The Democratic Republic of the Congo could use its rich mineral resources like gold, petroleum, diamonds, and copper to fuel its economy. It also has potential for agriculture, growing crops like corn, rice, cotton, palm oil and coffee. However, lack of transportation infrastructure and periods of dictatorship have crippled the economy.

1. D: 3/11/13
A: Central Africa Notes
S: How can the Democratic Republic of
the Congo use their resources?
H: None
w.o.d: canopy
Warm-Up: Answer questions under
Interpreting the Chart on pgs. 5536 &
537. Write the questions and answers.

2. Word of the Day
Word Definition Sentence Picture
The Many plants
uppermost do not grow
canopy layer of
on the floor
forest’s trees
where
of the
branches rainforest
spread out because of
and block the canopy.
sunlight.

3. Central Africa

4. I. Democratic Republic of the Congo
A. Land
1. Has high rugged mountains, four lakes,
Savannas, tropical grasslands, and highlands
2. A rainforest canopy covers the basin and Congo
River
B. Climate
1. Due to its location on the equator the climate is
a hot, humid tropical climate

5. I. Democratic Republic of the Congo
C. Economy
1. Rich in mineral resources like gold, petroleum,
diamonds & copper
2. Factories make steel, cement, tires, textiles, &
foods
3. Crops include corn, rice, cotton, palm oil &
coffee
4. Lack of transportation & dictators cripple the
economy

6. I. Democratic Republic of the Congo
D. The People
1. There are over 250 ethnic groups, French is official
language, most people are Roman Catholic
2. It was settled by the Bantu 10,000 years ago, in the
1400s the Portuguese set up a slave trade, in late
1800 Belgium took over until it became independent
Zaire in 1960. Beginning in the 1990s the people
rebelled and dictatorships were set up and it was
renamed. Today they still struggle to set up a stable
government

11. II. Other Countries of Central Africa
A. Cameroon & the Central African Republic
1. Cameroon has hot, humid lowlands along the
coast and tropical savanna and steppe climate
inland
2. The major climate of Central African Republic
lies on the equator on a savanna plateau
3. Most farm cacao, cotton, tobacco and rubber
4. Both countries are beginning to industrialize

12. II. Other Countries of Central Africa
B. Congo & Gabon
1. Both countries have swampy regions of lush dense
forests
2. They export lumber and oil but Gabon is suffering
from deforestation
B. Island Countries
1. Equatorial Guinea was a Spanish colony. They farm
cacao, harvest wood for export and fish.
2. Sao Tome & Principe were colonies of Portugal.
They grow coconuts, bananas and cacao