March17, 2014

• Physical Geography of MENA

• Landform Map

• Warm-Up

Main Ideas• Main Idea #1

– Landforms have a major impact on MOVEMENT in the region

• Peninsulas• Mountains• Strategic Waterways

• Main Idea #2– The most valuable resources are oil and

water.• ½ of all Oil Reserves in the World• Water is scarce some places plentiful in others

What is a region?

A region is an area of the earth’s surface with similar characteristics

Characteristics of Southwest Asia and North Africa

• Physical– Arid (Dry)

– Oil

Cultural• Culture Hearths• World Religions

•Islam•Judaism•Christianity

• Conflict

NAMING THE REGION• Popular Labels

– Dry World– Arab World– Islamic World– Middle East

Major physiographic provinces and physical features

Southwest Asia and North Africa

MENA PHYSICAL FEATURES

Mountains – kept cultures isolated

Elburz Mts., IranElburz Mts., Iran Zagros Mts., IranZagros Mts., Iran

Pontic Mts., TurkeyPontic Mts., Turkey Taurus Mts., TurkeyTaurus Mts., Turkey

Nile River• Longest River in

the World • Built Aswan High

Dam to control flooding

• Aswan created Lake Nasser

• Besides flood prevention, what else can a dam provide?– Hydroelectric Power

Mesopotamia• Land between Tigris

and Euphrates• One of the earliest

civilizations in the world

• The Fertile Crescent – Land surrounding Nile, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Jordan River• Natural Border Between

Israel and Jordan• Contains Dead Sea

– 2,300’ below sea level– High Salt Content (33%)

• Why would Israel & Jordan Fight OverWater Rights?

– Limited resource in desert

Other Water Sources• Wadi – dry riverbed

created by occasional floods

• Aquifer – stores of underground water

• Oasis – isolated area of vegetation in a desert around a water source

• Why are these sources important?– Provide water,

transportation routes

Deserts

• Sahara– The size of the USA

• Rub al-Khali – Name means “Empty

Quarter”– Vast oil Reserves

Straits• Strait of Gibraltar

– Separates Europe from Africa

– 8.9 Miles at closest point

• Strait of Hormuz

– Only sea passage for Oil Tankers leaving Persian Gulf

– 34 Miles wide

CLIMATE

Where is the Middle East vs. the U. S. on Latitude Lines?

Physical Geography - Middle East: Climate Regions

What climate type dominates the region?• Desert = Arid

RESOURCES

Desalination• Process that removes

salt from Sea Water

• How might these plants change life for people in the Middle East?

– Provide more drinking water, help support population growth

LAND USE

What is the dominant form of agriculture in the Middle East?

What is Oil? Why is it Important?Produced from microscopic marine plants

and animals, squeezed underground for millions of years.

Oil is a “finite resource”• Once it is used up, it is gone forever.• Nobody is certain how much is left.

Oil is used for many things:

1. Fuel, (gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil)

2. All plastic is made from petroleum

3. Asphalt used in road construction

4. Synthetic rubber in tires

5. Fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides

6. Detergents, many drugs, and paints

7. Artificial fibers used in clothing (Nylon, Polyester)

Where is the Oil?

Oil Producing Nations

Where is the Persian Gulf?

Why is the Persian Gulf important?

• The Persian Gulf is a vital part of the world oil supply. • It is in a very dangerous part of the world• It can easily be closed off by hostile countries.

Who Controls the World Oil Supply?

• OPEC - “Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries”

• Controls the price, production and distribution of oil.• 66% of world reserves of oil, 40% of world oil production

Daily production

What is the future of oil?• Prices will

increase drastically!

• Europe 5 - 7 dollars a gallon

• U.S. $3 - $4 - $5?

What are our alternative energy sources?

• Solar• Hydrogen• Wind• Nuclear• Vegetable oil• Grain alcohol –

Gasohol/Ethanol• Hydroelectric• Ocean Currents• Geo-Thermal

Review

• Describe how Landforms can impact MOVEMENT in this Region?

• Why must the USA be so involved in the Middle East?