1. SW Asia Visual Literacy

2. Western Wall
The Western Wall (Wailing Wall), in Jerusalem, is the holiest site in Judaism. It is the only remains of the 2nd Temple that was destroyed in 70 AD.

3. Dome of the Rock
Also known as the Al-Aqsa mosque, the Dome of the Rock is the 3rd holiest site in Islam. It is locate in Jerusalem just on the other side of the Western Wall. It is said to be the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son and where Mohammed ascended to heaven.

4. Kaaba
The Kaaba, the black building, is the holiest shrine in Islam and located in Mecca. It is to the Kaaba that Muslims face as they pray five times daily. The Kaaba is also the final point of the Hajj. Pilgrims circle the shrine and touch or kiss a black stone that was kissed by the prophet Mohammed.

5. Religious Landscapes: Mosque
A mosque is the building of worship for Muslims. The tall towers are called minarets. The call to prayer occurs five times daily from these towers.

6. McDonald’s: diffusion of American Fast Food
As American fast food diffuses to other parts of the world, the menu and offerings adapt to fit the local population’s culture.

7. Desalinization
Desalinization is the process of turning salt water into fresh water. While many SW Asian countries have access to salt water, they often lack the funds and technology to construct and operate desalinization plants.

8. Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation, the large picture, allows water to slowly drip into the ground from hoses running along the soil. This technique greatly reduces evaporation that would occur with traditional irrigation sprinklers.

9. Islamic Dress
Hijab

10. West Bank Wall
The wall in the West Bank deviates from the 1967 armistice line (The Green Line) to include Jewish settlements. The wall divides Palestinians from Israelis

11. Ataturk Dam
Located in Turkey, the Ataturk Dam lies across the Euphrates River. The dam is a source of tension as those downstream are worried about the possible restricted flow of water in an already water-starved region.