1. How does the region of North Africa,
Southwest Asia, and Central Asia compare to
the size of the United States?
-twice the size of the U.S.
2. What 3 major peninsulas are found in the
Middle East (SW Asia) & North Africa?
List the bodies of water that surround
each.
1. Anatolia
-bordered by Black Sea,
Mediterranean Sea, and
Aegean Sea
-makes up 90% of
country of Turkey
2. Arabian Peninsula-bordered by Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and
Persian Gulf
-oil-rich region (about 25% of the world’s
oil lies underneath)
3. Sinai Peninsula– bordered by Gulf of Suez, Gulf of
Aqaba, and Mediterranean Sea
– currently Egyptian territory (was also
part of Israel historically)
Dead Sea
Israel
Nile Delta
Gulf of Suez
Gulf of
Aqaba
Saudi
Arabia
Egypt
Red Sea
3. Name the 3 landlocked bodies
of salt water located in this
region.
1. Dead Sea
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Is the Dead Sea really a sea?
What does the Dead Sea
separate?
What is it’s source?
What 3 things make it so
unique?
Why is the Dead Sea so salty?
How does it impact life in and
around it?
What religious association do
Christians have with the Dead
Sea?
Jordan River
Israel
Salt evaporation
pans for
collecting minerals
Mud considered
therapeutic and
beneficial for skin
Salt deposits in Dead
Sea
2. Aral Sea
– began to dry up due to irrigation from
the Soviet Union & evaporation, now
being replenished
3. Caspian Sea
– largest inland body of water
– not as salty as ocean – includes some
freshwater fish
– currently, water levels are lowering
due to evaporation & irrigation (much like
the case of the shrinking Aral Sea, just not as
extreme)
4. What sea separates North Africa from
Europe? What is its significance to this
region?
• The Mediterranean Sea
• Links Europe & Africa to the east
5. What sea separates the Middle East
(Southwest Asia) from North Africa?
• The Red Sea
6. What 2 straits separate Europe from
Southwest Asia (Middle East)? What sea
links the two?
1. The Bosporus– Strait connecting the Sea of Marmara to
the Black Sea;
2. The Dardanelles– Strait connecting the Sea of Marmara to
the Aegean Sea
7. What strait separates the closest
pieces of land of North Africa and
Europe?
• Strait of Gibraltar– Choke-point connecting Mediterranean Sea to the
Atlantic Ocean
Europe
Mediterranean Sea
Atlantic Ocean
North Africa
8. What man-made waterway connects
the Mediterranean Sea with the Red
Sea?
• The Suez Canal
– When was it built?
• 1858-1869
– Who built it?
• Mostly French-financed and designed using
Egyptian forced labor
• Significance = connect Mediterranean to the
greater Indian Ocean for trade
Nile Delta
Sinai
Peninsula
Red Sea
Suez Canal
9. What major rivers flow through the
Middle East (Southwest Asia) & North
Africa?
1. The Tigris2. The Euphrates-
– Both rivers flow out of Turkey through
Iraq and come together before flowing
into Persian Gulf;
– Mesopotomia (early river valley civilization)
located between the rivers (literally means
“land between two rivers”)
3. The Nile River
-world’s longest river at
4,160 miles
-supported the early
Egyptian civilization
*alluvial soil (rich
soil made up of
sand and mud
deposited by moving
water) allowed
Egyptians the ability
to farm
Valley of the Kings
10. What man-made lake was created by
damming the Nile River?
• Lake Nasser
– Began in 1958; completed in 1970, when
Aswan High Dam was finished;
– 80% in Egypt
Aswan High
Dam
Aswan High Dam
-pros: supplies ½ of Aswan High
Egypt’s electric power Dam
& water to crops
-cons: sediments
from river get
trapped behind dam &
floods no longer wash
away parasites
Air Strip
Lake Nasser
11. Why is the Nile River Delta so
important?
• 90% of people of Egypt live along banks of
(only fertile areas in Egypt)
• Pollution a serious problem.
12. Name the only major mountain range in
North Africa. How does its physical
presence impact the people that live in
areas surrounding the mountain?
• The Atlas Mountains
– Precipitation on coastal (N) side – agricultural
activities
– named after Greek god who held up the
heavens.
13. What mountain range separates the
countries of Iran and Iraq?
• The Zagros Mountains
14. Which tectonic plates come together in this
region? List 3 ways the region’s landscape
has been impacted by plate tectonic activity.
-African, Arabian, and Eurasian plates
-built Zagros and Taurus Mountains &
widened the Red Sea
15. What % of world’s know oil & natural gas
reserves are found in this region?
-66% oil reserves & 33% natural gas reserves
-see Black Gold activity for more information
16. What physical reason do you believe makes
this region so economically dependent on oil
and natural gas?
-harsh terrain (mountainous & desert)
leaves little hope for agriculture