CHAPTER 21

North Africa Section 1: Natural Environments Section 2: History and Culture Section 3: The Region Today

SECTION 1

Natural Environments

Question:

What factors affect the climate of North Africa?

SECTION 1

Natural Environments Factors Affecting North African Climate Causes • Atlas Mountains • rain shadow • harmattan • subtropical high pressure system Effects • rain shadow • arid climate • sandstorms

SECTION 2

History and Culture

Question:

What languages, religions, peoples, and types of clothing are found in North Africa?

SECTION 2

History and Culture Religions mostly Muslim, some Christians and Jews Peoples mostly Arab and Arab Berber, some Bedouins North African Culture Languages mostly Arabic, also Berber, French, Italian, English Clothing caftans, hooded robes, gallibiya

SECTION 3

The Region Today

Question:

What political and environmental issues currently exist in North Africa?

SECTION 3

The Region Today Issues in North Africa Political political unrest; clashes between government and religious groups; civil war in Algeria; clashes between Libyan government and United States Environmental desertification; pollution from oil refining; polluted water supplies; fertilizer pollution in the Nile; Nile Delta shrinking

CHAPTER 21

Chapter Wrap-Up 1. How have wind and water shaped important physical features of the Sahara?

2. Why are plants and animals in Egypt limited mostly to areas along the Nile Valley and Delta?

3. Which ethnic group makes up the majority of North Africa’s population? When did this ethnic grip first move into North Africa?

4. What is the main religion of North Africa? What are two minority religions there?

5. Why have many people in the region left to find work elsewhere? What has made the problem worse?