Transcript Slide 1
A Satellite View Africa’s Facts and Figures • Africa holds approximately 30% of the earth’s minerals and oil production • Africa is the Earth’s oldest, second largest (after Asia) and second most populous (after Asia) continent • Africa has the world’s longest river (the Nile), biggest desert (the Sahara), oldest desert (the Namib) and shortest coastline Africa’s Size 4600 MILES 5 0 0 0 M I L E S # Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi. # 10% of the world’s population. # 2 ½ times the size of the U. S. Africa’s Geography The Land People Water Resources The Plants and Animals Climate Zones Africa’s Geography: Climate Zones • Africa is the world’s second driest continent (after Australia) • Africa is the world’s hottest continent • Africa emits only 4% of total global CO2 emissions Africa’s Geography: Land • 32% of Africa’s pasture lands and 19% of its forests and woodlands are classified as degraded • • Africa's deserts account for about 5% of Africa's land area • Arid lands cover approximately 60% of Africa • 10% of farm soils are prime agricultural land and more than 25% of the land has moderate to low potential for sustainable agriculture • Forests account for over 20% of Africa’s 30 million km2 of land area Mediterranean Sea Bodies Nile River Of L. Chad--> Water L. Albert--> L. Victoria L. Tanganyika-> Indian Ocean Atlantic Ocean Zambezi River Limpopo River Orange River Pacific Ocean Africa’s Geography: Water Resources • It is estimated that over 300 million people in Africa face water scarcity • • Per capita water consumption in Africa is 31m3 per year • About 75% of the African population relies on groundwater as its major source of drinking water • Renewable water resources for the whole of Africa amount to about 3 930 km3 The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World” The Congo River Basin # Covers 12% of the continent. # Extends over 9 countries. # 2,720 miles long. # 99% of the country of Zaire is in the Congo River basin. The Niger River Basin # Covers 7.5% of the continent. # Extends over 10 countries. # 2,600 miles long. Hydroelectric Power Mountains & Peaks Δ Mt. Kenya Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro Mt. Kilimanjaro: Highest free-standing mountain in the world In northern Tanzania 19, 341 feet The African Plateau Libyan Desert Deserts Sahara Desert Sahel The Sahara Desert Desertification The Sahel Zone of transition between desert and savanna Valleys & Plains Great Rift Valley 3,700 miles long Africa: The “Tropical” Continent Tropic of Cancer 20° N Equator 0° Tropic of Capricorn 20° S West Africa: Home of our Hurricanes The African Savanna: 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. Africa’s Geography: People • In Africa is home to more than 965 million people • More than 60% of Africa’s population is still living in rural areas • Africa now has the fastest urban growth rate in the world • 2.7% of Africa’s population lives within 100 km of the coast • 56.6% of African labour force is engaged in agriculture Africa’s Geography: The Plants and Animals Africa is home to world’s largest bird – the ostrich (Struthio camelus) and largest living land mammal – the African elephant 98% of Madagascar's land mammals, 92% of its reptiles, 68% of its plants and 41% of its breeding bird species exist nowhere else on Earth Africa’s Congo Basin constitutes the second-largest area of dense tropical rain forest in the world (after the Amazonian forests of South America)