Africa: Geography Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 7 PDF Download

Introduction

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, known for its diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and unique wildlife. This chapter explores the geography of Africa by dividing it into five regions. Each region has its own countries, physical features, and characteristics. Learning about these regions helps us understand the continent's geography and the countries that make it special. In this chapter, we will study the countries in each region and review all of them at the end to build a complete picture of Africa's geography.

Countries of Africa

Region 1

• North Africa is one of the regions of Africa, located in the northern part of the continent.
• It includes countries along the Mediterranean Sea and near the Sahara Desert.
• Countries in this region are:
  • Egypt: Known for the Nile River and pyramids, located in the northeast.
  • ​Libya: A country with a long Mediterranean coastline and large desert areas.
  • Tunisia: A small country with a mix of coastal areas and desert landscapes.
  • Algeria: The largest country in Africa by land area, with vast deserts and mountains.
  • Morocco: Famous for its mountains, deserts, and vibrant markets.
  • Western Sahara: A disputed territory with mostly desert terrain.
• These countries have a mix of coastal plains, deserts, and some mountain ranges.
• The Sahara Desert covers a large part of this region, making it very dry.

Region 2

• West Africa is located along the Atlantic Ocean, south of the Sahara Desert.
• This region is known for its tropical forests, rivers, and diverse cultures.
• Countries in this region are:
  • Benin: A small country with a coastline and a mix of forests and savannas.
  • Burkina Faso: A landlocked country with grasslands and some forests.
  • Cabo Verde: An island nation in the Atlantic Ocean with volcanic landscapes.
  • Côte d'Ivoire: Known for its rainforests and cocoa production.
  • Gambia: A small country surrounded by Senegal, along the Gambia River.
  • Ghana: Famous for its gold and cocoa, with a mix of forests and coasts.
  • Guinea: Has rainforests, mountains, and a coastal plain.
  • Guinea-Bissau: A small country with wetlands and a coastline.
  • Liberia: Known for its rainforests and beaches along the Atlantic.
  • Mali: A large, landlocked country with deserts and the Niger River.
  • Mauritania: Mostly desert, with some coastal areas.
  • Niger: A landlocked country with vast deserts and some savannas.
  • Nigeria: The most populous country in Africa, with forests and oil resources.
  • Senegal: Known for its coastal city Dakar and savanna landscapes.
  • Sierra Leone: Has rainforests, beaches, and diamond mining areas.
  • Togo: A narrow country with a coastline and hilly regions.
• This region has a mix of rainforests, savannas, and coastal areas.

Region 3

• Central Africa is located in the heart of the continent, near the equator.
• It is known for its dense rainforests and the Congo River.
• Countries in this region are:
  • Cameroon: Has rainforests, mountains, and a coastline.
  • Central African Republic: A landlocked country with forests and savannas.
  • Chad: A large, landlocked country with deserts and Lake Chad.
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo: The second-largest country in Africa, with vast rainforests and the Congo River.
  • Republic of the Congo: Known for its rainforests and the Congo River.
  • Equatorial Guinea: Includes a mainland and islands, with rainforests and oil resources.
  • Gabon: Has dense rainforests and a coastline along the Atlantic.
  • São Tomé and Príncipe: A small island nation with tropical forests.
• This region is very green with thick forests and many rivers.

Region 4

• East Africa is located along the Indian Ocean and includes the Great Rift Valley.
• It is famous for its wildlife, mountains, and lakes.
• Countries in this region are:
  • Burundi: A small, landlocked country with hills and lakes.
  • Comoros: An island nation in the Indian Ocean with volcanic landscapes.
  • Djibouti: A small country with a coastline and desert areas.
  • Eritrea: Has a long coastline along the Red Sea and mountainous areas.
  • Ethiopia: A landlocked country with highlands and historical sites.
  • Kenya: Known for its savannas, wildlife, and Mount Kenya.
  • Madagascar: A large island with unique animals and rainforests.
  • Malawi: A landlocked country with Lake Malawi and highlands.
  • Mauritius: An island nation known for its beaches and coral reefs.
  • Mozambique: Has a long coastline and savanna landscapes.
  • Rwanda: A small, landlocked country with hills and forests.
  • Seychelles: An island nation with beautiful beaches and coral islands.
  • Somalia: Has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean and arid lands.
  • South Sudan: A landlocked country with swamps and grasslands.
  • Tanzania: Famous for Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti wildlife.
  • Uganda: Known for Lake Victoria and mountain gorillas.
• This region has diverse landscapes, including mountains, lakes, and savannas.

Region 5

• Southern Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent.
• It is known for its deserts, grasslands, and coastal areas.
• Countries in this region are:
  • Angola: Has a coastline, rainforests, and savannas.
  • Botswana: A landlocked country with the Kalahari Desert and wildlife.
  • Eswatini: A small, landlocked country with hills and savannas.
  • Lesotho: A mountainous, landlocked country surrounded by South Africa.
  • Namibia: Known for the Namib Desert and a long coastline.
  • South Africa: Has diverse landscapes, including mountains, deserts, and coasts.
  • Zambia: A landlocked country with rivers and Victoria Falls.
  • Zimbabwe: Known for Victoria Falls and savanna landscapes.
• This region has a mix of deserts, mountains, and grassy plains.

Review

• Africa has 54 countries, divided into five regions: North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa.
• North Africa includes 6 countries: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Western Sahara.
• West Africa has 16 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
• Central Africa includes 8 countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
• East Africa has 16 countries: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
• Southern Africa includes 8 countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Each region has unique landscapes, such as deserts, rainforests, mountains, and coastlines.
• Knowing these countries helps us understand Africa's diverse geography and cultures.