Geography: Africa and Antarctica

• These are notes about the Geography of Africa and Antarctica

Africa: Location, Shape, and Size

• Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, Asia, and Europe
• The continent has a distinct block shape with a coastline that is not heavily indented
• The continent has few bays and large peninsulas
• Africa is the third largest continent in the world after Asia and the Americas
• It spans approximately 30.3 million km2

African Natural Features: Terrain and Mineral Resources

• The continent's terrain is relatively simple, with Africa being primarily a massive plateau
• The eastern part of Africa has been significantly uplifted, causing the rock to fracture and collapse, creating deep valleys, long, and narrow lakes
• Key mineral resources include gold, diamonds, and copper

African Climate

• Africa has a hot and dry climate
• Equatorial climate: hot and humid with year-round rainfall
• Subequatorial climate: hot and humid rainy season followed by a dry, cool season
• Tropical climate: very dry and arid
• Subtropical climate: warm, humid, and rainy winters and dry, sunny summers

African Rivers and Lakes

• Significant rivers include the Nile, Niger, Senegal, Congo, and Zambezi
• Large lakes include Tanganyika and Turkana

African Natural Environments

• Equatorial environment: hot and humid climate, lush green rainforests for vegetation
• Tropical environment: sparse forests and savannas, with dominant plant life like sparse forests and savanna shrubland
• Diverse animal life includes herbivores (zebras, gazelles, giraffes) and carnivores (lions, leopards)
• Subtropical environment: vegetation comprised of forests and hardy shrubs

Environmental Challenges in Africa

• Deforestation is happening because of rapid exploitation without reforestation, leading to desertification and reduced water resources
• Hunting and trading of wildlife is causing a decline in animal populations and risk of extinction for some species

African Population and Social Issues

• High population growth rates hinder economic development
• In 2020, the African population was approximately 1.34 billion people
• Rapid population growth exacerbates poverty, resource depletion, and environmental degradation
• Famine is a persistent threat, with millions requiring food aid, dependence on international assistance
• The causes are drought and political instability
• Armed conflicts occur due to tribal conflicts and resource competition
• Consequences: loss of life, famine, disease, displacement, political instability, environmental impact, and foreign intervention

Human Impact on Equatorial Environments

• Year-round cultivation, crop rotation, and intercropping
• Establishment of large-scale industrial crop zones (oil palm, cocoa) for export or manufacturing inputs
• Active reforestation and forest protection are underway which tackles soil erosion

Human Impact on Tropical Environments

• Slash-and-burn agriculture and nomadic goat and sheep herding in dry areas
• Development of fruit and industrial crop cultivation for export
• Mineral extraction and export play a significant role

Human Impact on Desert Environments

• Date palm and food crop cultivation in oases
• Nomadic herding of animals such as goats and camels
• Use of camel power for transportation and trade

Human Impact on Subtropical Environments

• Cultivation of fruit trees (grapes, olives, oranges, lemons) and grains (wheat, corn)
• Developed mineral extraction, particularly oil extraction (Algeria), gold, and diamonds (South Africa)
• Tourism industry flourishes

Antarctica: Discovery and Exploration

• Antarctica was discovered in 1820 by Russian navigators Bellingshausen and Lazarev
• In 1900, a Norwegian explorer first set foot on the Antarctic continent
• On December 14, 1911, a Norwegian expedition reached the South Pole for the first time
• Since 1957, Antarctic research has been greatly accelerated

Antarctica: Geographic Location

• Antarctica includes the Antarctic continent and surrounding islands within the Antarctic Circle
• It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and is distant from other continents
• This location means the climate is extremely cold

Antarctica: Natural Features

• The continent is essentially a massive ice plateau, with 98% of its surface covered by thick ice
• The ice sheet makes the continent's surface relatively flat
• The climate is cold, dry, and features high winds and storms
• Sparse vegetation consisting mainly of lower plants (mosses, lichens, algae, fungi) and cold-tolerant animals (penguins, seals, blue whales)

Antarctica: Natural Resources

• Antarctica is the largest freshwater reserve on Earth, holding roughly 60% of the planet's freshwater
• Antarctica is rich in mineral resources like coal, iron, and copper and has potential for oil and natural gas in its continental shelf

Antarctica: The Effect of Global Climate Change

• The Antarctic environment is subject to change if global climate patterns change
• By the end of the 21st century, the Antarctic temperature is projected to increase by 0.5°C
• This will cause an increase in precipitation, and sea levels may rise by 0.05-0.32m
• Many ecosystems could disappear, with grasslands emerging in coastal areas
• Ice in the central area of the continent may thicken due to increased rainfall