Theory question 106
Nigeria: Physical Setting(a) On an outline map of Nigeria, locate and name (i) the four climatic belts (ii) one important town in each belt
(b) Describe the seasonal pattern of rainfall in either southern or northern Nigeria
(c) Explain the effects of the seasonal pattern of rainfall on farming activities in the area chosen in (b) above.
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(a) Map with key showing: sub-equatorial south (coast); tropical hinterland (middle belt/south); high plateau (Jos); tropical continental north; a town in each, e.g. Port Harcourt/Benin, Ilorin, Jos, Kano
(b) Southern Nigeria: long wet season March-July with heavy rain; short dry spell (August break); short wet season September-October; dry harmattan season November-March. (Northern: one wet season May/June-September, long dry season October-May)
(c) Two rainfall peaks allow two crops a year (e.g. maize); heavy rain supports tree crops (cocoa, oil palm, rubber); planting begins with the first rains and harvesting in the dry spell/season; heavy rain causes leaching and erosion, and humid conditions favour pests/tsetse that limit cattle rearing
Link each rainfall season to a farming activity.