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Physical Description Southwest Asia/Middle East

Physical Description Southwest Asia/Middle East. Unit 6. Climates. 3 Main Climates of the Middle East/SW Asia: Desert (1) Steppe (2) Mediterranean (3). Climate. Desert (1) & steppe (2) climates covers most of SW Asia

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Physical Description Southwest Asia/Middle East

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  1. Physical DescriptionSouthwest Asia/Middle East Unit 6

  2. Climates • 3 Main Climates of the Middle East/SW Asia: • Desert (1) • Steppe (2) • Mediterranean (3)

  3. Climate • Desert (1) & steppe (2) climates covers most of SW Asia • Lowlands of Saudi Arabia have some of the hottest temperatures inthe world --- some up to 114˚ • Places, such as, Turkey& other coastal areas of the have a Mediterranean(3) climate • Rain falls only a few times a year • Rain also falls in many mountain areas due to the orographic effect& cooler temps

  4. Bodies of Water • Tigris River (1) • Euphrates River (2) • Jordan River (3) • Dead Sea (4) • Persian Gulf (5)

  5. Bodies of Water • Tigris (1) and Euphrates (2) Rivers • Considered to be exotic rivers : rivers that begin in humid regions& flow across dry areas • Jordan River(3) • All 3 rivers are imp. sources of water for many countries in the region • PROBLEM: Rising population, agriculture & industry have increased demands on limited water supplies

  6. Bodies of Water continued • Dead Sea (4) • Lowest pointon any continent • lies between Israel& Jordan • Huge saltwater lake • Nearly 1,302 feet below sea level • Has no outlet to any other body of water • So much salt --- no fish or other animals live here • Swimmers will not sink • Surrounding area is also lifeless wilderness • Israelis built processing plants to extract minerals

  7. Bodies of water continued • Dead Sea Continued • Israelisbuilt processing plantsto extract minerals • Extract 2 minerals: Potash & Magnesium • Potash: mineral used to make fertilizers, explosives, table salt, glass, soap • Magnesium: light metal used in the aerospace industry

  8. Bodies of Water continued • Persian Gulf (5) • Forms the border of 3 major countries --- Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia • Serves as an extensionof the Arabian Sea& the Indian Ocean • Sometimes called the Arabian Gulf • Contains many oil and natural gas reserves

  9. Landforms • Arabian Peninsula • Negev Desert

  10. Arabian Peninsula • Tectonic forces have shaped the landforms of this area • Collision of plates has created a mixture of rugged mountains, upland plateaus & valleys • Area has earthquake activity • Contains one of the world’s largest sand deserts • Saudi Arabia occupies much of the peninsula

  11. Negev Desert • Israel’s driest region • Israeli’s built pipelines to carry water to its population • National Water Carrier • Carries water from the Sea of Galilee to Israel’s Negev Desert • Also 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

  12. Natural Resources • Oil is the region’s most valuable resource • Reservesalong the Persian Gulfone of the largest • Saudi Arabia one of the world’s largest oil exporter • More oil than water

  13. Natural Resources continued • Surface water is rare • Can be only found at an oasis: • area where a spring bubbles to the earth • Many have been turned into deep wells

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