living in north africa, sw & central asia ch. 19 sec.1
TRANSCRIPT
Living in North Africa, SW & Central Asia
Ch. 19 Sec.1
Food•Challenge to meet needs of rapidly
growing population, w/ little resources
•Saudi Arabia can buy food with oil $
•Afgh. can only grow sm. amt of food (poor soil)
• Israel has great climate& grows/exports lots Afghanistan
Agriculture
•Strangely, there is such little arable land, but majority of jobs are in agriculture
•They learn to adapt…–When Med. countries face a drought they just farm more hardy foods (wheat, barley, etc)
Usable Land
•Egypt has least amount of usable land
•Morocco & Turkey seem to have most
•Most countries with little arable land compensate with herding
Usable Land
•To make up for little usable land countries may:–Have intensive irrigation (some drain seas )
–Mining industries–Focus on other industries like oil…
Oil
• Oil is, by far, most impt. commodity– 70% of world’s oil, 33% of world’s nat.
gas• Industries using oil:
– Refining & shipping– Steel, textiles, electricity production– Petrochemicals (fertilizers, medicines,
plastics, & paints)
Service Industries
•GDP = gross domestic product–Value of goods & services produced in country per year
•Bahrain is 60% service industry–Banking, real estate, insurance–Highest GDP–High HDI b/c it spends its $ on social services & needs as well
Service Industries
•Tourism is huge b/c:–Religious importance–Historical importance–Mediterranean climate/beaches
•Tourism limitations– Iran limits # of tourists to decrease western influence
–Regional conflicts discourage ppl from coming (not safe)
Western Wall in Jerusalem
Transportation
•Most waterways connected with straits & gulfs–Strategic and economic value
–Almost all oil exports sent thru waterways ($$)
–Vast # of pipelines to carry oil over land to coasts
Communications•Problems:
–Too much government control–Lots of deserts and mountains–Lack of satellite/cellular service in rural areas
•The New Silk Road–Telecommunications highway built over old Silk Road route•Cable for 20 countries; 16,767 miles•TRACECA- road, rail, & air system
OPECOrganization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries•12 members•Can restrict/limit amount of oil•Can raise oil prices•Can enact embargos
(All have been done to U.S.)
Interdependence is Key
They provide oil and other industrial goods; others
provide foreign aid, trade deals, loans, & food goods.
Despite our political disagreements, we cannot live without one another