WG.9 b - Physical and Environmental Features of Sub-Saharan Africa

The student will analyze the characteristics of the Sub-Saharan African region by 

b) describing major physical and environmental features; 

Although the continent of Africa is covered by an enormous plateau, the Sub-Saharan African region contains very distinctive landforms, water features, and landlocked countries.

Major physical and environmental features 

• Continent composed of a huge plateau, escarpments 
• River transportation impeded by waterfalls, rapids, and cataracts 
• Location of equator through middle of region; similar climatic patterns north and south of the equator 
• Smooth coastline; few harbors 
• Large number of landlocked countries 
• Limited fertility of rain-forest soils 
• Limited water resources 
• Kalahari, Namib, and Sahara Deserts 
• Sahel 
• Desertification 
• Bodies of water 
• Nile River 
• Zambezi River 
• Niger River 
• Congo River 
• Atlantic Ocean 
• Indian Ocean 
• Red Sea 
• Lake Victoria 
• Nature preserves and national parks 
• Great Rift valley 
• Mt. Kilimanjaro 
• Victoria Falls