Chapter 9: Arabia and Iraq Section 1: Chapter Atlas Southwest Asia Chapter 9: Arabia and Iraq Section 1: Chapter Atlas

Physical Features Arabia, or the Arabian Peninsula, is surrounded on three sides by water. Red Sea Gulf of Aden Arabian Sea Persian Gulf Gulf of Oman These bodies of water are connected to the Indian Ocean

Physical Features Arabia and Iraq are part of the Asian continent.

Physical Features Most of Arabia and Iraq are on the Arabian Plate. plates are blocks of rock and soil

Physical Features Rivers provide fresh water to a region that is mostly desert. Tigris River Euphrates River

Physical Features The pressure from the Arabian Plate pressing against the Eurasian Plate has pushed up rocks to form mountains in northeastern Iraq and in southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula, in the nation of Oman.

Physical Features Reading Check Which major rivers flow through Iraq? The Tigris and Euphrates

Oil and Gas Riches Fold traps undersea muck formed by decaying sea life which turns into natural gas over time by the heat and pressure from inside the earth turns to oil and natural gas over millions of years fossil fuels: oil and gas made by the remains of living things

Oil and Gas Riches Fold traps have given Saudi Arabia the world’s largest oil reserves and output.

Oil and Gas Riches Reading Check Where are the largest oil reserves? The largest oil reserves are in Saudi Arabia.

Living on Oil Iraq and most countries in Arabia rely on oil and natural gas to pay for nearly all of their needs.

Water plant in Saudi Arabia which turns salt water into usable water. Living on Oil The Importance of Oil The Middle East lacks water. Money from oil and gas sales is used to: build water facilities purchase food grown in other regions Water plant in Saudi Arabia which turns salt water into usable water.

Living on Oil The Importance of Oil Arabian countries rely on millions of foreign workers, paid with oil money, to keep their economies running.

Living on Oil The Importance of Oil Arabia and Iraq produce more than one fourth of the world’s oil.

Living on Oil Oil and the Environment Oil production has affected the region’s environment. Oil spills in the Persian Gulf have killed sea life and polluted shorelines. Production waste creates toxic chemicals that have polluted the soil and Iraq’s rivers.

Living on Oil Reading Check Why is oil so important to Arabia and Iraq? Oil is important to Arabia and Iraq because it is the region’s main natural resource. It pays for foreign workers, and everything else people need, especially water and food.

Vast Deserts and Scarce Water The main ecosystems across Arabia and Iraq are desert and desert scrub. deserts have few plants and animals desert scrub has some plants Arabian Desert Desert Scrub

Vast Deserts and Scarce Water The hills and mountains of northern and eastern Iraq have a moister climate than the rest of the country.

Vast Deserts and Scarce Water The mountains of Yemen and Iraq receive enough rainfall to support some farming. Terrace farming in Yemen

Vast Deserts and Scarce Water The driest countries in the region, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, depend on desalination. the removal of salt from seawater Video Link

Vast Deserts and Scarce Water Reading Check Which parts of Arabia and Iraq get seasonal precipitation? The mountains of Yemen and Iraq get seasonal precipitation.

Population Patterns People in Arabia and Iraq cluster where there is water for drinking and cleaning. mountains of Iraq and Yemen near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers of Iraq desert oases on the Arabian Peninsula

Population Patterns Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Except for Yemen, the countries of the region are heavily urbanized. most of the people live in cities desalination plants are built near their cities because of scarce water supplies Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Population Patterns Population growth in Arabia and Iraq are some of the highest in the world. result from both migration and high birth rate local customs and religious traditions favor large families poses challenges for the region more jobs, water, education and other services will be needed

Population Patterns Reading Check Why are populations growing in this region? Arabia and Iraq have high birthrates, partly because local customs and religious traditions practiced in parts of the region encourages large families.

A Diverse Region Arab Muslims form a majority in Arabia and Iraq and dominate politics. more than half of the population

A Diverse Region Iraq has a large minority of Kurds, who are not Arabs. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims

A Diverse Region Iraqi Kurds suffered brutal treatment under Saddam Hussein. currently have a self-governing area in northern Iraq Iraqi Kurd President Massoud Barzani

A Diverse Region The vast majority of the people of Arabia and Iraq follow Islam. Differences in Islam Sunnis Shias Ibadism Most of the citizens of Bahrain are Shia, but their ruler is Sunni. Sunnis rule Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Yemen Shia minorities live in all three of these countries. Differences cause conflict.

A Diverse Region Reading Check What are some differences among Muslims in this region? Some Muslims are Sunnis, and some are Shias.

Arabia and Iraq The Effect of Physical Geography Fossil Fuel Resources plenty of oil and gas Oil and Gas Revenue plenty of money Desalination uses oil money to increase water supplies and expand population centers Water Resources very limited Population clustered near water sources