Landforms of Africa
These mountains in northwest Africa helped give the Atlantic Ocean its name.
Atlas Mountains
Flowing north through eleven countries, this river made ancient Egyptian civilization possible by flooding each year and depositing fertile silt along its banks.
The Nile River
The Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea are found in this region at the very top of Africa.
North Africa
This grassy area with scattered trees covers large parts of Africa and is home to animals like lions, zebras, and elephants.
Savanna — a warm grassland with both rainy and dry seasons.
This is the largest country in Africa by land area.
Rising nearly 6,000 meters above sea level, this free-standing volcano in Tanzania has snow on its peak despite being near the equator.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Once one of Africa’s largest lakes, this shallow body of water in the Sahel has been shrinking due to overuse and desertification, threatening millions who depend on it for fishing and farming.
Lake Chad
Countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia belong to this region, known for its savannas, wildlife, and the Great Rift Valley.
East Africa
This semi-dry grassland lies between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannas to the south. It often faces drought and desertification as the desert slowly spreads.
Sahel — a dry transition zone that separates the Sahara Desert from the savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa.
This African city is one of the northernmost capitals on the continent and lies on the Nile River — it’s also one of the world’s hottest major cities.
Cairo
Covering parts of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, this semi-desert is known for its striking red sand and scattered grasses. Unlike true deserts, it receives seasonal rain that supports wildlife such as meerkats, springboks, ostriches, and gemsbok.
Kalahari Desert
This river flows through several southern African countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It is home to Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world
Zambezi River
Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal belong to this region along the Atlantic coast, known for ancient empires, trade routes, and diverse cultures.
West Africa
Near the equator, this part of Africa has thick forests, heavy rainfall, and warm temperatures all year. It’s home to the Congo Rainforest, where many plants and animals depend on constant moisture and shade. What type of environment is this?
Tropical Rainforest — a hot, humid area with year-round rain and dense tree cover.
This African city is the southernmost on the continent and is famous for Table Mountain and the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Cape Town
This high plateau region in East Africa, known for its fertile volcanic soil, is sometimes called the “Roof of Africa.
Ethiopian Highlands
These are the three largest Great Lakes of Africa, all located along the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. Name them.
Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi
What is the easternmost part of East Africa called?
Horn of Africa
In dry areas like the Sahel, cutting down trees, overgrazing animals, and farming the same land too often can cause once-healthy soil to turn into desert. What is this process called?
Desertification — when fertile land becomes desert because of climate change and human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and poor farming practices.
This lake in Central Africa is one of the deepest in the world, formed by the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Tanganyika
These two Southern African deserts share arid climates but differ sharply: one is a semi-desert of red sand and seasonal grasslands supporting wildlife, while the other is a coastal desert shaped by cold ocean currents and fog.
Kalahari Desert and Namib Desert
This major African river flows through rainforests and has an unusual path that affects the region’s climate and seasons. What is the rare geographic fact about its journey across the continent?
Because it crosses the equator twice, both sides of the river get heavy rainfall at different times of year, creating a hot, wet climate with alternating rainy seasons—so the Congo Basin stays humid all year long.
These two neighboring regions differ sharply in their landscapes—one has the Congo Basin rainforest, while the other is shaped by the Great Rift Valley with mountains and lakes. Name both regions.
Central Africa and East Africa
As you move from the equator toward the north or south in Africa, the land changes from rainforest to savanna to desert. What main factor causes these changes in temperature and rainfall across the continent?
Latitude — places near the equator get more direct sunlight and heavy rainfall, leading to tropical rainforests. Areas farther north and south get less sunlight and rain, which creates grasslands and deserts.
This city is Africa’s largest by population, known for its busy markets, growing economy, and massive traffic jams.
Lagos (commercial center of Nigeria)