3. Boundaries
 The subregion is
bordered by the
Atlantic Ocean in
the West, the Red
Sea in the East and
the Mediterranean
Sea to the North.

4. Countries in the North Africa:

5.  the Maghrib, Arabic meaning “where the sun sets”
(the western sub region that includes
Morocco/Western Sahara, Algeria, and Tunisia)
 the Mashriq meaning “where the sun rises” (the
eastern sub region including Libya and Egypt)

6. Climate
 The subregion is characterized, in general,
by a hot and dry to very dry climate. Its
northern part falls under the temperate
influence of the Mediterranean, while the
central and southern regions are desert.
Owing to the latitude range from 19° to 37°
N and altitude of up to 4 165 m in the High
Atlas of Morocco, the rainfall regime is quite
variable. The average annual precipitation is
below 100 mm in the Sahara but as high as 1
500 mm in the regions of Ain Draham and
Djebel El Ghorra in Tunisia and up to 2 000
mm in the mountains of Morocco. However,
less than 10 percent of the subregion
receives more than 300 mm per year. A hot,
dry sirocco wind blowing north from the
Sahara is frequent during the summer
season, bringing blinding sand and dust
storms to the coastal regions.

7. Physical Map of North Africa

8.  SAHARA DESERT
Covering almost one-third of the continent, the Sahara
is the largest desert in the world at approximately
3,500,000 sq. miles (9,065,000 sq. km) in total size.

9.  Sand dunes – winds
blowing across sahara

10.  NUBIAN DESERT
- is in the eastern region of the Sahara Desert,
spanning approximately 400,000 There is
virtually no rainfall in the Nubian, and there are
no oases. The traditional inhabitants of the area
are the Nubians.

11. ATLAS MOUNTAINS
This mountain system runs from southwestern Morocco along the Mediterranean
coastline to the eastern edge of Tunisia. Several smaller ranges are included, namely
the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Maritime Atlas. The highest peak is Mt. Toubkal in
western Morocco at 13,671 ft. (4,167m).
ATLAS MOUNTAINS

12. NILE RIVER SYSTEM
The longest river in the
world (flows north), rising
from the highlands of
southeastern Africa and
running about 4,160 miles
(6,693 km) in length, to
then drain in the
Mediterranean Sea. In
simple terms it's a series
of dams, rapids, streams,
swamps, tributaries and
waterfalls. Numerous
(major) rivers comprise
the overall system,
including the Albert Nile,
Blue Nile, Victoria Nile
and White Nile.

13. NILE DELTA
As the river nears the Mediterranean, it separates into
small streams.

14. Resources
Main livelihood: Farming (arable land) and Exporting minerals
Products: Wheat, Barley, Citrus Fruits, Olives, Dates, Tomatoes,
Onions, Pepper, Cotton
Minerals: iron ore, silver, zinc, copper, lead, manganese, barytine, gold,
salt, limestone, gypsum, coal, petroleum and natural gas exports
• North Africa also produces forest products, including furniture and
cabinet wood
• Western Sahara is a major phosphate producer
• a leading producer of cork.
Livestock: cattle, sheep, camels

15. Languages: Arabic (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Tunisia ), Berber dialects, Niger-Congo languages (Mauritania)
Berber Dialects:
Algeria- Kabyle, Shawiya, Tuareg
Libya- Nafusi, Tuareg
Mauritania- Zenaga, Tamasheq
Morocco- Riff, Shilha, Central Morocco Tamazight
Tunisia- Djerbi / Shelha
Races: Arabs, Berbers, Caucasians, Moors

16. Religion
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Islam 90.5 % Christianity 5.20 Traditional Baha'i 0.1 % Judaism 0.1 %
% Religion 4.10 %

17. Currencies
Dinar (Algerian, Libyan, Tunisian)

18. Egyptian Pound

19. Dirham (Morocca, Western Sahara)

20. Environmental Issues

21. Drought
 Many people in Africa suffer greatly because of the hot dry
climate. Countries such as Chad, Burkina Faso and Nigeria
can often go for many weeks without rain. The land
becomes dusty and infertile, and crops cannot be grown.
Thousands of families are forced to leave their homes in
search of food and aid.

22. Drought

23. Drought

24. Overgrazing
 occurs when plants are exposed to
intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or
without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused
by either livestock in poorly
managed agricultural applications, or by
overpopulations of native or non-native wild
animals.
 Overgrazing reduces the
usefulness, productivity, and biodiversity of the land
and is one cause of desertification and erosion.
Overgrazing is also seen as a cause of the spread
of invasive species of non-native plants and of
weeds.

25. Overgrazing

26. Stripping of vegetation
 For fuel food and animal fodder
 This has reduced the already
limited amount of land available
for farming

27. Desertification
 is the degradation of land in any dry land. It is
caused by a variety of factors, such as climate
change and human activities, desertification is one
of the most significant global environmental
problems.
 The Sahara is currently expanding south at a rate of
up to 48 kilometers per year.
 Desertification in the Sahel is progressing at
an alarmingly rapid rate, with 2,500 hectares, an
area the size of Luxemburg, being desertified each
year.