Oil & Water

Black Gold  2/3 of the world’s known petroleum reserves found in the Persian Gulf  Oil provides raw materials and supplies more than half of the energy used worldwide  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) formed in 1960

Oil in Saudi Arabia  Ghawar Oil Field is the largest oil field in the world  Produces more than ½ of Saudi Arabia’s oil  $376.3 billion in exports

The Suez Canal  Man-made choke point connecting the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea which leads to the Indian Ocean  Egypt controls the movement through the Suez Canal and charges tolls  ½ of the world’s oil is shipped through the Suez Canal

Water  Water in SWANA is DIFFICULT to obtain  Sahara Desert  Desertification/Arid Climate  Lacking sources of fresh water  Overconsumption of water is due to resorts, spas, lifestyle, and inefficient irrigation

Damming the Nile River What are some effects of damming the Nile River?

Egypt’s Aswan High Dam Pros  Irrigation  Hydroelectric Energy  Flood Control and Safety  Creation of Lake Nasser Cons  Decrease in agricultural productivity  Decrease of alluvial soil, rich soil made up of sand and mud deposited by running water  Population relocation  Movement of ancient Temple of Abu Simbel

Temple of Abu Simbel

Water Rights  The Nile River  Dams in Sudan, S. Sudan, and Ethiopia reduces the flow of the Nile to Egypt  Conflict over water rights  Israel and Syria  30% of water comes from the Sea of Galilee, which is partly fed by streams that once belonged to Syria

Water Rights  State of Palestine vs. Israel  Palestine needs the Gaza Strip for access to the Mediterranean Sea for trade  Palestine needs the West Bank for access to the Jordan River

Desalination  Desalination: the process of removing salt from seawater or from brackish water to make it usable for drinking and irrigation  Countries that desalinate the most: 1. Saudi Arabia ($376.3 billion in exports) 2. United Arab Emirates ($368.9 billion in exports) 3. Kuwait ($112 billion in exports)

Al Shuaibah Seawater Desalination Plant Saudi, Arabia

Desalination  As groundwater depletes, dependence on desalination increases  Cons:  EXPENSIVE: Requires enormous amounts of energy  Accounts for 25-30% of energy usage in Saudi Arabia  Requires water from aquifers  Accumulated brine  Brine is water saturated with salt  Contaminates aquifers or increases ocean salinity  May be difficult to implement  Unstable government in Yemen

Toubou/Tubu Tribe  North African tribe of nomadic women  Write 5 Facts  What two major difficulties do they face?

Reflection Question  Choose one of the following to answer at the bottom of your notes in 1 paragraph or less. 1. In your opinion, explain which resource is considered the most important resource in SWANA – oil or water? 2. Argue for or against the desalination of water in SWANA.