Africa Physical Features
Learn about 4 of Africa's Physical Features!
Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is world's largest desert. It is 3,500,000 square miles. In the North it is bordered by the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. On the south it is bordered by the Sahel. Sand dunes cover about 15% of the desert, stone deserts about 70%, and mountains, oases, and transition zones cover the rest. It has one the harshest climates in the world.
Atlas Mountains
The Atlas mountains are a system of ranges and plateaus that extents 1,500 miles. Some of the highest mountain ranges are found here. Fertile lowlands separate the ranges. On the north they are well watered & have important farmlands. On the south they are covered in shrubbery and have salt lakes and salt flats. The mountains are rich in minerals.
Red Sea
The red sea is long and narrow. The red sea sits in between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. it is linked to the India ocean by the gulp of arabia. summer water temperatures often exceed 85 degrees fahrenheit.
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley ranges in elevation from 1,300 feet below sea level at the Dead Sea to 6,000 feet above sea level in southern Kenya. Erosion has leveled out much of the valley. There are cliffs that are several thousand feet high.