Mike Fay's Mega-Flyover

Think big. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Mike Fay is wrapping up his 60,000-mile Mega-Flyover. Fay spent months criss-crossing Africa in a Cessna on an unprecedented mission to measure human impact on the continent. Wild Chronicles takes viewers on his alternately heartening and devastating journey, into an awesome world of vanishing beasts and burgeoning human development.
1. A camera attached to Mike Fay's airplane automatically took images as Fay flew over the entire continent of Africa. How often did the camera snap a photo?
  
  Show Answer
  
  The camera took a photo every 20 seconds.
2. The Mega-Flyover documented few areas of undeveloped land in Africa. Where were these undeveloped areas?
  
  Show Answer
  
  Regions deep in the Congo River basin and the Sahara Desert remain relatively undisturbed.
3. The MalaMala Game Reserve is the largest piece of privately owned land in South Africa. What animals are protected at MalaMala?
  
  Show Answer
  
  Wildlife seen at MalaMala includes lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and zebras.
4. Fay says the rivers of Katavi National Park, Tanzania, are being diverted by residents upstream. Why does Fay think people are diverting the water?
  
  Show Answer
  
  Fay thinks farmers are diverting water to irrigate crops and feed cattle.
5. Judging from this video, what "human development" processes are displacing native habitat in Africa?
  
  Show Answer
  
  The video displays many images of land cleared for housing and agriculture.
Articles & Profiles
- National Geographic Kids: Interview With J. Michael Fay, Conservationist
- National Geographic Magazine: The Green Abyss—Megatransect II
Websites
- National Geographic Explorers: J. Michael Fay, Conservationist

Term	Part of Speech	Definition	Encyclopedic Entry
continent	Noun	one of the seven main land masses on Earth.	Encyclopedic Entry: continent
development	Noun	construction or preparation of land for housing, industry, or agriculture.
Explorer-in-Residence	Noun	pre-eminent explorers and scientists collaborating with the National Geographic Society to make groundbreaking discoveries that generate critical scientific information, conservation-related initiatives and compelling stories.

Credits

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Editor

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society

Producers

Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society
Nina Page, National Geographic Society

Last Updated

Aug. 23, 2011

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