Group+4

Hi Group 4!! To edit this page, just click the edit button above. Then type some stuff or remove text, add a picture, make a link to a site, add a video or powerpoint...do it all responsibly...and have fun. When you are done, just click Save on the text Editor above. Mrs. Yingling

 The landscape in East Africa is mostly flat. The average elevation in the Eastern part of Africa is 1,200 meters. There are many grasslands in East Africa. These grasslands are very flat and have trees. One kind of tree in these grasslands is called an Acacia Tree. Acacia trees are kind of shaped like mushrooms. Animals that live in grasslands like the shade in the hot summer afternoons. Lions and other animal packs like sit under Acacia Trees. Other landscape in East Africa is deserts. In these African Deserts there are some big bushes and shrubs. These deserts have a lot of bones and horns in the sand from other animals. In these deserts it is very deserted and there are few trees.

Animal Life

East Africa is full of animal’s life! This includes Elephants, rhinoceroses, buffalo, antelope, hyrax, bush pigs, and monkeys, colobus, are among the main inhabitants of the Montane forest in East Africa. East Africa Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys live in the Virunga Mountains, and chimpanzees in Ruwenzori Range.

Mammals of the upper forests in East Africa, including the leopard and antelope are among the largest in the mountain area. Birds include the lammergeier (one of the largest birds of prey, resembling the eagle and vulture), the mountain Chat (a songbird), and the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird (a small, brilliantly colored songbird). Animal life, like the vegetation, shows resemblances that suggest a retreat of East Africa’s surrounding plateaus to the mountain islands of refuge.

In 1498 the Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the current countries Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Between the 19th and 20th centuries almost all of the present day East African countries were a European colonial empire. Germany had an empire over current countries Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. This land was called German East Africa. Italy had gained control over various pars of Somalia in the 1880’s. Later Somalia also was under British control, which was in 1884. In 1895 Italy declared war against the Ethiopian government. By 1886 the war had been won by Ethiopia and Ethiopia had remained an independent country. Later in 1936 Italy had declared war against Ethiopia again but the Italian occupation ended in 1941 during WWII as a part of the East African campaign.

Although east Africa has little mining it has many mineral resources to offer. These resources include gold, potash, zinc, uranium, limestone, soda ash, rubies, copper, cobalt, tin ore, tin, phosphate, iron ore, diamonds, coal, and titanium.

Eritrea-gold, potash, zinc Ethiopia-gold, potash, zinc DJIBOUTI-none Somalia-uranium Kenya-limestone, soda ash, rubies Uganda-copper, cobalt Rwanda-gold, tin ore Burundi-gold Tanzania-tin, phosphates, iron ore, diamonds Malawi-limestone MOZAMBIQUE-coal, titanium

==

Climate: East Africa’s Climate is not very wet and has little precipitation. Some people think that Africa is very dry and hot but, East Africa is actually nice, cool, and sunny. In the summer some temperatures can reach some pretty high.

Vegetation:

During a drought, the vegetation in East Africa withers and dies. However when it is nice, sunny, and cool there vegetation grows, then the farmers harvest, and sell the food. In East Africa they eat Farm animals such as pigs, Chickens and some Water Cattle. They also grow and eat Winter Squash, Okra, African Eggplant, Maize [corn], Pomegranate and much more.

Important People:

People in East African villages say that Women are the most important people in any village. They also think that the teachers in schools are pretty important too. Karen Blixen was a writer from Kenya. Richard Leakey is a paleontologist, archaeologist and ecologist. Paul Kibbi Tergat is considered as one of most successful long-distance runners of all time. He currently holds the world record in the marathon: since 2003 in Berlin. He completed the marathon in 2:04:55, which is an average speed of 12.6 miles per hour.

Culture

Languages:

East Africa is home to many African languages from different language families. English, Swahili, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujerati, Burundi, Kirundi, French and Kinyarwanda.

Religion: Most Religions of East Africa are Christians, Muslims, and Roman Catholics.

Population:

Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. The average population density is estimated at 274.6 people per square kilometer.

The population of Kenya is estimated at 28,337,071,

And the population of Tanzania is about 23,174,336.

The Population of Uganda is 30,900,000.

Burundi’s population is still heavily populated.==

Gina Lamachia~ 6Leider

These are just a few of the East African important days. Some are for there human right and some for women but, most are just like American holidays. These include New Years, Good Friday, Christmas and many more.
 * 1 Jan ** New Year's Day.

** 21 Mar ** Human Rights Day.


 * 10 Apr ** Good Friday.


 * 13 Apr ** Family Day.


 * 27 Apr ** Freedom Day.


 * 1 May ** Workers' Day.


 * 16 Jun ** Youth Day.


 * 9 Aug ** National Women's Day.


 * 24 Sep ** Heritage Day.


 * 16 Dec ** Day of Reconciliation.


 * 25 Dec ** Christmas Day.


 * 26 Dec ** Day of Goodwill.

Sorry for not pasting anything. Anyways, here is the chart!
 * Country || Brundi || Ethiopia || Kenya || Rwanda || Uganda || Tanzania || Somalia || Sudan || Erithea || Djibouti ||
 * Government || republic || Federal republic || republic || Republic; multiparty system || Republic || Republic || No permanant Govern- ment || GNU || Transitional government || Republic ||
 * Leaders || Piere Nkurunziza || Girma Giorgis || Mwai Kibaki || Paul Kagame || Yoweri Museveni || Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete || Sharif Ahmed || Omar Al Bashir || Isaias Afewerki || Ismail Omar Guellea ||
 * Legal system Originated from || German & Belgian || Civil law || Kenyan stationary law || German & Belgian Civil Law || English democratic law || English common law || NA || English & Islam law || NA || French civil law ||
 * Indepandance || Independent on July 1, 1963 || Has been independant for 2000 years || December 17, 1963 || July 1, 1962 || October 9, 1962 || April 26, 1964 || July 1, 1960 || January 1, 1956 || May 24, 1993 || June 29, 1977 ||

-Adam McDonagh.

East African Economy

In these bad economic times, you might think that it is 10 times worse in poorer regions of the world like East Africa. Well, you are both right and wrong.

Countries including Djibouti and Eritrea are suffering immensely due to wars, famine, etc. There is no doubt it is making a major impact on the citizens of those countries. For example, prices for fuel in Eritrea are almost $10.00 a gallon! Djibouti has to depend on foreign countries for basic industry and a foreign educated work force, leaving only few low wage jobs for its citizens! However, many places are doing better. Take Seychelles, for example. Their country used to have an economy entirely dependent on tourism. Now, most of their revenue comes from fishing. Ethiopia has been ranked the #1 fastest developing country in the world due mainly to their agricultural production capability. In fact, the leading industry in this region is subsistence and small scale commercial farming. In the end, countries experiencing war and famine will have less economic growth than countries in peace.

-Adam Mc. . ** East African Religion ** Three main religions influenced the African continent; Islam, indigenous beliefs (e.g. Bantu), and Christianity. Geographic patterns seem to exist: the south part of East Africa is more Christian (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi) [with the exception of Ethiopia], while the north and East Africa is Muslim predominant.

It wasn’t always like this. As far back as 3000 B.C., Egyptian culture and its polytheistic religious beliefs dominated most of the continent. They worshiped the gods Ra, Isis, and Osiris. The Pharaoh was considered a god-king. Their religion added gods from Greek (about 300BC) and Roman (about 30BC) religions after those Empires conquered the Pharaohs rule.

The Bantu came from western Africa around the area of what is today Nigeria. Their culture and religion spread from the west to the south of Africa from 400BC to 500AD. They believed in a god or a few gods. Ghosts of past relatives or important people in their community were a big part of their worship. Various forms of this belief continue to today.

Since 30BC, Christians who were persecuted by the Roman Empire fled to Egypt where their religion began to flourish. In 313AD the Roman Emperor Constantine proclaimed religious freedom for Christians (the Edict of Milan). As a result, between 300AD and 600AD, Christianity spread throughout Africa, especially in the north and eastern parts. By 500 AD, Christianity had won over Egypt as well as future lands of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eretria.

In the late 600s, a new religion came to town; the Muslim faith. After the Arab tribes united under one rule they rapidly conquered areas in north and east Africa. Just after about 100 years, almost every north and east African nation was taken over by the Islamic religion. To this day, Islam is the region’s leading religion.