SWA & North Africa Twin Notes

1. SWA & North Africa Twin Notes SSWG3 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary North Africa/Southwest Asia. f. Explain why this region contains areas on two different continents.

2. Why are they in the same region? • Climate • Religion • Standard of living • Natural Resources • Environmental issues

3. Climate • Both N. Africa and SWA are primarily arid, hot desert regions • Exceptions: • Highlands of Turkey & Iran • River Valleys • Mediterranean coast of Morocco • Very little arable land for farming as a result of the climate

4. Religion • Primary religion of SWA and NA is Islam (Sunni & Shia) • Exceptions: • Christians & Jews in Israel, Jordan, Syria • Islam also influences government decisions and the law in many countries. • Often sources of conflict

5. Standard of Living • Most countries in SWA & NA have a comparable standard of living • Standard of living = how good your life is • This does not mean that it is high—some are higher than others. • Saudi Arabia has a higher standard of living than Iraq • When compared with the rest of Africa, North Africa has the higher standard of living.

6. Natural Resources • The primary natural resource throughout NA & SWA is oil (petroleum). • Because of world dependence on oil, countries with oil have an option for great wealth. • Countries in the area who don’t have oil sometimes refine it or turn it into chemicals or plastic.

7. Environmental Issues • Most of these countries share the following environmental issues: • Lack of freshwater • Pollution • Deforestation-cutting down of trees • Overgrazing • Desertification-turning arable land into desert