Download Chapter 19 CENTRAL ASIA

Chapter 19
CENTRAL ASIA
Lesson 1: Physical Geography of Central Asia
Landforms
• Central Asia is marked by a rugged landscape,
highlands, a dry climate, and vast expanses of
desert.
• Some of the countries are landlocked, with no
direct access to the sea.
• The fertile plains and basins like the Fergana
Valley are thickly settled, while the desert
regions like the Kara-Kum are sparsely settled.
• Earthquakes frequently strike along plate
boundaries, primarily in the “stans” and the
surrounding area.
Lesson 1: Physical Geography of Central Asia
Water Systems
• When the weather is warm and there is little
precipitation, the Caspian Sea, the world’s
largest inland sea, loses more water from
evaporation than it gains from the rivers
emptying into it.
• Sturgeon fishing, caviar, tourism, and, more
recently, oil and natural gas are all important
resources in the Caspian Sea.
• Human activity has harmed bodies of water in
the subregion, such as the Aral Sea and Lake
Balkhash, by diminishing water levels and
increasing salinity.
Lake
Balkhash
Aral Sea
Reflection Question #1
Why do you think ecotourism is
becoming a trend in the world
today?
Lesson 1: Physical Geography of Central Asia
Climate, Biomes, & Resources
• Far from any oceans, Central Asia has mainly dry
climates with sparse vegetation.
• Steppes form the wide, grassy plains of Eurasia,
providing enough vegetation to support livestock.
• Major crops of the region are cereals, or grains grown
for food.
• Major resources in the area are oil, natural gas, and
minerals that are mined.
Reflection Question #2
What do you believe is an advantage
and a disadvantage of living a
traditional lifestyle in the modern
world?
Lesson 2: Human Geography of Central Asia
History and Government
• Christianity has been a significant influence in Armenia
and Georgia, while Islam became the predominant
religion of the “stan” countries.
• Established for trade between Europe and China, the Silk
Road became an important asset and target for various
empires.
• The entire region, except Afghanistan, was under Soviet
control until the 1990s.
• Ethnic conflict and political turmoil continue to
plague the region.
Lesson 2: Human Geography of Central Asia
Population Patterns
• Although several countries are named for one ethnic
group, most have a complex mix of ethnic groups.
• Populations are shrinking in Armenia and Georgia
due to low birth rates, while the populations of other
nations are increasing.
• The rate of urbanization is low overall, but growing.
• Ethnic differences have created conflict in some
areas resulting in displaced persons.
Reflection Question #3
How are ethnic/religious diversity
and conflict connected in regions such
as Central Asia?
Lesson 2: Human Geography of Central Asia
Society and Culture Today
• Languages in the Turkic language family are
the most commonly spoken, though Russian is
still widely used.
• Literacy rates are high except in Afghanistan,
and health care spending overall is low,
except in Georgia.
• Family life is a mix of traditional and modern
influences, depending on rural or urban location.
• Under Soviet control, women enjoyed more
equal rights than in many countries, especially
Afghanistan.
Reflection Question #4
Afghanistan's opium poppy
production goes into more than 90%
of heroin worldwide. How do you
think the Afghan government can
prevent farmers from growing this
illegal crop?
Lesson 2: Human Geography of Central Asia
Economic Activities
• Economic growth is dependent on agriculture
and exports of natural resources, such as oil and
natural gas.
• Economic output remains low, as many people
rely on agriculture, but farming methods and
lack of arable land constrain yields.
• Most countries have not yet shifted to market
economies, leaving governments in control of
many facets of manufacturing and farming,
resulting in inefficient business practices that
are also susceptible to corruption.
Lesson 3: People and Their Environment: Central Asia
Managing Resources
• Hydroelectric power is the main source of energy for
most of the subregion.
• Because oil and natural gas are plentiful in this
subregion, most countries use them as a main source of
export income.
• Because most of the countries rely on imports or exports
of oil or gas, their economies struggle when prices for
these products change.
Reflection Question #5
Why might it be unwise for some
Central Asian countries to base most
of their economy on oil and natural
gas?
Lesson 3: People and Their Environment: Central Asia
Human Impact
• In the push to give the subregion a better economy, the
Soviets built irrigation systems that eventually
deprived the Aral Sea of water, hampering farms and
poisoning the lands surrounding the sea.
• The Soviets chose Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for
heavy industry, resulting in pollution and health problems
among those populations.
• Land mines left over from times of war expose humans
to danger, prevent farmers from using fields, and prevent
the delivery of goods and services.
Lesson 3: People and Their Environment: Central Asia
Addressing the Issues
• Outside countries, such as the United States and
some European countries, have organized groups
to mange the water resources of the subregion.
• Countries around the Caspian Sea have formed a
legally binding Convention for the Protection of
the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, in
efforts to reduce water pollution.
• Afghanistan and NGO’s have started working on
ways to reduce the number of landmines by
training people of local communities to identify and
disarm mines when they are found.
Reflection Question #6
Why do you think landmines are
often called “the worst legacy of
modern warfare”?