Western Africa Geography

Welcome to West Africa!Click on each item chronologically to learn about the geography, resources, and challenges the region faces.

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The geography of western Africa is varied. There are desert and semidesert countries, wet countries with one rainy season, and even wetter countries with two rainy seasons.

Western Africa has access to many important natural resources, including good farmland, forests, and fish. Most economies in western Africa depend on farming. Many people in the region survive mainly by subsistence farming — growing or raising their own food. In the last century, minerals and oil have become increasingly important to western Africa's economies. Several countries in the region are major oil producers, especially Nigeria.

Natural Resources

Natural Resources in West Africa

Many countries in western Africa are rich in mineral resources. Iron is an important resource in Mauritania. Guinea has much of the world's supply of bauxite, which is used for making aluminum. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ivory Coast have diamonds. Gold, copper, and other minerals are also mined in the region.

Nigeria has more oil reserves than any other country in Africa. It also has large coal and natural gas deposits. These resources, especially oil, are central to Nigeria's economy. Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and several other western African countries also produce some oil. Many countries in the region produce hydroelectric power, which uses running water to generate power.

Natural Resources in West Africa

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Natural Resources in West Africa

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Brainstorm: Why do you think access to clean water is such a big challenge in West Africa, and what can we do to help improve the situation for communities facing water scarcity?

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West Africa Exit Ticket

Northern Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

1/10

Western Africa is a warm region on the western coast of Africa that curves outward into the _________.

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Right!

The northernmost portion of western Africa extends into the _____________.

Sahara Desert

The Congo

Nile River

2/10

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The Nile

The Sahel

The Congo

The mostly dry strip of land that separates the Sahara desert from wetter areas in western Africa.

3/10

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A type of farming in which people grow only enough crops to feed their families and do not sell crops to others.

Subsistence Farming

Traditional Farming

Elective Farming

4/10

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Right!

Nigeria has more _________ than any other country in Africa.

Oil Reserves

Cocoa Beans

Diamonds

5/10

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The yellow section of the map is ___________

Gulf of Guinea

Sahara and Sahel

8/10

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Right!

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