Welcome to West Africa!Click on each item chronologically to learn about the geography, resources, and challenges the region faces.
Explore the Sahel in Burkina Faso- Click the Link to Start Your Adventure!
Brainstorm: How can we preserve the African Sahel and prevent it from turning into desert?
Article to Learn More
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.
Time to head home->
Natural Resources
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 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.
Natural Resources in West Africa
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
Time to head home
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?
Time to head home
West Africa Exit Ticket
start
1/10
Western Africa is a warm region on the western coast of Africa that curves outward into the _________.
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Northern Sea
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
2/10
The northernmost portion of western Africa extends into the _____________.
The Congo
Nile River
Sahara Desert
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
3/10
The mostly dry strip of land that separates the Sahara desert from wetter areas in western Africa.
The Sahel
The Nile
The Congo
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
4/10
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
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
5/10
Nigeria has more _________ than any other country in Africa.
Oil Reserves
Diamonds
Cocoa Beans
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
8/10
The yellow section of the map is ___________
Sahara and Sahel
Gulf of Guinea
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
Congratulations!
You've finished your burger. It's time to eat!
start over?
Western Africa Geography
Erika Barlow
Created on March 18, 2025
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Transcript
Welcome to West Africa!Click on each item chronologically to learn about the geography, resources, and challenges the region faces.
Explore the Sahel in Burkina Faso- Click the Link to Start Your Adventure!
Brainstorm: How can we preserve the African Sahel and prevent it from turning into desert?
Article to Learn More
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.
Time to head home->
Natural Resources
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 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.
Natural Resources in West Africa
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
Time to head home
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?
Time to head home
West Africa Exit Ticket
start
1/10
Western Africa is a warm region on the western coast of Africa that curves outward into the _________.
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Northern Sea
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
2/10
The northernmost portion of western Africa extends into the _____________.
The Congo
Nile River
Sahara Desert
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
3/10
The mostly dry strip of land that separates the Sahara desert from wetter areas in western Africa.
The Sahel
The Nile
The Congo
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
4/10
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
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
5/10
Nigeria has more _________ than any other country in Africa.
Oil Reserves
Diamonds
Cocoa Beans
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
8/10
The yellow section of the map is ___________
Sahara and Sahel
Gulf of Guinea
Right!
Let's move on to the next question
Congratulations!
You've finished your burger. It's time to eat!
start over?