Bell-Work
Look at the map on page 613 in your book, and
answer the following questions.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
What is the southern most country in Central Asia?
Name the body of water to the west of Central Asia.
Based on the map, what country do you think has the most
petroleum?
Name the largest country in Central Asia.
In what Central Asian country does copper mining take
place?
Land, Economy, and People
Countries
•
•
•
•
•
•
Afghanistan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
• Central Asia’s mountains (Hindu Kush,
Pamir, and Tien Shan Mts.) lie in the
southeast part of the region.
• Most of Central Asia is either a desert or
semi-desert.
• Many of the steppes are in western
Central Asia.
• A steppe is a vast, treeless plain made up
of grasslands.
Pictures
Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan
Kara Kum desert in Turkmenistan
Bodies of Water
• The Caspian Sea borders Central Asia to
the west and is the largest lake in the
world.
• The Aral Sea is located on the border of
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
• The Aral Sea is drying up due to the very
dry climate and irrigation of the rivers
that flow into it.
The shrinking Aral Sea
Aral Sea
Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
Map of Central Asia
Climates of Central Asia
• Humid Continental to the north.
• Highland in the southeast bordering
China.
• Desert and Semi-desert in most of
Central Asia.
• Small area in the southwest is
Mediterranean.
Economy
Natural Resources and
Land Use
• The major
resources in
Central Asia are
Petroleum and
Natural Gas.
• Other resources
include coal, gold,
copper, and iron
ore.
• Most people in
Central Asia depend
on farming or
livestock raising to
earn a living.
• Due to the heavy
irrigation from
nearby rivers, the
Aral Sea is drying
up.
Review Questions
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Look on page 611 to answer the following questions.
What body of water in Central Asia has shrunk by 70%
due to irrigation?
What is the major body of water that forms the western
boundaries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?
What is the name of the enormous desert that covers
much of Turkmenistan?
What mountain range lies in the southeast part of
Afghanistan?
What country borders Kazakhstan to the north?
What large country borders to the east of Central Asia?
Review Questions con’t
7) What are the two major resources
found in Central Asia?
8) What 2 climates are primarily found
in Central Asia?
9) What do most people do for a living
in Central Asia?
10)What is a steppe?
People and Culture of
Central Asia
History
• A trade route called the Silk Road linked
China to Europe and went through Central
Asia.
• The Silk Road provided great wealth for
many people living along its path.
• The Silk Road allowed different cultures
to spread across great distances.
People
• Most people in Central Asia follow the
religion of Islam.
• The Central Asian countries used to be
controlled by the former Soviet Union.
• Most people speak either Arabic, Uzbek or
their native language.
• Stan means “place of,” or “land.”
Challenges
• The economy has struggled since
communism and the Soviet Union collapsed.
• Afghanistan has struggled recently due to
the wars in its history.
• The U.S. still has many troops in
Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and AlQaeda.
• Many people have a poor education, health
care, and no jobs.
Review Questions
1) What does the word “stan” mean?
2) What religion do most people follow
in Central Asia?
3) What was the Silk Road?
4) What country controlled the
Central Asian countries through
most of the 1900’s?
THE END