African Geography Study Guide: Maps Name: __________________________

Directions: Find and label the countries and the physical Date: __________ Period: __________
features.
Be sure you are looking at the correct map!
Physical Features (Use Map Below)
Lesson 1: Antebellum Georgia
Niger River
Nile River
Congo River
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Victoria
Atlas Mountains
Kalahari Desert

Political (Use Map above)

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)

Egypt
Kenya
Nigeria
South Africa
Sudan
South Sudan
 African Geography Study Guide: Maps
Directions: Find and label the climate zones below. Read the passage and fill in the blank.

The Sahara Desert runs across the entire width of

northern Africa. This is the largest desert in the
world. It is covered with sand dunes, rolling rocky
hills, and wide stretches of gravel that go on for
miles and miles. Few people live in the Sahara;
however, traders who travel by everything from
camel caravan to jeeps and tricks cross its barren
miles regularly.

The ____________ desert is the largest desert in the

world.

In the middle of the continent, close to the equator,

is the savanna region of Africa. It is a vast area of
grassland and more tropical habitats. In this part of
the continent, one finds many of the animals
associated with Africa. The grasslands support lions,
elephants, and many other species of animals.
Farming is good here when the rains come.
However, lack of rainfall can cause difficulties for
farmers.

The “Savanna” is a vast area of ____________.

Climate Regions (Use Map Above)

Sahara
Sahel
Savanna
Tropical Rainforest
African Geography Study Guide: Environmental Issues
The Sahel is an area of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is an example of how poor farming practices and the destruction of trees and shrubs
can lead to and expanding desert. Most historians believe that the Sahel was once rich farmland. Centuries of farming and grazing along with
less rainfall have gradually damaged land in the Sahel. Millions of people struggle to farm in its poor soil.

1. What destroyed the grassland and forests that were once found in the Sahel?
A. Years of heavy flooding
B. The development of Factories
C. Continuous faming and over-grazing
D. Repeated use by nomads and camel caravans

Deforestation is the destruction of trees and other vegetation. This continues to be a problem in the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Animals
have been allowed to graze too heavily in an area and strip all of the vegetation from the soil. People who need fuel or who hope to be able to
clear new farmland cut down the trees that help hold the soil in place. Droughts, or periods of little rainfall, have hurt the Sahel, too. The people
who live in these areas often face starvation and poverty.

2. Why are droughts a problem for farmers in the Sahel?

A. Animals move into the desert to find water
B. The desert stops expanding when there is rain in the Sahel
C. The soil is of poor quality and dry conditions result in even fewer crops
D. People do not try to farm in the Sahel any more due to the increased rainfall

The Sahel is one part of Africa that is experiencing severe problems with desertification, the process of the desert expanding into areas that had
formerly been farmland. As the land is overused, the soil becomes poor and powdery. The winds coming from the Sahara gradually blow the
dry topsoil away, leaving a barren and rocky land. Periods of drought in recent years have made this situation worse. As the desert expands,
people are less able to grow enough food to feed them. People living in areas going through desertification face hunger and hardship.

3. Which is a result of desertification for the people living in the Sahel region?
A. Increased tourism
B. More jobs in manufacturing
C. Increased starvation and poverty
D. Decreased Support from the United Nations
African Geography Study Guide: Environmental Issues
In the Sahel, however, a majority of the desertification is the result of the actions of people rather than climate. Land is being cleared for farming
and trees and shrubs are being cut down for firewood. The survival needs of the people living there are clear, but they are destroying major
parts of their environment in the process.
4. Which has been a major cause of desertification?
A. Years of uncontrolled flooding
B. Overuse of the land by the people
C. Heavy seasonal winds coming off the desert
D. Sharp and unexpected changes in the climate

Much of Africa has trouble having enough water for people to live. Parts of Africa are arid desert, others are semi-arid some are rolling
grassland, and others are humid and sub-tropical. Countries with large river systems have enough water for farming and for people in villages,
towns, and cities. However, all countries have the problem of increasing water pollution from factories, and animal and human waste. Some
countries have poor harvest, little grazing land for farm animals, and even little clean water for drinking and washing. Each year deserts claim
more and more. The tension between the needs of a growing population and the limited supply of water is a serious issue for most of Africa.
5. Which is true about water pollution?
A. Some, but not all of the countries in Africa have the problem of increasing pollution.
B. Each year the deserts claim less and less land.
C. Everyone contributes to water pollution, even if they don’t mean to.
D. The growing population has little effect on the supply of water.

Pesticides, fertilizers, human waste, storm water runoff, mining, and manufacturing byproducts all contribute to (cause) water pollution in Africa.
Fully half of patients in hospital beds are there because of unclean drinking water, impacting the economy by reducing the workforce. In rural
areas, an estimated one million children die each year from contaminated water. Many humanitarian organizations provide clean water and
help rebuild the infrastructure to maintain a clean water supply. However, as the population grows in some countries, the amount of clean
water is actually decreasing.
6. Which are some causes of water pollution?
A. Deforestation, desertification, point-source pollution.
B. Flushing the toilet
C. Farms, Factories, and the populations vehicles
D. Mr. Alvarado watering his lawn everyday
 Where People Live Type of Work People Do How People Travel
 Thinly populated except in northern  Tourist Industry  Nomads walk
Morocco, Algeria and Egypt along the  Service Industry – tour guides, hotel  In Salt trades, truck replace camels
Sahara Mediterranean coast staff, and restaurant workers  Airplanes and trucks equipped to
Desert  One person per Square Mile  Merchants selling rugs and other handle sand
 Lowest population densities on Earth merchandise
 Along the eastern Atlantic Coast  Subsistence farmers or herding  Primary transportation is walking,
 Along the Nile River livestock followed by bicycling
 Mining iron ore and uranium  Animal drawn carts
Sahel  Some cars, trucks and rail service

 Along the Coast  Subsistence farmers  Walk

 Along the Nile River  Nomadic herding  Bicycles
 Animal drawn carts
Savanna  Cars, Trains, Buses
 Around Lake Tanganyika  Natives hunt and selling the meat  Walk
 Along the Coast  Nigeria – work for government or  Bicycles
telecommunications business  Cities – Buses and Trains
Tropical  Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea – oil
Rainforest 
industry
Agriculture - Subsistence farming and
Nomadic herding
Write two or three sentences for each question using the information in the chart above.
7. How do location, climate, and other physical characteristics influence where people live, what type of
work people do, and how people travel in the Sahara?
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8. How do location, climate, and other physical characteristics influence where people live, what type of
work people do, and how people travel in the Sahel?
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9. How do location, climate, and other physical characteristics influence where people live, what type of
work people do, and how people travel in the Savanna?
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10. How do location, climate, and other physical characteristics influence where people live, what type
of work people do, and how people travel in the Tropical Rainforest?
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African Geography Study Guide: Current Issues
11. Out of all the animals in Africa that are poached, which ones are most commonly killed?

12. What is the destination (where they are sold to) of the majority (most) of poached animal parts?

13. What are poached animal parts used for?

14. What are conflict minerals?

15. In which countries could you find child soldiers (think back to your reading in class)?
 African Geography Study Guide: Current Issues

Write anything you remember about each of the topics below. (You are reviewing & organizing your thoughts while you
brainstorm!)

Conflict Minerals Child Soldiers

Definition? Definition?
What countries? What countries?
What types of “minerals”? Causes/effects?

Poaching Piracy
Definition? Definition?
What countries? What countries?
Causes/effects? Causes/effects?