Climate and Vegetation

Climate and Vegetation

1. Tropical Rain forests

   • West and Central Africa
     • 20% of continent
   • Forest moisture
     • Rich enviroment
       • Home to variety of plants and animals
   • Cacao and cassava
   • Fish and hunt
   • Harvest timber
     • Threatens rain forest

2. Tropical Savannas

   • Most common vegetation in Africa
     • Tall grasses, thorny bushes, scattered trees
       • Home to lions, elephants, and zebras
   • Dry season
     • Farming impossible
       • Trade
       • Build houses
       • Visit friends
   • Wet season
     • Plant crops/farm

3. Deserts

   • Sahara
     • Covers as much land as U.S.
     • Meets Sahel
   • Namib
     • Sand dunes
   • Kalahari
     • Scrub and small bushes
   • Nomads/Desert Living
     • Herders who trade
     • Travel to places with food and water for sheep, camels, goats
       • Spring-Mountains
       • Dry season-Oases
       • Rainy season-pastures

4. Sahel

   • Hot
   • Dry
     • 4 to 8 inches of rain
   • Small shrubs, grass, some trees

5. Effect on Health

   • Malaria
     • Mosquitoes
       • Live in warm, moist climates. Breed in water
         • South of the Sahara
   • Tsetse fly
     • Sleeping sickness, fatal to cows
     • 1/5 of Africa