5=metal; 8=quik boys; 7=I split J

ASIA’S SOUTHWEST: Includes part of Russia’s former satellite nations and the Middle East

A. Physical Characteristics of North Africa and Middle East 1. Important Seas or Lakes:  Black Sea north of Turkey  Red Sea b/w Egypt and Saudi Arabia  Mediterranean Sea west of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine’s Gaza Strip

1. Important Seas or Lakes, Con’t  Dead Sea its salinity is 7 ½ times more than other saltwater seas is so salty that only bacteria can live in the water and it’s almost impossible to drown in it it is 1,349 feet below sea level it is the lowest place on the exposed crust of the earth

2. Important Rivers  Tigris and Euphrates both begin in Turkey both end in Iraq (Mesopotamia) the Euphrates flows into Syria before ending in Iraq  Nile River begins as two rivers, the White and Blue Niles 2 rivers merge & form The Nile in Khartoum, Sudan The Nile runs from south to north and ends at Mediterranean

2. Important Rivers (con’t)  Jordan River begins at Lebanon Mtns at north Israel and flows south the river serves as a natural boundary b/w Israel & Jordan as it flows south its mouth flows into the salty waters of the Dead Sea located b/w Israel & Jordan

3. Important Gulfs (con’t)  Persian Gulf b/w Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) and ancient Persia, aka Iran  Gulf of Suez On western side of Sinai Peninsula, east side of Egypt  Gulf of Aqaba on eastern side of Sinai Peninsula; b/w Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia

4. Mountain Ranges  Caucus Mtns b/w Black and Caspian Seas Russia to its north, Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan to south  Zagros & Elburz Mtns (both in Iran) Zagros between Iraq and Iran; Elburz is south of Caspian Sea and in northern Iran  Taurus Mtns (Turkey) southern Turkey  Atlas Mtns (Morocco)

5. Deserts  Sahara in Africa & world’s largest  Saudi Arabian Desert Called Empty Quarter and Rub al-Khali = “place where no one comes out” approximately same size as Texas  The Libyan Desert  The Negev Desert of Israel Empty Quarter Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum, & Gobi

Climate N Africa and Middle East

Vegetation N Africa and Middle East

B. Human Geography of North Africa and Middle East  Population  Languages  Religions  Agriculture  Economics  Urban  HEInteraction

1. Population Statistics  Population Distribution In which countries are the following highly populated cities located? Casablanca, Ankara Tunis Tripoli Tel Aviv

1. Population Statistics, con’t  Young population Advantages/Disadvantages? N. Africa and the MidEast: The Youth Bulge >20% of their population between (13% of US population is 15-24) Extremely high unemployment amongst youth  High Birth Rates Average 20 births for every 1000 people (US averages 13)  Life Expectancy Averages early 70’s (US averages late 70’s) Source: T.IN

2. Languages  Arabic With notable exceptions of Israel, Turkey, Iran and the remote areas of North Africa, Arabic is primary language spoken in N Africa and Middle East  Other Languages Israel: Hebrew Iran: Farsi Turkey: Turkish Remote N Africa: Tribal languages

3. Religions  World D istribution

3. Religions  Islam second largest-practiced religion in world (how is this so?) (how is this so?) most N. African and Mid Easterners are Muslims (practice Islam) begun in 7 th C. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by Prophet Muhammad who was born there Qur’an (Koran) is sacred text Main Sects of Islam  Sunni Make up appx 90% of world’s Muslims successor to prophet Muhammad elected by other Muslims The Annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia: 1 of 5 Pillars of Islam for all able bodies Muslims

Sects of Islam, con’t  Sunni majorities Saudi Arabia Jordan Egypt Syria Turkey  Shi’ite or Shia majorities 10% of world’s Muslims Major difference from Sunnis: Shias believe successor to Muhammad to be descendant of Muhammad Iran Iraq (but ruled by Sunni minority) NOTE: Clashes between Sunnis and Shi’ites goes back to 7 th C. death of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam

3. Religions, con’t  Christianity Largest religion practiced in world Begun in 33 A.D. in Palestine (Middle East) after death of Jewish Jesus Bible is sacred text Sects of Christianity  Roman Catholic  Greek Orthodox  Protestant (includes Anglicans and Episcopalians) 39% in Lebanon 10% in Syria 6% in Egypt & Jordan 3% or less in Iran, Iraq, Israel, & Turkey 0% in Saudi Arabia

Go to slide show, 4. Agriculture (

Go to slide show, 5. Economic Resources  Black Gold

As of 2009, location of world oil supplies, as per wikipedia

Arab Spring Began in late 2010 Response to: 1.Absolute Monarchy 2.High unemployment 3.Human rights violations 4.Political corruption

5. Cities and Settlements  Ancient Egypt, since 3150 BC Human movement resulted in Ancient Egyptian civilization forming from the Mesopotamians The Mesopotamians had the “Fertile Crescent” while the Egyptians had The Nile

Islam Second-largest practiced religion in world (how is this so?) (how is this so?) Muslim % of population by country Muslim % of population by region or ethnicity Muslim % of population by continent