Africa’s Landforms

Major Mountain Ranges Drakensberg Ethiopian Highlands Ruwenzori

Drakensberg

Ethiopian Highlands

Ruwenzori

Drakensberg Located in the eastern part of South Africa; forms northeastern border of Lesotho with South Africa. Worksheet: Mountains in South Africa and Lesotho.

Located in the eastern part of South Africa; forms northeastern border of Lesotho with South Africa. Worksheet: Mountains in South Africa and Lesotho.

Drakensberg Mountains Afrikaans for “Dragons Mountain”

Afrikaans for “Dragons Mountain”

Drakensberg Offers challenging mountaineering; some of its minor peaks have never been summitted.

Offers challenging mountaineering; some of its minor peaks have never been summitted.

Drakensberg This is a famous rock formation called “The Amphitheatre”

This is a famous rock formation called “The Amphitheatre”

Ruwenzori Mountains Divide Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Divide Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ruwenzori “ Mountains in the Mist” Its snow-covered peaks are only visible a few days a year because the massive amounts of rainfall make it mist-and-cloud covered most of the time

“ Mountains in the Mist”

Its snow-covered peaks are only visible a few days a year because the massive amounts of rainfall make it mist-and-cloud covered most of the time

Ruwenzori Also spelled Rwenzori

Also spelled Rwenzori

Ruwenzori Famous for vegetation—ranging from rain forests to alpine meadows to snow

Famous for vegetation—ranging from rain forests to alpine meadows to snow

Ethiopian Highlands

Ethiopian Highlands Located in Eritrea and Somalia, as well as Ethiopia

Located in Eritrea and Somalia, as well as Ethiopia

Ethiopian Highlands Formed as magma uplifted ancient rocks

Formed as magma uplifted ancient rocks

Ethiopian Highlands Divided by the “Great Rift Valley”

Divided by the “Great Rift Valley”

Major Deserts Sahara Namib Kalahari

Sahara

Namib

Kalahari

Sahara Desert

Sahara Desert Located in Northern Africa

Located in Northern Africa

Sahara Desert Largest hot Desert in the World

Largest hot Desert in the World

Sahara Desert Its name is an English rendition of the Arabic word for “desert”

Its name is an English rendition of the Arabic word for “desert”

Sahara Desert It divides the continent of Africa into North and Sub-Saharan Africa

It divides the continent of Africa into North and Sub-Saharan Africa

Namib Desert

Namib Desert Located along the Atlantic coast of Namibia

Located along the Atlantic coast of Namibia

Namib Desert Oldest Desert in the World (over 80 million years)

Oldest Desert in the World (over 80 million years)

Namib Desert Largely unpopulated and inaccessible

Largely unpopulated and inaccessible

Namib Desert It is almost completely barren

It is almost completely barren

Kalahari Desert

Kalahari Desert Located in eastern Namibia, Botswana, and part of South Africa.

Located in eastern Namibia, Botswana, and part of South Africa.

Kalahari Desert Meerkats live here

Meerkats live here

Kalahari Desert Bushmen live here!

Bushmen live here!

Kalahari Desert

Major Rivers Niger Zambezi Nile congo

Niger

Zambezi

Nile

congo

Niger River

Niger River Main artery in western Africa that originates in Guinea.

Main artery in western Africa that originates in Guinea.

Niger River Third longest river in Africa—2500 miles long

Third longest river in Africa—2500 miles long

Zambezi River

Zambezi River Located in south-central Africa and meets the ocean in a delta.

Located in south-central Africa and meets the ocean in a delta.

Zambezi River Fourth longest river in Africa

Fourth longest river in Africa

Zambezi River Just below Victoria Falls—Zambia is on the left, Zimbabwe is on the right.

Just below Victoria Falls—Zambia is on the left, Zimbabwe is on the right.

Zambezi River Evening Chat. 

Evening Chat. 

Nile River

Nile River The Nile and its tributaries flow though nine countries. The White Nile flows though Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt. The Blue Nile starts in Ethiopia. Zaire, Kenya, Tanzanian, Rwanda, and Burundi all have tributaries, which flow into the Nile or into lake Victoria. It flows south to north—probably opposite than what you thought.

The Nile and its tributaries flow though nine countries. The White Nile flows though Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt. The Blue Nile starts in Ethiopia. Zaire, Kenya, Tanzanian, Rwanda, and Burundi all have tributaries, which flow into the Nile or into lake Victoria. It flows south to north—probably opposite than what you thought.

Nile River Its name comes from the Greek word “Nelios” meaning River Valley

Its name comes from the Greek word “Nelios” meaning River Valley

Nile River It is the world’s longest river (4,187 miles)

It is the world’s longest river (4,187 miles)

Nile River

Congo River

Congo River Begins on the border of DR Congo & Zambia, swings up almost to Central African Republic and then down the border of DR Congo and Republic of Congo and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Begins on the border of DR Congo & Zambia, swings up almost to Central African Republic and then down the border of DR Congo and Republic of Congo and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Congo River Second longest river in Africa (2,720 miles)

Second longest river in Africa (2,720 miles)

Congo River It flows through the second largest rain forest in the world

It flows through the second largest rain forest in the world

Congo River Congo Republic and DR Congo take their names from this river

Congo Republic and DR Congo take their names from this river

Valleys, Plains, Capes, Steppes Great Rift Valley Serengeti Plain Cape of Good Hope Sahel

Great Rift Valley

Serengeti Plain

Cape of Good Hope

Sahel

Great Rift Valley Natural wonder in the southeastern part of Africa

Natural wonder in the southeastern

part of Africa

Great Rift Valley Runs from Syria (in the Middle East) to Mozambique (in Africa)

Serengeti Plain One of the world’s largest savanna plains

Serengeti Plain

Cape of Good Hope The southern tip of Africa Discovered by Vasco de Gama. Western European explorers had been searching for the tip of Africa. De Gama was blown around the cape during a storm and was so excited about finally finding the end of Africa, knowing it would open Europe for trade with Asia, that he named it the “Cape of Good Hope.”

Discovered by Vasco de Gama. Western European explorers had been searching for the tip of Africa. De Gama was blown around the cape during a storm and was so excited about finally finding the end of Africa, knowing it would open Europe for trade with Asia, that he named it the “Cape of Good Hope.”

Cape of Good Hope

Sahal The northern steppe of Africa

Sahel

Lakes Lake Tanganyika Lake Victoria

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Victoria

Lake Tanganyika One of the deepest and longest freshwater lakes in the world; located in East Africa

Lake Tanganyika

Lake Victoria Largest Lake in Africa

Lake Victoria

Biggest and Best Tallest Mountain Largest Lake Biggest Waterfall Largest Desert Oldest Desert

Tallest Mountain

Largest Lake

Biggest Waterfall

Largest Desert

Oldest Desert

Tallest Mountain--Kilimanjaro World’s tallest free-standing mountain 15,000 feet In NorthEast Tanzania

World’s tallest free-standing mountain

15,000 feet

In NorthEast Tanzania

Biggest Lake—Lake Victoria Largest fresh water lake in the world (surface area) 7 th largest fresh water lake in world by volume Has more than 3000 islands

Largest fresh water lake in the world (surface area)

7 th largest fresh water lake in world by volume

Has more than 3000 islands

Lake Victoria Satellite View

Satellite View

Biggest Waterfall—Victoria Falls. One of the 7 wonders of the World Remarkable because of the narrow slot-like canyon which the water falls into—so the falls can be viewed face-on Vastly larger than Niagara Falls—19 million cubic feet of water falling each minute vs. six million cubic feet of water at Niagara Only rivaled by Iguazo Falls (So. America) Single largest sheet of falling water in the world—328 feet tall, one mile wide The falling water generates spray and mist that rise to a height of over 1300 feet

Remarkable because of the narrow slot-like canyon which the water falls into—so the falls can be viewed face-on

Vastly larger than Niagara Falls—19 million cubic feet of water falling each minute vs. six million cubic feet of water at Niagara

Only rivaled by Iguazo Falls (So. America)

Single largest sheet of falling water in the world—328 feet tall, one mile wide

The falling water generates spray and mist that rise to a height of over 1300 feet

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls Spray The Spray can be seen up to 30 miles away

Largest Desert ??? You should know this one Oldest Desert You Should Know this one too.

??? You should know this one

Oldest Desert

You Should Know this one too.

The End (Finally) Sources: Africa-ata.org Historyforkids.org Sus.gsfc.nasa.gov Stores.ebay.fr Tissotfamily.com Scienceclarified.com Myopera.com Travelblog.com Wikipedia.com Courtneymilne.com Photos-botswana.com Photos-voyages.com Pbase.com Onhiatusphotos.com Russabbott.blogspot.com Uekus.com Greenpeace.org Medias.lemonade.fr Junglephotos.com

Sources:

Africa-ata.org

Historyforkids.org

Sus.gsfc.nasa.gov

Stores.ebay.fr

Tissotfamily.com

Scienceclarified.com

Myopera.com

Travelblog.com

Wikipedia.com

Courtneymilne.com

Photos-botswana.com

Photos-voyages.com

Pbase.com

Onhiatusphotos.com

Russabbott.blogspot.com

Uekus.com

Greenpeace.org

Medias.lemonade.fr

Junglephotos.com