The Region Today: North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia

Chapter 19

1. The EconomyOil producing countries in NA, SWA and CA

- experienced greater economic growth than other countries in region

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, oil reserves have defined their economic history

Economic ActivitiesCountries rich in oil generally have little

waterCountries with abundant water generally

lack oil

Agriculture and FishingSmall part of the regions land is arable, or

suitable for farmingYet large percentage of population works in

agricultureAgriculture plays smaller role in oil rich

countries (SA, Kuwait)Mediterranean climates (NA, SWA) best

suited for growing cereal crops, citrus, grapes, olives and dates

When rainfall is below normal, crops do not meet needs of people

Countries must import additional grainsCitrus fruits are important exports

Agriculture and FishingSteppes of CA (semi arid, grassy plains) provide

fertile soil for crops and grasslands for grazing Uzbekistan - one of largest cotton producersUzbekistan/Turkmenistan – raise silkwormsKazakhstan – major grain producerAzerbaijan – wheat, cotton, potato and tea

exportsFish – important source of food in regionMorocco – sardines and mackerel from Atlantic

OceanIsrael – majority of fish come from farmed fish in

man- made pondsPersian Gulf – home to 150 species of fishIran – strong fishing industry

IndustryPetroleum/oil products main export

commodities, or economic goods, of the region

Over 60 percent of earth’s oil exists in North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia

Region has 50 percent of earth’s natural gas

Oil has brought riches and modern cities to SA, Kuwait, Bahrain

Oil, Natural Gas, and MiningIran/Saudi Arabia – oil-refining and oil-

shipping facilitiesMost other oil-producing countries export

crude oil, or unrefined oilPetrochemicals – products made from

petroleum or natural gas, i.e. fertilizers, medicines, plastics and paints

Coal and copper mining and cement production important in SA and CA

Service IndustriesBahrain – 60 percent of GDP comes from

banking, real estate and insurance industries

NA and SA – popular tourism/travel destinations, possess ancient religious sites

Christians and Jews visit Israel, JordanMuslims often go on a pilgrimage to

Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia

Transportation and CommunicationsMain Idea: Advancements in transportation

and communications are improving throughout the region

Main Idea: Physical environment and government have limited some development

Roads, Railroads, and AirlinesRoads unevenly distributed across regionExtensive systems: Iran, Turkey, EgyptLandlocked countries – entirely surrounded

by land, no water access for trade and transportation

Examples of LL countries: Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

Roads, Railroads, and AirlinesIstanbul, Turkey – new subway systemAir Travel – CA countries used to rely on

Soviet airline Aeroflot, now have own airlines

Waterways and PipelinesMap on p. 477Main shipping ports on Mediterranean and

Black SeasStrait of Hormuz and Strait of Tiran

strategic and economic importance, oil tankers must pass

Suez Canal – man made, allows ships to pass from Med. to Red Sea, on to Indian Ocean

System of oil pipelines transports oil overland to ports on Med. Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf

CommunicationsGovt. control of media limits media in many

placesCommunication is difficult in areas due to

vast desertsCellular phones are common in major cities

Trade and InterdependenceMI: Interdependence among the countries of

NA, SWA, and CA is growing, as well as with rest of world

8 of regions countries in OPEC, gives them more control over oil production and prices

Countries rely on their oil, giving OPEC great power

During 1973 Arab-Israeli War, OPEC placed an embargo, or trade restriction, on oil shipments to US – due to support for Israel

1999 and 2000, OPEC cuts oil production, rise in oil prices around the world

2. People and Their EnvironmentPeople in NA, SWA, and CA often threaten

their environmentPeople face dilemma of meeting needs

without restoring already damaged environment

Managing ResourcesMI: Growing populations in NA, SWA and CA

put strain on scarce water resources

Water ResourcesNile, Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan , Amu Dar’ya

and Syr Dar’ya (run through Stan countries)– regions only major rivers

Only a few countries in region have enough freshwater for irrigation

DesalinationDesalination – removing salt from seawaterMany countries depend on desalination

plantsRegion posses 60 percent of world

desalination capacityThese plants too expensive for some

countriesAustralia, 12 % freshwater through desal,

debate over cost

The Great Man-Made RiverCarries water from aquifers beneath the

Sahara to farms near MediterraneanMultibillion dollar projectBrings freshwater to Libya

Human ImpactMI: New technologies and destructive wars

have increased environmental problems in NA, SWA and CA

Aswan High DamLocated 600 miles south of Cairo364 feet tallIrrigates 3 million acresControls Nile’s floodsCreated the worlds largest human-made

lake, Lake Nasser

Impact of WarPersian Gulf War, 90-91, Iraqi troops

burned 700 oil wells in Kuwait, dumped oil into Persian Gulf, polluted area

US-Iraq war, 2003Israel, Lebanon War - 2006Hezbollah – Islamic fundamentalists, want

to drive Israeli troops from Lebanon

Three Troubled SeasCaspian, Aral and Dead sea, face

environmental challengesWater level of Dead Sea, dropped 262 feet

in past 40 yearsPrimary reason:90 percent of water from

feeder rivers diverted for irrigation, hydroelectric plants

Nuclear and Chemical DangersKazakhstan, once home to Soviet nuclear

basesSoviets tested nuclear, chemical and bio

weapons thereSoviets tested nearly 500 nuclear weapons

in areaNE Kazakhstan severely affected by

radiation