Human-Environment Interaction in SWA

The Fertile Crescent, named for its shape, was the home of several ancient culture hearths like Egypt & Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia: the specific part of the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Arable Land Only 5%-10% of land is arable

Agriculture Agricultural Areas of the region include: Tigris and Euphrates river valley Areas of Mediterranean climate Areas with irrigation

Drip Irrigation The large photo shows drip irrigation. The small image shows traditional sprinkler irrigation. In Drip Irrigation, water drips out of small hoses running along the ground near crops. How would Drip Irrigation limit evaporation, thus saving precious water in the region?

Fossil Water An ‘aquifer’ that can’t be replenished Why is fossil water not a long term solution to the lack of water in the region?

Ataturk Dam: a dam in Turkey on the Euphrates River How many countries share the Euphrates River? How could a dam on a river flowing through multiple countries lead to conflict?

Salinization: evaporated water leaves behind salts that poison the soil

Desalinization Desalinization is a process by which salt is removed from sea water. Desalinization is a possible solution to water shortage in SWA and other arid regions. Desalinization is very expensive and requires a high level of technology for success. Most countries in SWA lack the resources for desalinization.