Transcript Physical Geography of Southwest Asia

Physical Geography of
Southwest Asia
Arabian Peninsula

Separated from Africa by the Red Sea and
the rest of Asia by the Persian Gulf
The colored areas make up the Arabian Peninsula
Suez Canal
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Goods from Asia flow from this canal to
ports in Europe and North Africa
Suez Canal website
Plains and Highlands
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Much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered
by plains and highlands
Causes dry, sandy and windy conditions
Wadis- riverbeds that remain dry for most
of the year except during rainy season
Climate
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Southwest Asia is
extremely arid
Most areas receive
less than 18 inches of
rain per year
Covered with rough,
dry terrain that varies
from huge tracts of
sand dunes to great
salt flats
Deserts
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The most famous
desert in this region is
the Rub al-Khali
Know as the “Empty
Quarter”
The size of Texas and
located on the
Arabian Peninsula
Locally
called “place where no one
comes out”
Scarcity
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Water is the most scarce resource in the
region.
It’s availability determines where people
live, their economic activities, even their
diet and health.
2 Most Important Rivers
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Tigris and Euphrates
Supported several ancient river valley
civilizations in an area called the fertile
crescent
Flow parallel to each other for hundreds of
miles before joining at Shatt al Arab
Why
would
people
rather
live
here?
Abundant Resources
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Oil
One-half of the world’s oil
reserves are found in
Southwest Asia, along the
coast of the Persian Gulf