Southwest Asia in ReviewSouthwest Asia in Review

Water SituationWater Situation

Water is a natural resource that is distributed Water is a natural resource that is distributed unevenly in Southwest Asia. unevenly in Southwest Asia.

Turkey and Iraq have major rivers that provide Turkey and Iraq have major rivers that provide enough water for farming communities. enough water for farming communities. Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

Israel, Syria, and Jordan share the Jordan Israel, Syria, and Jordan share the Jordan River. River.

Water SituationWater Situation The climate of most Southwest Asian countries tends to The climate of most Southwest Asian countries tends to

be be hot and dryhot and dry. . Because mountain ranges (such as in Turkey) block Because mountain ranges (such as in Turkey) block

the winds from the ocean, most of the interior of the winds from the ocean, most of the interior of Southwest Asia is Southwest Asia is desertdesert..

Because water is in short supply in so many parts of Because water is in short supply in so many parts of Southwest Asia, irrigation has been necessary for those Southwest Asia, irrigation has been necessary for those who want to farm and raise animals for market.who want to farm and raise animals for market.

People must live where there is water.People must live where there is water. However some people, such as the However some people, such as the BedouinsBedouins, ,

traditionally make their living in major desert areas by traditionally make their living in major desert areas by trading animals and hand-made goodstrading animals and hand-made goods..

CRCT Questions #1-4CRCT Questions #1-4

1. Describe the climate of much of Southwest Asia.1. Describe the climate of much of Southwest Asia.

2. Because mountains block winds coming from the oceans, 2. Because mountains block winds coming from the oceans, much of the interior of Southwest Asia is ___________.much of the interior of Southwest Asia is ___________.

3. The “Bedouins” are Southwest Asians who have 3. The “Bedouins” are Southwest Asians who have traditionally lived in and around ______.traditionally lived in and around ______.

4. People living in the deserts of Southwest Asia have 4. People living in the deserts of Southwest Asia have usually made their living by ___________.usually made their living by ___________.

BackgroundBackground

There are many serious environmental problems There are many serious environmental problems today in the Southwest Asia.today in the Southwest Asia.

Governments play a role in both causing and trying to Governments play a role in both causing and trying to solve these problems. solve these problems.

Many of the political problems that stem from the use Many of the political problems that stem from the use of water occur when a country of water occur when a country builds a dam for their builds a dam for their region, cutting off water supply to other areas.region, cutting off water supply to other areas.

CRCT Question #5CRCT Question #5

5. How have the major rivers of Southwest 5. How have the major rivers of Southwest Asia become part of political conflict?Asia become part of political conflict?

IrrigationIrrigation Many types of irrigation can be found in Southwest Asia as Many types of irrigation can be found in Southwest Asia as

farmers struggle to bring water to their fields from local rivers farmers struggle to bring water to their fields from local rivers and from underground aquifers (layers of underground rock and from underground aquifers (layers of underground rock where water runoff from rains and streams is trapped). where water runoff from rains and streams is trapped).

Some farmers use water from wells that tap into fossil water Some farmers use water from wells that tap into fossil water (water that has been underground for centuries). (water that has been underground for centuries). Rains and streams do not replace this water and once it is used, is Rains and streams do not replace this water and once it is used, is

gone forever. gone forever. Farmers in very rural areas still use methods used by their Farmers in very rural areas still use methods used by their

ancestors for ancestors for irrigationirrigation, including , including water wheelswater wheels, ditches and , ditches and canalscanals, , qanatsqanats (underground tunnels that bring water from the (underground tunnels that bring water from the hills to the dry plains) and animal power to lift water from hills to the dry plains) and animal power to lift water from underground wells. underground wells.

CRCT Question #6CRCT Question #6

6. People living along the rivers of Southwest 6. People living along the rivers of Southwest Asia have built canals, qanats, and water Asia have built canals, qanats, and water wheels to use the water for ____________. wheels to use the water for ____________.

DesalinationDesalination

Israel has very few fresh water sources.Israel has very few fresh water sources. The Sea of Galilee provides its primary The Sea of Galilee provides its primary

supply of drinking water. supply of drinking water. Many Southwest Asian countries must Many Southwest Asian countries must

use desalination to get fresh water. use desalination to get fresh water. Desalination is a process for removing Desalination is a process for removing

the salt from salt water in order to make the salt from salt water in order to make it suitable for drinking and farming.it suitable for drinking and farming.

Sea of GalileeSea of Galilee

The RiversThe Rivers

The Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers are The Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers are the longest and most powerful in the the longest and most powerful in the region. region.

Rivers are the main source of water for Rivers are the main source of water for drinking and for power in many Southwest drinking and for power in many Southwest Asian countries. Asian countries.

Countries without major rivers must also Countries without major rivers must also find other ways to generate electricity. find other ways to generate electricity.

The CoastlineThe Coastline

Many of the largest Southwest Asian cities Many of the largest Southwest Asian cities are located around ports of are located around ports of major riversmajor rivers. .

Ports make it easier to ship the things Ports make it easier to ship the things produced by industries. produced by industries.

Port cities with major industries usually Port cities with major industries usually pollute their water supplies. pollute their water supplies.

Oil is the main export in Southwest Asia. Oil is the main export in Southwest Asia. Huge ships and oil spills pollute the waters Huge ships and oil spills pollute the waters

of the Persian Gulf.of the Persian Gulf.

CRCT Question #7CRCT Question #7

7. Many of the largest cities in 7. Many of the largest cities in Southwest Asia are located on or Southwest Asia are located on or near _________. near _________.

ExtractionExtraction

The process of removing natural The process of removing natural resources is called extraction. resources is called extraction.

Oil is the largest natural resource in Oil is the largest natural resource in Southwest Asia. Southwest Asia.

Drilling oil from the ground requires Drilling oil from the ground requires heavy machinery that often heavy machinery that often endangers the environment. endangers the environment.

PollutionPollution

The process of refining oil also The process of refining oil also creates pollution. creates pollution.

Refining oil means making oil from Refining oil means making oil from the ground ready to use in machines. the ground ready to use in machines.

Refining oil produces toxic chemicals. Refining oil produces toxic chemicals. This is an enormous problem for the This is an enormous problem for the

environment in the Southwest Asia.environment in the Southwest Asia.

Water SupplyWater Supply

Southwest Asian countries often get into Southwest Asian countries often get into disputes over their policies on water rights disputes over their policies on water rights and other natural resources. and other natural resources.

Water rights are agreements about how Water rights are agreements about how countries can use the water in a region. countries can use the water in a region.

Water rights often cause political disputes.Water rights often cause political disputes.

Israel, Jordan, and the PalestiniansIsrael, Jordan, and the Palestinians

Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians on the Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians on the West Bank, all depend on many of the West Bank, all depend on many of the same scarce water resources. same scarce water resources.

Israel has the most power, so it has been Israel has the most power, so it has been most effective in claiming water. most effective in claiming water.

Much Israeli water is also cleaned after it is Much Israeli water is also cleaned after it is used once, and is then reused. used once, and is then reused.

Euphrates RiverEuphrates River

The The Euphrates River Euphrates River flows through flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. It is also shared by Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. It is also shared by Kuwait.Kuwait.

These countries all rely on the Euphrates These countries all rely on the Euphrates for farming and for electricity. for farming and for electricity.

Turkey built two dams on the Euphrates in Turkey built two dams on the Euphrates in 1984 to harness its power for electricity. 1984 to harness its power for electricity.

CRCT Question #8CRCT Question #8

8. Which river do Turkey, Syria, Iraq 8. Which river do Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Kuwait share? and Kuwait share?

Dam BuidingDam Buiding

These dams make the river less powerful. These dams make the river less powerful. Syria also built a dam on the Euphrates. Syria also built a dam on the Euphrates.

By the time the river reaches Iraq, it is By the time the river reaches Iraq, it is much smaller and less powerful than it much smaller and less powerful than it was originally. was originally.

Water supply in Iraq is also diminished and Water supply in Iraq is also diminished and farming is very difficult. farming is very difficult.

In 1975, a war almost broke out between In 1975, a war almost broke out between Syria and Iraq over water rights.Syria and Iraq over water rights.

Oil IndustriesOil Industries

The 2 most valuable natural resources in The 2 most valuable natural resources in Southwest Asia are Southwest Asia are oiloil and and natural gasnatural gas..

Disputes over access to other natural Disputes over access to other natural resources, like oil, also cause conflict. resources, like oil, also cause conflict.

The largest source of oil in the world is the The largest source of oil in the world is the region bordering the Persian Gulf. region bordering the Persian Gulf. (Over (Over 50%50% of the world’s oil comes from Southwest of the world’s oil comes from Southwest Asia!)Asia!)

Many wars have been fought over oil in Many wars have been fought over oil in Southwest Asia. Southwest Asia.

These wars have had a major impact on the These wars have had a major impact on the environment, economy, government and environment, economy, government and population in these areas. population in these areas.

CRCT Questions #9-10CRCT Questions #9-10

9. What are the two most valuable 9. What are the two most valuable natural resources in Southwest Asia?natural resources in Southwest Asia?

10. How much of the world’s oil 10. How much of the world’s oil supply is found in Southwest Asia?supply is found in Southwest Asia?

Oil and the EconomyOil and the Economy

Those countries with oil reserves Those countries with oil reserves are much richer than those are much richer than those countries that have not found oil countries that have not found oil in their territory!in their territory!

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia, , IraqIraq, , IranIran andand Kuwait Kuwait are the most oil-rich are the most oil-rich countries in Southwest Asia!countries in Southwest Asia!

CRCT Questions #11-12CRCT Questions #11-12

11. How has the discovery of oil in 11. How has the discovery of oil in some Southwest Asian countries some Southwest Asian countries affected the economic development affected the economic development of this area?of this area?

12. Which countries are the most oil-12. Which countries are the most oil-rich in the Middle East?rich in the Middle East?

Persian Gulf WarPersian Gulf War Much of the oil refining machinery in Iraq was Much of the oil refining machinery in Iraq was

badly damaged in the Persian Gulf War, in badly damaged in the Persian Gulf War, in 1991.1991.

The Iraqi government did not repair the The Iraqi government did not repair the equipment that makes refining oil safer for the equipment that makes refining oil safer for the environment. environment.

For years, pollution from Iraqi oil refineries For years, pollution from Iraqi oil refineries leaked into the water supply and in the air. leaked into the water supply and in the air.

Many of Iraq’s oil refineries were destroyed Many of Iraq’s oil refineries were destroyed and burned during the war, so that the air was and burned during the war, so that the air was polluted.polluted.

Oil in WarOil in War

During the first Gulf War, Iraq used During the first Gulf War, Iraq used pollution as a strategy for fighting. pollution as a strategy for fighting.

Iraqi soldiers dumped over three hundred Iraqi soldiers dumped over three hundred gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf. gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf.

They also burned hundreds of oil wells in They also burned hundreds of oil wells in order to keep the U.S. from taking control order to keep the U.S. from taking control of their oil industry.of their oil industry.

Oil in WarOil in War

Organization of Petroleum Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Formed in the 1960’s by oil-rich Formed in the 1960’s by oil-rich countries in Southwest Asia and countries in Southwest Asia and throughout the world throughout the world to have more to have more control over oil prices in the control over oil prices in the world market.world market.

Despite finding oil, some Southwest Despite finding oil, some Southwest Asian countries still struggle to help Asian countries still struggle to help their citizens make a decent living.their citizens make a decent living.

CRCT Question #13CRCT Question #13

13. Why does the organization of 13. Why does the organization of OPEC play a powerful role in the OPEC play a powerful role in the world economy today?world economy today?

What to do?What to do?

Oil is the basis of most of the economy of Oil is the basis of most of the economy of the Middle East, but pollution from the oil the Middle East, but pollution from the oil industry is one of the biggest threats to its industry is one of the biggest threats to its environment. environment.

This pollution endangers the water supply This pollution endangers the water supply in particular. in particular.

Since there is not much fresh water in the Since there is not much fresh water in the region, these environmental problems region, these environmental problems directly affect the lives of Middle directly affect the lives of Middle Easterners.Easterners.

SummarySummary

Describe the major issues with water and oil as Describe the major issues with water and oil as environmental problems in the Middle East.environmental problems in the Middle East.

(2 paragraphs) (2 paragraphs)