TOPIC #2: Physical Characteristics of the Arab World
OBJECTIVES:
3. Identify the location of the Arab World.
4. Understand some of the geographical features of the Arab World.
KD ANSWERS:
1. Latitude and longitude coordinates of the Arab World: (2)
• Between latitude 2° south and 37° north of the equator.
• Between longitude 17° west and 60° east of the Greenwich meridian.
2. Arab countries in:
• Africa - 10
• Asia - 12
3. Two reasons why the Arab World is considered important: (2)
• 1) It is centrally located with trade routes linking Asia, East Africa and Europe
• 2) It is the cradle (foundation) of three major religions – Islam, Christianity
and Judaism
• 3) It is the world’s leading exporter of oil
KD:
4. Fill in this paragraph and paste into your exercise book. p. 15 - 18
The three basic surface features of the Arab World include plains, plateaux
and mountains. The two types of plains are Coastal Plains and Flurial
Plains. Kuwait rests on a costal plain. Plateaux are flat or nearly flat areas of
high ground which have steep sides and stand above the surrounding area. At
the center of the Arabian Peninsula is the Najd plateaux. There are four main
mountain ranges in the Arab World. The Atlas Mountains extend across
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The Oman Mountains include Jebel Akhdar
(the Green Mountains) which is over 3,000 metres tall. In Western Saudi
Arabia you can find the Asir and Al Hejaz Mountains, both over 2,500
metres high. The Lebanese Mountains are famous for snow-skiing and reach
over 3,000 metres.
TOPIC #2: Physical Characteristics of the Arab World
OBJECTIVES: 3. Identify the location of the Arab World.
and 4. Understand some of the geographical features of the Arab World.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT ANSWERS:
1. Highest elevation: (2)
• Toubkal at approximately 4,000 metres.
2. Width of the Arab World: (1)
• Approximately 7,900 kilometres
3. Estimate Kuwait’s elevation. Explain why you chose that number. (3)
• 0 - 200 metres
• Kuwait lies along the Arabian Gulf, is mostly flat and is well-below the 1,000
metre mark on the scale.
TOPIC #2: Physical Characteristics of the Arab World
OBJECTIVES: 5. Describe the climate conditions in the Arab World.
and
6. Identify the types of vegetation in the Arab world.
KD ANSWERS:
2. Three factors effecting climate in the Arab World: (3)
• Latitude – distance from the equator
• The balance between land and water
• Altitude – elevation from sea level
3. Match each of the climate zones to its description. (3)
Mediterranean
Desert
Tropical
Tropical
______________
It is very hot and rainy throughout the year. Found in Sudan and
Somalia.
Desert
______________
It covers most of the Arab World and is characterised by high
temperatures with limited amounts of rainfall.
Mediterranean It has warm and rainy winters and found in North Africa and
______________
Lebanon.
TOPIC #2: Physical Characteristics of the Arab World
OBJECTIVES: 5. Describe the climate conditions in the Arab World.
and
6. Identify the types of vegetation in the Arab world.
KD ANSWERS:
4. Vegetation is the type of plants growing in a particular place.
Three types of vegetation in the Arab World.
Type of
Different Kinds
Vegetation
Forest - 9%
• Tropical Rain Forest – include ebony, teak
and mahogany trees
• Mixed Forest – includes cedar and cork trees
Grassland –
18%
• Savanna – includes lush elephant grass on
which cattle and buffalo feed
• Temperate – includes flowering herbs for
sheep and goats
Desert
70% +
• Has limited grasses, scrub and cactus