Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia

Landforms Divide the RegionLandforms Divide the Region

Southwest Asia is mostly Southwest Asia is mostly desertdesertThe land ranges from coastal plains The land ranges from coastal plains to snow peak mountainsto snow peak mountains

Forms a Forms a land bridge land bridge between Asia, between Asia, Africa and EuropeAfrica and Europe

The region is situated on the edge The region is situated on the edge of a huge tectonic plateof a huge tectonic plate

Part of the Arabian Peninsula is Part of the Arabian Peninsula is pulling away from the rest of Africapulling away from the rest of Africa

Arabian Peninsula

Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula Separated from Africa by Separated from Africa by Red SeaRed Sea, on, on

Southwest and rest of Asia by the Southwest and rest of Asia by the Persian GulfPersian Gulf Rea Sea is part of the Great Rift ValleyRea Sea is part of the Great Rift Valley Rub Al-Khali is largest sand desert in the Rub Al-Khali is largest sand desert in the worldworld

Much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by Much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by plains.plains.

People living on Arabian Peninsula adjusted by People living on Arabian Peninsula adjusted by living nomadic lives in search of waterliving nomadic lives in search of water

Anatolian PeninsulaAnatolian Peninsula Anatolian Peninsula– occupied by Turkey, marks Anatolian Peninsula– occupied by Turkey, marks

beginning of the Asian continentbeginning of the Asian continent Much of Anatolia is a plateau, some areas for Much of Anatolia is a plateau, some areas for

agriculture, some for livestockagriculture, some for livestock Both the Arabian and Anatolians Peninsula are on Both the Arabian and Anatolians Peninsula are on

strategic waterways strategic waterways Red Sea-connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Red Sea-connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the

Suez CanalSuez Canal Bosporus Bosporus StraitStrait and and Dardenelles Dardenelles Strait-connects Strait-connects

the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea (important for trade with Russia)Sea (important for trade with Russia)

Strait of Strait of HormuzHormuz-connects the Persian Gulf with -connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. This is important because this the Indian Ocean. This is important because this allows access to the oil fields of Kuwait, Saudi allows access to the oil fields of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and IraqArabia, and Iraq

Plains and HighlandsPlains and Highlands Arabian Peninsula is a plainArabian Peninsula is a plain

Few activates occur hereFew activates occur here Most of the land is barren (empty) with some Most of the land is barren (empty) with some low hills, ridges and low hills, ridges and wadiswadis – riverbeds that – riverbeds that remain dry except during rainy seasonsremain dry except during rainy seasons

Most of Iran is a Most of Iran is a plateauplateau surrounded by surrounded by mountains.mountains. It is isolated and very high.It is isolated and very high. The land is very arid.The land is very arid. The surrounding the plateau can produce some The surrounding the plateau can produce some crops.crops.

Northern Plain of Afghanistan is a well-Northern Plain of Afghanistan is a well-watered area that is surrounded by high watered area that is surrounded by high mountains (which isolate it from other mountains (which isolate it from other regions)regions)

MountainsMountains

Rugged mountains divide the landRugged mountains divide the land Hindu Kush Hindu Kush mountains (isolate Afghanistan from mountains (isolate Afghanistan from Pakistan)Pakistan)

Mountains have a series of cavesMountains have a series of caves ZagrosZagros Mountains – Western Iran (isolate it Mountains – Western Iran (isolate it from the rest of Southwest Asia)from the rest of Southwest Asia)

ElburzElburz mountains-northern Iran (separates mountains-northern Iran (separates Caspian Sea from Iran)Caspian Sea from Iran)

TaurusTaurus Mountains – separate Turkey from the Mountains – separate Turkey from the rest of Asiarest of Asia

In spite of these barriers, people, ideas, In spite of these barriers, people, ideas, goods still spread.goods still spread.

One of the ways they spread is water.One of the ways they spread is water.

Water BodiesWater Bodies Region is surrounded by bodies of water.Region is surrounded by bodies of water.

Important for trade and access to other parts of the Important for trade and access to other parts of the worldworld

The region is arid so few rivers flow the entire yearThe region is arid so few rivers flow the entire year TigrisTigris and the and the Euphrates Rivers Euphrates Rivers

Called the “Fertile Crescent”Called the “Fertile Crescent” Worlds first civilizations developed hereWorlds first civilizations developed here Valleys are fertile, well- watered and good for Valleys are fertile, well- watered and good for agricultureagriculture

JordanJordan River River Forms the boundary between Israel and JordanForms the boundary between Israel and Jordan

Dead Sea Dead Sea – – Land locked salt lake.Land locked salt lake. Only bacteria can live there.Only bacteria can live there. Lowest place on earth. It is 1,349 feet below sea levelLowest place on earth. It is 1,349 feet below sea level

Resources Resources

OilOil (most important resource) (most important resource) Found on the Arabian Peninsula, Iran Found on the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraqand Iraq

Also found along coast of Persian Gulf Also found along coast of Persian Gulf and in Persian Gulf itselfand in Persian Gulf itself

More than ½ of the world’s oil comes More than ½ of the world’s oil comes from the Middle Eastfrom the Middle East

OPECOPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Regulate supply and prices of oilRegulate supply and prices of oil

Resources Resources

WaterWater The most valuable resource in The most valuable resource in Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia

Turkey, Iran, Lebanon and Afghanistan Turkey, Iran, Lebanon and Afghanistan water is plentifulwater is plentiful It is harnessed for It is harnessed for hydroelectricityhydroelectricity

Elsewhere water is a Elsewhere water is a scarce scarce resource resource that must be constantly guarded and that must be constantly guarded and carefully usedcarefully used

Other resources such as coal, copper, Other resources such as coal, copper, potash and phosphatespotash and phosphates

Arid LandsArid Lands

Southwest Asia is extremely Southwest Asia is extremely arid arid (dry)(dry)Receive less than 18 inches of precipitation Receive less than 18 inches of precipitation a yeara year

Most of the land is covered in Most of the land is covered in sand dunes sand dunes and and salt flatssalt flats..

Rivers do not flow year-aroundRivers do not flow year-aroundVegetation and animals living in the desert Vegetation and animals living in the desert can survive on little water and in extreme can survive on little water and in extreme temperatures.temperatures.

IrrigationIrrigation is important is important

Other types of ClimateOther types of Climate

Mediterranean climateMediterranean climateLand is green and lushLand is green and lush

Highland climatesHighland climatesAreas in the mountains of Areas in the mountains of Southwest Asia have a Southwest Asia have a cool climatecool climate

Deserts Limit MovementDeserts Limit Movement Rub al-Khali Rub al-Khali (empty quarter)(empty quarter)

Largest Sand desert in the worldLargest Sand desert in the world Called “place where no one comes out,” is a vastCalled “place where no one comes out,” is a vast

desertdesert Size of Texas.Size of Texas. The temperature can exceed 150° degreesThe temperature can exceed 150° degrees FahrenheitFahrenheit Sand dunes up to 800 feet highSand dunes up to 800 feet high

An–Nafud An–Nafud desertdesert Has several Has several oasisoasis Has severe Has severe sandstormssandstorms and brutal heat and brutal heat

SyrianSyrian desert desert separate coastal regions of Lebanon, Israel, andseparate coastal regions of Lebanon, Israel, and

Syria from Tigris and Euphrates valleysSyria from Tigris and Euphrates valleys NegevNegev desert desert

occupies Israel, produces crops through irrigationoccupies Israel, produces crops through irrigation

Rub al-KhaliRub al-Khali

Salt DesertsSalt Deserts Lands in the Lands in the rain shadow rain shadow of a mountain range are of a mountain range are

usually arid usually arid In Iran, mountains block rain and dry winds In Iran, mountains block rain and dry winds

increase evaporation. So when winds evaporate the increase evaporation. So when winds evaporate the moisture in the soil, chemical salts remain moisture in the soil, chemical salts remain creating creating salt flatsalt flat Past-e Kavir Past-e Kavir – central Iran– central Iran Past- e Luf Past- e Luf –eastern Iran–eastern Iran

Semiarid LandsSemiarid Lands

On the edge of the desert are On the edge of the desert are semi-aridsemi-arid (partly (partly dry) landsdry) lands

Warm to hot summers with enough rain for shrubs Warm to hot summers with enough rain for shrubs and grassesand grasses

Cotton and wheat can be grown hereCotton and wheat can be grown here Good pasture for animalsGood pasture for animals

In Turkey they herd In Turkey they herd mohair goatsmohair goats

Well-watered coast landsWell-watered coast lands Along the Mediterranean and across most of Turkey, Along the Mediterranean and across most of Turkey,

hot summers and hot summers and rainyrainy winters winters create good climate create good climate for fruits, olives and vegetablesfor fruits, olives and vegetables Farmers can grow crops year roundFarmers can grow crops year round

TigrisTigris and and EuphratesEuphrates flood yearly flood yearly Site of intensive farmingSite of intensive farming

Turkey and Iraq have created dams along rivers to Turkey and Iraq have created dams along rivers to provide irrigation all year.provide irrigation all year.

Providing Precious WaterProviding Precious Water

Critical resource is Critical resource is waterwater

Fresh water is available only in small amounts Fresh water is available only in small amounts and not consistentlyand not consistently

To meet the needs of large farms and from To meet the needs of large farms and from growing population, countries must construct growing population, countries must construct damsdams and and irrigationirrigation systems. systems.

1. Drip irrigation places water just at the root zone,reducing evaporation of precious water. Thissystem is located in the Negev Desert in Israel.

2. A bag of water is collected by using this pump. Itis a part of a qanat—a system of undergroundbrick-lined tunnels and wells that collect runoffwater from the mountains.

3. This irrigation canal in Oman has delivered waterfor over a thousand years. The canals are carefullymaintained to provide water for agriculture.

4. A noria—or waterwheel run by the flow of water orby animal power—is used to lift water from the riverto the fields. These two are located in Syria on theOrontes River.

Dams and Irrigation Dams and Irrigation systemssystems

Ancient practices for providing water work well for small Ancient practices for providing water work well for small fields but are not efficient for large-scale farmingfields but are not efficient for large-scale farming

Dams and Irrigation systems must be constructedDams and Irrigation systems must be constructed Examples:Examples:

TurkeyTurkey is building a series of dams and a man-made lake using is building a series of dams and a man-made lake using water from the Euphrates Riverwater from the Euphrates River

Countries downstream are Countries downstream are madmad because they will lose because they will lose the use of waterthe use of water

Some countries even threaten Some countries even threaten warwar.. IsraelIsrael

National Water Carrier Project in Israel carries water National Water Carrier Project in Israel carries water from the north to the south. It is used for drinking from the north to the south. It is used for drinking and irrigation.and irrigation.

Is a source of Is a source of international conflictinternational conflict because water because water sources flow through many countriessources flow through many countries

Modern Water TechnologyModern Water Technology

Drip irrigation Drip irrigation – using small pipes – using small pipes that slowly drip water just above that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve waterground to conserve water

DesalinizationDesalinization-removing salt from -removing salt from water using sophisticated treatmentswater using sophisticated treatmentsNot used for farming/used for waste water Not used for farming/used for waste water

Waste water Waste water is treatedis treatedExpensive Expensive

Fossil water Fossil water – water from aquifers. – water from aquifers. But only 25-30 years of that supply But only 25-30 years of that supply remains.remains.

Oil from the SandOil from the Sand

Fields discovered in Southwest Fields discovered in Southwest Asia contain about Asia contain about ½½ of all of all petroleumpetroleum reserves in the world. reserves in the world.

Petroleum is the source of Petroleum is the source of gasolinegasoline for cars, heating oil, for cars, heating oil, and used to make fertilizers and and used to make fertilizers and plastics.plastics.

Southwest Asia is a very Southwest Asia is a very important region important region economicallyeconomically..

Forming PetroleumForming Petroleum

Dead plant Dead plant and and animalanimal remains remains mingled with sand and mud on the mingled with sand and mud on the bottom of the sea over time, bottom of the sea over time, pressure and heat transformed the pressure and heat transformed the material into hydrocarbons , which material into hydrocarbons , which form the chemical basis of oil and form the chemical basis of oil and natural gasnatural gas

Oil and gas are trapped in Oil and gas are trapped in rockrock Engineers use sophisticated Engineers use sophisticated equipment to equipment to extractextract, or remove , or remove oiloil

Early ExplorationEarly Exploration

Industrialization and the invention of the Industrialization and the invention of the automobile made petroleum a highly desired automobile made petroleum a highly desired resource.resource.

First oil discovered in Southwest Asia was First oil discovered in Southwest Asia was in in 19081908 in Iran in Iran

In 1938, oil companies found more oil In 1938, oil companies found more oil fields in the Arabian Peninsula and fields in the Arabian Peninsula and Persian GulfPersian Gulf

In 1948, oil companies discovered portions In 1948, oil companies discovered portions of what would become one of world’s of what would become one of world’s largest oil fields at largest oil fields at al-Ghawaral-Ghawar. The field . The field contains more than contains more than ¼¼ of Saudi Arabia’s of Saudi Arabia’s reserves of oilreserves of oil

Transporting OilTransporting Oil

Crude oilCrude oil- petroleum that has - petroleum that has not been processednot been processed

RefineryRefinery – converts the crude – converts the crude oil into useful productsoil into useful products

Pipelines transport the crude Pipelines transport the crude oil either to refineries or to oil either to refineries or to ports where oil is picked up by ports where oil is picked up by tankers and moved to other tankers and moved to other places for processing. places for processing.

Risks of Transporting OilRisks of Transporting Oil

Oil spillsOil spillsLargest oil spill was in 1991Largest oil spill was in 1991240 million gallons spilled into the 240 million gallons spilled into the Persian Gulf during Gulf WarPersian Gulf during Gulf War

Pipes are monitored for drops in Pipes are monitored for drops in pressure to check for leakspressure to check for leaks

Ocean-going Ocean-going tankerstankers are at a much are at a much higher risk for causing pollution.higher risk for causing pollution.Collisions or running agroundCollisions or running aground