Geographic features affected the settlement of Africa because the deserts influenced the trade routes because they had to pass through the deserts to trade they always settled around oases and rivers because Africa is really hot. … They became a good trade center because they were around water and had good trade routes.
Full Answer
How did geography affect the settlement of Africa?
How did geography affect the settlement of Africa? The location of rivers, the ocean, and other resources. Let's take ancient Egypt for example, The Nile provides water and nutrients for farming. Settling near the Nile is an excellent location.
How will African farmers adjust to changing patterns of precipitation?
How will African farmers adjust to changing patterns of precipitation? Agriculture is critical to Africa’s growth and development, but climate change could destabilize local markets, curb economic growth, and heighten risk for agricultural investors. Climate change is expected to make agricultural development in Africa more challenging.
How did geography and climate affect trade in Africa?
How did geography and climate affect trade in early Africa? Ghana was located between the Sahara desert salt and gold mines near west Africa coastal rainforest. The trade routes of Ghana extended to North Africa and down the Niger river. . Some trading routes even reached East Africa’s coast.
What is the vegetation in Africa?
Africa's vegetation—like its climate —is almost mirrored north and south of the equator. Africa's vegetation consists of grasslands, rain forests, and a wide variety of other plant life. Tropical grassland covers most of the continent. One example of this grassland is the Serengeti Plain in northern Tanzania.
How did climate affect settlement in Africa?
Climate change impacts on African human settlements arise from a number of climate change-related causes, notably sea level changes, impacts on water resources, extreme weather events, food security, increased health risks from vector home diseases, and temperature-related morbidity in urban environments.
How does climate affect the vegetation of Africa?
Rainfall influences Africa's agriculture. Nutrients in the top layers of the soil are washed away after torrential rain, on the other side nothing can grow if it rains too little. In the desert regions of the Sahara, Namib and Kalahari rainfall often drops to under a hundred cm a year.
How does climate affect settlement?
The most widespread direct risk to human settlements from climate change is flooding and landslides. Projected increases in rainfall intensity and, in coastal areas, sea-level rise will be the culprits. Cities on rivers and coasts are particularly at risk.
What affects the climate of Africa?
A number of factors influence the climate of the African continent. First, most of the continent—which extends from 35° S to about 37° N latitude—lies within the tropics. Second, the near bisection of the continent by the Equator results in a largely symmetrical arrangement of climatic zones on either side.
How does climate affect vegetation?
The plant community in an area is the most sensitive indicator of climate. Areas with moderate to high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year are heavily forested (unless humans have cleared the land for agriculture!).
How does climate change affect vegetation?
Rising temperatures lead to more frequent droughts, wildfires, and invasive pest outbreaks, leading to the loss of plant species. That has numerous detrimental effects including: Lowered Productivity: Longer droughts and increased number of heat waves will stress plants, causing them to be less productive.
What are the factors that affect settlement?
In order to better categorize which factors ultimately affect settlement, geographers have generally accepted four umbrella terms to describe these elements: climatic, economic, physical, and traditional.
How agriculture affects settlement?
Agriculture allowed people to stay in one place, and increased food production caused the population density to expand far beyond levels that could be sustained by hunting and gathering alone. This growth in population density provided a critical mass of people to sustain and spread contagious infectious diseases.
How have climate vegetation natural resources influenced settlement in Brazil?
In Brazil, many people settle near forests because there is a lot of wood there. They can use the wood to build stores or things for personal use. People also settle there because of the good soil. Many people also live in mining towns because of the jobs available.
What is vegetation of Africa?
Though the vegetation categorization in Africa was varied, this work focuses on the five major groups of vegetation that is forest, woodlands and shrub lands, grass lands, agricultural land, and swampy and mangrove vegetation.
Why is Africa most affected by climate change?
Some sources even classify Africa as "the most vulnerable continent on Earth". This vulnerability is driven by a range of factors that include weak adaptive capacity, high dependence on ecosystem goods for livelihoods, and less developed agricultural production systems.
What vegetation covers most of Africa?
Savannas, or grasslands, cover almost half of Africa, more than 13 million square kilometers (5 million square miles). These grasslands make up most of central Africa, beginning south of the Sahara and the Sahel and ending north of the continents southern tip.
What is the vegetation of Africa?
Africa's vegetation consists of grasslands, rain forests, and a wide variety of other plant life. . One example of this grassland is the Serengeti Plain in northern Tanzania. Its dry climate and hard soil prevent the growth of trees and many crops, but these conditions are perfect for growing grass.
What is the main vegetation of Africa?
The main vegetation types found in Africa 1. Tropical rain forest. 2. Savannah (Tropical grasslands).
What is climate and vegetation of West Africa?
The natural vegetation in West Africa ranges from short grass at the desert border to humid rain forests at the southern border of the region near the Atlantic coast. The area in between is occupied by several vegetation zones ranging from tropical forests, to woodland, sa- vanna, shrubs, and short grass.
What is the vegetation of African forests?
All of Africa's regions contain a variety of vegetation. North Africa contains sizable oak and pine forests in the upper reaches of the Atlas Mountains. The mangrove tree of West Africa sprouts up along river banks in swamps and river deltas. Mangrove tree roots are breeding grounds for fish.
What are the vegetations in Africa?
All of Africa's regions contain a variety of vegetation. North Africa contains sizable oak and pine forests in the upper reaches of the Atlas Mountains. The mangrove tree of West Africa sprouts up along river banks in swamps and river deltas. Mangrove tree roots are breeding grounds for fish.
What is the climate of Africa?
AFRICA'S MODERATE AREAS. A Mediterranean climate exists on the northern and southern tips of the continent. Clear, blue skies in these places are normal. Rain falls usually only in the winter—December and January in North Africa and June and July in Southern Africa.
What percentage of the Sahara is sand?
Only about 20 percent of the Sahara consists of sand. Towering mountains, rock formations, and gravelly plains make up the rest. For instance, the Tibesti Mountains, located mostly in northwestern Chad, rise to heights of more than 11,000 feet. Other African deserts include the Kalahari and the Namib.
How much rain does Africa get?
The region around Monrovia, Liberia, experiences an average annual rainfall of more than 120 inches. In contrast, many parts of Africa barely get 20 inches of rain over the course of a year. In the Sahara and other deserts, rain may not fall for years. Children living in those areas may not see rain until they are five or six years old!
What is the cause of the destruction of Madagascar's rain forest?
After farmers have exhausted the soil, they burn another patch of forest. Slash-and-burn farming is responsible for the nearly complete destruction of Madagascar's rain forest. Experts estimate that over half of Africa's original rain forest has been destroyed.
How long does it take for a leaf to decompose?
A leaf on the jungle floor in Africa decomposes in about six weeks. Most animals in a rain forest live in the canopy. The canopy refers to the uppermost layer of branches, about 150 feet above the ground. Birds, monkeys, and flying foxes move from tree to tree and enjoy the bounty of the rain forest.
What continent has grasslands?
A Grassy Continent. Africa's vegetation—like its climate —is almost mirrored north and south of the equator. Africa 's vegetation consists of grasslands, rain forests, and a wide variety of other plant life.
What can African farmers do to mitigate the impact of climate change?
Higher volatility in the yields of major African food crops is likely to result in higher price volatility for both farmers and consumers. African countries are already working to counteract growing volatility, but better and more localized planning and financial mobilization will be key.
How can Africa improve its agriculture?
Modernizing Africa’s agriculture in the face of a changing climate will require significant investment. Investments in irrigation can increase the likelihood that farmers maintain yields even when the weather is unfavorable. Better roads can help connect markets, which would help farmers sell their crops at fair prices. Improvements in the functioning of seed production systems would provide farmers with new varieties of seed that are suited to new conditions. Upgraded crop-storage facilities would prevent spoilage and food waste.
Why is Africa so vulnerable?
Overall, Africa is vulnerable because for many of its crops, it is at the edge of physical thresholds beyond which yields decline. Moreover, a substantial portion of some countries’ economies (for example, one third of GDP for Ethiopia and one fifth of sub-Sahara Africa’s economic output) depends on agriculture.
How much would a 25 percent drop in corn yields reduce Mozambique's GDP?
We estimate that a 25 percent or greater drop in corn yields would reduce Mozambique’s GDP by 2.5 percent. Conversely, we find that cotton yields would become more stable; however, given the small size of cotton farming, this does not provide a strong counterbalance to the negative impacts on corn.
What are the food systems affected by multiple breadbasket failure?
For food systems, we focus on the likelihood of a multiple-breadbasket failure affecting wheat, corn, rice, and soy, as well as, specifically in Africa, the impact on wheat and coffee production in Ethiopia and cotton and corn production in Mozambique.
How can better roads help farmers?
Better roads can help connect markets, which would help farmers sell their crops at fair prices. Improvements in the functioning of seed production systems would provide farmers with new varieties of seed that are suited to new conditions. Upgraded crop-storage facilities would prevent spoilage and food waste.
What is the chance of a coffee drop in Ethiopia?
For coffee farmers in Ethiopia, the chance of experiencing a 25 percent or greater drop in annual yield could climb from 3.2 percent to 4.2 percent in 2030, which is a 31 percent increase, and a 28 percent cumulative likelihood over the next decade.
What are the barriers to human movement in Africa?
The Sahara desert is the most significant of these. The eastern highlands and the central rainforest are the other two most significant obstacles to human movement. However, the Bantu speakers found paths. One was through a narrower band of rainforest near the coas
Why is Africa considered the dark continent?
Africa is termed as the ‘Dark Continent’ due to prevalence of its perpetual underdevelopment, starvation, frequent loss of human lives due to chronic diseases and epidemics, malnutrition and political instability. The reasons for institutionalization of underdevelopment in Africa are a plethora of human-induced factors. Principal among them are unceasing denudation of Africa’s flora and fauna by alien powers since centuries, abject illiteracy, unfair trade practices practised by rich nations, lack of pan-African economic planning, lack of effective agricultural policy, and above all absence of full-fledged democracies across the continent. Lack of peace and security due continuous military strikes and civil war in most of the African states that causes heavy loss of human lives and property is also hindering development. Putting blame on tacit geography for underdevelopment of Africa is amount to undermine geography itself.
Why is Africa called the Mother Continent?
Africa is sometimes nicknamed the "Mother Continent" due to its being the oldest inhabited continent on Earth. Humans and human ancestors have lived in Africa for more than 5 million years.
What is the human environment made of?
Human environment is made of regions, countries, etc. Humans spread their ideas, concepts and religions where they can reach. Religious people would not just spread their religions but try to convert others. You don’t need animals follow your religion but other humans. Humans compete with other human beings - that’s normal. A species is always competing among itself for all reason
What would not exist without lands?
Without lands, or geography, religion would not exist.
Why is Uganda sparsely populated?
Very sparsely populated. Due to extreme aid conditions. Areas like Uganda well populated and having big su
How many people live in Africa?
Africa comprises 54 countries and is home to 1.1 billion people. About 15 percent of the world population lives in this continent that constitutes about 20 percent of world area. Africa lies in the centre of the earth with the equator passing through its centre. It is the only continent that stretches from the northern temperate to the southern temperate zones. Africa is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first or second in quantity of world reserves of bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals (PGM), vermiculite, and zirconium. Gold mining is Africa's main mining resource. The continent is endowed with rich and varied biodiversity, great rivers including the largest Nile, and other water bodies and varied rich flora and fauna.
What was the weather like in Africa?
The weather of Africa was very hot and also humid.
Why was it so hard to trade in Mali?
hard to trade due to the climate which was very hot and humid. Mali came to be when a powerful trading empire Ghana was defeated. Also west Africa griots, which are storyteller, founded a great king for Mali-Sundiata Keita the ‘’Lion Prince’’who united the people of Mali.
Where did the Ghana trade routes extend?
The trade routes of Ghana extended to North Africa and down the Niger river.
A Warm Continent
Sunshine and Rainfall
- Rainfall in Africa is often a matter of extremes. Some parts get too much rain, while other parts receive too little. The amount of rainfall can also vary greatly from year to year as well as season to season. These variations have had a tremendous impact on East Africa, which endured several droughtsin the 1980s and 1990s.
A Grassy Continent
- Africa's vegetation—like its climate—is almost mirrored north and south of the equator. Africa's vegetation consists of grasslands, rain forests, and a wide variety of other plant life.
Varieties of Plantlife
- All of Africa's regions contain a variety of vegetation. North Africa contains sizable oak and pine forests in the upper reaches of the Atlas Mountains. The mangrove tree of West Africa sprouts up along river banks in swamps and river deltas. Mangrove tree roots are breeding grounds for fish. They also help to build up dry land by holding silt. In the next section, you will read about differen…