Meet South Africa

Landforms

                                                             Vaal River

                                          http://www.panoramio.com/photo/331612

                                                     Orange River

                                            http://www.savingwater.co.za/tag/orange-river/

Drakensberg Mountains

                                      http://www.superstock. com/stock-photos-images/1288-550                                                    

In South Africa, there is a variety of landforms, making the elevation differ by area. The highest mountains in southern Africa are located on the eastern coast of South Africa and are called the Drakensberg Mountains. Many of Africa's coasts have waterfalls lining them, and these mountains are among the escarpments that cause waterfalls to form. The mountains were formed by a subduction zone of oceanic crust sinking below continental crust, forcing the continental crust to rise, resulting in a mountain chain. At lower elevation are the main rivers of South Africa- The Orange River, The Vaal River, and The Limpopo River. There are multiple drainige basins in the country so when it rains, the water drains into the rivers, expanding them. The largest lake is Lake Chrissie which was created by dams. Lastly, there are capes that jut out into the ocean:Cape of Good Hood and Cape Agulhas. They have been eroded over a long period of time, making them very define.

From Prentice Hall

Climates

 

Marine west caost
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-africa/images/south-african-scenic-west-coast$12512-17



Semiarid
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/homes/s0343482/currentresearch.html







Arid
http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2x3384454/tree_in_arid_landscape_northern_cape_south_africa

Semiarid:

Kalihari Desert in Botswana

Arid:

Namib Deset in Namibia

Humid subtropical:

Drakensberg mountains

Mediterranean:

Occur at extreme nothern and southern edges of continents

Prentice Hall

Ecosystems

The ecosystems of South Africa are desert scrub, chaparral, tropical grasslands, and temperate grasslands.

http://www.liberty-international.co.za/images/sa_desert.jpg	The climate in South Africa is mostly arid with low amounts of precipitation, causing deserts to form.
http://biologyprojectwiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/50-25d-Chaparral.jpg/104211247/50-25d-Chaparral.jpg	Chaparral ecosystems are present when there is a mediterranean climate, and in the southern part of South Africa there is a mediterranean climate. There are small shrubs due to poor soil in that area.
http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a08/6b/en/birds-found-tropical-grassland-biome-800x800.jpg	Some areas in South Africa recieve higher amounts of rainfall than others, resulting in a tropical grassland.
http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a06/3a/h2/human-influence-temperate-grasslands-800x800.jpg	In South Africa, there is very limited arable land. Only 12% of the land in this country can be used for farming. The temperate grasslands receive a fair amount of rain, making these areas the land availabe for crops. Prentice hall

Natural resources

South Africa's most prevalent resources are coal, diamonds, uranium, and gold. It is also the worlds largest producer of platinum, gold, and chromium. South Africa makes $94.21 billion on exports and spends $92.86 billion on imports. South Africa benefits from its coastal location which gives the country easy access and ability to bring in good and sell goods to other countries. The country is full of natural resources and export more then they import. South Africa lacks adequate and modern mining facilities and has an outdated infrastructure (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html)

http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/kalgold-mine/images/3-kalgold-gold-mine.jpg

Human Environment Interactions

In South Africa, the government and citizens have had a major effect on some aspects of the environment. Many dams have been built on the rivers so that the country can be supplied with hydroelectric power, as well as water for irrigation in the areas where abundant crops are grown. The dams have also been used to prevent flooding and as a result, lakes have been formed.Along with dams, the government constructed national reserves and game reserves to protect wildlife. In the past, the country cleared large areas areas that contained rare African wildlife for their own benefit, such as grazing, farming, and livestock rasing. Many species are becoming endangered and even worse, extinct. Now, South Africa has some of the biggest natural reserves in the world so that animals such as elephants, zebras, lions, and leapords can continue to live unharmed. Some of the effects, however, are not positive. Citizens living off of home-made goods often contribute to the widespread issue of poaching. The poor area of the country poaches because they are in desperate need of money and one horn from a rhino equals more money than one year's salary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hydroelectric_power_stations_in_South_Africa
http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?sid=1116586&cid=50&useConcept=False

National Park http://www.willgoto.com/1/145199/liens.aspx

Poaching http://conservationbiology.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/poached.jpg

Political Borders

(http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/kalgold-mine/images/3-kalgold-gold-mine.jpg)

The southern border is formed by the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. The eastern border consists is shared with Mozambique and the Indian Ocean. Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and the Limpopo River make up the northern border. To the west Namibia, the Orange River, and the Orange River form South Africa's border. Inside of South Africa reside two nation states; Lesotho and Swaziland. South Africa's borders are both natural and man made but are mostly formed by oceans and rivers. The two independent countries inside of South Africa and strictly man made borders (Prentice Hall)(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html)

Culture

Ethnicity http://jspivey.wikispaces.com/file/view/ black_sudanese.jpg/34257087/black_sudanese.jpg	Religion http://mysteryworlds.files.wordpress.com /2011/08/christianity_cross.png
Language http://www.puo.co.za/export/sites/puo/ files/content/TipsFlagLanguages.jpg	Food http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u80/ AtlFoodie/BoneHeads/Chicken2.jpg

In South Africa, there is a very diverse culture made of up different aspects such as ehnicities,language, religion and beliefs, and food. The country is made up of 79% Black Africans, 10% White, 2.9% Asian and 8.5% mixed races(Black and European). Since colonization, South Africa has been an immense place of migration leading directly to their varying ethnic groups. As people settled, their culture did too, allowing different ethnic groups to communicate. European Imperialism brought Europeans, adding to the large mix. Next, slaves were sent in from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Mozambique, and Indians were recruited for helping with agriculture. Then, when Apartheid occured, the races were seperated but when it finally came to an end, Black and White people started marrying, forming another ethnic group of mixed descent. Along with ethnicites, the religions practiced are also an assortmant. 75-80% of the population are Christian, being the official religion, but there are others that are widely practiced among natives with christian ideals. When Europeans immigrated into the area, they brought their catholoic beliefs with them. Soon after, natives that were invaded on adopted catholic views and incorperated them into their own religions-one of them being the San and Khoisan religion. The people that continue to worship with that religion believe that hands and dance to the God heel all sicknesses and wounds. Christianity and San and Khosian are not the only religions, though, there are also some Muslims and Hindus living in South Africa. These religions were introduced from the Asian descent in the country. There are 11 official languages in South Africa, the major ones being English and Afrikaan. Like religions, there is are more languages that are spoken, just not as widely spread, and by native tribes that remain still in the area. The languages came along with all of the immigrants, and have mixed to form branches of dialects off of the main languages. Finally, the food in South Africa was also brought by the different origins of South Africans, and now are the normal local cuisine. The farmers typically harvest millet, sweet potatoes, beans, nuts and pumpkins and use them to make meals around the house. Rice, meat, and milk products are also highly consumed among households and restaurants. The Indian and Asian backgrounds introduced chutney, garlic, chilies, onions, and curry to spice up their every-day food. Lastly, the British immigrants brought the idea of meat pies, which are sold almost everywhere in South Africa.


http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?sid=1114821&cid=45&useConcept=False
http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?sid=1115479&cid=65&useConcept=False

Demographics

http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/region.php

South Africa has high population concentrations in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Black Africans make up 79% of the population, Whites are 9.6%, Colored people are 8.9, and Indian/Asians make up 2.5% of South Africa's total population. The urban population is 62% and the median age is 24.7. Cape town has been made prevalent because of its great coastal location that is good for trade and has a population of 3.353 million. Johannesburg is also a big port city and South Africa's largest city with a population of 3.607 million. There are more jobs and opportunities in the city, but the 38% of the population the is rural most likely does not have the means to move into big cities.The life expectancy in South Africa is 49.41. Many people dies young because of diseases and improper nutrition.

http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?cid=1001&useConcept=False

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

Government Systems

South Africa became an established Republic on May 31, 1961, and ever since the end of Apartheid in 1993, the country has been a multiparty democracy, similar to the one of the United States. The government believed that if they introduced this type of government system it would help the country prosper and expand its economies. On November 1993, the citizens put into place an interim constitution decided by a multiparty negotiating forum. This constitution was put into place to guide the country through a transitional period of 5 years, and to determine a permanent government. The interim constitution provided for a democratic system, individual freedoms from a bill of rights, and 3 branches of government-the executive,legislative, and judiciary. The 3 branches were established so that the president would not have too much power, and that it would be distributed evenly; which is also very similar to the U.S government. After 5 years, the real constitution was adopted and its ideas were based off of the interim constitution for a nonracial democracy. The constitution also gives some local power along with its central power, creating local governments. In 1994, the country was divided out of its previous 4 provinces, giving each its own legislature. The provinces all have some sort of executive authority in areas such as roads, sports, and provincial planning. However, most of the decisions are made by leaders voted upon by citizens. http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?sid=1114856&cid=72&useConcept=False

http://www.freemedia.at/typo3temp/pics/58eb9bbf44.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/06/02/Zuma.jpg

Economic activities

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4856421840_ef075f8df1.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4856421840_ef075f8df1.jpg

Livestock raising is the most common economic activity and commercial farming is the secong most common. There are also small amounts of Manufacturing and trade, and subsistence farming. South Africa has mainly primary activities with little secondary and almost no tertiary or quaternery activities. This makes South Africa a Developing Nation. South Africa is much more developed than other parts of Africa which mostly have subsistence farming as their main economic activity. (Prentice Hall)

Current or Future Issues

http://cdn.radionetherlands.nl/data/files/imagecache/must_carry/images/lead/AIDS-Campaign.jpg http://southafrica-for-dummies.com/image-files/aids-in-southafrica-grafiti.jpg http://www.globalenvision.org/files/capetown.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1239/1366411450_e561847734_o.jpg http://www.justassociates.org/images/gay-rights-march-soweto-reuters.jpg http://blogs.cfr.org/coleman/files/2012/05/zimbabwe-woman-farmer-genetically-modified-agriculture-subsistence-corn.jpg

South Africa's biggest problem is HIV and AIDS. 5.7 million people in South Afica have HIV or AIDs and there are 1 million orphaned children by AIDs related illnesses. This affects the economy, education and politics. The emergence of new drug resistant strains of Tuberculosus (which is contracted easily by thoose with compromised immune systems) has hightened mortality rates. Altough South Africa has the worls largest antiretroviral therepy program, it only serviced 28% of the countrys population. Government positions on HIV and AIDS are the most visible source of the political outcry. The former President, Mbeki, publically expressed doubt that HIV causes AIDS and the Health Minister, Tshabalala, argued that AIDS patients should explore using herbal remedies (lemon juice, garlic, and beets) in place of antiretrovirus drugs developed in the west. The Deputy Health Minister, Madlala-Routlege, was fired for attending an AIDS conference in Spain. The new Health Minister, Hogan, believes HIV causes AIDS and antiretroviral drugs are the best treatment. The current Health Minister, Motsoal, is working to treat 80% of the infected population by 2012 and has increased funding for treatment and prevention. Another major problem for South Africa is refugees. There are 10,772 refugees from D. R.C, 7,818 from Somalia, 5,759 from Angola, which makes a total of 24,349 refugees. Gay rights and genetically modified crops are alos issues for South Africa. The debate with genetically modified crops is whether they benefit farmers or pose a risk and has caused an intense debate. 75% of cotton, 25% of soy, and 20% of corn are genetically modified. These crops pose a financial risk and the high cots may out weigh the benefits of pest resistance and high yielding crops. Another risk is that a farmers investment can easily be lost with a drought of flood that kills the crops. The usage of genetically modified crops also forces a dependent relationship with western companies and causes a western monopoly.

http://worldgeography.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/166?sid=1116337&cid=59&useConcept=False

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html