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PRELIMS : Conventional Papers Free Samples
GEOGRAPHY
Important Note: Geography is one subject which needs high command over the maps. We suggest you to keep Orient Longman Atlas with you while you go through this material. Without doing that, it would be nothing else than wasting time on this content.
- African continent is separated from Europe by Mediterranean Sea and from Asia by Red Sea.
- It touches Eurasia at 3 pts: -
Strait of Gibralter in North-West.
Suez Canal in North-East.
Strait of Bab-el-Mandab in East.
- Africa consist of several plateaus, plateau is higher in South and East.
- RIFT VALLEY - One of special physical features of Africa. A Rift Valley is a long and deep valley formed due to cracks or rifts in the land. Running from south of Lake Malawi northward to Red Sea and then through Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqfuaba to DeadSea.
Courtesy: Orient Longman
- Kilimanjaro Mt.: Highest peak of Africa. Situated in Tanzania.
- Pemba / Zanzibar: Tiny Island situated off the Coast of Tanzania. Biggest producer and exporters of cloves in the world.
- Arranged from west to east, the Atlantic Coasts of South West Africa are Grain coast, Ivory coast, Gold coast and Slave coast (GIGS).
- SWAHILI - A language understood by many people.
- ANIMISM - Religion followed by many tribes (love and respect of Nature).
- Prime Meridian (Greenwich Line) pass through Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana arranged from North to South. It also cuts Togo, Lake Volta and River Niger.
- Both Tropic of Cancer and Prime Meridian cross each other at ALGERIA
- Equator and Greenwich meet at "South Atlantic Ocean".
TROPIC OF CAPRICORN PASSES THROUGH
(arranged from west to east) : |
| COUNTRY |
CAPITAL |
| 1. Namibia |
Windhoek |
| 2. Botswana |
Gaborone |
| 3. South Africa |
Pretoria |
| 4. Mozambique |
Maputo |
| 5. Madagascar |
Antan
Anarivo |
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TROPIC OF CAPRICORN PASSES THROUGH NAMIB DESERT AND THE LIMPOPO RIVER.
EQUATOR PASSES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES
(arranged from east to west) |
| COUNTRYCAPITALSOME FACTS |
| 1. Somalia |
Mogadishu |
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| 2. Kenya |
Nairobi |
Mt. Kenya located on Equator |
| 3. Uganda |
Kampala |
Equator passes thro. Lake Victoria & L. Edward |
| 4. Democratic Rep of Congo |
Kinshasa |
Cap. Located on R. Zaire |
| 5. Congo |
Brazzaville |
Cap. Located on R. Zaire |
| 6. Gabon |
Franceville (Libreville) |
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| EQATOR CUTS THE R. ZAIRE (CONGO) TWICE |
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CLIMATE AND NATURAL VEGETATION
- Latitudes - 37o14'N to 34o50'S. Africa is most tropical of all continents.
- AL-AZIZIYAH (Libya) - Highest temperature in world (58oC).
- Cape DEBUNDSHA (Cameroon): Wettest place in Africa (1029cm)
- WADI HALFA (Sudan): Driest place (2.5mm rainfall)
- EQUATORIAL TYPE OF CLIMATE - It rains daily at belt lying along the equator on both sides and has a hot, wet climate (Hot-Wet Summer). Here forest is TROPICAL RAIN FOREST.
- SUDAN TYPE OF CLIMATE - To North and South of Equatorial Climate. Warm Summers & Mild Winters. Most of Rain in summers. Distinct dry period. Vegetation is mostly grasses.
- SAVANNA - The region covered with tall and coarse grasses is known as Savanna.
- DESERT TYPE OF CLIMATE - No rainfall. Climate is hot and dry. Vegetation is wholly absent or includes only shrubs and bushes.
- MEDITERRANEAN TYPE - Northern and Southern coasts of Africa have mild and RAINY WINTERS with DRY SUMMERS.
MINERALS
- Diamond - 95% of world's diamond production comes from Africa.
- Gold - More than ½ Gold production is from Africa. South Africa is major producer.
- Platinum - South Africa is a major producer.
- Not much coal and iron or in this continent, which hampered production of steel & industrial growth.
- South Africa - Leads the world in CHROMIUM (does not rust), Gold and Platinum.
- Petroleum - ANGOLA, NIGERIA and LIBYA.
 
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