1. Chapter 18:
The Arabian Peninsula

2. Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Landforms
The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded almost entirely by water.
The climate of the interior is arid, or very dry, and is unsuitable for agriculture or human settlement.
The extremely dry Rub’ al-Khali in the Arabian desert is the world’s largest uninterrupted area of sand, while the smaller, northern desert, An Nafud, is known for its crescent-shaped dunes, or ridges of sand formed by wind.

3. Rub’ al-Khali

4. An Nafud

6. Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Water Systems
The waters that surround the peninsula are vital to the economy.
The Red Sea links the Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden, allowing the transportation of goods between Europe and Asia.
The Persian Gulf serves the international shipping needs of the oil-producing countries on the eastern side of the peninsula.
Rapidly growing populations are using up the already scarce sources of freshwater.

9. Climate, Biomes, & Resources
Physical Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Climate, Biomes, & Resources
The dry heat of the desert areas contrasts with extreme humidity of the coastal regions.
Seasonal winds bring heavy rains like the monsoon, or hot, suffocating winds like the simooms.
The Red Sea is a unique aquatic biome whose marine life can endure extreme heat and salinity.
The Arabian deserts are estimated to contain at least 25 percent of the world’s oil reserves.

11. Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
History & Government
Religion, ethnicity, and shared culture define the region, with most people being ethnic Arabs who practice Islam.
For centuries, tribal groups based on family relationships, or sheikdoms, controlled specific areas of the subregion, and their influence continues.
The majority of governments in the area are monarchies, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar being absolute monarchies.

13. Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Population Patterns
The dry, desert climate causes most people to live along the coasts of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
Migration of workers to oil and construction jobs has altered the once exclusively Arab population.
In the interior of Saudi Arabia lies Makkah (Mecca), the holiest city of Islam, Madinah (Medina), which houses the tomb of the prophet Muhammad, and Riyadh, an important oil refining center and the capital.

19. Society & Culture Today
Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Society & Culture Today
Arabic is the primary language in the subregion, with English the most common second language.
After Muhammad’s death, conflicts arose over who would be the rightful successor, breaking the religion into different sects.
Shari’ah, or Islamic law, governs every aspect of a Muslim’s life.
Most countries do not enforce equal rights for women, and women have little political power.

21. Sharia, Islamic sharia, or Islamic law is the basic Islamic legal system derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Quran and the Hadith.

22. Human Geography of the Arabian Peninsula
Economic Activities
Oil has produced great wealth for the Arabian Peninsula; it is one of the world’s most important regions for oil production.
Countries with smaller oil reserves have developed other industries, such as banking and finance in Bahrain, and fishing in Oman, to foster economic growth.
Lack of water remains the most important natural resource issue.

23. People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Managing Resources
Oil is a nonrenewable resource, yet it is the most widely used energy source today.
Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases, which contribute to a rise in air temperature.
This climate change negatively affects the environment by decreasing the amount of rainfall and causing a rise in sea level, threatening coastal populations and marine ecology.

24. People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Human Impact
The rapidly growing population in the subregion is dramatically increasing the demand on already scarce water resources.
Political instability contributes to the problem as corrupt and weak governments do not enact solutions, while profiteers extract precious water for personal gain without regard to the environment.
Ongoing desertification is taking a heavy toll on vegetation, resulting in soil erosion.

26. People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Addressing the Issues
Governmental subsidies to lower water costs have resulted in high water consumption rates despite the scant water resources in the region.
Desalination is being used to address some water needs, but it alone cannot satisfy demand; it also has negative environmental impacts.
Changes in agricultural practices are being encouraged to meet the demand for food, thereby decreasing the amount of water needed for farming, dairy, and meat production.