(a) Draw an outline map ofAfrica. On the map show and name: (i) one major river that drains into the Mediterranean sea; (ii) one major river that crosses th...

(a) Map identification

As shown on the map above, the required features are:

• River Nile, which flows northwards and drains into the Mediterranean Sea through its delta in Egypt.
• River Congo, which crosses the Equator twice as it flows through the Congo Basin before entering the Atlantic Ocean.
• River Zambezi, which flows eastwards through southern Africa and drains into the Indian Ocean.
• Lake Tanganyika, a long, narrow rift valley lake found in the East African Rift Valley.
• Lake Volta, a man-made lake in Ghana, formed following the construction of the Akosombo Dam on the River Volta.
• Lake Victoria, the lake crossed by the Equator. It is shared mainly by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

(b) Five factors that limit the use of African rivers

1. Rapids, cataracts and waterfalls: These interrupt navigation and make many river sections unsuitable for the movement of boats and ships.
2. Seasonal fluctuation in water volume: During the dry season, some rivers become shallow, while floods in the rainy season may make transport dangerous.
3. Silting: Deposition of sand, mud and other materials at river mouths and channels reduces their depth and obstructs navigation.
4. Water weeds and water hyacinth: These may block waterways, hinder boats and fishing activities, and reduce the efficiency of hydroelectric and irrigation schemes.
5. Shallow and narrow channels: Many African rivers cannot accommodate large vessels because their channels are too shallow or narrow.
6. Heavy load of suspended materials and debris: Logs, sand and other materials carried by rivers can obstruct navigation and damage boats.
7. Sparse population along some river valleys: Where few people live near a river, there may be little demand for river transport or insufficient labour and markets to support its development.
8. Lack of capital and infrastructure: Many countries lack adequate funds for dredging channels, constructing ports, building dams and maintaining navigation facilities.
9. International river problems: Some rivers pass through several countries, and lack of cooperation between these countries may delay their development and use.