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| Geography Continued |
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| Africa was also rich in natural resources, which included metal ores, precious minerals, and stones, as well as ivory and gold. Metal ores of iron and copper were found scattered throughout the continent. Gold was abundant in West and Central Africa, while diamonds came from South Africa. The Zambezi Valley was known for its sources of gold and ivory. Salt was an important product in North Africa. These resources attracted Europeans to a great extent, resulting in the colonization of the continent in the early twentieth century. Animal life was also abundant in Africa. The Africans regarded the animals as their brothers. In the past, as well as in present times, they depended on the wildlife for their survival as a source of food and trade. |
| The physical landscape in Africa is diverse due in part to the different climates present. There are four types of vegetation in Africa. 1. Deserts 2. Woodlands 3. Grasslands 4. Forests Tropical rain forest is located around the equator along the south coast of West African and into the Congo River basin. North and south of the rain forest, the land changes to woodland and grassland, known as the Savannah. Bordering the Savannah to the north and south lie the deserts. A number of mountain ranges and highlands are scattered throughout North and East Africa, most notably the Atlas Mountains in the north and the Drankensberg Range in the south. |