SSWG 1 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWEST ASIA SSWG

SSWG 1: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHWEST ASIA SSWG 1 Explain why physical characteristics of place such as landforms, bodies of water, climate, and natural resources act as contributing factors to world settlement patterns. Identify and describe climates and locations of major physical features of Central and Southwest Asia. Explain how these physical characteristics impact settlement patterns including, but not limited to, the Zagros Mountains, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

LANDFORMS & RESOURCES

Landforms ◦ Golan Heights – hilly plateau overlooking the Jordan River & the sea of Galilee ◦ Coastal plains, desert, snow-peaked mountains ◦ Region is a Land bridge connecting Asia, Africa & Europe

Peninsulas & Waterways ◦ Arabian Peninsula – separated from Africa by Red Sea on east & Persian Gulf on the east ◦ Suez Canal – opening to Mediterranean Sea ◦ Anatolian Peninsula – Turkey ◦ Beginning of Asian continent ◦ Between Black Sea & Mediterranean Sea ◦ Straits ◦ Bosporus & Dardanelles (Trade & transport to Russia) ◦ Straits of Hormuz (oil passageway) ◦ Caspian Sea – border between Asia & Europe

Anatolian Peninsula

Plains & Highlands ◦ Plains cover most of Arabian Peninsula ◦ Dry, sandy, windy, barren, low hills, ridges & wadis ◦ Riverbeds that remain dry except during the rainy season ◦ Hejaz Mountains – SW corner of Peninsula ◦ Nomadic lifestyles in search of water ◦ Mountains surround plateaus in Iran & Anatolian Peninsula

Mountains ◦ Hindu Kush Mountains – Afghanistan ◦ Landlocked & mountainous country ◦ Zagros Mountains – western Iran; longest in region ◦ Taurus Mountains – separate Turkey & SW Asia

Bodies of Water ◦ Vital for trade & transportation ◦ Arid climate = few rivers that flow all year ◦ Tigris & Euphrates Rivers ◦ The Fertile Crescent ◦ Well watered, fertile, good agriculture ◦ Jordan River – natural boundary between Israel & Jordan ◦ Empties into Dead Sea (landlocked salt lake)

Resources ◦ Most abundant resource = oil ◦ Arabian Peninsula, Iran & Iraq ◦ Half of world’s oil reserves found in SW Asia (Persian Gulf) ◦ Most of the world depends on this region for oil ◦ Water for hydroelectric energy (Turkey, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran) ◦ Coal, copper, calcium chloride

CLIMATE & VEGETATION

Arid Lands ◦ Extremely arid area ◦ Dry, little vegetation, rough terrain ◦ Any vegetation survives on little water & extreme temperatures ◦ Mediterranean Region = exception ◦ Part of the year land is lush & green = RAIN

Deserts & Limited Movement ◦ Spread across region = difficult to travel ◦ Rub al-Khali = “the Empty Quarter” ◦ Desert w/ little to not travel; extreme climate ◦ Syrian Desert – separates Lebanon, Israel & Syria from Tigris/Euphrates Rivers ◦ Negev Desert – vegetation due to vast irrigation ◦ Salt Flat Deserts ◦ Rain evaporates leaving salt chemicals ◦ Barrier to movement in Iran

Semiarid Lands ◦ Warm to hot summers ◦ Enough rain to support grass & low-shrubs ◦ Cotton & wheat ◦ Pastures for animals ◦ Goats used for fabric/hair – export

Well-Watered Coast Lands ◦ Mediterranean coast & Turkey receive rain ◦ Hot summers & rainy winters ◦ Citrus fruits, olives, vegetables ◦ Irrigation = can grow year round ◦ Dams on Tigris & Euphrates ◦ Higher population