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.

• Highlands Plains, Plateaus, and Mountains (cont.)

- 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.

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.

• 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.)

• Building Diverse Economies Many countries in the region are diversifying their 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.)

Burj KhalifaWorld’s Tallest BuildingDubai, UAE

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 self-sufficient, 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.

Natural Resources (cont.)