WAEC Geography 2007 Theory question 109

Theory question 109

Geography of Africa

(a) Draw a sketch map of Africa. On the map, locate and name (i) Rivers Niger and Zambezi; (ii) Lake Victoria; (iii) Latitudes 23½°N and 23½°S; (iv) The Atlas Mountains (v) Two mining areas — one for petroleum in West Africa and one for gold in South Africa. (b) Highlight five ways in which either petroleum or gold is of economic importance to the area in 9(a)(v) above.

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Model answer

(a) Niger from Guinea through Mali, Niger and Nigeria to the Gulf of Guinea; Zambezi from Zambia/Angola east to the Indian Ocean in Mozambique; Lake Victoria in East Africa astride the equator; Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn; Atlas Mountains in north-west Africa (Morocco, Algeria); petroleum: Niger Delta (Nigeria); gold: Witwatersrand (Johannesburg).
(b) Petroleum (Niger Delta) or gold (Witwatersrand): foreign exchange; government revenue; employment; raw materials for industries (petrochemicals, jewellery); growth of towns (Port Harcourt, Johannesburg); infrastructure (roads, railways); attracts foreign investment; manpower development.

Explanation

Choose either petroleum or gold for (b) and stay with it.