Physical DescriptionSouthwest Asia/Eastern

Mediterranean/North AfricaUnit 6

SSWG3 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary North

Africa/Southwest Asia. a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact

on North Africa/Southwest Asia. b. Describe the major climates of North Africa/Southwest Asia and

how they have affected the development of North Africa/Southwest Asia.

c. Analyze the impact natural resources, especially oil, have on North Africa/Southwest Asia.

d. Analyze the impact of water supplies on the growth of population centers.

f. Explain why this region contains areas on two different continents.

1. Persian Gulf and Interior◦ Mesopotamia◦ Includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan

2. Eastern Mediterranean◦ Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Cyprus

3. North Africao Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

3 Regions of the Middle East

Arabian Peninsula makes up majority of region

Tectonic forces shaped landforms◦ Collision of plates created rugged

mountains, upland plateaus & valleys

◦ has earthquake activity◦ Mountains provide water to valleys

below

Hindu Kush mountain range is largest in region◦ Part of Himalayas (world’s

largest mountains)◦ Peaks over 24,000 feet

Persian Gulf & Interior/Landforms

Hindu Kush mountain fighting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoUq9x8

ZBD4

Tigris & the Euphrates (1)◦ Mesopotamia—land

between the rivers

◦ Important water source for early civilizations and modern-day Iraq

Bodies of Water/Persian Gulf & the Interior

Persian Gulf (2)◦ Forms border of 3 major

countries --Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia

◦ Serves as extension of Arabian Sea & the Indian Ocean

◦ Sometimes called Arabian Gulf

◦ Contains many oil & natural gas reserves

Bodies of water continued

Climate/Persian Gulf & the Interior Most of area contains arid/dry climate

◦ Many deserts

Saudi Arabia has hottest temperatures in the world◦ Up to 114 degrees in the summer

Wealthy people head to mountains to avoid heat◦ Iran and Saudi Arabia have mountain resorts

Water ski in mountains

Natural Resources/Persian Gulf & the Interior Oil and water are most important resources

World’s largest oil fields

Surface water rare◦ Farmers irrigate fields with canals◦ Oasis: area where spring bubbles to the surface◦ Turned into wells

Desalinization: process of turning salt water into fresh water◦ Very expensive and takes lots of power

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer

5 Hazards to Development in Persian Gulf and Interior

1. Earthquakes caused by earth’s plates moving apart

2. Some areas have salty soil where no plants can grow

3. Most wild animals have been hunted and endangered

◦ Hyenas, leopards, lions, tigers, wild camels, donkeys

4. Area lacks important natural resources except oil

5. Religious conflict and war

Region lies on 2 continents◦ Turkey in Asia and Europe

Includes Pontic and Taurus Mountains◦ Pontic Mountains: North◦ Taurus Mountains: South

Area has many plateaus, hills, and valleys

Eastern Mediterranean/Landforms

Israel’s driest region National Water Carrier

◦ Carries water from Lake Kinneret to Israel’s Negev Desert/other parts of Israel

◦ uses drip irrigation to grow crops in the desert

◦ Drip irrigation: Process by which pipes placed near plant roots drip only as much water as the plants need to grow

Negev Desert/Landforms

Jordan River (1)◦ Flows south to the Dead Sea

Dead Sea (2) Lowest point on any

continent

Lies between Israel & Jordan

Over 1,300 feet below sea level

So salty no fish or animals can survive

Swimmers will not sink

Bodies of Water/Eastern Mediterranean

Dead Sea Continued◦ Israelis built processing

plants to extract minerals

◦ Extract 2 minerals: Potash & Magnesium

◦ Potash: mineral used to make fertilizers, explosives, table salt, glass, soap

◦ Magnesium: light metal important in aircrafts

Bodies of water continued

Dead Sea video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEArUTI

7Moo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTcyACmiaho

Climate/Eastern Mediterranean Dry and Middle-Latitude climates

Climate depends on:1. Distance to Mediterranean Sea2. Elevation3. Rainfall

Perfect for forests, but many cut down

Natural Resources/Eastern Mediterranean Turkey has coal, copper, and iron

Area has some oil and natural gas deposits

Potash, Magnesium, and spa minerals from Dead Sea

3 Hazards to Development/Eastern Mediterranean

1. Turkey lies on many tectonic faults◦Lots of earthquakes

2. Deforestation caused by centuries of farming, herding, shipbuilding, and firewood

3. Religious conflict and war between Israel and surrounding countries

Sahara Desert◦ World’s largest desert

Size of United States

Extends across all of North Africa

Natural barrier between North Africa and rest of continent

Highest temperature ever recorded on earth◦ 136 degrees

Landforms/North Africa

Nile River◦ Flows northward for 4, 187 miles◦ Empties into the Mediterranean Sea

Nile Delta◦ Delta: land formed by soil in the water that is

dropped as the river slows & enters the sea◦ fertile◦ The fellaheen or Egyptian farmers grow crops in

the delta w/out the aid of modern machinery◦ About 99% of Egypt’s population lives in the Nile

Delta 5,000 people per square mile

Bodies of Water/North Africa

Nile River/North Africa continued Flooding of the Nile --long tradition

◦ Refreshes soil in the fields of the delta Nile River is no longer flooded ---Why?

◦ 1970---completion of the Aswan High Dam◦ Nile waters dammed in a reservoir to provide

water for agriculture year round Reservoir: artificial lake

◦ PROBLEM: Farmers forced to chemically fertilize crops b/c no

flooding resulted in loss of fertilization

Mediterranean climate found along N. Africa’s coast◦ Warm, dry summers/mild rainy winters

Arid climate covers most of N. Africa◦ Hot dry wind called a harmattan sweeps across N.

Africa Violent sandstorms caused by winds can

block sunlight for days

Climates/North Africa

Natural Resources/North Africa Oil and natural gas are most valuable

Oil found in every country

Libya has largest oil reserves

Morocco is the largest exporter of sardines◦ 350,000 tons of sardines a year

Hazards to Development/North Africa

1. Desertification: transformation of fertile land into a desert usually caused by overuse

Oil refining pollution

2. Polluted water from fertilizer◦ Killing most of fish