Transcript Chapter 17.1

Chapter 17.1
Seas and Peninsulas
• North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central
Asia feature numerous seas and peninsulas. 
• These include the
Mediterranean, Red, and
Black Seas as well as the
Arabian and Sinai
Peninsulas. 
• The Dead Sea, the Caspian
Sea, and
the Aral Sea are actually
landlocked bodies of salt
water. 
• The Caspian Sea is the
world’s largest lake.
• Once the fourth largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea has reached a
new low, thanks to decades-old water diversions for irrigation and a
more recent drought. Satellite imagery shows that the eastern basin
of the freshwater body is now completely dry .
Rivers
• Major Rivers: Cradles of Civilization 
- The Nile River Valley provides water and a lush, fertile living
space for about 90 percent of Egypt’s population. 
- The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers help irrigate farms
throughout Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. 
• Streambeds Runoff from infrequent, violent
rainstorms creates temporary streams in arid North
Africa and Southwest Asia.
Plains, Plateaus, and Mountains
• Highlands 
- Enough precipitation falls on the
Atlas Mountains of North Africa to
make them hospitable for
settlement and farming. 
- The Asir Mountains of the Arabian
Peninsula are also agriculturally
productive. 
- The Caucasus Mountains between
the
Black Sea and the Caspian Sea are
known for their grandeur and
beauty. 
- Desert covers much of
Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan.
(cont.)
Earthquakes
The shifting tectonic
plates of the region have
built mountains, shifted
landmasses, and caused
earthquakes. A 1999
earthquake in Turkey
measured 7.4 on the
Richter scale, toppling
more than 76,000
buildings and killing
nearly 20,000 people.
Natural Resources
• Oil and Natural Gas - About 70 percent of the world’s oil
reserves and 33 percent of the world’s natural gas
reserves are found in the region.
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Minerals Turkmenistan has
the world’s largest deposits
of sulfate. Morocco ranks
third in the production of
phosphate. 
• Used in food, ceramics,
detergents
• The region may
contain up to 10
percent of the
world’s iron ore
reserves.
Natural Resources (cont.)
Khalifacountries
• Building Diverse EconomiesBurjMany
World’s Tallest Building
in the region are diversifying
their
Dubai, UAE
economies so that they are not so
dependent on their oil and mineral exports.
• Saudi Arabia has developed economic cities
to develop Centers of Excellence focused on
specific economic activities. UAE, Bahrain
and Qatar have also invested in developing
competitive positions in service sectors such
as finance, tourism, construction and
education.
Natural Resources (cont.)
What do these facts suggest about the region’s economy?
What is the problem with relying on one single resource?
•
The abundance of oil and natural gas suggests that the region does
not need to import these energy sources. The region is selfsufficient, and it can export its natural resources in trade for finished
products that it does not possess. The region has the potential for
future development. 
•
Issue - Saudi Arabia oil accounts for roughly 80 % of budget revenues
and 90 % of export earnings, whereas in Kuwait it accounts for 95 %
of budget revenues and 95 % of export earnings. Overexposure to a
commodity sector leaves the national economy highly vulnerable to
fluctuations in supply, demand and pricing of the commodity, which
makes planning for economic development difficult.