World Regional Geography February 15, 2010 Reading: Marston Chapter 4 pages , (Darfur and Western Sahara), and (Petroleum) Goode’s World Atlas pages (Middle East) and (North Africa)

The Middle East & North Africa 1.Political Boundaries 2.Physical Geography A.Physical Features & Topography B.Climate C.Land Use D.Physiographic Regions 3.Human Geography A.Population Characteristics 4.Key Concepts A.Culture, Ethnicity, and Religion a.History b.Politics B.The Politics of Oil a.Economics b.International Politics

Political Boundaries

The Middle East & North Africa Why group the Middle East and North Africa? Culture Islamic Religion Arabic Languages Economics Oil Environment Arid “Middle East” or Southwest Asia

Physical Features

Sandstorm!

Topography

Temperature and Rainfall Annual Rainfall 75% of the Region receives less than 10 inches Some desert areas average less than 1 inch Mountain (orographic) and some coastal areas account for vast majority of regions rainfall. Average Temperature Large temperature variations in desert areas Radiational cooling Large variations can lead to wind/dust storms More humid climactic regions = less extremes Western Atlas Mountains Turkey Mediterranean Coast Western Zagros & Elburz Mountains

Rainfall

Climate

Land Use Arable Land and Agriculture Irrigated river valleys, coastline, and mountains Forested Land: Agriculture and Grazing Atlas and Pontic Mountians, Southern Sudan

Mountains Major Ranges Atlas Zagros and Elburz Taurus and Pontic Asir and Yemen Important sources of water Tectonically active Refuge for minority populations Physiographic Regions

Plateaus and Coastline Plateau Regions Iranian Anatolian Coastal Regions Persian Gulf Southeastern Red Sea Eastern Mediterranean Nile River Delta Northwestern Africa More rainfall Higher population density Physiographic Regions

Deserts Sahara Libyan Nubian Arabian (Rub’ al Khali) Extremely low rainfall Major temperature variation Oases Very low population Nomadic herders Physiographic Regions

Riverine Landscapes Major River Systems Nile Tigris and Euphrates Agriculture Support large populations Political issues Water rights Access Physiographic Regions (338)

Environmental History Domestication of Plants and Animals Between 9000 and 7000 B.C. Technological implications Irrigation Food storage Milling Major social implications Long-term settlement Non-agricultural (food-related) specialization Trade and barter systems Overexploitation Forests and Soils Animals Water Desertification Overgrazing Water withdrawal

Environmental Issues

Population Density

Population Density: Egypt & Sudan

Population Characteristics RegionPopulation(Millions) Birth Rate Death Rate Natural Increase (%) Net Migration Rate Projected Pop. Change (2050) Middle East % RegionIMRTFR % Pop <15 % Pop >65 Life Expectancy MaleFemale Middle East Region HIV/AIDS % % Urban GNI PPP (US$) Middle East 0.1*6612,950 * Data missing for many countries

Population Characteristics RegionPopulation(Millions) Birth Rate Death Rate Natural Increase (%) Net Migration Rate Projected Pop. Change (2050) North Africa % RegionIMRTFR % Pop <15 % Pop >65 Life Expectancy MaleFemale North Africa Region HIV/AIDS % % Urban GNI PPP (US$) North Africa ,370

Migration Pull Factors Oil Guest workers Jews returning to Israel Push Factors Lack of work War Civil unrest A pull factor is a characteristic of the receiving region that draws migrants, while a push factor is a characteristic of the sending region that drives out-migrants.

The Diaspora Refugee Populations Workers Distribution of Middle Eastern Culture Worldwide spread of Islam

Wednesday Culture and Ethnicity Religion Economics The Politics of Oil