North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East) Physical Characteristics

Algeria Egypt Iran Israel Kuwait Libya Qatar Saudi Arabia Important countries of North Africa and Southwest Asia Algeria Egypt Iran Israel Kuwait Libya Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Turkey

Egypt – Iran – Turkey – Population – Population refers to the total number of people living in a country. Use pages 434-437 to determine the countries with the largest population: Egypt – Iran – Turkey –

Algeria – Libya - Saudi Arabia - Land Size – land size refers to the total square miles of a country. Use pages 434-437 to determine what the largest countries are in land size. Algeria – Saudi Arabia - Libya -

GDP – Gross Domestic Product refers to the total value of goods and services produced in a country in one year. Qatar Kuwait Israel United Arab Emirates

HERE IS THE WORLD… …AND HERE IS NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA Due to the location, it’s called the Crossroads of Continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia

Crossroads of Continents Africa Europe Asia

Sahara Desert The Sahara is the world’s largest desert, stretching 3.5 million square miles.

Sahara Averages less than five inches of rain each year. Temperatures there can run to the extreme -freezing at night -Can be more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit at the peak of day.

Climate Region – Semi – Arid(Steppe) THE SAHEL means “shore of the desert” Climate Region – Semi – Arid(Steppe)

Sahel -Steppe region below Sahara that is spreading into a desert region.

Wadi A wadi is a dry streambed that fills up with rainwater during the wet, rainy season. A seasonal stream or river.

Oasis An oasis is a source of water in the desert.

The Nile River flows South to North, where accumulation of sediment forms a delta.

The Nile Delta A delta is a an area where the river fans out and deposits rich alluvial soil before it empties into another body of water.

What is the Persian Gulf? Gulf bordering Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman

In Western countries it is called Persian Gulf, in most Arab countries it is called Arabian Gulf.

Rivers! Water is the most precious resource for this region of deserts and steppe areas. Many areas are dependent on seasonal floods. Can you name the river? I will give you a hint! . The Nile River !

What does the flooding deposit? Alluvial Soil!

Tigris Euphrates 20

Jordan River

DESERT! DESERTIFICATION! Sahara desert is growing. Dry(Arid) climates dominate the region: between 0 and 10 inches of precipitation a year; little vegetation; an example is the Sahara Desert which crosses Northern Africa. What is the climate region type? DESERT! Sahara desert is growing. What is this called? DESERTIFICATION!

Semi – Arid(Steppe) Between 10 and 20 inches precipitation; Vegetation consists of grasslands; an example is the Sahel which is just south of the Sahara. The Sahel is shrinking. Name the climate region type: Semi – Arid(Steppe)