Giraffes and zebras in the plains of Africa
East Africa has many mountains, and in these mountain areas are many lakes. Lake Victoria, which is where the Nile gets its water, is the second largest freshwater lake in the world. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa at over 3 ½ miles high. Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world. This island is home to Lemurs, which are relatives of monkeys, and can only be found on Madagascar and the smaller islands near it.
Northern Africa
Key Terms and Places:
Sahara the world’s largest desert
Nile River the world’s longest river
Silt soil that is good for growing crops
Suez Canal a manmade waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea
oasis a wet, fertile area in a desert where a natural spring or well provides water
Physical Features
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are the 5 countries on Northern Africa. All 5 countries touch the Mediterranean Sea. The Sahara Desert, covers most of North Africa.
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he Nile River flows north towards the Mediterranean Sea. Near its end, it forms a large river delta, or triangle shape, that empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The river helps with irrigation. In the past, floods left silt on farms. The Suez Canal, which is a manmade waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.
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he Sahara has a huge impact on all of Northern Africa. Very few people live there. Small settlements of farmers are located by oases – wet, fertile areas in the desert that are fed by natural springs.
Climate and Resources
Most of Northern Africa has a desert climate. It is hot and dry during the day and cold at night. There is very little rain. Near the Mediterranean Sea there is a Mediterranean climate. There it is hot and dry in the summer and cool and wet in the winter.
Important resources include oil and gas, particularly for Libya, Algeria, and Egypt. In Morocco, iron ore and minerals are important. Coal, oil, and natural gas are found in the Sahara.
 
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