Chapter 20 homework

Chapter 20, Section 1

1. How has the shifting of tectonic plates affected the development of the landforms of Africa south of the Sahara?

Answer:

The shifting tectonics plates moving apart has resulted in the Great Rift Valley that stretches from Syria to Mozambique.  It is considered a natural wonder.  The plates moving and pushing magma up has resulted in mountains.  Plates moving continents together and moving them apart has resulted in collision sites where mountains have risen up.

2. How do landforms affect the water systems of Africa south of the Sahara?

Answer:

Basins and valleys formed in between mountains have become homes to lakes and rivers.  All of the escarpments and rifts and cliffs have resulted in rapids in the waters, making them dangerous and hard to navigate.

Creative Writing: Write a paragraph about how landforms and water systems in Africa south of the Sahara cause problems for the nations in the region as they try to take advantage of their mineral resources.

Answer:

The dangerous mountains and rifts make it hard to mine and navigate.  The hard rock also makes it difficult to mine.  Lack of water and irregular, unpredictable rainfall results in lack of energy or water to support the miners.

Chapter 20, Section 2

1. In addition to rainfall, what are three of the geographic factors that affect climate in Africa south of the Sahara? Give examples.

Answer:

Ocean currents such as the benguela current, elevation such as how high you are on a mountains making the temperature cold and being in a low valley makes the temperature hot, and latitude.  The lower you are, the generally colder it is.  The closer you are to the center, the more rain and heat you get.

2. What are the main kinds of climate and vegetation found in Africa south of the Sahara?

Answer:

The main climates are Tropical Wet, Tropical Dry, Steppe, Desert, and Mid latitude Climates.  Tropical Wet climates house shrubs, ferns, and mosses, and also huge rain forests which house orchids, ferns, and more mosses on the canopy area.  Crops such as bananas, pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee, and cotton are grown here.  The Tropical Dry, or savanna, houses grass.  The Steppe houses low-growing grasses, shrubs, and acacia trees.  The Desert houses grasses and trees and some cacti.  Mid Latitude Climates house any where from grasslands to farm crops to great forests. 

Creative Writing: The Great Plains in the United States and Canada and Africa’s Serengeti Plain are both vast grasslands. Write a paragraph comparing the two regions

The Great Plains in the US and Canada are generally more populated and built on, the grasslands themselves slightly dying out.  The Serengeti plain is more untouched and receives more heat.  The Great Plains receive less heat.