1. Southwest Asia cut-away box assignment By Saber Ahmed Period 1

2. Suez Canal http://www.ship- wrecks.co.uk/SuffolkDIveCharters.htm The Suez Canal is a major strategy for Asia because it connects the Mediterranean sea which is very important because it improves the shipment of exports and imports through Europe. This helps Asia because it improves the economy and increases the products and merchandise.

3. http://www.worldatlas.com/aatla s/infopage/bosporus.htm Bosporus Strait The Bosporus Strait is a necessity to Asia because it controls trades between Asian countries, and countries in Europe. Because it is between the Black sea and the Sea of Marmara, it is easier to travel and transport between the strait to the seas, and to other countries for imports and exports.

4. Strait of Hormuz http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common s/9/92/Strait_of_Hormuz.jpg The Strait of Hormuz is the only strait which connects into the countries of Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia which makes it important for trading and controlling the waterways for Asia. This lets them determine what goes out and into Asia.

5. Jerusalem Jerusalem is important to many people around the world because it contains important places for 3 major religions. It is important to Christians because Jesus was located at Jerusalem, it is important to the Jewish because the Jews have a temple and the wailing wall. Finally, the Muslims admire the place because it contains a religious place called the Dome of the Rock. http://www.mideastweb.org/m jerusalem.htm

6. Cities located near water The cities that are located near water ways are benefited in countless numbers of ways. Economically, they have free water for irrigating crop and for transportation. It also gives cities such as Istanbul (on the left) a supply of water for being located near the water. This improves lives of many citizens in those cities. http://www.turkeytravelplanner.co m/AssetsTurkey/Maps/IstanbulFmS paceWLabels.htm

7. Rivers The Tigris and Euphrates river has improved the economies of the cities around the river with sources of transportation, and water. Also it provides them with fertile land, which allows them to have better crops and products. I believe these rivers has kept many cities near it alive because it has a history of aiding cities. http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic /tigris-and-euphrates-rivers- fragmentation

8. Climate http://www.meteorologycli mate.com/Arid-climate.htm Southwest Asia usually has arid climate, which affects crops of many countries. This makes cities depend on irrigation so that the crops can actually grow. In other parts, the Mediterranean climate is where mainly all crops grow. This climate is very easy to live in because of comfort and lower amount of heat.