Download 08WGC Chapter 17

Introduction
Section 1:
The Land
Section 2:
Climate and Vegetation
Visual Summary
A study of the physical
geography of North Africa,
Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia reveals the
relationship between
humans and the physical
environment, where seas
and rivers help sustain life
amidst rugged mountain
ranges, dry plateaus, and
some of Earth’s greatest
deserts.
Section 1:
The Land
Places reflect the
relationship between
humans and the physical
environment. For thousands
of years, people have
depended on rivers for lifesustaining water in North
Africa, Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia, where deserts
and mountains dominate the
landscape.
Section 2: Climate and
Vegetation
The physical
environment affects
people and their
activities. In North Africa,
Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia, lack of
precipitation affects the
region’s climates,
vegetation, and human
activities.
The Land
For thousands of years,
people have depended on
rivers for life-sustaining
water in North Africa,
Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia, where
deserts and mountains
dominate the landscape.
The Land
• kum
• phosphate
• alluvial soil
• wadi
• shift
• complex
• revenue
The Land
A. Atlas Mountains
B. Caucasus Mountains
C. Arabian Peninsula
D. Persian Gulf
E. Sinai Peninsula
F. Anatolia
G. Dead Sea
J. Nile River
H. Caspian Sea
K. Tigris River
I. Aral Sea
L. Euphrates River
The Land
The people of this region highly
value which part of the surrounding
environment?
0%
D
D. Rivers
C
C. Valleys
B
B. Mountains
A. A
B. B
C. C
0%
0%
0%
D. D
A
A. Deserts
Landforms
In North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central
Asia, dramatic landforms can be found in a
region dominated by deserts and
mountains.
• Earthquakes are common in this region.
Landforms (cont.)
• Mountains:
– Atlas—Africa’s longest mountain range
– Hejaz and Asir
– Pontic and Taurus
– Ararat
– Caucasus
– Zagros
Landforms and Tectonic Activity
Landforms (cont.)
• Coastal Plains, Seas, and Peninsulas:
– The agriculture base is rooted in fertile plains
along the Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea,
and the Persian Gulf.
– Aral Sea
– Dead Sea
– Sinai Peninsula
– Peninsula of Anatolia
Which sea is much smaller due to a
diversion of rivers for irrigation?
A. Aral Sea
B. Dead Sea
C. Caspian Sea
D. The Sea of Marmara
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C0%
D
C
0%
D
Water Systems
For thousands of years, people have
depended on the region’s rivers and fertile
river valleys, where early civilizations
thrived.
• Major Rivers:
– Nile—the world’s longest river; one of the cradles
of civilization
The Nile River
Water Systems (cont.)
– Tigris and Euphrates—the Tigris-Euphrates
river valley was also a fertile area that
supported early civilizations
• Streambeds:
– Many streams in arid North Africa and
Southwest Asia flow only intermittently, and
are susceptible to flash flooding.
Which percentile of Egypt’s
people live along the Nile river?
A. 50%
B. 70%
C. 90%
D. 100%
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Natural Resources
Some of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia’s most abundant resources are
important to the world economy.
• Over 60% of the world’s known oil reserves lie
beneath this region.
• About 50% of the world’s known natural gas reserves
are there as well.
World Oil Reserves
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Minerals in the region:
– Sulfur, sulfate
– Phosphate
– Chromium, gold, lead, manganese, and zinc
– Iron ore, copper
In 2000, oil prices were around $30
per barrel. By 2006, oil prices were
trading at what amount per barrel?
A. $37
A
C. $45
B
A. A
B. B
0%
C. 0%
C
0%
C
B. $70
Climate and Vegetation
In North Africa, Southwest
Asia, and Central Asia,
lack of precipitation affects
the region’s climates,
vegetation, and human
activities.
Climate and Vegetation
• oasis
• cereal
• pastoralism
• define
• annually
• exposure
Climate and Vegetation
A. Sahara
B. Rub′ al-Khali
C. Kara-Kum
Climate and Vegetation
Which type of climate do you think
most of this region experiences?
A. Steppe
0%
D
C
D. Tropical
B
C. Desert
A. A
B. B
C. C
0%
0%
0%
D. D
A
B. Highland
Water and Climate
Lack of water affects climate, natural
vegetation, and human activities in North
Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia.
Water and Climate (cont.)
• Two of the climates:
– Desert Climate—50% of this region is desert
area.
• The Sahara—the largest desert in the world
covers most of North Africa.
• Rub′ al-Khali—largest area of sand
– Steppe Climate
What is an important way
of life for people who live
in a steppe climate?
A. Pastoralism
B. Farming
C. Mining
D. Fishing
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Midlatitude Regions
Countries within the region’s midlatitudes
benefit from rainfall in the Mediterranean,
highland, and humid subtropical climates.
• Exports:
– Citrus fruits
– Olives
– Grapes
Midlatitude Regions (cont.)
• Tourism is also important to the economy.
• Higher areas like the Caucasus Mountains have a
highland climate.
North Africa, Southwest Asia, and
Central Asia: Natural Vegetation
Midlatitude Regions (cont.)
• Areas that receive a large amount of rainfall:
– The North African coast near the Atlas
Mountains
– The coast of Oman
– The foot of the Elburz Mountains
– Batumi
In areas where more than 14 inches
of rain falls each year, which product
can farmers raise without irrigation?
A. Citrus fruits
0%
D
C
D. Cranberries
B
C. Strawberries
A. A
B. B
C.0% C0%
0%
D. D
A
B. Cereals
A. Atlas Mountains
•
Africa’s longest
mountain range;
reaches across
Morocco and
Algeria
•
Northern slopes
have Mediterranean
climate and support
farming
B. Aral Sea
•
Was the world’s
fourth-largest inland
sea
•
Began to dry up
when the Soviet
Union diverted
water for irrigation
•
Water levels
increased slightly
after dams were
built, ensuring flow
of freshwater
C. Anatolia
•
Surrounded by the
Black Sea, Aegean
Sea, and
Mediterranean Sea
•
Together, the
Dardanelles, the
Sea of Marmara,
and the Bosporus
connect the Black
and Aegean Seas.
•
Taurus Mountains
located along
southern part of
peninsula
D. Sahara
•
World’s largest
desert; covers most
of North Africa
•
Droughts have
expanded the
Sahara in recent
decades
E. Arabian Peninsula
•
Surrounded by Red
Sea, Arabian Sea,
and Persian Gulf
•
Oil and natural gas
reserves in eastern
part of peninsula
F. Nile River
•
World’s longest river
•
Area is home to one
of the world’s
earliest civilizations
•
More than 90
percent of Egypt’s
population lives
along the Nile Delta
and Nile River on
fertile land
G. Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
•
Known as
Mesopotamia,
Greek for “land
between two rivers”
•
Irrigation has
supported farming
for 7,000 years
•
Two rivers join in
Iraq to form Shatt
al Arab
H. Natural Resources
•
Over 60 percent of
the world’s known
oil reserves are
located in the
region.
•
Some countries are
investing in
agriculture and
fisheries to
decrease their
dependence on oil
and mineral exports.
•
Countries with
Mediterranean
climates export
citrus fruits, olives,
and grapes.
kum
term for a desert in Central Asia
alluvial soil
rich soil made up of sand and mud
deposited by running water
wadi
in the desert, a stream bed that is dry
except during a heavy rain
phosphate
natural mineral containing chemical
compounds often used in fertilizers
oasis
small area in a desert where water
and vegetation are found
pastoralism
the raising of livestock
cereal
any grain, such as barley, oats, or
wheat, grown for food
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