Sahel

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sahel

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Sahel?Approximately 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers), spanning multiple countries
2. How many people live in Sahel?Estimated to be over 100 million people, with a high growth rate
3. What is the Sahel and where is it located?The Sahel is a wide strip of land in Africa that stretches about 3,900 miles from the Sahara Desert in the north to the Sudanian savannas in the south.
4. Why does the Sahel have a hot semi-arid climate?It has hot temperatures and a mix of wet and dry seasons, with rainfall that is variable and often not enough.

Biogeographical region: An area characterized by its distinct biological and geographical features, acting as a transition zone.
Semi-arid climate: A climate characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures, and significant evaporation, leading to dry conditions.
Desertification: The process of fertile land becoming desert, typically caused by drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Geopolitical space: An area of land whose geography significantly influences its political and strategic importance on a global scale.