% of Zambia’s income– Copper belt- a large area of copper mines in
northern Zambia near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Must import food due to a focus on mining
The People
• More than 70 different ethnic groups
• Speak 8 different languages
• 40% of the people live in urban areas– Most work in mining or service industries
• The other 60% live in villages & raise corn and other subsistence food crops
Malawi
• Capital: Lilongue
• Population: 13,013,926
• Natural Resources: limestone, arable land, hydropower
• Environmental Issues: deforestation; land degradation
Malawi
• In some place is less than 50 miles wide
• Great Rift Valley runs through the country North to South
• Lies in the tropics, but mountains and plateaus give it a mild climate
• One of the most densely populated countries in Africa
Economy
• Only 1/3 is suitable for farming
• Agriculture is the country’s major economic activity
• Tea is a major export• Sorghum- tall grass with seeds like corn
Zimbabwe
• Capital: Harare
• Population: 12,236,805
• Natural Resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold
• Environmental Issues: soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution
Zimbabwe
• Occupies a high plateau
• Tropical savanna climate of wet and dry seasons
• High elevations keep temperatures cool and pleasant
Economy
• Mining provides most of the income
• ½ of the land is fertile for farming– They grow coffee and tobacco on commercial
farms for export
People
• Most belong to two African ethnic groups – Shona & Ndeble
• 70% live in rural villages
• Some moving to the city to find factory jobs
Botswana
• Capital: Gaborone
• Population: 1,639,833
• Natural Resources: diamonds, copper, nickel
• Environmental issues: overgrazing; desertification
Botswana
• Most isolated country in the inland of Southern Africa
• Southwestern Botswana is home to the Kalahari Desert
• Eastern- made up of grasses, bushes, and trees of the savanna
• Okawango River flows through the Northwest– One of the largest swamp areas in the world
The Economy
• Rich in mineral resources
• Mining only provides a small number of jobs
• Most farm or raise livestock
• Drought in the 1980s brought hardships to the farmers
The People
• Has very few people due to large size
• 75% live in rural areas, some moving to the city every year
Section 4
Indian Ocean Countries
Mozambique
• Capital: Maputo
• Population: 19,686,505
• Natural Resources: coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower
• Environmental Issues: civil war and recurrent drought
Mozambique
• Landscapes– Sand lowlands– High plateaus – Tall mountains– Sand dunes– Swamps– Flat plain near the center of the country
• Gabora Bassa Dam on the Zambezi River provides electric power to most of the country
The Economy
• Mostly farmers
• Practices slash and burn agriculture– They cut and burn forest trees to clear areas
for planting
• Major source of income comes from seaports
• Civil war in the 1980s and 1990s slowed industrial growth
Madagascar
• Capital: Antananarivo
• Population: 18,595,469
• Natural Resources: graphite, chromite, coal
• Environmental Issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing
Madagascar
• Island nation in the Indian Ocean• Highland areas cross the middle of the
country• Coastal areas have warm, humid plains,
and fertile river valleys• Dry grasslands cover southern
Madagascar• Has many plants and animals that are not
found anywhere else on earth
Economy
• Agriculture is the chief economic activity– Coffee is the leading export– Produces most of the world’s vanilla beans
Comoros
• 4 mountainous islands formed from volcanoes
• Covered by thick tropical forests
• Farming is a major economic activity
Mauritius
• Capital: Port Louis
• Population: 1,240,827
• Natural Resources: arable land, fish
• Environmental Issues: water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
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