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Chapter Intro 1 North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia contain a large share of the world’s oil and natural gas reserves. A study of the region today will explain how its natural resources influence the global economy and what challenges the region faces, including water scarcity, political instability, and destructive wars.

Section 1-GTR The Economy North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia’s large oil and natural gas reserves have brought economic growth to some of the region’s countries and have affected its relations with other regions.

Section 1 Economic activities in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia are influenced by oil, natural gas, and water. Economic Activities Only a small part of the region’s land is arable, yet a large percentage of the population works in agriculture.

Section 1 Agriculture and fishing: –Cereal crops –Citrus fruits –Grapes –Olives –Dates –Cotton Economic Activities (cont.)

Section 1 Economic Activities (cont.) –Silkworms –Potatoes –Tea –Sardines –Mackerel Total Land Area vs. Arable Land (selected countries)

Section 1 Industry: –Petroleum and oil products –Natural gas –Coal and copper mining Economic Activities (cont.) North Africa, Southwest Asia, Central Asia: Economic Activity

Section 1 Service industries: –Banking, real estate, and insurance industries –Tourism Economic Activities (cont.)

Section 1 Advancements in transportation and communications are improving throughout the region, but the physical environment and government control have limited some development. Transportation and Communications Road systems are unevenly distributed across the region. The growth of the air travel industry has benefited the region.

Section 1 Water transportation is vital to the region: –The Strait of Tiran –The Strait of Hormuz –The Suez Canal Transportation and Communications (cont.) Waterways and Oil Pipelines

Section 1 Pipelines are an important transportation system. Communications: Transportation and Communications (cont.) –Television and radio broadcasting is expanding, although government control still limits programming in some areas. –Wireless service and solar-powered radiophones are bringing telephone service to more people. –Some areas have computer and Internet access. –Cell phones are common in major cities.

Section 1 Two new silk roads: –Telecommunications highway (cable that follows the Silk Road) –Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) also follows the Silk Road. Transportation and Communications (cont.)

Section 1 Interdependence among the countries of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia is growing, as is the region’s interdependence with the rest of the world. Trade and Interdependence Good transportation and communications networks are increasing the interaction between countries in this region. Oil Reserves in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia, 2006

Section 1 Trade and Interdependence (cont.) More developed countries are lending money to less developed countries. The U.S.-Central Asia trade council has strengthened relationships. Eight of the region’s oil-producing countries have become a majority of OPEC. World Oil Prices, 1980–2006

Section 2-GTR People and Their Environment Throughout the region, new technologies and destructive wars have created many environmental problems.

Section 2 Growing populations in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia severely strain the already scarce water resources. Managing Resources Water resources: –Rivers –Oases –Aquifers

Section 2 Managing Resources (cont.) Desalination is an important process in order to meet the need for freshwater. Libya’s Great Man-Made River is an ambitious effort to supply freshwater. The Importance of Freshwater in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia

Section 2 New technologies and destructive wars have increased environmental problems in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia. Human Impact Positive impact of the Aswān High Dam: –Controls the Nile’s floods –Irrigates around 3 million acres of land –Supplies some of Egypt’s electricity –Created the world’s largest human-made lake, Lake Nasser

Section 2 Human Impact (cont.) Negative impacts of war effecting the environment: –Iraqi troops set fire to 700 oil wells. –Iraqi troops dumped about 250 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf. –Recent oil slick damaged Lebanese coast and Mediterranean Sea

Section 2 Human Impact (cont.) Nuclear and chemical dangers: –Kazakhstan was once home to Soviet nuclear bases and heavy industry, and is still severely affected by radiation and pollution. –People in Kyrgyzstan also suffer from pollution. Radioactive and Chemical Hazards in Central Asia

VS 1 Black Gold! The region of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia contains more oil than all other world regions combined. As more and more countries become industrialized, the demand for oil has increased, making countries with large oil reserves very wealthy. Most of the oil-producing countries in the region have joined OPEC and help set the supply and price of oil around the world.

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