Our World

Chapter 6: Sub-Saharan Africa

Chapter 6 notes:

Learning objectives
You should understand the following concepts and models:
Apartheid
Berlin Conference
Biofuels
Horn of Africa
Sahel
Pastoralists
Refuges
Swidden
Transhumance
Kleptocracy

Africa south of the Sahara Desert
More than 670 million people; 48 states one territory
Most countries, nearly 50% of the population is less than 15 years old

Relatively low economic output
1999- Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic out put was just 1% of global out put
South Africa’s GNP is 44% of the GNP of the entire region
Foreign aid helped improve agriculture, but led to large debt and corruption

Environmental Geography: The Plateau Continent

Largest landmass straddling the equator
A plateau continent dominated by extensive uplifted areas

Africa’s Environmental Issues

The Sahel and Desertification
Sahel-zone of ecological transition between the Sahara to the north and wetter savannas and forests to the south
Life is dependent on reliability of rains
Transhumance: the movement of animals between wet-season and dry-season pasture

Africa’s Environmental Issues (cont.)
Deforestation
Extensive woodlands remain, but many forests have been replaced by grasslands or farms
Results in shortages of Biofuels: wood and charcoal used for household energy needs, especially cooking
In some countries, women are organizing to plant trees

Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife survives because of historically low population density

Plateaus and Basins
Elevates basins dominated the interior
Great Escarpment: Landform rimming much of southern Africa, impeding coastal settlement

Soils
Relatively infertile because they are old
Most fertile soils located with Rift Valley
Highland Ethiopia, Lake Victoria lowlands, central highlands of Kenya also have produced agriculture bases

Climate and Vegetation

Tropical Forests
Congo basin contains the 2nd largest expanse of tropical rainforests in the world
Savannas
Wet and dry savannas surround central African rainforest belt
Deserts
Horn of Africa-northeastern corner that includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea

posted by Anonymous @ 3/14/2006 05:57:00 PM