SAUDI ARABIA

Largest country on Arabian PeninsulaLow elevations on east sideInterior is higher!Mountains on west coast – Hejaz Tihamah Coastal area on Red Sea – more moisture

Mainly desert, temps as high as 130 degrees FWadis, ergs!Rub’ al Khali largest desert – almost size of Texas

Largest exporter of oil, 1/5 of world’s oil reservesFounding member of OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Largest sand desert in the world!!!!

Major cities:Capital – Riyadh Holy cities – Mecca and Medina – birthplace of Islam

Government: Absolute monarchy – House of SaudKing Abdullah

RIYADH

HOLY CITY OF MECCA

IRAQMilder Mediterranean climate in NESteppe climate to the westDesert climate dominates the rest

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – between these rivers is the only fertile area – alluvial plainAlmost landlocked – just a small opening on the Persian Gulf

90% of revenue is OIL!

Previous dictator – Saddam HusseinIraq-Iran War – 1980’s – Iran overthrew their monarch in 1979, established an Islamic Republic. Iran is a Shi’ite Muslim nation.Hussein feared his Sunni government would fall as well. Iraq has a Sunni Muslim minority 35%; Shi’ite Muslim majority 65%

War with US – 2003 – 2011 (we still have a presence there)

First real free elections held in 2005Today Iraq has a very shaky Parliamentary Democracy.Baghdad is the capital.

The second largest ethnic group – Kurds, also Sunni Muslim

Sunni protesters in Ramadi

Nouri Al-Maliki – Prime MinisterSunni

Jalal Jalabani – Kurdish PresidentSunni

IRANMediterranean Climate along Caspian Sea coast where Elburz Mountains locatedDesert in center – Iranian Plateau

Area of tectonic activity – Zagros Mountains on west side

Capital city – Tehran in the north

Iranians are Persian and speak Farsi – NOT ARABS!!!

Iran is a Shi’ite Islamic Republic ruled by Sharia lawChief of state – Ayatollah KhameneiPresident – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Oil is the major export.

Zagros Mountains, Iran, peaks as high as 14,000’

AFGHANISTANSteppe climate – aridCold winters, hot summersIn the highlands – very harsh conditions

Hindu Kush Mountains in northeast next to Pakistan and TajikistanKhyber Pass – famous mountain pass and ancient trade route into Pakistan

Landlocked countryVery poor country, yet loaded with natural resources – natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, lead, zincNo major highways, few stable bridges, some areas – no roadsLiteracy rate – 28%Infant mortality rate – 121.6/1000 birthsOnly 23% urban

Many ethnic groups – Tajik, Hazara, Uzbeks, Pashtun (majority)

Today a secular republic under President Karzi, but only somewhat stable in Kabul, capital city. Rural areas - tribal

Tora Bora – Black Caves.A series of caves where Taliban and Osama hid out!

President Karzi in Kabul

A market in Kabul