Southwest Asia Map Study Guide

Let’s look at the countries we need to know

Iraq Iran Saudi Arabia Turkey Lebanon Afghanistan Syria Israel Jordan Kuwait Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Oman Yemen

Let’s look at the major landforms we need to know

West Bank Gaza Strip Suez Canal Sinai Peninsula

Let’s look at the major bodies of water we need to know

Jordan River Tigris River Strait of Hormuz Euphrates River Black Sea Caspian Sea Jordan River Tigris River Strait of Hormuz Mediterranean Sea Euphrates River Gulf of Oman Persian Gulf Arabian Sea Red Sea Gulf of Aden

Any questions?

Afghanistan Lies farthest to the East Borders Iran to the West Landlocked Very Hot Mountainous

Iran Caspian Sea lies above it No rivers run through it Contains a desert 2nd largest country in the Middle East Rich in Oil East of Iraq/West of Afghanistan Borders Persian Gulf in the Southwest

Iraq Contains two rivers-Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Mesopotamia was located there Contains a lot of Oil mostly desert Borders Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf and Kuwait in the South, Syria in the North, and Iran in the East

Israel Fairly small country Coastal Country-Mediterranean Sea borders it in the North, borders Dead Sea in the West Contains Gaza Strip and the West Bank The Jordan River is its water resource

Saudi Arabia mostly a desert Produces a lot of oil Borders Persian Gulf in the East, borders the Red Sea in the west, borders Yemen and Oman in the south, borders Iraq and Jordan in the North, and Kuwait in the Northeast ITS BIG!!!!  Largest country in Southwest Asia

Turkey Was formerly part of the Ottoman Empire Borders the Med. Sea, does not border many other Southwest Asian countries Very Mountainous Closest to Europe Starting point of Euphrates and Tigris Rivers Northern most country in Southwest Asia

Yemen West of Oman South of Saudi Arabia No Rivers North of the Gulf of Aden Has a coast on the Arabian Sea Oil Supply-Small Bordered by the Red Sea Southern Most Country in the Middle East

Oman East of Yemen South of Saudi Arabia No Rivers Has a coast on the Arabian Sea Oil Supply-Small

Kuwait Borders Iraq in the North Borders Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf in the South Has a lot of oil!!!

United Arab Emirates Borders Saudi Arabia , Persian Gulf, and Oman Contains a lot of Oil!!! Small Country Tourism is big there

Qatar Almost an Island Country Located in the Persian Gulf Borders Saudi Arabia Has oil!!!

Jordan Contains the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea Borders Israel and Saudi Arabia and Syria Somewhat close to the Red Sea

Syria Borders Med Sea, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey Contains the Euphratres River

Lebanon Bordered by Med Sea, Israel, & Syria Very Small

Gaza Strip Found in Israel Controversial piece of land that is fought over between Israel and Arab Palestinians Beachfront property on the Med. Sea Borders the Sinai Peninsula

West Bank Located in Israel Borders Jordan Controversial Piece of Land

Suez Canal Separates Africa from Southwest Asia Trade Route from the Med Sea to the Red Sea Allows shipping so that ships do not have to go around Africa to get to Red Sea or Med Sea Man made-Built by the French in the 1860s

Sinai Peninsula Next to the Suez Canal Located in Southwest Asia Barren and Rocky Next to Israel and Egypt

Euphrates River Begins in Turkey, flows through Syria, and Iraq empties into the Persian Gulf Very Long River-longest in the Middle East Joins together with the Tigris River before reaching the Persian Gulf

Jordan River Starts in Syria Makes a natural border between Israel and Jordan Empties into the Dead Sea Not as long as the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Tigris River Begins in Turkey, flows through Syria(barely), and Iraq, then empties into the Persian Gulf Joins together with the Euphrates River before reaching the Persian Gulf Flooding is an issue Flows through Baghdad, Iraq

Persian Gulf Borders Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran Connects into the Arabian Sea via the Straight of Hormuz World’s largest single source of oil is off the shores of the Persian Gulf!

Strait of Hormuz Connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea Very important transportation way for the Middle East oil shipping countries Bordered by Iran

Arabian Sea Major trading route in the Middle East and South and East Asia Bordered by India and Oman and Yemen

Red Sea Borders Saudi Arabia and Africa Pirates are a big problem in this area Mentioned in Judaism and Christianity Gateway to the Arabian Sea and the Med Sea via the Suez Canal Vital for trading

Mediterranean Sea Surrounds three continents-Europe, Africa, and Asia Vital trading route for all three continents

Black Sea North of Turkey Only affects Turkey

Caspian Sea North of Iran Largest inland body of water

Gulf of Aden West of the Arabian Sea Below Yemen and Oman Pirates are a risk there

Gulf of Oman Next to Arabian Sea Near Persian Gulf Off the Coast of Oman