Deserts of the Middle East

GPS & E.Q.

• b. Describe how the deserts and rivers of the Middle East have affected population in terms of where people live, the type of work they do, and how they travel.

• E.Q. how do deserts affect population in terms of where people live, the type of work they do, and how they travel?

Saudi ArabiaDeserts

• Arabian Desert– Empty Quarter– Al-Nafud– Al-Dahna

Saudi Arabia Major Cities

Saudi ArabiaOccupations

• Agriculture: 6.7%

• Industry: 21.4%

• Services: 71.9%

Arabian Desert

• 900,000 miles on the Arabian peninsula

• Made of– Al-Dahna Desert: high red sand dunes -

connects Empty Quarter and Al-Nefud

– Empty Quarter: 1 of largest continuous bodies of sand in the world

– Al-Nefud Desert: has sudden violent winds and large dunes.

Climate

• hyper arid (super dry)Temperatures – Summer: 104–122 °F – Winter: 41–59 °F (can go below 0°C)

• Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards live here.

• Has red dunes and deadly quicksand

Iran Major Cities

IranOccupations

• Agriculture: 25%

• Industry: 31%

• Services: 45%

IranDeserts

• Dasht-e Kavir

• Dasht-e Lut

• In central Iran

• Named after the salt marshes (kavirs)

• Climate: almost rainless

• Temperatures– Summer: can reach 122 °F– Winter: average is 71 °F.

• Rain usually falls in winter.

Dasht-e Kavir or Great Salt Desertكوير دشت

Dasht-e Kavir• Extreme heat and storms cause erosion

• Almost uninhabited

• A few people live in the oases, breeding camels and sheep.

• For irrigation, use water-wells known as "Qanats."

Dasht-e Lut• In SE Iran

• Large salt desert

• world's 25th largest desert.

• 300 mi. long & 200 mi. wide

• Hottest and driest place on earth.

Climate

• The highest temperature of Earth's surface in the years 2004 and 2005 was 159 degrees F.

• Temperatures

• Summer: night 104 Degrees F +, day 120 degrees F+.

IsraelMajor Cities

IsraelDeserts

• Judean

• Negev

IsraelOccupations

• Agriculture: 2.6%

• Industry: 32.4%

• Services: 65%

Judean Desert

• in eastern Israel & in the West Bank

• hills and canyons

Negev

• In S. Israel

• brown, rocky, dusty mountains, wadis, and deep craters

• receives little rain because it is east of the Sahara

• average rainfall total from June - October is 0

• Deserts serve as a natural barrier against invasion.

• Deserts have also led to a way of life developed around surviving the harsh conditions

• People (Bedouins – desert nomads) have managed to live in the desert in tent camps and survive as sheep and camel herders. They trade animals and handmade goods with those who live in towns on the desert’s edge.

• Many people in the ME practice subsistence agriculture (growing small amounts of crops to take care of local needs)

• Due to climate, agriculture strongly depends on irrigation

• Commercial agriculture (growing crops for industrial markets) exists, but is limited by lack of water

Desert Travel

• By car/ motorcycle –no roads, can run out of gas…

• By camel

• On foot

• Need water, food, GPS, compass, first aid kit