1. The Middle East: Physical Geography

2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 4 3 6 5 13 14 15 16 Israel Jordan Lebanon Syria Turkey Iraq Saudi Arabia Yemen Oman UAE Qatar Kuwait Iran Afghanistan Cyprus Bahrain Arabian Peninsula Anatolian Peninsula Sinai Peninsula Plateau of Persian Gulf Gulf of Oman Red Sea Dead Sea Arabian Sea Caspian Sea Black Sea Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

3. Major Landforms of the region This region forms a land bridge connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Middle East is situated on a huge tectonic plate causing it to pull away from Africa

4. Occupied by Turkey, the Anatolian Peninsula marks the beginning of the Asian continent Not occupied by a bunch of these… …The country of Turkey!!!

5. Arabian Peninsula Most distinctive landform is the Arabian Peninsula.

6. Much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by barren plains. For centuries, people living on the Arabian Peninsula had to adapt to the harsh conditions by living nomadic lives in search of water “Even I’m thirsty.”

7. The heart of Iran is a plateau bordered by the Zagros Mountains.

8. Climate of the Middle East Extremely arid (desert) Most areas receive less than 18 inches of rain a year! Mediterranean climate (along the coasts) are in other parts of the region making the land green and lush for parts of the year.

9. Rub al-Khali: “The Empty Quarter” The most famous desert… AKA…the place where no one comes out. * The size of Texas on the Arabian Peninsula

10. Which country is completely land-locked? What issues might this cause?

11. How can mountains and deserts be useful to people???How can mountains and deserts be useful to people??? –A natural barrier to protect from foreign invaders This is tough… I’m thirsty.

12. Tigris River in Southeastern Turkey

13. man-made Canal = man-made waterway connecting 2 bodies of water naturally occurring Strait= naturally occurring waterway connecting 2 bodies of water

14. Suez Canal Links Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea Completed by the British in 1869

15. What is unique about this waterway? Strait of Hormuz I’ll give you a hint… There is an abundance of a certain natural resource located right here

16. Water in the Middle East Almost completely surrounded by water but because much of the region is arid, there are few rivers that flow the entire year.

17. The Tigris & Euphrates River System Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” aka the Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” aka the Fertile Crescent The two most important rivers Flow parallel Land is very fertile between them

18. Tigris and Euphrates Flow through parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iraq Makes land very fertile and good for agriculture. Flow almost parallel for hundreds of miles before joining at a place called Shat al Arab.

19. Jordan River Empties into the Dead Sea Natural boundary between Jordan and Israel

20. Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth - Highest Salt Content (33%) *9x saltier than ocean - Highest Salt Content (33%) *9x saltier than ocean

21. Irrigation Systems Water is the most precious resource so water usage is one of the many international conflicts in the region. Irrigation/dam systems are controversial because countries downstream will lose use of the water for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

22. Oil fields in Middle East hold ½ of all petroleum reserves in the world! Oil is transported mostly by carefully monitored above and underground pipelines