Physical Geography of the Southwest Asia

1. Physical Geography of the Southwest Asia Chapter 21, Sections 1-2

2. Objectives • Identify and examine different features of the Southwest Asia’s and North Africa’s physical geography. • Explain the different types of climates and vegetations. • Describe the region’s key resources.

3. The Middle What? Why do we refer to Southwest Asia as “The Middle East?”

4. Southwestern Asian Countries and Capitals • Afghanistan: Kabul • Bahrain: Manama • Cyprus: Nicosia • Iran: Tehran • Iraq: Baghdad • Israel: Jerusalem • Jordan: Amman • Kuwait: Kuwait City • Lebanon: Beirut • Oman: Muscat • Qatar: Doha • Saudi Arabia: Riyadh • Syria: Damascus • Turkey: Ankara • United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi • Yemen: Sanaa

5. http://www.list.org/~mdoyle/Middle_East_pol97.jpg

6. Southwest Asia Subregions • How many cultural sub regions are there? • Three • Arabian Peninsula • Eastern Mediterranean • Northeast

7. Cultural Subregions Overview • Arabian Peninsula • Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain

8. Cultural Subregions Overview • Eastern Mediterranean • Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan

9. Cultural Subregions Overview • Northeast • Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan

10. The Arabian Peninsula

12. The Arabian Peninsula • What three continents surround the Arabian Peninsula? • Europe, Asia, and Africa • How might this location be beneficial to the area? • Opportunities for trade and exchange of culture and religion. • Surrounded by Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea • Suez Canal • Opens to Mediterranean Sea • Gulf of Suez • Gulf of Aqaba • Strait of Hormuz • Only way to oil fields in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/arabian.htm

13. Mountains • Hejaz and Asir Mountains • Mainly in southwestern corner

14. With your one/two partner, discuss the types of vegetation that would be found in each climate region of the Arabian Peninsula. You have 2 minutes.

15. The Arabian Peninsula • Climate • Desert • Rub al-Khali • An-Nafud • Semiarid • What type of vegetation do these regions have? • Desert shrub, grasses • Predominately covered by plains • Low ridges, hills, and wadis

16. The Eastern Mediterranean

17. MAKE SURE THESE ARE ON YOUR MAP!!

19. Physical Features:Plateau • Golan Heights (Al Jawlan): a hilly plateau over looking Jordan River and Sea of Galilee • Strategic location has made it a site of many conflicts

20. Physical Features: Bodies of Water • Jordan River: Flows from the mountains of Lebanon near Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea • Provides water • Why is this valuable? • Water is scarce. • Dead Sea: Landlocked salt lake • Located between Jordan and Israel • Only bacteria can live in water • So salty, one will float • Lowest place of exposed crust on earth • 1,349 below sea level • Dead Sea Video

21. Quick Check Which of these is Israel? C A B B D

22. With your one/two partner, discuss the types of vegetation that would be found in each climate region of the Eastern Mediterranean. You have 2 minutes.

23. Activity • Get out a sheet of paper. • Write TRUE on one side of the paper, and write FALSE on the other side. WRITE BIG!! • The following slides will contain statements. • If you think they are true, show the TRUE side of your paper. • If you think they false, show the false side. • Do not look on anyone else's paper. If you do, you will be asked to sit down. • If you answer incorrectly, please sit down. • The last person standing will receive a gold star.

24. #1 • The West Bank and the Gaza Strip are located in Israel. • True

25. #2 • The three regions of Southwestern Asia are: the Northwest, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Western Mediterranean. • False: Northeast, Arabian Peninsula, Eastern Mediterranean

26. #3 • Southwestern Asia is bordered by Asia, Africa, and Europe. • True

27. #4 • The Adriatic Sea is at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula. • False – It is the Arabian Sea.

28. #5 • The Strait of Hormuz leads to the Mediterranean Sea. • False – The Suez Canal leads to the Mediterranean Sea.

29. #6 • The Red Sea has a very high Salt content. • False: Dead Sea

30. #7 • Asia is the largest continent. • True

31. #8 • The main climate region in Southwest Asia is semiarid. • False – It is desert.

32. #9 • Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Yemen are all located on the Arabian Peninsula. • False: Oman is. Iran is not

33. #10 • A wadis is a rapidly flowing river. • False: It is a riverbed that remains dry except during heavy raining seasons.

34. #11 • The Jordan River is located in Jordan. • True

35. #12 • An oasis is an area in the desert where vegetation is found because water is available, usually from an underground spring. • True

36. #13 • The Rub al-Khali is the most famous desert on the Arabian Peninsula. • True

37. #14 • The Zagros Mountains are located in Iran. • True

38. #15 • Ukraine is in Southwestern Asia. • False: It is a part of Russia and the Republics.

39. #16 • The capital of Saudi Arabia is Baghdad. • False: It is Riyadh.

40. #17 • Syria is an island. • False: Cyprus is an island.

41. #18 • The Hindu Kush Mountains are located in Afghanistan. • True

42. #19 • The capital of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi. • True

43. #20 • Turkey is located on the Arabian Peninsula. • False: It is located on the Anatolian Peninsula.

44. #21 • There are 16 countries in Southwestern Asia. • True

45. #22 • The Dead Sea is located between Jordan and Israel. • True

46. #23 • The largest climate region in Southwest Asia is desert. • True

47. #24 • The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are in the Northeast region. • True: They also run through the Eastern Mediterranean.

48. #25 • Saudi Arabia is in the Northeast region. • False – It is on the Arabian Peninsula.

49. The Northeast