Physical Features of Africa Answers for RS

Physical Features of Africa Feature: Madagascar Relative Location: In the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa Countries located in: Madagascar Details: 1. Separated from Africa by the Mozambique Channel 2. Fourth largest island in the world 3. Made of a plateau 4. Largely deforested 5. Agricultural economy Feature: Niger River Relative Location: Western Africa Countries located in: Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria Details: 1. 2,600 miles long 2. Largest delta in Africa 3. Major source of fish 4. Flows south 5. Empties into the Gulf of Guinea Feature: Congo River Relative Location: Central and Western Africa Countries located in: Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) Details: 1. Formed by three other rivers 2. Is 2,720 miles long 3. Has a width of 4 to 10 miles 4. It contains islands 5. One of Africa’s largest potential sources of hydroelectricity Feature: Mt. Kilimanjaro Relative Location: Central Eastern Africa along the equator Countries located in: Tanzania Details: 1. Highest mountain in Africa 2. Extinct volcano 3. Made of two peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi 4. Highest point is 19,340 feet 5. Coffee and plantains are raised on the slopes Feature: Mediterranean Sea Relative Location: Between Europe and Africa Countries located in: Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt Details: 1. World’s largest inland sea 2. Connects to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar 3. Connects to the Red Sea by the Suez Canal 4. It has mountainous shores 5. Covers an area of 965,000 sq. miles Feature: Zambezi River Relative Location: Southeastern Africa Countries located in: Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique Details: 1. Flows from the Congo Basin 2. Fourth largest river in Africa 3. Only river that flows into the Indian Ocean 4. Most famous for Victoria Falls 5. Only crossed by 5 bridges Feature: Congo Basin Relative Location: Central Western Africa Countries located in: Zaire, Zambia, Angola, Congo, Gabon Details: 1. Large Rainforest 2. Surrounded by mountains 3. World’s second largest river basin 4. Lies along the Equator 5. Area of 1,335,000 sq. miles Feature: Orange River Relative Location: Southern Africa Countries located in: South Africa Details: 1. Runs across the Namib Desert 2. Major river in South Africa 3. Orange in color 4. Runs through South Africa 5. Much is in desert areas Feature: Cape of Good Hope Relative Location: Southwestern African tip Countries located in: South Africa Details: 1. Shaped like a hook that shoots out into the Atlantic Ocean 2. Most famous part of South Africa 3. Very rocky landscape 4. Famous for explorers using it as a trade route from Europe to India 5. Not the southern most tip Feature: Red Sea Relative Location: Between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula Countries located in: Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea Details: 1. Arm of the Indian Ocean 2. Gulf of Aqaba and Suez are in the North 3. Linked to the Indian Ocean by the Gulf of Aden 4. Surrounded by hot and dry deserts and steppes 5. Summer water temperatures can exceed 85 degrees Feature: Atlas Mountains Relative Location: Northwest Africa Countries located in: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia Details: 1. System of ranges and plateaus 2. Spans 1,500 miles 3. Climate barrier between Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert 4. Fertile lowlands separate the ranges 5. Rich in minerals Feature: Great Rift Valley Relative Location: Central Eastern Africa Countries located in: Extends from Mozambique to Syria Details: 1. Geographical fault system 2. Ranges from 1,300 feet below sea level to 6,000 feet above sea level 3. Highest cliffs are in Kenya 4. Erosion leveled out the valleys 5. Dead Sea is located in the valley Feature: Lake Victoria Relative Location: Eastern Africa Countries located in: Tanzania and Uganda Details: 1. Largest lake in Africa 2. Located in the Great Rift Valley 3. This region is one of the most densely populated 4. Within 50 miles of the shores live several million people 5. Freshwater lake Feature: Indian Ocean Relative Location: East Coast of Africa Countries located in: Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique Details: 1. Third largest ocean in the world 2. Extends from Asia to Antarctica 3. Extends from east Africa to Australia 4. The depth is around 11,000 feet 5. Extension of the Great Rift Valley Feature: Sahara Desert Relative Location: Northern Africa Countries located in: Egypt, Libya, Mali, Chad, Sudan Details: 1. World’s largest desert 2. 3,500,000 sq. miles in area 3. Bordered by the Atlas Mountains to the north and the Sahel to the south 4. Sand dunes cover 15 percent 5. Stone deserts cover 70 percent Feature: Nile River Relative Location: Eastern Africa Countries located in: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zaire Details: 1. 4,160 miles long 2. Longest river in the world 3. Supports almost all agriculture in Egypt 4. Gives water to 20 percent of Sudan’s crop area 5. Important source of hydroelectric power Feature: Atlantic Ocean Relative Location: West Coast of Africa Countries located in: Gabon, Angola, Namibia, Morocco, Niger Details: 1. Second largest ocean in the world 2. Connected to the Arctic Ocean by the Greenland Sea 3. Connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Panama Canal 4. Connected to the Indian Ocean by the Suez Canal 5. The Mediterranean and the Gulf of Guinea are the two arms Feature: Kalahari Desert Relative Location: Southern Africa Countries located in: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe Details: 1. Covered by reddish sand 2. Arid plateau region 3. Lies between the Orange and Zambezi Rivers 4. Grass grows during the rainy season 5. Agriculture is possible in some areas