Physical Geography of Physical Geography of Southwest Asia Southwest Asia

Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula Separated from Africa by the Red Sea Separated from Africa by the Red Sea

and the rest of Asia by the Persian Gulf and the rest of Asia by the Persian Gulf

The colored areas make up the Arabian Peninsula

Suez Canal Suez Canal

Goods from Asia flow from this canal Goods from Asia flow from this canal to ports in Europe and North Africa to ports in Europe and North Africa

Suez Canal website

Plains and HighlandsPlains and Highlands

Much of the Arabian Peninsula is Much of the Arabian Peninsula is covered by plains and highlands covered by plains and highlands

Causes dry, sandy and windy Causes dry, sandy and windy conditionsconditions

Wadis- riverbeds that remain dry for Wadis- riverbeds that remain dry for most of the year except during rainy most of the year except during rainy seasonseason

Climate Climate Southwest Asia is Southwest Asia is

extremely arid extremely arid Most areas receive Most areas receive

less than 18 inches less than 18 inches of rain per year of rain per year

Covered with rough, Covered with rough, dry terrain that dry terrain that varies from huge varies from huge tracts of sand dunes tracts of sand dunes to great salt flats to great salt flats

Deserts Deserts The most famous The most famous

desert in this desert in this region is the region is the Rub Rub al-Khali al-Khali

Know as the Know as the “Empty Quarter” “Empty Quarter”

The size of Texas The size of Texas and located on the and located on the Arabian Peninsula Arabian Peninsula

Locally called “place where no one Locally called “place where no one comes out” comes out”

ScarcityScarcity

Water is the most scarce resource in Water is the most scarce resource in the region.the region.

It’s availability determines where It’s availability determines where people live, their economic activities, people live, their economic activities, even their diet and health.even their diet and health.

2 Most Important Rivers 2 Most Important Rivers

Tigris and Euphrates Tigris and Euphrates Supported several ancient river Supported several ancient river

valley civilizations in an area called valley civilizations in an area called the fertile crescent the fertile crescent

Flow parallel to each other for Flow parallel to each other for hundreds of miles before joining at hundreds of miles before joining at Shatt al Arab Shatt al Arab

Why would people rather live here?

Abundant Abundant Resources Resources OilOil

One-half of the world’s oil One-half of the world’s oil reserves are found in reserves are found in Southwest Asia, along the Southwest Asia, along the coast of the Persian Gulf coast of the Persian Gulf