GeoJournalAs you read this chapter, use your journal to describe what life is like in North Africa,Southwest Asia, and Central Asia today. Notespecific details that show similarities or dif-ferences among the various countries of thisdiverse region.

Chapter Overview Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Chapter Overviews—Chapter 19 topreview information about the region today.

Living in NorthAfrica, SouthwestAsia, andCentralAsia

A Geographic ViewOil BoomOn a clear, warm Sunday . . .Jamshid Khalilov, a 22-year-oldstudent at the Azerbaijan StateOil Academy, rose early tostudy. Jamshid lives on thethird floor of a dormitory amile from the Caspian Sea in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. In Baku Bay oil derricksspike the horizon like dead trees, and water seems to carry a gray, viscous film. . . . “As a boy I wanted to be a doctor,” he said. “But then I decided there were better opportunities in oil.”

—Robert Cullen, “The Rise and Fall of the Caspian Sea,” National Geographic, May 1999

Jamshid wants a job in the oil industry. His future, how-ever, depends on the Caspian Sea’s oil potential. Like other areas inNorth Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia, the Caspian Sea hasgreat oil reserves that encourage economic activities such as oil pro-duction. Improved transportation and communications also link theregion and its global neighbors.

Meeting Food NeedsProducing food for a rapidly growing population is a challenge

in many parts of the region. More developed countries, such as

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowReflect on what you have learnedabout the physical geography ofNorth Africa, Southwest Asia, andCentral Asia. Which countries in the region do you think have experienced the greatest economicdevelopment? Why?

Read to Find Out• How does physical geography

affect farming and fishing inNorth Africa, Southwest Asia,and Central Asia?

• What kinds of industries areimportant in the region?

• How are improvements in trans-portation and communicationschanging life in the region?

Terms to Know• arable

• commodity

• petrochemical

• gross domestic product (GDP)

• hajj

• embargo

Places to Locate• Saudi Arabia

• Israel

• Kuwait

• Morocco

• Istanbul

• Gulf of Aqaba

• Strait of Hormuz

• Baku

C h a p t e r 1 9 463

The Old City of Jerusalem

Baku oil derricks, Azerbaijan

464 U n i t 6

Saudi Arabia, buy food with oil profits. Lessdeveloped countries, such as Afghanistan, oftengrow their own food, but yields are usually smallbecause of unreliable rainfall or poor soil. Farmersin some countries, such as Israel, however, takeadvantage of better climate and soils or use effec-tive irrigation to grow food for export.

AgricultureOnly a small part of the region’s land is arable, or

suitable for farming, yet a large percentage of thepopulation works in agriculture. In Afghanistan,for example, where only 12 percent of the land isarable, 67 percent of the people farm for a living.Agriculture plays a smaller role in many countries,such as Kuwait, that have economies based on oil.

Areas of North Africa and Southwest Asia thathave a Mediterranean climate are best suited forcereal crops, citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and dates.When rainfall is below normal, however, harvestsof major crops such as wheat, barley, and corn sel-dom meet people’s needs. Countries such asTunisia, Morocco, and Egypt that grow these cropsoften import grains to feed their people. Othercrops of North Africa and Southwest Asia, like cit-rus fruits, are important exports. For example,Georgia, located at the eastern end of the BlackSea, has a subtropical climate that is good for pro-ducing citrus fruits, grapes, tobacco, and cotton.

Farmers in Central Asia raise both crops and live-stock. Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cottonproducers. Both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are

2. Applying Geography Skills How might acountry with relatively little arable land, forestsand woodlands, or grasslands for herding makeup for these deficiencies?

Country Total Land Area Arable Land† Forests and†

Woodlands

Afghanistan 251,772 (652,090) 12 3 46

Algeria 919,591 (2,381,741) 3 2 13

Egypt 386,660 (1,001,450) 2 * *

Iran 630,575 (1,633,190) 10 7 27

Israel 8,131 (21,060) 17 6 7

Jordan 34,444 (89,210) 4 1 9

Lebanon 4,015 (10,399) 18 8 1

Morocco 279,757 (724,571) 21 20 47

Saudi Arabia 829,996 (2,149,690) 2 1 56

Tunisia 63,170 (163,610) 19 4 20

Turkey 299,158 (774,820) 32 26 16

* Less than 1 percent† Data represent a percentage of the total land area of each country. Columns will not total 100 percent, as some land uses are omitted.Sources: 2001 World Population Data Sheet; CIA World Fact Book, 2000

Herding†

sq. mi. (sq. km)

Land Use in Selected Countries

CHART STUDY

1. Interpreting Charts What percentage ofSaudi Arabia’s land is forested? What percent-age of Egypt’s land is suitable for farming?

C h a p t e r 1 9 465

important centers for raising silk-worms. Wheat, cotton, potatoes, and tea earn Azerbaijan substantialexport income, even though lessthan one-eighth of its land is culti-vated. Kazakhstan, which has fertilesoil, is a major grain producer.

Fishing Fish serve as an important food

source in the region. Fishing boatsply the region’s waters. Moroccanfishing boats bring in sardines andmackerel from the Atlantic Ocean.The majority of Israel’s annual fishcatch consists of freshwater fishraised in human-made ponds. Fish-ers from other countries harvest fishfrom the Persian Gulf, which ishome to about 150 edible species.The size of fish catches has declinedin the Caspian Sea because of over-fishing and pollution. Still, Iran andseveral other countries have flour-ishing fishing industries.

Industrial GrowthPetroleum and oil products are

the main export commodities, oreconomic goods, of North Africa,Southwest Asia, and Central Asia.The region holds about 67 percent of the world’s oiland is likely to continue to supply much of theworld’s fossil fuels. In addition to significant oilreserves (the amount that can be recovered for use),the region also holds about 33 percent of theworld’s natural gas reserves.

Oil, Natural Gas, and MiningWealth from oil has helped build industry in

the region. Iran and Saudi Arabia operate largeoil-refining and oil-shipping facilities, and mostother oil-producing countries export crude oilto industrialized countries. Natural gas has alsoadvanced the region, powering steel, textile,and electricity production in various countries.Some countries have developed industries usingpetrochemicals—products derived from petro-leum or natural gas—to make fertilizers, medi-

cines, plastics, and paints. The economic growthbrought by industries provides thousands of jobsand helps improve the region’s standard of living.

Mining also contributes to the region’s economicgrowth. Coal and copper mining and cement pro-duction are important in both Southwest Asia andCentral Asia. In North Africa, Morocco is theworld’s largest exporter of phosphate, an essentialingredient in agricultural fertilizers.

Service IndustriesService industries—banking, real estate, insur-

ance, financial services, and tourism—play signif-icant roles in the region’s economies. For example,the banking, real estate, and insurance industriesamount to more than 60 percent of Bahrain’s grossdomestic product (GDP). GDP is the value ofgoods and services produced in a country in a year.

NORTH AFRICA,SOUTHWEST ASIA,

CENTRAL ASIA677.9

RUSSIA55.1

Numbers represent oilreserves in billions of barrels

EASTASIA33.5

SOUTHASIA3.2

SOUTHEASTASIA17.9

AUSTRALIA,OCEANIA,

ANTARCTICA2.5

AFRICA,SOUTHOF THE

SAHARA33.3

LATIN AMERICA

91.8

NORTHAMERICA

26.6

EUROPE

25.7

Source: World Almanac, 2001

GRAPH STUDY

World Oil Reserves (Billions of Barrels)

1. Interpreting Graphs About how much greater are oil reservesin North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia than those inthe rest of the world?

2. Applying Geography Skills How might having large oilreserves affect a region’s relations with other world regions?

466 U n i t 6

music of NORTH AFRICA, SOUTHWEST ASIA,AND CENTRAL ASIA

The region of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia is hometo a wide variety of music that is divided into three generalcultural categories: Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. Islamis an important unifying influence of the music ofthis region.

Instrument SpotlightThe oud is the most popular stringedinstrument of North Africa, SouthwestAsia, and Central Asia. The body of theoud is pear-shaped, with a thin neckthat bends sharply backward towardthe player. The oud is made of vari-ous kinds of wood and is usuallydecorated with ebony, ivory, andother materials. Often used insolos, the oud is also an impor-tant ensemble instrument andis used to accompany classicalpieces. It is said that the instru-ment owes its special tone tothe birdsongs absorbed by thewood from which the oud is crafted.

World Music: A Cultural Legacy Hear music of this region on Disc 1, Tracks 24–29.

Tourism also benefits some of the region’seconomies. North Africa and Southwest Asia arepopular travel destinations because of their histori-cal importance. Ancient monuments and religioussites have attracted millions of visitors, especiallyfollowers of the three major religions that began inthe region. Christians and Jews tour Israel, Jordan,and other countries with deep roots in the heritageof the Bible. Muslims make a hajj, or pilgrimage, toMakkah in Saudi Arabia. Other visitors come toenjoy sunny Mediterranean beaches or the vibrantmusic and other cultural traditions of the region.Tourism is especially vital to Morocco:

“ Tourism is Morocco’s third largestindustry. . . . Europeans come for hikingand skiing in the Atlas Mountains, or tothe beaches around Agadir. . . . Americanscome for the culture, . . . the medievalmedina [quarter] of Fez, where theycomb the market. . . .”Erla Zwingle, “Morocco,” National

Geographic, October 1996

Some countries, however, discourage visitors inorder to limit unwanted foreign influences. Afterthe Islamic revolution in 1979, the Iranian govern-ment placed restrictions on tourists from non-Muslim countries. Regional conflicts and politicalinstability in places such as Algeria, Syria, andLebanon have also affected tourism.

Transportation andCommunications

Advances in transportation and communicationssystems in the region are bringing the peoples closertogether. Countries in the eastern Mediterraneanarea have experienced the region’s greatest expan-sion in transportation and communications.

Roads, Railroads, and AirlinesExtensive road systems cross Iran, Turkey,

and Egypt, connecting their major cities with oilfields and seaports. More than 200,000 miles(321,869 km) of roads span Turkey alone. In somecountries of the region, mountains and deserts

Road Construction Workers build a bridgeacross a riverbed in Tajikistan.

Human-Environment Interaction What newdevelopment in Central Asia has made trade andtravel easier in the area?

make road building difficult and costly. However,the growing number of vehicles and the need to linkcities fosters highway development. In parts of theCaucasus area, roads provide the only access to theoutside world. To ease traffic congestion in crowdedurban areas and to improve urban-rural connec-tions, some governments have built rapid transitsystems and railroads. A new subway in Istanbul,Turkey, a city of some 9.5 million people, carriescommuters to and from the city’s center. Nationalrail lines also connect urban areas and seaports. In1998 Tajikistan unveiled part of a major railway sys-tem, which is designed to make trade and travel eas-ier throughout Central Asia.

Since World War II, the growth in the air travelindustry has benefited North Africa and SouthwestAsia. In recent years Central Asia also has benefitedfrom increased air traffic. Before the breakup of theSoviet Union, Central Asian countries relied on theSoviet airline Aeroflot, but now some Central Asiancountries have their own airlines.

Waterways and PipelinesWater transportation is vital to the region.

Ships load and unload cargo at ports on theMediterranean and Black Seas. The Strait ofTiran—between the Gulf of Aqaba and the RedSea—and the Strait of Hormuz—linking the Per-sian Gulf with the Arabian Sea—are of strategicand economic importance. Oil tankers enteringand leaving the Persian Gulf must pass throughthe Strait of Hormuz. The Suez Canal, a majorhuman-made waterway lying between the SinaiPeninsula and the rest of Egypt, enables ships topass from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

An elaborate system of pipelines transports oiloverland to ports on the Mediterranean and RedSeas and the Persian Gulf. In Central Asia,pipelines carry oil from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capi-tal, to Batumi, Georgia, on the Black Sea coast.The recent discovery of large oil and natural gasreserves in the Caspian Sea has prompted gov-ernments to plan for the building of morepipelines.

CommunicationsThroughout the region, television and radio broad-

casting is expanding, although government controlof the media in many places limits programming.

Communication is difficult in some areas becauseof vast stretches of desert. Satellite technology,however, is helping countries improve communi-cations services. Technologies such as wirelessservice and solar-powered radiophones arebringing telephone service to more people. Cellu-lar phones are a common sight on the streets ofmajor cities. Although service is limited, moreand more people in the region have computerand Internet access. In Dubai, a territory of theUnited Arab Emirates, plans are in place to builda computer-based “cybercity” that will include afree trade zone, a research center, a science andtechnology park, and a university.

Economics

Two New Silk RoadsThe year 1998 marked the opening of the world’s

longest telecommunications highway. The “high-way” is actually a 16,767-mile (26,984-km) cable

C h a p t e r 1 9 467

a majority in the 11-member Organization ofPetroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Foundedin 1960, OPEC has given member countries morecontrol over oil production and prices. Becauseother countries depend heavily on the region’s oil,OPEC has considerable influence in global affairs.It exercised political muscle by restricting oil ship-ments to the United States because of its aid toIsrael during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. OPECraised oil prices during the 1970s. It also placedand later canceled an embargo, or restriction, onoil shipments to the United States and other indus-trialized countries. In 1999 and again in 2000,OPEC cut back oil production, forcing up oil pricesaround the world.

The countries of North Africa, Southwest Asia,and Central Asia and the rest of the world dependon one another. Industrialized countries, such asthe United States, need oil from the region, and theregion needs industrial products for its markets.For these reasons, both sides recognize that,despite political and economic disagreements, theymust work together to ensure the well-being of all.

468 U n i t 6

Checking for Understanding1. Define arable, commodity, petro-

chemical, gross domestic product(GDP), hajj, embargo.

2. Main Ideas Use a graphic organizerlike the one below to list waysthat the activities listed help meetfood needs in the region.

Critical Thinking3. Drawing Conclusions Why does

this region refine only a smallamount of the oil it produces?

4. Predicting Consequences Howmight recent advances in commu-nications technology help unify theregion and change its cultures?

5. Identifying Cause and Effect Whydo oil prices rise and fall? How do these changes affect globalconsumers?

Analyzing Maps6. Region Study the economic activity

map on page 413 of the RegionalAtlas. In what areas of the regionare oil deposits most abundant?

7. Effects of TransportationList recent changes inglobal transportation andcommunications. Then cre-ate a graphic organizershowing how these changeshave affected everyday lifein the region.

Applying Geography

Meeting Food Needs

Agriculture Fishing

Student Web Activity Visit the Glencoe World GeographyWeb site at tx.geography.glencoe.com and click on Student WebActivities—Chapter 19 for an activity about OPEC.

that follows the route of the Silk Road, the ancienttrade route that linked Europe, Central Asia, andChina. The cable provides the 20 countries alongits path with digital circuits for voice, data, fax,and video transmissions.

Plans are also under way to build a network ofroad, rail, and air transportation systems tracing theSilk Road’s path. The Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) will extend fromMoldova in Europe eastward to Mongolia in EastAsia. The more than 30 countries involved hope theproject will promote peace in this vast area and pro-vide access to newly discovered oil and gasdeposits in the Caspian region.

InterdependenceGood transportation and communications net-

works go a long way toward increasing interactionbetween North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Cen-tral Asia and the rest of the world. Interdepen-dence is also growing within the region, asdeveloped countries provide foreign aid, tradedeals, and development loans to less developedcountries. Following the breakup of the SovietUnion, for example, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia helped smooth the new Central Asianrepublics’ transition to independence.

Eight of the region’s oil-producing countries—Algeria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, SaudiArabia, and United Arab Emirates—have become

C h a p t e r 1 9 469

Guide to ReadingConsider What You KnowNorth Africa, Southwest Asia, andCentral Asia produce much of theworld’s oil. Because of this commod-ity, what particular environmentalproblems do you think people in this region face?

Read to Find Out• How have peoples in the region

dealt with scarce water resources?

• What are the causes and effectsof environmental problems in theregion?

Terms to Know• aquifer

• desalination

Places to Locate• Tripoli

• Aswan High Dam

• Elburz Mountains

• Dead Sea

• Aral Sea

People and TheirEnvironment

A Geographic ViewResources in DangerAn ocean of yellow sand coversEgypt, divided by the dark greenvein of the Nile River. The riverinjects life into the bright green fanat its mouth, while the gray, man-made mass of Cairo eats away atthe fan’s delicate stem. . . . Cairo’scommercial and residentialsprawl has locked priceless soilbeneath miles of concrete; thedischarge of chemicals intodelta lakes threatens the fish-ing industry and the supply ofclean drinking water.

—Peter Theroux, “The Imperiled Nile Delta,” National Geographic, January 1997

Human actions in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Cen-tral Asia, like human actions in many places, often threaten the envi-ronment. These actions take many forms—oil spills, urban sprawl,and overuse of water supplies. The dilemma faced by people in theregion is how to meet human needs while protecting the environment.

The Need for WaterBecause more than 70 percent of the earth is covered by water, we

often think of it as an abundant natural resource. However, about2 percent of the earth’s water is frozen, and 97 percent is salt water.According to the United Nations, about 1.2 billion people worldwidecannot obtain clean drinking water. About two-thirds of the world’shouseholds do not have a nearby source of freshwater. Some expertspredict that by the year 2050 about 10 billion people will be livingon the earth, producing an even greater strain on water resources.

Satellite view of the Nile Delta

470 U n i t 6

Water ResourcesMuch of the freshwater in North Africa, South-

west Asia, and Central Asia comes from rivers,oases, and aquifers—underground layers ofporous rock, gravel, or sand that contain water. Asthe population grows, demand for water taxesthese aquifers and other water resources.

The Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan, AmuDarya, and Syr Darya are the area’s only majorrivers, so only a few of the region’s countrieshave enough freshwater for irrigation. Israel, forinstance, uses an elaborate system of human-made canals to funnel the freshwater of the Jor-dan River from north to south. In the rest of theregion, people turn to smaller rivers and othersources for water.

0° 20°E20°W 40°E 60°E 80°E

20°N

30°N

40°N

50°N

TROPIC OF CANCER

E U R O P E

A F R I C A

A S I A

TURKEY

I R A NIRAQ

GEORGIA

AFGHANISTAN

K A Z A K H S T A N

SYRIA

JORDANKUWAIT

TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN

AZERBAIJAN

KYRGYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

TUNISIA LEBANONISRAEL

ARMENIA

UNITED ARABEMIRATES

QATARBAHRAIN

SAUDIARABIA

YEMEN

OMAN

EGYPTL I B Y AA L G E R I A

MOROCCO

WESTERNSAHARA

Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection500

5000

0

mi.

km

N

MAP STUDY

North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia: Precipitation

2. Applying Geography Skills How might low precipitation affect a country’s economicdevelopment?

Find NGS online map resources @ www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Over 6040-6020-4010-20Under 10

Over 150100-15050-10025-50

Under 25

PrecipitationCentimeters Inches

1. Interpreting Maps Which countries receivemore than 40 inches (100 cm) of rain per year?

DesalinationLimited water resources have prompted scien-

tists to develop ways to remove salt from seawater,a process called desalination. As the world’s pop-ulation increases and becomes more highly con-centrated in urban areas, desalination helps meetthe need for more freshwater. Within the region,Israel was the first country to attempt desalination.Other countries soon followed. The region now has about 60 percent of the world’s freshwater-producing capacity, producing more than 2.4 billiongallons (9.1 billion l) a day. Many countries, partic-ularly those near the Persian Gulf, depend ondesalination plants. At the new Middle East Desalination Research Center, freshwater needshave brought Israeli and Arab scientists together.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Perc

en

t

Turkey Syria Iraq

Desired consumptionfrom Tigris

Desired consumptionfrom Euphrates

Contribution toEuphrates

Water Contribution and Consumption

of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Source: Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Contribution to Tigris

500

5000

0

mi.

kmLambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

N

40°N

20°N

40°E 50°E 60°E

TROPIC OF CANCER

Black Sea

Re

dS

ea

Caspian

Sea

ArabianSea

Gulf of

Aden

Gulf ofOman

Persian Gulf

TigrisR

.Euphrates R.LEBANON

T U R K E Y

SYRIA

ISRAELJORDAN

KUWAIT

I R A Q

QATAR

BAHRAIN

U.A.E.

O M A N

Y E M E N

S A U D IA R A B I A

I R A N

GRAPH AND MAP STUDY

The Importance of Freshwater in Southwest Asia

The graph above shows the countries through which theTigris and Euphrates Rivers flow, and their contributionand consumption of water from the two rivers, whichoften is not equivalent. As shown on the map above,countries throughout Southwest Asia rely on variousmethods to acquire freshwater.

Find NGS online map resources @ www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

DamDesalination plantWater pipelineAquifer

History

An Ancient SolutionCreative solutions to the scarce water supply in

North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia arean ongoing need. Scientists are now looking to theregion’s past for insights into possible solutions forthe future. The ancient Nabataeans built the city ofPetra, located in present-day Jordan, in a desertcanyon that receives only about six inches of raineach year. To supply the 30,000 residents of Petrawith the water they needed, the Nabataeans har-vested rainwater, collecting and storing it in an

amazingly intricate system of pipes, dams, terraces,and cisterns, or other artificial reservoirs.

“ Hundreds of cisterns kept Petra fromdying of thirst in times of drought,while masonry dams in the surroundinghills protected the city from flash floodsafter bursts of rain. . . . That kind ofplanning is called for again today.”Don Belt, “Petra: Ancient City of Stone,”

National Geographic, December 1998

1. Interpreting Graphics Where are most of thelarger aquifers in Southwest Asia located?

2. Applying Geography Skills Why do you thinkcontrolling freshwater is such a difficult issue inSouthwest Asia?

472 U n i t 6

The “Great Man-Made River”Libya’s “great man-made river” is an ambitious

effort to supply freshwater. This multibillion-dollarproject uses two pipelines to carry water from largeaquifers beneath the Sahara to farms near theMediterranean. The first pipeline, completed in1991, brings freshwater across eastern Libya to thecoast, and plans are under way to extend thepipeline to other areas. A second pipeline, com-pleted in 1996, carries water to areas near Tripoli(TRIH•puh•lee), the country’s capital, from anaquifer in the west. Yet pipelines may create envi-ronmental challenges. Scientists fear that thepipelines could drain aquifers in Libya and neigh-boring countries and that pumping aquifers nearthe Mediterranean could draw in salt water fromthe sea, contaminating the freshwater.

Environmental ConcernsIn recent decades both new technologies and

destructive wars have heightened environmentalconcerns in the region. Today countries must bal-ance accessing their natural resources with pre-serving the environment. Egypt’s Aswan HighDam provides an example of this struggle.

The Aswan High DamIn 1970 Egypt completed the Aswan High Dam,

located about 600 miles (966 km) south of Cairo.Started in the 1950s, the 364-foot (111-m) dam con-trols the Nile’s floods, irrigates around 3 millionacres (1.2 million ha) of land, and supplies nearly50 percent of Egypt’s electrical power. To boost thefishing industry, the dam also created the world’slargest artificial lake.

In spite of these successes, the project also had anegative impact on the environment. Before thedam’s construction, the annual Nile floodsdeposited fertile alluvial soil along the floodplainand washed away salt from the soil. Now the damtraps the soil, and Egyptian farmers must useexpensive fertilizers. The land also retains saltbecause floodwaters no longer cleanse the soil.

The health of people and their livestock alsosuffers. After the dam was completed, parasite-related diseases and deaths around the dam anddownriver increased. With aid from other coun-tries and international organizations, however,

Egypt is overcoming many of the difficulties created by the dam.

History

The Persian Gulf WarWar in the region has also had a negative effect

on the environment. During the Persian Gulf War,Iraqi troops retreating from Kuwait set fire to morethan 700 oil wells. Huge black clouds of smokepolluted the area. Iraqi troops also dumped about250 million gallons (947 million l) of oil into thePersian Gulf.

Scientists do not yet know what long-term effectsthese events will have. Thousands of fish and othermarine life died when the oil spill spread 350 miles(563 km) along the Persian Gulf coastline. Smokefrom oil-well fires threatened millions of birds. Oilpollution from routine shipping also adverselyaffects the Persian Gulf environment.

Nuclear and Chemical DangersCentral Asia also inherited the Soviet era’s envi-

ronmental problems. Kazakhstan was once hometo Soviet nuclear bases. During the Cold War, theSoviets tested nuclear, chemical, and biologicalweapons there. In 1989 it was found that thisweapons testing had caused radiation leaks. Scien-tists think many years will pass before all theresulting contamination disappears.

Aswan High Dam The dam creates 10 billionkilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

Human-Environment Interaction How has theAswan High Dam affected Egypt’s water sources?

45°N

60°E

AralSea

Syr Darya

Am

uD

arya

K A Z A K H S T A N

U Z B E K I S T A N

Albers Conic Equal-Area projection

N

150

1500

0

mi.

km

C h a p t e r 1 9 473

Checking for Understanding1. Define aquifer, desalination.

2. Main Ideas Re-create the web dia-gram below on a sheet of paper,and fill in ways the region meetsits freshwater needs.

Critical Thinking3. Drawing Conclusions Have the

effects of the Aswan High Dambeen mostly positive or mostlynegative? Explain.

4. Predicting Outcomes What prob-lems might occur if new sources ofwater are not found for the region?

5. Comparing and Contrasting Howare the problems facing thisregion’s seas similar? Different?

Analyzing Maps6. Region Study the precipitation

map on page 470. What kind ofvegetation would you expect tofind in most of Kazakhstan? Why?

MeetingFreshwater Needs

MAPSTUDY

The Shrinking Aral Sea

Find NGS online map resources @ www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

7. Planning for the FutureThink about the needs ofthis region. Write a plan toaddress its water needs inthe future.

Applying Geography

Shoreline in 1999Shoreline in 1960Desert

1. Interpreting Maps How has the Aral Seachanged since 1960?

2. Applying Geography Skills What factorshave affected the size of the Aral Sea?

Soviet planners also chose Kazakhstan as a site forheavy industry, which polluted the air with toxicchemicals. Scientists have linked increased infantmortality in Kazakhstan directly to industrial pollu-tion. The people of Kyrgyzstan, another site of Sovietheavy industry, have suffered similar effects.

Three Troubled SeasThe Caspian Sea, the Dead Sea, and the Aral Sea

also face severe environmental challenges. Pollu-tion at the Caspian Sea’s southern end, near theElburz Mountains of Iran, is especially severe.Pollution and overfishing threaten fish, like stur-geon, whose products are important exports.

The water level of the Dead Sea has droppedmore than 262 feet (80 m) over the past 40 years.Ninety percent of the water from the sea’s feederrivers is diverted for irrigation and to hydroelec-tric plants. Scientists have suggested pumpingwater into the Dead Sea from the Gulf of Aqaba,but the $5 billion price is too high. To reduce theamount of water diverted from the Dead Sea,planners recommend building a desalination planton Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

Like the Dead Sea, the Aral Sea has had waterdiverted from feeder rivers to irrigate cropland. Oncethe world’s fourth-largest body of inland water, bythe year 2000 it had become separate, smaller lakes.These changes destroyed the sea’s fishing industries,and dust storms have spread disease. People livingby the Aral Sea are now working to revive their seaas a chain of lakes that can support fish.

Viewpoint

Rivers are the lifeblood of aridregions. As rivers wind throughparched landscapes, they supplyprecious water to millions ofpeople. Anything that disrupts ariver’s flow can be a threat tolife itself. So it is with Turkey’sAtatürk Dam on the EuphratesRiver. The Atatürk restrains theEuphrates and diverts some ofits water for irrigation. For theTurks, the dam is turning barrenplains into lush croplands.Downstream, however, Syriaand Iraq worry that the Atatürkproject will rob their countries of a vital lifeline.

CASE STUDY on the Environment

Atat¨urk DamT U R K E Y

SYRIAI R A Q

TigrisR

.

Euphrates R.

Turkey’s Atatürk Dam:Turkey’s Atatürk Dam:

Diverting a River’s Flow

Diverting a River’s Flow

474 U n i t 6

Like a silver ribbon, theEuphrates River (left)winds down throughTurkey’s Anti-Taurus

Mountains. It skirts the westernedge of the Harran Plain, thencrosses the border into Syria.From Syria, the Euphrates flowsinto Iraq, where it eventuallyjoins the Tigris River and emp-ties into the Persian Gulf.

In the early 1980s,Turkeyembarked on the SoutheasternAnatolia Project, a plan to bringwater from both the Euphratesand Tigris Rivers to Turkey’s aridsoutheast region.The AtatürkDam is the centerpiece of this massive irrigation project.Completed in 1990, the Atatürkis one of the world’s largestdams.Water held in the dam’sreservoir is channeled into twohuge irrigation tunnels that leadto the Harran Plain 40 miles(64 km) away.

Eventually 21 other damswill be constructed along theEuphrates and Tigris Rivers.Nineteen hydroelectric powerplants associated with the damswill generate about 27 billionkilowatt-hours of electricity

each year—abouttwice Turkey’scurrent output.

Yet the projectis creating tensiondownstream. Peoplein Syria and Iraqworry that Turkey’sdams will reduce theprecious flow of water throughtheir lands.They were outragedwhen Turkey stopped the flowof the Euphrates for a month in1990 while filling the Atatürkreservoir. Despite Turkey’sassurances that its southernneighbors will receive a fairshare of river water, Syria andIraq remain unconvinced.

Supporters of the Atatürk Damclaim that the SoutheasternAnatolia Project will help Turkeyexpand its agricultural base andraise its standard of living.Theynote that every country has theright to control river waterwithin its borders. Before thedam’s reservoir was filled,Turkey increased water flowfrom the Euphrates for twomonths to prevent adverseeffects to Syria and Iraq.Supporters say that while Syriaand Iraq rely on petroleumdeposits for energy, oil-poorTurkey needs hydroelectric power.

Opponents of the dam claimthat once the Anatolia Projectis complete, Syria’s share ofEuphrates waters could bereduced by 40 percent andIraq’s by 60 percent. Reducedflow will make it harder forSyria’s hydroelectric plants tomaintain current levels of pro-duction. Irrigation-based agri-culture in both Syria and Iraqcould also be jeopardized.Opponents believe thatbecause the Turks stopped the flow of the Euphratesonce, they may do it again—whenever it suits their needs.Archaeologists in theregion also oppose the projectbecause the dams are destroy-ing unexplored ancient cities.

A Syrian farmer (below) relies onriver water to grow crops. Turkey’sAtatürk Dam (right) may reduce hisshare of irrigation waters.▼

What’s Your Point of View?Does Turkey have the right torestrict the flow of river water to its downstream neighbors?

Woman in Turkey haulswater to her family.

▼

Learning the SkillThink about how you get

from place to place each day. Inyour mind you have mentallymapped your route. You couldprobably draw sketch maps ofmany familiar places. Makingmental maps and sketching themare also useful skills in the studyof geography. They can help youremember and organize infor-mation about the regions youstudy.

To create a sketch map, followthese steps:

• When a country or city nameis mentioned, find it on a mapto get an idea of where it isand what it is near. Look forimportant features, such ashighways, mountains, build-ings, or bodies of water.

• Draw a sketch map of thearea. Include a compass rose toshow direction. Include theseimportant features and politi-cal boundaries on your map.

• As you read or hear informa-tion about the place, picturewhere on your sketch mapyou would fill in this infor-mation. Add the informationto your sketch map. Use col-ors and symbols to show dif-ferent kinds of information,and add a legend, or key.

• Compare your sketch to anactual map of the place.Change your sketch if youneed to by adjusting thelocations of places or includ-ing additional information.

Practicing the SkillStudy the map above. Use it to

answer the following questions.

1. If you are at the post office,what is the quickest route to Tim’s house?

2. How many blocks apart are thebike shop and Carol’s house?

3. Suppose your classroom is inthe southeast corner of thishigh school. Could you havea view of the school’s park-ing lot from the classroom?

4. Suppose you deliver pizzasfor the pizza shop onGarfield Avenue. You havedeliveries to the post office,Connie’s house, the highschool gym, and the bikeshop. What is the best route?

476 U n i t 6

Without looking back at this chap-ter, make a list of important physi-cal features and cities in NorthAfrica, Southwest Asia, and CentralAsia. Design and draw a sketchmap that shows the locations ofeach of these places. Compare yoursketch map with an actual map ofthe region. Revise your sketch if youneed to. Then create three ques-tions based on your sketch map,and have another student use yourmap to answer them.

The Glencoe Skillbuilder Interactive Workbook,

Level 2 provides instruction andpractice in key social studies skills.

Creating Sketch MapsWhile traveling, it is often much easier to follow visual

images on a map than directions given in words. A simplesketch map can display a wide range of useful information.

C h a p t e r 1 9 477

Key Points• Although North Africa, Southwest Asia, and

Central Asia have limited arable land, a rela-tively large percentage of the region’s peoplework in agriculture.

• The oil-producing countries in North Africa,Southwest Asia, and Central Asia have experi-enced greater economic growth than othercountries in the region.

• Expanded and more advanced transportationand communications systems are helping con-nect the region’s urban and economic centerswith one another and with the world.

• Interdependence is increasing among the coun-tries of the region, especially in controlling oilproduction and prices.

Organizing Your NotesUse a chart like the one below to help you organize the notesyou took as you read this section.Under each head, fill in theimportant supporting details.

Terms to Know• aquifer• desalination

Organizing Your NotesCreate an outline using the for-mat below to list ways in whichthe people of North Africa,Southwest Asia, and Central Asia use their environment.

Terms to Know• arable• commodity• petrochemical• gross domestic

product (GDP)• hajj• embargo

SECTION 1Living in North Africa, Southwest Asia,and Central Asia (pp. 463–468)

SECTION 2 People and Their Environment (pp. 469–473)

SUMMARY & STUDY GUIDE

TransportationFood Industrial and Inter-

Production Growth Communications dependence

People and Their EnvironmentI. Need for Water

A. Water Resources1. Population

Business district,Ankara, Turkey

Key Points• Countries in the region have modified their

environments to meet people’s needs for waterfor drinking and irrigation.

• New technologies and destructive wars havesubjected the region’s environment to stress.

• People are working to revive areas damaged bypast events.

Critical Thinking1. Making Inferences Why is industrial

growth limited in some parts of the region?

2. Analyzing Information How does theregion of North Africa, Southwest Asia, andCentral Asia compare with other worldregions in terms of economic opportunitiesfor women?

3. Identifying Cause and Effect List exam-ples of economic growth in the region andthe effects of each on the environment. Thenwrite a paragraph that explains the impact ofone of them.

Reviewing Key TermsWrite the key term that best completes each of thefollowing sentences. Refer to the Terms to Know inthe Summary & Study Guide on page 477.

1. Underground layers of porous rock, gravel, orsand that contain water are called __________.

2. __________ is the value of goods and servicesproduced in a country in a year.

3. __________ is the process that removes saltfrom seawater.

4. Government restrictions on buying or sellingcertain goods are called __________.

5. __________ are products derivedfrom petroleum or natural gas.

6. The __________ is the pilgrim-age to Makkah made by manyMuslims.

7. Land that is suitable for farm-ing is __________.

8. Petroleum is one of the maineconomic goods, or __________,exported by the region.

Reviewing FactsSECTION 1

1. How has natural gas helpedadvance the region’s industrialgrowth?

2. Why do some countries in NorthAfrica, Southwest Asia, and Cen-tral Asia discourage tourism?

3. Why is most freight carried byroad in Armenia?

SECTION 24. What, and where, is the “great

man-made river” project?

5. How did the Persian Gulf Waraffect the environment of theregion?

6. What has caused the water lev-els of the Dead and Aral Seas todrop?

Locating PlacesNorth Africa, Southwest Asia, and CentralAsia: Physical-Political Geography

Match the letters on the map with the places and physical features of NorthAfrica, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia. Write your answers on a sheet of paper.

1. Libya2. Turkey3. Kuwait 4. Shatt al Arab

5. Jordan 6. Morocco 7. Persian Gulf8. Ural River

9. Hindu Kush 10. Sinai Peninsula 11. Turkmenistan 12. Makkah

0° 20°E20°W 40°E

40°N

30°N

20°N

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60°E 80°E

10°N

0°EQUATOR

TROPIC OF CANCER

A

B

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J

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Lambert AzimuthalEqual-Area projection

1,000

1,0000 mi.

0 km

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ASSESSMENT & ACTIVITIES

478 U n i t 6

Examples Effects on Environment

C h a p t e r 1 9 479

Use the Process of Elimination (POE) toanswer this question. First, consider thephysical features, land use, resources,

and population patterns near the Nile River. Then, elimi-nate answer choices that contain even one feature orresource that is not likely to be found along the river.Choose your answer from those that remain.

Use POE to answer this question. First,visualize where Egypt lies in relation tothe Equator on a map. Then, eliminate

coordinates that are likely to be too far from Egypt.

Self-Check Quiz Visit the Glencoe WorldGeography Web site at tx.geography.glencoe.comand click on Self-Check Quizzes—Chapter 19 toprepare for the Chapter Test.

Using the Regional AtlasRefer to the Regional Atlas on pages 410–413.

1. Location For which densely populatedareas in North Africa, Southwest Asia, andCentral Asia are desalination plants practical?

2. Human-Environment Interaction Whatis the relationship between the locations ofcommercial farms and water resources inNorth Africa and Southwest Asia?

Thinking Like a GeographerConsider human-environment interaction in theregion. How have people’s views about the envi-ronment there changed since ancient times? Howhave these changing viewpoints led to changes inlifestyles? Give examples.

Problem-Solving ActivityContemporary Issues Case Study Researchan OPEC member country. Find statistics that illus-trate how important petroleum and natural gasare to the country’s economy. Share a writtensummary of your findings with the class.

GeoJournalCause and Effect Using your GeoJournaldata and other resources, write an essay thatcompares an environmental trouble spot inNorth Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asiawith that in another region. Focus on the rela-tionship between technology and environmentalchange.

Technology ActivityUsing the Internet for Research

On the Internet, search for an online newssource with articles about North Africa, South-west Asia, and Central Asia. Find a recent articleabout an environmental issue, and summarizethe article. Be sure to cite source information onwhich the summary is based. Identify any biases,if present, in the article, and make sure thesource is reliable. Then evaluate the impact ofthe issue on the region.

Choose the best answer for each of the fol-lowing multiple-choice questions. If you have trouble answering the questions, use theprocess of elimination to narrow your choices.

1. Imagine that you are hired to create a sketch map of Egypt to show the importance of the Nile River to Egypt’speople. What combination of informationwould be the most useful to show?

A Coastal areas, mountains, and oil andphosphate resources

B Population density, commercial farming,and deserts

C Population density, subsistence farming,and city locations

D Deserts, plateaus, and mountains

2. What set of latitude lines would be bestto use on your sketch map of Egypt andthe Nile River?

F 40°N, 50°N, 60°N H 30°S, 0°N, 30°NG 20°S, 25°S, 30°S J 20°N, 35°N, 70°N

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