Discussion 7: Final Project Discussion
During my work on the two final project milestones, I got to learn a lot about my current region and how it compares to the other areas. The milestone project also enhanced my knowledge and critical thinking skills as I got to research the new region. For my new global area, I chose East Africa. East Africa is a region made up of eight countries, each with its own socio-cultural identity. Furthermore, the part is the fastest-growing region in Africa, hosting cities such as Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi, among others. The area is also home to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, while also host to some plateaus, evidence of its unique landscape. Figure 1.1 below shows a map of the region.
Figure 1.1: Map of East Africa region.
Source: United Nations: East Africa map
For my new location, I chose Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, primarily because of its significance in the region. The city’s ideal central location in the area allows it to become the commercial hub of the region. The city is also unique in that its population is a representation of all the groups and cultures contained within the East Africa region. Figure 1.2 below shows a map of the location.
Figure 1.2: Map of new location: Nairobi
Source: Maps of World.
The most exciting thing about the East Africa region is that it is host to two of the tallest mountains in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro, and Mt Kenya. I was also amazed by the region’s famous game reserves and animal parks. For instance, it has Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti, where people can witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Wilder beasts crossing between the two reserves. One of the most exciting things I found out about Nairobi is that it is the only city in the world to host an animal game reserve, Nairobi National Park.
In conclusion, I decided on East Africa because of its socio-cultural diversity as well as its unique landscape. The area is home to over one hundred and fifty ethnic groups, as well as having people belonging to all the major religions. Its wildlife also attracted me as it hosts all of Africa’s big five animals. For the location, I arrived at Nairobi due to its significance in the region as well, globally. The city is the commercial and socio-cultural hub of the area (Nijman, Muller & De, 2016). Nairobi is a vibrant city that offers everything you could want. Finally, the climate of the location also acted as a pull factor. Being close to the equator means the city experiences a warm climate throughout the year. This climate is in stark contrast to the cold weather experienced in North America.
References
Nijman, J., Muller, P. O., & De, B. H. J. (2016). The world today: Concepts and regions in geography.