Physical Geography of Southwest Asia

Physical Features: The Region’s Landforms This region includes a variety of landforms that affect how and where people live.

The region of Southwest Asia is often referred to as the Middle East. It extends from the Mediterranean coast eastward to Afghanistan, and also includes the Arabian Peninsula.

Seas and Waterways The bodies of water surrounding Southwest Asia have helped people trade with the rest of the world. Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz The Suez Canal is a human-made waterway that allows ships to pass from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

Mountains, Plateaus, and Lowlands Much of Southwest Asia has a rugged landscape. Elburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., Iran Hindu Kush, Afghanistan Anatolia Plateau, Turkey

(Mountains, Plateaus, and Lowlands con’t) The narrow coastal plains of Israel and Lebanon (along the Mediterranean coast) support agriculture (farming).

Mountains & Plateaus Elburz Mts. Anatolian Plateau Zagros Mts. Atlas Mts. Iranian Plateau

Rivers Because of the rugged, dry land, people have settled in river valleys to take advantage of the rich soil. Yearly flooding of these rivers allow for farming. Floods supplied water. Silt (small particles of rich soil left by flood waters) made the land fertile. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers, Iraq Nile Delta Annual Nile Flooding

The Fertile Crescent (Rivers con’t) Early civilizations developed along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The area stretching from the Persian Gulf, over the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, to the Mediterranean Sea and Nile River is known as The Fertile Crescent. Dust Storms Along the Tigris-Euphrates Flood Plains

Physical Features: Natural Resources The land in this region is rich in energy resources.

Oil and Gas Most abundant resources in the region Important to the entire world Persian Gulf has the largest reserves (oil not yet drilled) Some countries in SWA have gained great wealth from oil production Cause of conflict throughout SWA Drilling for oil, Saudi Arabia Oil pipeline, Kuwait

Persian Gulf oil exports, 2003 Oil fields in the Middle East

World Oil Reserves, 2002

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil Kuwait City

Other resources Coal and iron ore (Iran, Israel, and Turkey) Phosphates to make fertilizer (Jordan, Syria, Israel) Timber (Lebanon and Turkey) Coal mining, Israel Phosphate mining, Syria Timber, Lebanon

Environmental Concerns 1. Water pollution Industrial waste, oil spills, and sewage in the Persian Gulf 2. Air pollution More cars Refineries (facilities that turn oil into gas)

3. Water is a scarce resource

Why do many people in Southwest Asia live near rivers? Why do the people of Southwest Asia welcome river floods? What natural resource is abundant in SWA? What natural resource is scarce in SWA? What is a benefit for a country that has oil? Do all countries in SWA have oil? What problem can this cause? Why is water pollution in SWA such an important concern?

“Quick Quiz” Deserts Timber Wealth Rivers and coasts Petroleum Water What natural resource is abundant in SWA? What natural resource is scarce in SWA? What renewable resource is found in Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel? Where do most people in SWA tend to live? Where do fewest people in SWA tend to live? What problem is caused by the unequal distribution of oil and water? Deserts Timber Wealth Rivers and coasts Petroleum Water Conflict Coal