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Exploring Africa's Physical and Cultural Geography Using Published Maps

Activity 2

Instructions for Students

Goal:  Understand the interrelationships among characteristics of the physical and human environment of Africa.

Sources used in this assignment:

Rand McNally Classroom Atlas.  1997.  IBSN 528-17729-X.

Rand McNally Goode's World Atlas.  1995.  19th Edition.  LC Catalog Card Number 94-68645.

World Geography Today.  1997.  Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.   Austin:  Harcourt Brace and Company.
        ISBN     0-03-016802-3.

Step 1.  Examine the following maps:

From the Classroom Atlas:

Africa political map, page 75.
Africa physical map, page 74.

From Goode's World Atlas:

Africa landforms map, page 206.
Africa cities and elevation, pages 210-213.

From World Geography Today:

Africa population map, page 419.
 

Step 2.  Answer the following questions using these maps:

A)    In which relief area are the largest number of cities located?   Why?
 
 
 

B)  In which relief area are the fewest number of cities located?  Why?
 
 
 

C)  How does proximity to water determine city size?  Explain.
 
 
 
 

Step 3.  Examine the following map in addition to the ones listed above:

From Goode's World Atlas:

Africa annual precipitation map, page 207.

Step 4.  Answer these questions:

A)    In which precipitation area are the least number of cities located?
 
 
 

B)     Can you explain the location of the 2 large cities in North Africa that are in the lowest precipitation range?
 
 
 
 

Step 5.  Examine the following map in addition to the ones listed above:

From the Classroom Atlas:

Africa climate map, page 77.
 
Step 6.  Answer this question:

A)    Does climate have an effect on city size?  What is this effect?
 
 
*** End of Activity 2 Using Published Maps ***