Physical Geography of SWA

General Pattern of Landforms

What landform

is marked by:

Red?

Yellow?

Purple?

Mountains – Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan

River Valleys: vital for agriculture,

higher population densities

Tectonic Activity/Earthquakes

What two countries have the most

earthquakes in the region?

Explain the distribution of earthquakes

in the region.

Iran Turkey

Turkey

Deserts cover most of SWA Rub al Khali (empty quarter)

Dead Sea: lowest point on Earth

Arabian Peninsula

Anatolian Peninsula = Turkey

Tigris River / Euphrates River

• The Tigris and Euphrates are the two major rivers of the region

• Both start in Turkey and run through multiple countries to the

Persian Gulf

• Control of rivers and their

water is a source of tension

In the region

Wadi

Dry river valley/stream/bed that flows when rains

Oasis: a fertile spot in a desert

where water is found.

Salt Flat: desert that results when moisture from

the soil evaporates and chemical salts remain

General Pattern

of Climates

Describe the general location of:

Mediterranean Climate

Semiarid Climate:

Desert Climate

General Pattern

of Biomes

Why would the Mediterranean coast be more hospitable for

agriculture than other areas of the region?