THE MIDDLE EAST A look at Dubai Another

THE MIDDLE EAST? A look at Dubai Another look at Dubai

Middle East? OR Near East? OR Southwest Asia? OR…. ? “Middle East” – term given to region by Europeans for its location between Europe and what they considered the “Far East” (East Asia) The Middle East is the only region in the world that encompasses 3 continents

• • Middle East = 3 million sq. miles Population = 200+ million Total area is slightly smaller than the U. S. 90% of the land is NOT suitable for farming • Striking features: – Lack of water – Poor soil quality – Extreme temps • Most people live along the coasts, mountain valleys, river valleys, and oases (fertile areas)

Middle East: Population Density

The Middle East vs. the U. S. Latitude Lines

Middle East: Climate Regions

Fresh Groundwater Sources

Egypt: The “Gift of the Nile” Nile Delta Annual Nile Flooding 95% of the Egyptian people live on 5% of the land!

The Tigris & Euphrates River System Mesopotamia: ”Land Between the Two Rivers” Marsh Arabs, So. Iraq

Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth 2, 300’ below sea level Highest Salt Content VIDEO: ABC Can the Dead Sea be Saved?

Desalinization Plants

Mountain Ranges in Mid-East Elburz Mts. , Iran Lebanese Mts. Zagros Mts. , Iran Taurus Mts. , Turkey

Rub al-Khali: VIDEO: The Empty Quarter “The Empty Quarter” 400, 000 sq. miles one of the driest places on earth Less than 4 inches of rain yearly

The Fertile Crescent • Named for semicircular shape and heavier rainfall • Historic region place where many ancient civilizations began.

Fertile Crescent

The Natural Resources of the Middle East

Religion, Oil, Conflict • 3 key facts are at the crux of current turmoil: • This region is the birthplace of the three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam – All claim spirit or actual descent from Abraham and regard Jerusalem as a Holy city – Muslims are divided into Sunni and Shiite “branches” which do not agree • Corrupt Governments in many countries deny their citizens of freedoms and prosperity • OIL - First discovered in Persia in 1908 the Middle East contains 3/5 of the world’s known oil reserves Since the dawn of civilization the area has been conquered and lost countless times.

World Oil Reserves OIL RESERVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST MAP

Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil Kuwait City

Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries