5=metal; 8=quik boys; 7=I split J

ASIA’S SOUTHWEST:Includes part of Russia’s former satellite nations

and the Middle East

A. Physical Characteristics of North Africa and Middle

East1. Important Seas or

Lakes: Black Sea

• north of Turkey Red Sea

• b/w Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Mediterranean Sea • west of Turkey, Syria,

Lebanon, Israel and Palestine’s Gaza Strip

1. Important Seas or Lakes, Con’t Dead Sea

• its salinity is 7 ½ times more than other saltwater seas • is so salty that only bacteria can live in the water and it’s

almost impossible to drown in it• it is 1,349 feet below sea level• it is the lowest place on the exposed crust of the earth

2. Important Rivers Tigris and Euphrates

• both begin in Turkey• both end in Iraq

(Mesopotamia)• the Euphrates flows into

Syria before ending in Iraq Nile River

• begins as two rivers, the White and Blue Niles

• 2 rivers merge & form The Nile in Khartoum, Sudan

• The Nile runs from south to north and ends at Mediterranean

2. Important Rivers (con’t) Jordan River

• begins at Lebanon Mtns at north Israel and flows south

• the river serves as a natural boundary b/w Israel & Jordan as it flows south

• its mouth flows into the salty waters of the Dead Sea located b/w Israel & Jordan

3. Important Gulfs (con’t) Persian Gulf

• b/w Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) and ancient Persia, aka Iran

Gulf of Suez• On western side of Sinai

Peninsula, east side of Egypt

Gulf of Aqaba• on eastern side of Sinai

Peninsula; b/w Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia

4. Mountain Ranges Caucus Mtns

• b/w Black and Caspian Seas

• Russia to its north, Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan to south

Zagros & Elburz Mtns (both in Iran)• Zagros between Iraq

and Iran; Elburz is south of Caspian Sea and in northern Iran

Taurus Mtns (Turkey) • southern Turkey

Atlas Mtns (Morocco)

5. Deserts Sahara

• in Africa & world’s largest Saudi Arabian Desert

• Called Empty Quarter and Rub al-Khali = “place where no one comes out”

• approximately same size as Texas

The Libyan Desert The Negev Desert of Israel

Empty Quarter

Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum, & Gobi

Climate N Africa and Middle East

Vegetation N Africa and Middle East

B. Human Geography of North Africa and Middle

East

Population Languages Religions Agriculture Economics Urban HEInteraction

1. Population Statistics Population Distribution

In which countries are the following highly populated cities located?

• Casablanca,• Ankara• Tunis• Tripoli• Tel Aviv

1. Population Statistics, con’t

Young population Advantages/Disadvantages?

• N. Africa and the MidEast: The Youth Bulge >20% of their population between 15-24 (13% of US population is 15-24)

• Extremely high unemployment amongst youth

High Birth Rates• Average 20 births for every

1000 people (US averages 13)

Life Expectancy• Averages early 70’s (US

averages late 70’s)Source:

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.CBRT.IN

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=fP7Pe_pPMd15FM&tbnid=BqdZeMgdAwGVwM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzebu.uoregon.edu%2F1998%2Fes202%2Farchive%2Fl13.html&ei=I5AsUdWrC5KI9ASIv4D4Cw&bvm=bv.42965579,d.eWU&psig=AFQjCNFwZ2meCiiuLNWxRe9-omTxS4K2IQ&ust=1361961346271421

2. Languages Arabic

• With notable exceptions of Israel, Turkey, Iran and the remote areas of North Africa, Arabic is primary language spoken in N Africa and Middle East

Other Languages• Israel: Hebrew• Iran: Farsi• Turkey: Turkish• Remote N Africa: Tribal

languages

3. Religions World Distribution

3. Religions Islam

• second largest-practiced religion in world (how is this so?)

• most N. African and Mid Easterners are Muslims (practice Islam)

• begun in 7th C. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by Prophet Muhammad who was born there

• Qur’an (Koran) is sacred text• Main Sects of Islam

Sunni Make up appx 90% of

world’s Muslimssuccessor to prophet

Muhammad elected by other Muslims

The Annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia:1 of 5 Pillars of Islam

for all able bodies Muslims

• Sects of Islam, con’t Sunni majoritiesSaudi ArabiaJordan Egypt Syria Turkey Shi’ite or Shia majorities

10% of world’s MuslimsMajor difference from

Sunnis: Shias believe successor to Muhammad to be descendant of Muhammad

Iran Iraq (but ruled by Sunni

minority)

NOTE: Clashes between Sunnis and Shi’ites goes back to 7th C. death of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam

3. Religions, con’t Christianity

• Largest religion practiced in world

• Begun in 33 A.D. in Palestine (Middle East) after death of Jewish Jesus

• Bible is sacred text• Sects of Christianity Roman Catholic Greek Orthodox Protestant (includes

Anglicans and Episcopalians) 39% in Lebanon 10% in Syria 6% in Egypt & Jordan 3% or less in Iran, Iraq,

Israel, & Turkey 0% in Saudi Arabia

Go to slide show,

4. Agriculture (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/agr_ara_lan_hec-agriculture-arable-land-hectares)

Go to slide show,

5. Economic Resources Black Gold

As of 2009, location of world oil supplies, as per wikipedia

Arab Spring• Began in late 2010• Response to:

1. Absolute Monarchy2. High unemployment 3. Human rights

violations4. Political corruption

5. Cities and Settlements Ancient Egypt, since 3150 BC

• Human movement resulted in Ancient Egyptian civilization forming from the Mesopotamians

• The Mesopotamians had the “Fertile Crescent” while the Egyptians had The Nile

Islam • Second-largest practiced religion in world (how is this so?)

Muslim % of population by country Muslim % of population by region or ethnicity

Muslim % of population by continent