1. Land of the Middle East

2. Middle East Includes Southwest Asia and North Africa

3. Deserts, Mountains, Peninsulas, and Seas

4. Deserts

5. Most of the region is desert. Most of the desert is “desert pavement” Very little of the deserts contain sand dunes. The largest area of sand dunes is the Rubal Khali (Empty Quarter) in southern Saudi Arabia.

7. Mountains Atlas Mts. Asir Mts. Zagros Mts. Taurus Mts. Pontic Mts. Elburz Mts. Atlas - longest mountain chain in Africa

8. Mt. Ararat Theologians believe this was the resting place of Noah’s Ark.

9. Peninsulas Arabian Peninsula Anatolian Peninsula Sinai Peninsula Suez Canal

10. Seas

11. Black Sea Connected to the Mediterranean by the Turkish Straits system, which includes Bosporus Strait, Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles. The city of Istanbul (Byzantium, Constantinople) is split by the Bosporus Strait, making it the only city located on two continents.

12. Caspian Sea By definition, the Caspian Sea is actually a lake. It is the largest lake in the world. Rich in oil and natural gas.

13. Red Sea Inlet of the Indian Ocean Created by the Great Rift Valley.

14. Dead Sea Only major source of inflow is the Jordan River Lowest elevation on Earth. Saltiest body of water in the world. Part of the Great Rift Valley

15. Dead Sea

16. Nile Longest river in the world. 4160 miles long. Formed by the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Source is Lake Victoria.

17. Nile

18. Aswan Dam Creates Lake Nassar. Benefits - prevents flooding, hydroelectric power, recreation. Problems - prevents soil deposition, disease

19. Tigris

20. Euphrates

21. Mesopotamia Etymology Join to form the Shatt al Arab.

22. Wadi Rum

23. Cyprus

24. Petroleum