Geography Grade 12

1. AfricaAfrica
ClimateClimate
andand
VegetationVegetation

2. ClimateClimate
 equator runs straight through theequator runs straight through the
middle of Africa, high temperaturesmiddle of Africa, high temperatures
 both Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn –both Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn –
the Tropics—hot and wet or hot andthe Tropics—hot and wet or hot and
drydry
 climate is mild the farthest from theclimate is mild the farthest from the
equator—N and S tipsequator—N and S tips

4. ElevationElevation
 as elevation increases, temperaturesas elevation increases, temperatures
decreasedecrease
 some mountain peaks with snow never meltsome mountain peaks with snow never melt
even though on the equatoreven though on the equator

5. RainfallRainfall
 Africa as whole gets plenty—it is justAfrica as whole gets plenty—it is just
unevenly distributedunevenly distributed
 Cairo=1 inch a yearCairo=1 inch a year
 Nairobi, Kenya=38 inches a yearNairobi, Kenya=38 inches a year
 rain comes and goes, seasons, hugerain comes and goes, seasons, huge
uncertaintyuncertainty

6.  drought—drought—
period ofperiod of
time withtime with
little or nolittle or no
rainfallrainfall
 rainforest—rainforest—
rain everyrain every
dayday
 savanna—savanna—
rain israin is
seasonalseasonal

7. RainforestRainforest
 along equator, high tempsalong equator, high temps
and tons of rainand tons of rain
 complex ecosystem, plantscomplex ecosystem, plants
living on plants, manyliving on plants, many
levels,levels, canopycanopy at topat top

8.  soil is not fertile –too much rain washessoil is not fertile –too much rain washes
away nutrients—away nutrients—leachingleaching
 main areas are western and central Africamain areas are western and central Africa
 rainforests are threatened because ofrainforests are threatened because of
farming, logging, roads and miningfarming, logging, roads and mining

9. SavannaSavanna
 large open areas of grassland with fewlarge open areas of grassland with few
trees and bushtrees and bush
 largest areas south of Saharalargest areas south of Sahara
 warm temps and rainfall in the summerwarm temps and rainfall in the summer

10.  baobab treesbaobab trees—tall and spindly—tall and spindly
branches,branches, acacia trees-acacia trees--umbrellas-umbrellas
 great deal of wildlife, large animalsgreat deal of wildlife, large animals

11. SahelSahel
 semiarid land just south of Sahara, drysemiarid land just south of Sahara, dry
grasslandsgrasslands
 a transition zone between Savanna anda transition zone between Savanna and
Desert,Desert, desertificationdesertification—fires, erosion,—fires, erosion,
animalsanimals
 hot temps, a little rain that is seasonal andhot temps, a little rain that is seasonal and
sometimes not at allsometimes not at all

12. DesertsDeserts
 -north and south of the equator-north and south of the equator
 SaharaSahara in the north,in the north, Namib andNamib and
KalahariKalahari in the southin the south
 all incredibly hot and dry, containall incredibly hot and dry, contain
mountainsmountains

13.  Sahara=largest in world, sand, rock,Sahara=largest in world, sand, rock,
gravelgravel
 equal to the continental US, allequal to the continental US, all
elevationselevations