GY 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Niger River, Zambezi, Ethiopian Highlands
21 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Among the poorest, most rural, and youngest regions. Colonialism, daily tasks that tie this region together. Regional unity based on colonial experience and common livelihoods. African north and african south of sahara dessert. Region lacks common religion, language, or philosophy. Poor soils, widespread disease, and vulnerable to drought. 4 major river systems: congo largest watershed in region, niger critical for west africa, flows out into the atlantic ocean, nile key to north africa, zambezi source of hydroelectric power. Grasslands and semi-arid areas possess more fertile soils. Home to world"s second-largest expanse of tropical rain forest. Logging and agriculture have cleared western and southern edges of ituri. Sahara stretched from atlantic coast to red sea. Largest wet savanna with woodlands flank zambezi river. Northward rainy season is may to october with decreasing precipitation. Belt of deserts around horn of africa. Life of shel is balance of limited rain, drought-resistant plants and transhumance.
