9.1 Physical Geography 9.1 Physical Geography of the Arabian of the Arabian

Peninsula, Iraq & Iran.Peninsula, Iraq & Iran.

The The Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula contains the contains the countries of: countries of: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, U.A.E., Qatar, Bahrain, & Oman, U.A.E., Qatar, Bahrain, & KuwaitKuwait. We also include . We also include IraqIraq and and IranIran in in this region.this region.

Physical FeaturesPhysical Features The The Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula has the has the

largest sand desert in the world.largest sand desert in the world. It also has huge areas of desert It also has huge areas of desert

covered with bare rock or gravel.covered with bare rock or gravel. The countries of this region form a The countries of this region form a

sort of semi-circle with the sort of semi-circle with the Persian Persian GulfGulf in the middle. in the middle.

The Arabian Peninsula is also The Arabian Peninsula is also bordered by the bordered by the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Arabian Sea, & the & the Red Red SeaSea.. The The Caspian SeaCaspian Sea borders Iran borders Iran

to the north.to the north.

This region contains 4 major This region contains 4 major landforms: rivers, plains, plateaus, landforms: rivers, plains, plateaus, and mountains.and mountains.

The The Tigris & Euphrates RiversTigris & Euphrates Rivers flow across flow across IraqIraq & empty in the & empty in the Persian GulfPersian Gulf.. These rivers are considered These rivers are considered

“exotic rivers”“exotic rivers” because they because they begin in humid regions & then begin in humid regions & then flow through dry areas.flow through dry areas.

The Arabian Peninsula has no The Arabian Peninsula has no permanent rivers.permanent rivers.

Plains are located on the Eastern Plains are located on the Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.part of the Arabian Peninsula.

The mountains of Yemen are the The mountains of Yemen are the highest point on the peninsula.highest point on the peninsula.

Plateaus and mountains cover most Plateaus and mountains cover most of Iran. of Iran. Iran is one of the world’s most Iran is one of the world’s most

mountainous countries.mountainous countries. The 3 mountains ranges of Iran The 3 mountains ranges of Iran

are: the are: the ZagrosZagros, the , the ElburzElburz. And . And the the Kopet-DagKopet-Dag..These mountain ranges keep These mountain ranges keep towns in Iran isolated from one towns in Iran isolated from one another which makes it hard to another which makes it hard to govern the country at times.govern the country at times.

Climate and VegetationClimate and Vegetation Most of this region has a desert Most of this region has a desert

climate.climate. The world’s largest all-sand The world’s largest all-sand

desert, the desert, the Rub-al-KhaliRub-al-Khali covers covers much of southern Saudi Arabia.much of southern Saudi Arabia.The name means The name means “Empty “Empty Quarter”Quarter” because there is so because there is so little life living in this desert.little life living in this desert.

The The Al NafudAl Nafud is another desert is another desert in northern Saudi Arabia.in northern Saudi Arabia.

In both deserts there can In both deserts there can sometimes be an sometimes be an oasisoasis (a wet, (a wet, fertile area in a desert that fertile area in a desert that forms where underground water forms where underground water bubbles to the surface).bubbles to the surface).

ResourcesResources

Water is one of the region’s two Water is one of the region’s two most valuable resources.most valuable resources. Throughout the deserts there are Throughout the deserts there are

many many wadiswadis (dry streambeds). (dry streambeds). Most of the groundwater found in Most of the groundwater found in

wells in the region is wells in the region is fossil fossil waterwater (water that is not being (water that is not being replaced by rainfall).replaced by rainfall).

The other The other important important resource in the resource in the region is oil.region is oil.

Exports of oil bring great wealth to Exports of oil bring great wealth to the countries that have oil fields. the countries that have oil fields. Most of the oil fields found in the Most of the oil fields found in the

region are located near the shores region are located near the shores of the Persian Gulf.of the Persian Gulf.

One major problem with oil is that One major problem with oil is that it cannot be replaced once it’s it cannot be replaced once it’s taken from the earth.taken from the earth.

A depletion of oil may hurt these A depletion of oil may hurt these countries in the future because countries in the future because most of the countries are not rich most of the countries are not rich in any other resources.in any other resources.