This is an advanced, full length, physical geography of Africa, written by a distinguished international team of scholars. The first group of chapters identify pan-African patterns in the physical environment and those physical attributes that are distinctive to Africa. In the second group of chapters topics such as geomorphology, biogeography, environmental change and hydrology are considered within the context of the major biomes. The final chapters explore topical issues such as soil erosion, desertification, biodiversification and depletion, and conservation and development.