Soweto

Paper Summary:

The paper begins with a climatic classification of South Africa and, more specifically, of the township near Johannesburg known as Soweto. It then looks at how the climate of the area has an enormous impact on the people of Soweto economically, agriculturally, and physiologically. The paper shows that the economic impact of long hot summers and mild winters is the inability to produce good crops, thus tying the people to the surrounding mines in order to make a living. The paper also examines how living in a certain geographic location can alter a person's pigmentation and facial features.

From the Paper:

"Body style too is related to the climate of an area. Warmer dryer climates are associated with broader noses, where the nostrils are circular in shape. It is hypothesized that this facial feature, a feature common among the black people of South Africa, is tied to the climate. These types of noses have the least amount of surface area and would warm and moisten the air less than another type of nose would. This is an advantage in hot dry climates, like Soweto has, where the inhabitants face the challenges of draught and heat (Baker, 1974)."

More papers on Soweto:

• Essay # 34554 : "The Climate and the People of Soweto"
• Descriptive Essay # 113852 : "Johannesburg"

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