Physical Geography of SW AsiaPhysical Geography of SW Asia

ObjectivesObjectives

• Identify and examine different features of the Southwest Asia’s and North Africa’s physical geography.

• Explain the different types of climates and vegetations.• Describe the region’s key resources.

The Middle What?The Middle What?

Why do we refer to Southwest Asia as Why do we refer to Southwest Asia as “The Middle East?”“The Middle East?”

Southwestern Asian Countries and CapitalsSouthwestern Asian Countries and Capitals

• Afghanistan: Kabul• Bahrain: Manama• Cyprus: Nicosia• Iran: Tehran• Iraq: Baghdad• Israel: Jerusalem• Jordan: Amman• Kuwait: Kuwait City• Lebanon: Beirut• Oman: Muscat• Qatar: Doha• Saudi Arabia: Riyadh• Syria: Damascus• Turkey: Ankara• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi• Yemen: Sanaa

Ch. 21 Sec. 1Ch. 21 Sec. 1: Landforms & : Landforms & ResourcesResources

• Landforms Divide the Region.

• Arabian Peninsula sits in between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.

The Arabian PeninsulaThe Arabian Peninsula• Climate

– Desert • Rub al-Khali• An-Nafud

– Semiarid

• What type of vegetation do these regions have?

– Desert shrub, grasses

• Predominately covered by plains– Low ridges, hills, and wadis

Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula

• Low hills

• Ridges

• Wadis

• Hejaz Mtns. A wadi in Saudi Arabia

• Rub Al-Khali • “Empty Quarter”= “place where

no one comes out”• Size of Texas• One of largest sandy deserts in

world, dunes can reach 800 ft tall• Surface temps, can reach 150°• 10 years may pass w/out rain

Anatolian PeninsulaAnatolian Peninsula

• Turkey

• Marks the beginning of the continent of Asia

Peninsulas On Important WatersPeninsulas On Important Waters

• Anatolian Peninsula along the Mediterranean and Black Sea

• Arabian Peninsula on the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf

The StraitsThe Straits

• Strait of Hormuz • Bosporus Strait

Strait of HormuzStrait of Hormuz

• The only passageway to the rich oil fields of Kuwait.

• Connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Anatolian PeninsulaAnatolian Peninsula

• Bosporus Strait – waterway to Black Sea

• Dardanelles Strait – waterway to Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea

•     Bosporus Strait      • Dardanelles Strait

The Red Sea and Persian GulfThe Red Sea and Persian Gulf

Red Sea

Persian Gulf

• Suez Canal- artificial waterway between the Mediterranean Sea & the Red Sea

Water BodiesWater Bodies

• Region as a whole is so arid that rivers do not flow all year.

A wadi in Saudi Arabia

Water BodiesWater Bodies• Water is the most important resource in

this region– Tigris & Euphrates river valleys supported

several ancient societies

Tigris RiverTigris River

Euphrates RiverEuphrates River

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Jordan RiverJordan River

• Natural boundary between Israel & Jordan

• Flows from mtns. of Lebanon into Dead Sea

• Dead Sea- landlocked salt lake– So salty that only bacteria lives in it– Lowest place on the exposed

surface of the earth. • 1349 feet below sea level

MountainsMountains

1. Zagros Mountains

2. Elburz Mountains3. Taurus Mountains 1.

2.

3.

Mtn. Ranges Cut Off the North from Mtn. Ranges Cut Off the North from the Souththe South

Sand DesertsSand Deserts

• An-Nafud

• Syrian Desert

• Separates Lebanon, Israel & Syria from from the Tigris & Euphrates

• Acts as a barrier

Sand DesertsSand Deserts

• Negev Desert

• Located in Israel

• Crops are produced in the Negev through extensive irrigation

Salt DesertsSalt Deserts

• Iran in rain-shadow

• Winds w/ no rain evaporate moisture in soil

• Chemical salt is left

• Salt Flat

Salt DesertsSalt Deserts

• Dasht-e Kavir• Central Iran

• Salt crusted land surrounded by quick-sand-like salt marshes

• Extremely hot

• Act as barriers

Salt DesertsSalt Deserts

• Dasht-e Lut

• Eastern Iran

Salt FlatsSalt Flats

• Salt Flat- flat land made of chemical salts that remain after winds evaporate the moisture in the soil– Common in Iran– Usually uninhabited

PamukkalePamukkale is one of is one of the extraordinary the extraordinary natural wonders of natural wonders of Turkey.Turkey.

The great attraction is The great attraction is the white immensity the white immensity of the cliffs with of the cliffs with sculptured basins full sculptured basins full of water and of water and congealed waterfalls; congealed waterfalls; they seem done of they seem done of snow, cloud, or snow, cloud, or cottoncotton..

The scientific explanation is the hot thermal The scientific explanation is the hot thermal places that lie under the mount provoke the places that lie under the mount provoke the calcium carbonate spill, that makes the forms calcium carbonate spill, that makes the forms as solid as travertino marble.as solid as travertino marble.

One can bathe there; the Turks call this place One can bathe there; the Turks call this place PAMUKKALE, which means "Castle of Cotton".PAMUKKALE, which means "Castle of Cotton".

It is a protecting landscape that fascinates, as It is a protecting landscape that fascinates, as the action of the mineral waters that contains the action of the mineral waters that contains calcium oxides left fantastic marks in the calcium oxides left fantastic marks in the structures.structures.

The resultant effect is spectacular: the The resultant effect is spectacular: the waters spill on a series of steps, forming waters spill on a series of steps, forming solid cascades and pools.solid cascades and pools.

The cascades of calcium carbonate as well as The cascades of calcium carbonate as well as the water itself changes colors in accordance the water itself changes colors in accordance with changes of the solar light that illuminates with changes of the solar light that illuminates them, and the effect is breathtaking.them, and the effect is breathtaking.

At times white, others blue, or At times white, others blue, or green or other colors. The green or other colors. The spectacle is amazing.spectacle is amazing.

The continuous dynamics of the erosion and The continuous dynamics of the erosion and the transformation of the natural landscape the transformation of the natural landscape result in an unusual environment.result in an unusual environment.

PAMUKKALE is one of the most unique PAMUKKALE is one of the most unique phenomena in nature.phenomena in nature.

Semiarid LandsSemiarid Lands

• Located on fringes of deserts

• Eastern Turkey

• Hot summers

• Good rainfall

• Pastures for animal grazing

• Mohair goats in Turkey

Coastal LandsCoastal Lands

• Mediterranean Climate

• Most of Turkey

• Hot summer, rainy winter

• Citrus fruits, olives, vegetables

• Grow year round

• Heavily populated in Turkey

Sulemaniye Mosque

Turkey

Umayyad Mosque

Damascus

Syria

BeirutParliament Square in Beirut

Lebanon

Dead Sea Salt Beds

Dome of the Rock

Negev Desert

Tel Aviv

Israel

King Abdullah II

Abdullah Mosque

Petra

Amman

Jordan

One of the new 7 wonders of the world

Tigris River

Iraq

Baghdad

Alnidae Mosque

Mecca

Empty Quarter

King Fahd

Saudi Arabia

                                                          

Tehran

Shahid Motahari Mosque

Iran

Sanaa

Yemen

Sultan’s Palace

Mosque

Oman

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Police Cars in DubaiPolice Cars in Dubai

Museum

Desert

Doha

Qatar

Kuwait City

Oil wells on fire

Water Towers

Kuwait