Southwest Asia and North Africa Physical Geography

Location Southwest Asia is also called the Middle East Southwest Asia is also called the Middle East It is called the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia It is called the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia People call Southwest Asia different names depending on who you talk to!

Climate Most of the area is desert or semiarid climate Most of the area is desert or semiarid climate Sahara Desert in North Africa is the largest desert in the world Sahara Desert in North Africa is the largest desert in the world Sahel is a region south of the Sahara (dry but not entirely desert) Sahel is a region south of the Sahara (dry but not entirely desert) Take it from me. The Sahara Desert is hot!

Sahara Desert

Hazards Desertification is when the desert expands due to human and natural conditions Desertification is when the desert expands due to human and natural conditions A drought is a long period of time without rain A drought is a long period of time without rain

Droughts

Mountains Atlas – located in northwest Africa Atlas – located in northwest Africa Taurus – located in southern Turkey Taurus – located in southern Turkey Zagros – located in Iran Zagros – located in Iran Find them on your map! Find them on your map! Dudes, I didn’t make it across the mountains!

Water Features Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Sea Red Sea Red Sea Black Sea Black Sea Arabian Sea Arabian Sea Persian/Arabian Gulf Persian/Arabian Gulf Strait of Hormuz (connects Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea) Strait of Hormuz (connects Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea) Bosporus Strait Dardanelles Strait Nile River (located in Egypt) Tigris River (located in Iraq) Euphrates River (located in Iraq) Jordan River (located in Israel)

Suez Canal Human made waterway connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea Human made waterway connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea Owned by Egypt Owned by Egypt

Suez Canal

Bosporus/Dardanelles These are narrow straits that connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea These are narrow straits that connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea Istanbul is located on the Dardanelles Istanbul is located on the Dardanelles

Soil Areas near the rivers will flood during the wet season Areas near the rivers will flood during the wet season Some areas of alluvial soils Some areas of alluvial soils Deltas near the Nile and Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Deltas near the Nile and Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Tigris and Euphrates Delta

Oasis/Wadi An Oasis is an area in the desert that has water and vegetation can grow An Oasis is an area in the desert that has water and vegetation can grow A wadi is a dry riverbed in the desert that will fill with water when it rains A wadi is a dry riverbed in the desert that will fill with water when it rains An oasis can save your life in the desert!

Oasis/Wadi