West africas geography

1. West Africa’s GeographyWest Africa’s Geography

2. Do NowDo Now
•Answer the following question:
–How does the geography of Africa influence
history?

3. Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa
•A vegetation zone is a region that has
certain types of plants
•Soil and climate determine which type of
plants grow in each vegetation zones
•Africa is separated into three vegetation
zones: desert, grasslands, and forests
•Each vegetation zone is rich with
resources

4. The SaharaThe Sahara
•The majority of the
northern part of Africa
contains the world’s
largest desert: The
Sahara
•The Sahara measures
3000 miles from east to
west and between 800
and 1200 miles from
north to south and has a
total area of 3,320,000
miles
•The Sahara is rich with
salt deposits
The Sahara in Egypt

5. The SavannahThe Savannah
•The central part of West
Africa is covered by the
savannah or tropical
grassland
•Very flat and grassy with
scattered trees called
acacia trees
•The savannah is good for
farming. Crops such as
millet, and peanuts are
grown there. The land is
also good for cattle
grazing.

6. The Forests (or jungle)The Forests (or jungle)
•Forests are primarily
located in central
Africa.
•Large amounts of
gold are located there

7. The Niger RiverThe Niger River
•The Niger river runs through western
Africa
•It has played a key role in transportation,
communication, and trade
•Part of the river floods every year which
provides good soil for farmland
•It was also the southern border of Ghana’s
empire

8. The Niger River BasinThe Niger River Basin

9. Trade in Western AfricaTrade in Western Africa
•People in the savannah and forests of
West Africa had gold but very little salt.
•People in North Africa had salt, but they
wanted gold
•As a result a trans-Saharan trade of gold
and salt developed
•Food and slaves were also traded. Some
areas lacked a sufficient type of food and
others lacked the labor they needed

10. Trade in Western AfricaTrade in Western Africa
•People in the savannah and forests of
West Africa had gold but very little salt.
•People in North Africa had salt, but they
wanted gold
•As a result a trans-Saharan trade of gold
and salt developed
•Food and slaves were also traded. Some
areas lacked a sufficient type of food and
others lacked the labor they needed