Chapter 20 Homework

Chapter 20, Section 1

1. The shifting of tectonic plates affects the developments of Africa south of the Sahara by causing things like the Great Rift Valley which is a huge depression in the Earth's surface. Other things like falut lines, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions help shape the valleys striking landscape and it continues to change today.

2. Landforms affect water systems in Africa south of the Sahara because lakes and rivers are located in huge basins formed hundreds of years ago by the uplifting land. The lands many ridges break the rivers paths to the ocean making it very difficult to track where the mouth and source of a river is.

Creative Writing:

Landforms and water systems in Africa south of the Sahara can be problems for the nations. Water is very abundant at some times of the year but because of pratical uses like irrigation and hydroelectric power, the use of water is difficult. Rainfall in these areas is irregular and unpredictable. When these challenges are combined with a lack of financial support, it results in unused hydroelectric power potential in parts of the region.


Chapter 20, Section 2

1. Three geographic factors that affect the climate in Africa south of the Sahara are ocean currents, prevailing winds, and elevation and latitude.

2. The major kinds of vegetation found in Africa south of the Sahara are shrubs, ferns, mosses, trees, and palms located in rainforests and bananas, pineapples, cocoa,tea, coffee, and cotton grown on plantations.

Creative Writing

The Great Plains in the United States and Canada are very alike yet different to the Serengeti Plain. They are both very large plains, but the Serengeti Plains are not very fertile and the Great Plains are. They also have an extremely different array of animals. The Serengeti Plains have animals liek zebras, gazelles, hyenas, lions, giraffes, and cheetas while the Great Plains have animals like deer, horses, cayotes, etc.