Middle East? OR Near East? OR Southwest Asia? OR….?

HERE IS THE WORLD… …AND HERE IS NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA Due to the location, it’s called the Crossroads of Continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia

SOME COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST ARE: ISRAEL SAUDI ARABIA TURKEY IRAN KUWAIT QATAR AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) IRAQ AFGHANISTAN

The Fertile Crescent

The Tigris & Euphrates River System Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq

Fertile Crescent

Dust Storms Along the Tigris-Euphrates Flood Plains

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

MOSQUES : places of worship for Muslims. Typical features are domes and minarets DOME MINARETS

The Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey. Built between 532 and 537 by the Christian Emperor Justinian I as a Byzantine church, which it functioned as for the next 900 years. In 1453, the Islamic-faithed Ottomans took over Constantinople (now Istanbul). They wasted little time in converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. It served the Muslims for almost 500 years. The Ottomans painted over the Christian mosaics - and erected the four defining minarets we see today. In 1934, Turkey changed the Hagia Sofia's status from mosque to museum and uncovered the priceless Byzantine mosaics.

The Dome of the Rock Jerusalem: This Muslim holy site was built on the remains of the Temple of Solomon, a holy site for Jews

The Kaaba Located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Kaaba is the most sacred site for Muslims. A Muslim must take the haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca at least once in his/her life.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher Jerusalem: This church was built on the site where Christians believe that Jesus Christ was crucified.

The Western Wall in Jerusalem: Also known as the Wailing Wall

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Other notable cultural landmarks: A “Bazaar” is an open-air market, usually in the center of a Middle eastern town. This bazaar specializes in woven Arabian carpets- verrrrrrry popular!!!! Bazaars are also called “suqs”

Cultural Landscapes are old…. Like the many walled cities around the Arab World…

…and new Like the oil rigs around the Middle East

The Jordan River System: Israel & Jordan--A Fight Over Water Rights?

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

Wadis – Instant Springs

Desert Bedouins

Breeding Areas of Desert Locusts

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

Rub al-Khali: “The Empty Quarter”

Desert Oases: Water at a Premium!

Fresh Groundwater Sources

Desalinization Plants

The Middle East vs. the U. S. Latitude Lines

Middle East: Climate Regions

Middle East: Population Density

The Middle East: Natural Vegetation

The Natural Resources of the Middle East

World Oil Reserves

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil Kuwait City

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