1. Natural Environments Ch 19, Ch 20
Middle East
Natural Environments
Ch 19, Ch 20

2. Ch 19 Persian Gulf & Interior
Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait

3. Landforms & Bodies of Water
Tectonic forces
Coastal plains
Arabian Peninsula
NORTH
An Nafud Desert
Elburz Mountains
EAST
Persian Gulf
Plains (Mesopotamia)
Tigris River (exotic river)
Euphrates River (exotic river)
Zagros Mountains
High plateaus
Tectonic forces
African, Eurasian, Arabian plates collide to create mountains, upland plateaus & valleys; narrow gulfs and seas
**Red Sea becoming wider as African & Arabian plates move apart
Mountains give water to valleys below
Exotic river= rivers that begin in humid regions and then flow across dry areas

4. Landforms & Bodies of Water
SOUTH
Gulf of Aden
Arabian Sea
Indian Ocean
Rub al-Khali Desert
(means “Empty Quarter”)
WEST
Red Sea
Hindu Kush Mountains
(part of the Himalayas)
Lowlands in Saudi Arabia
(one of hottest places in world)
Himalayas are highest mountains in the world
Lowlands in Saudi Arabia (one of hottest places in world)
Little summer rain, but high humidity b/c next to sea

5. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
Hot, dry climates
Climates influenced by:
High pressure = dry, little water
Orographic effect = humidity, rain & trees on mountains
Winds = westerlies, winter rain, cyclonic storms
Elevation = cool temp in highlands, skiing in Iran

6. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
PLANTS
grasses, shrubs
ANIMALS
Hyenas, leopards, tigers, lions, donkeys, camels
Wide dry plains covered by shrubs & grasses
Plants adapt to periods w/out rain
Larger wild animals have problems hunting b/c of human & domestic animal competition = lg animals become rare, restricted to game reserves—camels & donkeys become domesticated

7. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
Oil & Water
OIL
WATER

8. Ch 20 Eastern Mediterranean
Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan

9. Landforms & Bodies of Water
Faults, folds, earthquakes
NORTH
Pontic Mountains
Dead Sea was once part of the Mediterranean Sea, but no longer has an outlet; so salty people float in it

10. Landforms & Bodies of Water
Faults
Folds
Earthquakes
EAST
Plateaus, hills, valleys
Tigris River
Euphrates River
rift valley (Syria)
Dead Sea was once part of the Mediterranean Sea, but no longer has an outlet; so salty people float in it

11. Landforms & Bodies of Water
WEST
Coastal plain
Mediterranean Sea
Taurus Mountains
Jordan River (irrigation)
Dead Sea
(lowest land on Earth, once part of Med. Sea)
Dead Sea was once part of the Mediterranean Sea, but no longer has an outlet; so salty people float in it

12. Landforms & Bodies of Water
NORTHWEST
Plains
Hills
Dardanelles
Bosporus Strait
Sea of Marmara
Balkan Peninsula
(has Turkey)
Dead Sea was once part of the Mediterranean Sea, but no longer has an outlet; so salty people float in it

13. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
CLIMATES Arid Semi-arid Mediterranean

14. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
PLANTS
Forests-cedar, cyprus, pine
ANIMALS
Jackals, lizards, snakes, sheep, goats
Wide dry plains covered by shrubs & grasses
Plants adapt to periods w/out rain
Larger wild animals have problems hunting b/c of human & domestic animal competition = lg animals become rare, restricted to game reserves—camels & donkeys become domesticated

15. Climates, Biomes, & Natural Resources
Coal, copper, iron ore, oil, natural gas, magnesium
COPPER
OIL
MAGNESIUM
COAL