The Geography of the Middle East

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: Social Studies SWA Map Quiz on Thursday, August 28th. Review countries, bodies of water, & rivers. Standard: Physical & Political Features of SWA. Essential Question for Monday August 24th: What life sustaining natural resource is distributed unequally in SWA? Warm-up: What two bodies of water does the Suez Canal connect? Today We Will: Review & Turn-in last weeks E.Q.’s & Warm-ups Complete labeling and coloring of SWA Maps

E.Q’s & Warm-Up Answers E.Q. Answer for Monday August 24th: Fresh Water. Only Turkey & Iraq have enough fresh water to meet their people’s needs. All other countries in SWA are struggling to find enough water for their people. Warm-up: The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea & the Red Sea.

The Middle East Today: Standard: G5 Locate selected features in SW Asia Jordan River Tigris River Gaza Strip Strait of Hormuz Suez Canal Euphrates River Persian Gulf Red Sea Arabian Sea

Countries Turkey Iran Afghanistan Israel Iraq Saudi Arabia

Completed by the British in 1869 Suez Canal Completed by the British in 1869

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

The Jordan River System:

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

Rub al-Khali: Saudi Arabia “The Empty Quarter”

Standard: G6 Discuss environmental issues across Southwest Asia. -Water is a natural resource that is distributed unevenly in Southwest Asia. -Turkey and Iraq have plenty of water for farming communities. (Tigris and Euphrates) -Some countries share a water source like Jordan, Israel and Syria (Jordan River) -Saudi Arabia has almost no water. -Irrigation has become necessary for those who want to farm and raise animals. -Using wells taps into fossil water (water that has been underground for centuries) -Saudi Arabia and Israel have developed systems of drip irrigation that measure out how much water each plant receives.

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: SWA Geography Quiz is Friday. Know your geography, countries, & bodies of water. Study your maps of SWA. Standard: Describe the impact of location, climate, physical geography, and distribution of natural resources on population distribution. Essential Question for Tuesday August 25th: What are the major environmental problems in SWA? Warm-up: What narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf & the Arabian Sea? Today We Will: Finish labeling & coloring our maps of SWA Review for SWA Geography Quiz

ANSWERS E.Q. Answers for Tuesday August 25th: Environmental problems in SWA have to do with water and soil pollution. They are related based on the use of chemical fertilizers in farming. A third problem is the building of dams for irrigation and production of hydro-electric power (electricity). Warm-up: The Strait of Hormuz

Desalination (the process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater) is very expensive and requires complex technology. Water pollution is a growing problem. Many farmers are using chemical fertilizers, which have contaminated water supplies through runoff water. This has increased the salt level found in soil, eventually making it impossible to farm. The building of dams to produce hydroelectric power has become a source of conflict. This is because it greatly reduces the amount of water available to other countries located downstream.

Desalinization Plants

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: SWA Geography Quiz is Friday. Know your geography, countries, & bodies of water. Study your maps of SWA. Standard: Describe the impact of location, climate, physical geography, and distribution of natural resources on population distribution. Essential Question for Wednesday August 26th: Where do people tend to live throughout SWA? Warm-up: What man made waterway connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea? Today We Will: Finish labeling & coloring our maps of SWA Review SWA geography for Quiz Friday

E.Q’s & Warm-Up Answers E.Q. Answer for Wednesday August 26th: People tend to live where the weather is not too hot and not too cold. They also tend to live where there is a good supply of fresh water. Warm-up: The Suez Canal

Middle East: Climate Regions

Middle East: Population Density

Desert Nomads

Desert Nomads: People who live in the desert roaming from place to place (Oasis to Oasis) in search of water and grazing for their animals (camels and goats). Desert nomads earn a living by selling their camels and goats and hand made goods such as rugs, and metal work.

Desert Oases: Water at a Premium!

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: SWA Map Quiz is scheduled for tomorrow. Study your maps! Standard: Describe the impact of location, climate, physical geography, and distribution of natural resources on population distribution. Essential Question for Wednesday August 26th: What percent of the world’s oil supply is found in SWA? Warm-up: Where do people tend to live? Today We Will: Finish labeling & coloring our maps of SWA Population distribution/Oil distribution

E.Q’s & Warm-Up Answers E.Q. Answer for Thursday August 27th: 50% Warm-up: Moderate temperatures or climate is where people tend to live. (Moderate means temperatures that are not too hot or too cold.)

Standard: G7 Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources and population distribution on SW Asia Oil and Natural Gas The two most “valuable” natural resources found in SW Asia are oil and natural gas . These resources were discovered in the 1900s and United States and European companies controlled the drilling and refining. Over ½ of the world’s known oil reserves are found in this area of the world.

World Oil Reserves

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Standard: G7 Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources and population distribution on SW Asia Countries in SWA that have oil have become incredibly rich (especially oil rich nations surrounding the Persian Gulf). As a result their people, once poor, now enjoy a high standard of living. The countries without oil in SWA have remained poor and have had a much harder time improving living conditions for their people.

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

Standard: G7 Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources and population distribution on SW Asia Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries- OPEC was created in the 1960s and is made up of the world’s oil-rich countries from SWA, Africa (Nigeria), and South America (Venezuela & Brazil). OPEC’s goal is to control the production & price of oil in the world’s markets.

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

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: SWA Geography Quiz is TOMORROW!! Study your SWA Maps!! Standard: Describe the impact of location, climate, physical geography, and distribution of natural resources on population distribution. Essential Question for Thursday, August 27th: Why do farmers need to irrigate their land in SWA? Warm Up: People tend to live where there are two factors. What are those two factors? Today We Will: Review of SWA Geography for Quiz Friday

E.Q’s & Warm-Up Answers Essential Question for Thursday August 27th: The climate in SWA is very dry meaning there is little rain fall. Only Turkey & Iraq have enough fresh water for farming. All other countries must rely on water from irrigation to farm effectively. Warm-up Answer: Where temperatures are moderate Where there is a good supply of fresh water

FIRST FIVE Agenda Message: SWA Geography Quiz is TODAY!! 3rd period takes SWA Geography Quiz Tuesday. Social Studies Progress Reports go home Monday August 31st. Standard: Describe the impact of location, climate, physical geography, and distribution of natural resources on population distribution. Essential Question for Friday, August 28th: Why was the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) created? Warm Up Friday, August 28th: Name the two leading exporter of Oil to the United States from SWA. Today We Will: SWA Geography Quiz

E.Q’s & Warm-Up Answers Essential Question for Answers for Friday August 28th: OPEC was created to control the production and price of oil in the world market. Warm-up: Saudi Arabia and Iraq

Geography Quiz Extra Credit 14. Describe in your own words what the Arabian Peninsula looks like.