Middle East

Physical Geography 1. Landforms and Resources 2 Physical Geography 1. Landforms and Resources 2. Climate and Vegetation 3. Human-Environment Interaction

Sulemaniye Mosque Turkey

Syria Damascus Umayyad Mosque

Parliament Square in Beirut Beirut Lebanon

Tel Aviv Dead Sea Salt Beds Negev Desert Israel Dome of the Rock

Jordan Abdullah Mosque Amman King Abdullah II Petra

Iraq Saddam Hussein Bombing of Baghdad Tigris River

King Fahd Empty Quarter Saudi Arabia Mecca

Shahid Motahari Mosque Iran Tehran                                                            Shahid Motahari Mosque

Sanaa Yemen

Mosque Oman Sultan’s Palace

Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

Museum Doha Qatar Desert

Kuwait Water Towers Kuwait City Oil wells on fire

Landforms and Resources Overview Landforms in the Middle East have had a significant impact on movement in the region. Oil and water are the most valuable resources in the Middle East.

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Golan Heights A hilly plateau overlooking the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee Strategic location for conflict throughout history Controlled by Israel since 1967 (Syria lost)

Golan Heights

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Arabian Peninsula - very dry, sandy, & windy peninsula Rub Al-Khali – “Empty Quarter” is the size of Texas; largest continuous sand desert in the world Surface temps, can reach 150°F 10 years may pass w/out rain Wadis - riverbeds that remain dry except for the rainy season; common throughout Middle East (and Arabian Peninsula).

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Suez Canal Artificial waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea & the Red Sea It may be used "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag.

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Anatolian Peninsula Present-day Turkey

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Straits of Hormuz Remember: strait  narrow passage of water connecting to seas or large bodies of water 35% of the world's seaborne oil shipments and 20% of oil traded worldwide.

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Salt Flat - flat land made of chemical salts that remain after winds evaporate the moisture in the soil Common in Iran Usually uninhabited

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Hindu Kush Mountains Zagros Mountains Elburz Mountains Taurus Mountains

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Tigris & Euphrates Tigris & Euphrates river valleys supported several ancient societies Jordan River & Dead Sea Jordan River  Provides a natural boundary for Israel & Jordan Flows into the Dead Sea Dead Sea  Landlocked salt lake So salty that only bacteria lives in it Lowest place on the exposed surface of the earth. 1349 feet below sea level

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Tigris & Euphrates Tigris & Euphrates river valleys supported several ancient societies Jordan River & Dead Sea Jordan River  Provides a natural boundary for Israel & Jordan Flows into the Dead Sea Dead Sea  Landlocked salt lake So salty that only bacteria lives in it Lowest place on the exposed surface of the earth. 1349 feet below sea level

Landforms and Resources Landforms Divide the Region Tigris & Euphrates Tigris & Euphrates river valleys supported several ancient societies Jordan River & Dead Sea Jordan River  Provides a natural boundary for Israel & Jordan Flows into the Dead Sea Dead Sea  Landlocked salt lake So salty that only bacteria lives in it Lowest place on the exposed surface of the earth. 1349 feet below sea level

Landforms and Resources Resources for a Modern World An Oil-Rich Region Most prominent resource; Largest reserves in the world (2/3 of all known reserves)

Landforms and Resources Resources for a Modern World An Oil-Rich Region Most prominent resource; Largest reserves in the world (2/3 of all known reserves)

Climate & Vegetation Overview Most of the region has a very arid climate. Irrigation is therefore critical to any agricultural production.

Climate & Vegetation Variety in Arid Lands Deserts Limit Movement Sandy Deserts Salt Deserts Semiarid Lands Well-Watered Coast Lands