Basins and Divides

Basins and divides are part of Africa’s major striking features. A basin is a broad, shallow, saucer-like feature which is separated by plateau, fault blocks and mountain ranges. Africa’s major basins have been depositional areas for the rock waste erodes from the plateau surface and they have been gradually subsided leaving between them mountain divides.

Map of Africa showing Basins and Divides.

The shallow areas allowed rivers to flow and occupy them hence causing further depression.
The major basins in Africa are:
  • the Congo basin, the Chad basin in Chad,
  • the El Djouf basin,
  • the Sudan basin, Victoria- Kyoga basin in Uganda,
  • Gabes basin,
  • Libyan basin,
  • Senegal basin,
  • Kalahari basin.
On the other hand Divides are areas of high altitude and higher areas of the plateau, which border basins.

A divide is an area where one or more rivers originate. This area is also known as a water catchment or watershed, such an area is usually hilly or mountainous. Some examples of divides in Africa includes:
  • Ahagger and Tibesti,
  • Jos and Futajalon,
  • Drakensburg and Maluti between Kalahari and the eastern plains as well as
  • Zimbabwe High Veld
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