The Region Today: North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia Chapter 19 The Region Today: North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia

1. The Economy Oil producing countries in NA, SWA and CA - experienced greater economic growth than other countries in region Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, oil reserves have defined their economic history

Economic Activities Countries rich in oil generally have little water Countries with abundant water generally lack oil

Agriculture and Fishing Small part of the regions land is arable, or suitable for farming Yet large percentage of population works in agriculture Agriculture plays smaller role in oil rich countries (SA, Kuwait) Mediterranean climates (NA, SWA) best suited for growing cereal crops, citrus, grapes, olives and dates When rainfall is below normal, crops do not meet needs of people Countries must import additional grains Citrus fruits are important exports

Agriculture and Fishing Steppes of CA (semi arid, grassy plains) provide fertile soil for crops and grasslands for grazing Uzbekistan - one of largest cotton producers Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan – raise silkworms Kazakhstan – major grain producer Azerbaijan – wheat, cotton, potato and tea exports Fish – important source of food in region Morocco – sardines and mackerel from Atlantic Ocean Israel – majority of fish come from farmed fish in man- made ponds Persian Gulf – home to 150 species of fish Iran – strong fishing industry

Industry Petroleum/oil products main export commodities, or economic goods, of the region Over 60 percent of earth’s oil exists in North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia Region has 50 percent of earth’s natural gas Oil has brought riches and modern cities to SA, Kuwait, Bahrain

Oil, Natural Gas, and Mining Iran/Saudi Arabia – oil-refining and oil-shipping facilities Most other oil-producing countries export crude oil, or unrefined oil Petrochemicals – products made from petroleum or natural gas, i.e. fertilizers, medicines, plastics and paints Coal and copper mining and cement production important in SA and CA

Service Industries Bahrain – 60 percent of GDP comes from banking, real estate and insurance industries NA and SA – popular tourism/travel destinations, possess ancient religious sites Christians and Jews visit Israel, Jordan Muslims often go on a pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia

Transportation and Communications Main Idea: Advancements in transportation and communications are improving throughout the region Main Idea: Physical environment and government have limited some development

Roads, Railroads, and Airlines Roads unevenly distributed across region Extensive systems: Iran, Turkey, Egypt Landlocked countries – entirely surrounded by land, no water access for trade and transportation Examples of LL countries: Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

Roads, Railroads, and Airlines Istanbul, Turkey – new subway system Air Travel – CA countries used to rely on Soviet airline Aeroflot, now have own airlines

Waterways and Pipelines Map on p. 477 Main shipping ports on Mediterranean and Black Seas Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Tiran strategic and economic importance, oil tankers must pass Suez Canal – man made, allows ships to pass from Med. to Red Sea, on to Indian Ocean System of oil pipelines transports oil overland to ports on Med. Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf

Communications Govt. control of media limits media in many places Communication is difficult in areas due to vast deserts Cellular phones are common in major cities

Trade and Interdependence MI: Interdependence among the countries of NA, SWA, and CA is growing, as well as with rest of world 8 of regions countries in OPEC, gives them more control over oil production and prices Countries rely on their oil, giving OPEC great power During 1973 Arab-Israeli War, OPEC placed an embargo, or trade restriction, on oil shipments to US – due to support for Israel 1999 and 2000, OPEC cuts oil production, rise in oil prices around the world

2. People and Their Environment People in NA, SWA, and CA often threaten their environment People face dilemma of meeting needs without restoring already damaged environment

Managing Resources MI: Growing populations in NA, SWA and CA put strain on scarce water resources

Water Resources Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan , Amu Dar’ya and Syr Dar’ya (run through Stan countries)– regions only major rivers Only a few countries in region have enough freshwater for irrigation

Desalination Desalination – removing salt from seawater Many countries depend on desalination plants Region posses 60 percent of world desalination capacity These plants too expensive for some countries Australia, 12 % freshwater through desal, debate over cost

The Great Man-Made River Carries water from aquifers beneath the Sahara to farms near Mediterranean Multibillion dollar project Brings freshwater to Libya

Human Impact MI: New technologies and destructive wars have increased environmental problems in NA, SWA and CA

Aswan High Dam Located 600 miles south of Cairo 364 feet tall Irrigates 3 million acres Controls Nile’s floods Created the worlds largest human-made lake, Lake Nasser

Impact of War Persian Gulf War, 90-91, Iraqi troops burned 700 oil wells in Kuwait, dumped oil into Persian Gulf, polluted area US-Iraq war, 2003 Israel, Lebanon War - 2006 Hezbollah – Islamic fundamentalists, want to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon

Three Troubled Seas Caspian, Aral and Dead sea, face environmental challenges Water level of Dead Sea, dropped 262 feet in past 40 years Primary reason:90 percent of water from feeder rivers diverted for irrigation, hydroelectric plants

Nuclear and Chemical Dangers Kazakhstan, once home to Soviet nuclear bases Soviets tested nuclear, chemical and bio weapons there Soviets tested nearly 500 nuclear weapons in area NE Kazakhstan severely affected by radiation