Why is this a REGION?

A region is a part of the earth that is marked by physical and/or cultural characteristics that make it different from neighboring areas. You and your teammates will be assigned a group of countries that many geographers consider to make up a region. Your task will be to discover why these countries form a region.

You will do this by examining three broad areas and then drawing some conclusions about this region:

1. Physical geography – You will produce one or more maps to show how this region differs from neighboring areas. Patterns to investigate may include climate, land use, physical features, rainfall, vegetation, natural resources, etc.

2. Cultural geography – Look at cultural characteristics such as language, religion, colonial past, history, governmental systems, architecture, music, dress, disease and the like. What do these countries have in common that differs from their neighbors?

3. Economics – Is this region relatively “rich” or “poor”? Why? Look at per capita income, natural resources, arable land, political stability, literacy rates, life expectancy, industrialization, availability of capital, etc. Is this region better or worse off than its neighbors?

4. Now, sum it up. What are the relative strengths of this region?

What are the challenges that this region must face?

You will be responsible as a group for teaching the class about your region. Each of you will be responsible for knowing and understanding all the information. Be prepared! I may ask any group member a question on any part of the presentation. You can use a poster or PowerPoint to make your presentation.

African Regions

North Africa Region: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt

Saharan Africa Region: Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti

West Africa Region: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria

Central Africa Region: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo Republic, Congo (Zaire), Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi

Swahili Coast Region: Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique

Southern Africa Region: Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho

South Africa: South Africa

Indian Ocean Region: Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius