Physical Geography of the Middle East (N.Africa, SW Asia)

Seas & Peninsulas: Arabian Peninsula Separated from Africa by Gulf of Aden & Red Sea Sinai Pen. & Suez Canal separate the land to the north & west Persian Gulf is on the east side Gulf of Aden

Seas & Peninsulas: Anatolia Bordered by the Black Sea to North, Aegean Sea to West and the Mediterranean Sea to South Many straits connecting seas  lots of trade ($) Bosporus Strait Aegean Sea ANATOLIA

Seas & Peninsulas Strait of Gibraltar Separates Africa from Iberian Pen. Only 8-9 miles or so wide Known as ‘gateway to Africa’

Strait of Gibraltar

Seas & Peninsulas Strait of Hormuz If sanctions put on Iran oil, strait would be cut off (some deny threat of sanctions) ~ 30% of world’s oil trade

Seas & Peninsulas: Dead Sea On Jordan River (borders Jordan & Israel) 9X saltier than any ocean In the 50s L= 262 m, W= 57 m Today L= 42 m, W= 11 m What does this mean? The Dead Sea is heavily impacted by Desertification—it is shrinking 

The Jordan River Israel & Jordan (and others in area) fight over water rights 11

Seas & Peninsulas Caspian Sea Largest inland/landlocked body of water (lake) But it is salt water!! (remnants of larger sea) Facing increased evaporation & irrigation/industry uses, but a decrease in flow from feeder rivers

Seas & Peninsulas Aral Sea Use to be large & have productive fishing Shrunk drastically due to USSR draining it for irrigation How to adapt? Build dams to provide irrigation

Rivers Nile River Longest in world Flows NORTH to Med. Sea 90% of Egyptians live in delta or along river (= 3% of land) Faces great flood seasons  built Aswan High Dam for control, but it limits alluvial soil Aswan High Dam

Hydroelectric Power Plant along the Nile River; also provides fish Aswan High Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant along the Nile River; also provides fish 16

Suez Canal Man-made canal; completed by the British in 1869 Links the Mediterranean & Red Seas! 17

Rivers Tigris & Euphrates Mesopotamia or “land between two rivers” aka Fertile Crescent Join to form Shatt al Arab Border of Iraq & Iran Wars & treaties over it

Rivers Wadi in Oman Wadis- dry streambeds that will fill with heavy rain  flash floods (seasonal) Since they are typically arid, creates mud quickly dangerous mud flows

Plains, Plateaus, & Mtns. Since most is desert/steppe agricultural base = coastal areas of Med. Sea, Caspian Sea, & Persian Gulf Atlas Mountains Longest mountain range Stretches from Morocco to Algeria Northern side of Atlas allows for lots of agriculture (farms, fishing, livestock) Rainy side, Mediterranean climate

Plains, Plateaus, & Mtns. Hejaz & Asir Caucasus Mtns West coast of Arabian Pen. Some rainshadow effect to Central Plateau Caucasus Mtns b/w Black & Caspian Sea Seen as border b/w European Russia & Asia

Mountain Ranges in Mid-East Elburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., Iran Taurus Mts., Turkey 24

Plains, Plateaus, & Mtns. Garagum (Karakum)- Qizilqum (Kyzyl Kum)- Black sand desert, covers 70% of Turkmenistan Qizilqum (Kyzyl Kum)- Red sand desert in Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan Use wide spaces for livestock

Desert Bedouins 27

Fresh Groundwater Sources 28

Desalinization Plants 29

Tectonic Activity Meeting point of the African, Arabian, & Eurasian plates Reason for mountainous terrain Many earthquakes Iran has 90% of land on faults Landforms still changing Red Sea--expanding

Natural Resources Oil (petroleum) & nat. gas are region’s most abundant resources 70% of world’s oil found here 33% of world’s nat. gas reserves found here Reserves are still being discovered! WWII sparked production as we moved to modern industry/reliance

The Natural Resources of the Middle East 33

World Oil Reserves 34

Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003) 35

Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East. 36

Natural Resources Prob w/ oil dependence b/c economy stability fluctuates as oil prices fluctuate Many countries are now diversifying UAE  banking, info. tech, tourism Libya  infrastructure, fisheries Completed Dubai Tower