1. SSWG1: Physical geography of Southwest Asia
SSWG1 Explain why physical characteristics of place such as landforms, bodies of water, climate, and natural resources act as contributing factors to world settlement patterns.
Identify and describe climates and locations of major physical features of Central and Southwest Asia. Explain how these physical characteristics impact settlement patterns including, but not limited to, the Zagros Mountains, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

2. Landforms & resources

4. Landforms
Golan Heights – hilly plateau overlooking the Jordan River & the sea of Galilee
Coastal plains, desert, snow-peaked mountains
Region is a Land bridge connecting Asia, Africa & Europe

5. Peninsulas & Waterways
Arabian Peninsula – separated from Africa by Red Sea on east & Persian Gulf on the east
Suez Canal – opening to Mediterranean Sea
Anatolian Peninsula – Turkey
Beginning of Asian continent
Between Black Sea & Mediterranean Sea
Straits
Bosporus & Dardanelles (Trade & transport to Russia)
Straits of Hormuz (oil passageway)
Caspian Sea – border between Asia & Europe

6. Anatolian Peninsula

7. Plains & Highlands Plains cover most of Arabian Peninsula
Dry, sandy, windy, barren, low hills, ridges & wadis
Riverbeds that remain dry except during the rainy season
Hejaz Mountains – SW corner of Peninsula
Nomadic lifestyles in search of water
Mountains surround plateaus in Iran & Anatolian Peninsula

8. Mountains Hindu Kush Mountains – Afghanistan
Landlocked & mountainous country
Zagros Mountains – western Iran; longest in region
Taurus Mountains – separate Turkey & SW Asia

9. Bodies of Water Vital for trade & transportation
Arid climate = few rivers that flow all year
Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
The Fertile Crescent
Well watered, fertile, good agriculture
Jordan River – natural boundary between Israel & Jordan
Empties into Dead Sea (landlocked salt lake)

11. Resources Most abundant resource = oil
Arabian Peninsula, Iran & Iraq
Half of world’s oil reserves found in SW Asia (Persian Gulf)
Most of the world depends on this region for oil
Water for hydroelectric energy (Turkey, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran)
Coal, copper, calcium chloride

13. Climate & Vegetation

14. Arid Lands Extremely arid area
Dry, little vegetation, rough terrain
Any vegetation survives on little water & extreme temperatures
Mediterranean Region = exception
Part of the year land is lush & green = RAIN

15. Deserts & Limited Movement
Spread across region = difficult to travel
Rub al-Khali = “the Empty Quarter”
Desert w/ little to not travel; extreme climate
Syrian Desert – separates Lebanon, Israel & Syria from Tigris/Euphrates Rivers
Negev Desert – vegetation due to vast irrigation
Salt Flat Deserts
Rain evaporates leaving salt chemicals
Barrier to movement in Iran

16. Semiarid Lands Warm to hot summers
Enough rain to support grass & low-shrubs
Cotton & wheat
Pastures for animals
Goats used for fabric/hair – export

17. Well-Watered Coast Lands
Mediterranean coast & Turkey receive rain
Hot summers & rainy winters
Citrus fruits, olives, vegetables
Irrigation = can grow year round
Dams on Tigris & Euphrates
Higher population