Unit 6 – Chapter 17 The Physical Geography of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia

I. Section I The Land

A. Seas & Peninsulas Seas Peninsulas Red Sea, Dead Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea Peninsulas Arabian, Sinai, Anatolia

Bodies of Water Black Sea Caspian Sea Dardanelles Strait Atlantic Ocean Tigris River Jordan River Mediterranean Sea Euphrates River Suez Canal Strait of Hormuz Persian Gulf Nile River Gulf of Oman Red Sea Arabian Sea Gulf of Aden Indian Ocean

B. Rivers Major Rivers Nile – longest river in the world The majority of the Egyptian people live along this! Tigris & Euphrates (Iraq) Land in between is called Mesopotamia (“land between two rivers”)

Streambeds Wadis – usually dry streambeds until heavy rain

Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth 2,300’ below sea level Highest Salt Content (33%)

C. Plains, Plateaus, & Mountains Coastal Plains Fertile plains along the Mediterranean Sea

Highlands Atlas Mountains Caucasus Mountains Hindu Kush Others – Hejas, Asir, Pontic, Taurus, Zagros

Mountains & Plateaus Caucasus Mts. Anatolian Plateau Elburz Mts. Taurus Mts. Iranian Plateau Atlas Mts. Zagros Mts. Hejaz Mts.

Mountain Ranges in Mid-East Elburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., Iran Lebanese Mts. Taurus Mts., Turkey

Deserts Kums - deserts Negev Desert Libyan Desert Sinai Desert Arabian Desert Sahara Desert Rub al-Khali

Fresh Groundwater Sources

Swarms of Desert Locusts! Israel Hit By Worst Locust Plague Since the 1950s! Locusts Swarm the Pyramids Complex at Giza!

D. Earthquakes African, Arabian, & Eurasian Plates come together here Because of this, earthquakes (often very serious ones) happen here frequently

E. Natural Resources Oil & Natural Gas 70% of the world’s oil reserves 33% of the world’s natural gas Oil Reserves

Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.

Minerals Sulfate Phosphate – Morocco (3rd in world)

II. Section II Climate & Vegetation Vegetation Map

Middle East: Climate Regions

A. Water: A Precious Resource Look at map on pg. 428 Desert Climate (#1) Sahara – the largest desert in the world 3.5 million sq. mi. Steppe Climate (#2) Pastoralism – the raising & grazing of livestock

B. Climate Variations Exports & Tourists Rainfall Export – citrus fruits, olives, & grapes Tourism – people enjoy the warm climates Rainfall Coastal Areas & Highlands receive the most Dead Sea Tourists