How Geography How Geography affects Populationaffects Population

Middle EastMiddle East

GPS: SS7G6 & SS7G7GPS: SS7G6 & SS7G7

How do the deserts and rivers of Southwest Asia (Middle East) affect the population in terms of where people live, the type of work they do, and how they travel?

How does the distribution of oil affect the development of Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

Geography plays an important role in Geography plays an important role in determining where people live, what type of determining where people live, what type of work they do, what they depend on for work they do, what they depend on for survival, how much access they have to the survival, how much access they have to the outside world and so on.outside world and so on.

In the Middle East, In the Middle East, waterwater is a precious item. is a precious item. Areas accessible to water tend to be more Areas accessible to water tend to be more

populated.populated.

Cities lie along the Cities lie along the Jordan, Tigris, and Jordan, Tigris, and Euphrates Rivers Euphrates Rivers because they provide because they provide fresh water for wells fresh water for wells and irrigation. and irrigation.

The rivers are also used The rivers are also used for trade and travel.for trade and travel.

Many of these areas Many of these areas are used for ports are used for ports (shipping), so they are (shipping), so they are very populated.very populated.

Areas in the Middle East Areas in the Middle East that have fertile soil and that have fertile soil and milder temperatures milder temperatures tend to have more tend to have more people than the desert people than the desert and remote areas.and remote areas.

Fertile regions offer Fertile regions offer farming communities, farming communities, while coastal areas offer while coastal areas offer fishing, shipping, and fishing, shipping, and tourism.tourism.

People in cities also have People in cities also have access to airports, major access to airports, major highways, and rely on highways, and rely on water to travel.water to travel.

Impact of Climate on the Impact of Climate on the Middle EastMiddle East

Much of the Middle East is desert and not Much of the Middle East is desert and not many people can live there.many people can live there.

As a result, water is very important. Water is As a result, water is very important. Water is important for people, animals, and crops.important for people, animals, and crops.

Therefore, most people live close to water Therefore, most people live close to water supplies.supplies.

Keeping the rivers clean is a big issue in the Keeping the rivers clean is a big issue in the Middle East.Middle East.

AgricultureAgriculture

Climate also affects agriculture. Climate also affects agriculture. Farmers live near fertile regions or they Farmers live near fertile regions or they

grow things that require less water.grow things that require less water. Farmers often grow crops near rivers,so Farmers often grow crops near rivers,so

they can irrigate. they can irrigate. Agriculture remains a major source of Agriculture remains a major source of

survival for people in the rural areas of the survival for people in the rural areas of the Middle East.Middle East.

DesalinationDesalination In a effort to grow more In a effort to grow more

food, nations with food, nations with limited farmland, have limited farmland, have invested in desalination.invested in desalination.

Desalination removes Desalination removes salt from sea water.salt from sea water.

Desalination would Desalination would increase the amount of increase the amount of water suitable for water suitable for irrigation within the irrigation within the Middle East.Middle East.

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

Millions of people in the Middle East Millions of people in the Middle East rely on the same rivers and sources of rely on the same rivers and sources of water.water.

The Jordan River, Tigris River, and the The Jordan River, Tigris River, and the Euphrates River provide needed water Euphrates River provide needed water to more than one country.to more than one country.

So there is a lot of water pollution.So there is a lot of water pollution.

Water RightsWater Rights

Water Rights are agreements about Water Rights are agreements about how countries can use the water in a how countries can use the water in a region.region.

Water rights often cause political Water rights often cause political problems.problems.

Ways have to be found to make sure Ways have to be found to make sure that everyone has access to enough that everyone has access to enough water.water.

OilOil

The largest source of oil in the world is The largest source of oil in the world is in the region bordering the Persian in the region bordering the Persian Gulf.Gulf.

Extraction of oil and other natural Extraction of oil and other natural resources also affects the environment.resources also affects the environment.

Drilling for oil takes its toll on the Drilling for oil takes its toll on the landscape. Methods used to extract oil landscape. Methods used to extract oil leaves the land damaged and unusable.leaves the land damaged and unusable.

Many wars have been fought over oil Many wars have been fought over oil in the Middle East.in the Middle East.

Oil has been used as a pollutant in the Oil has been used as a pollutant in the Persian Gulf water.Persian Gulf water.

Oil has also been burned as a pollution Oil has also been burned as a pollution tactic.tactic.

Oil is the basis of most of the economy Oil is the basis of most of the economy of the Middle East, but pollution from of the Middle East, but pollution from the oil industry is one of the biggest the oil industry is one of the biggest threats to its environment.threats to its environment.

Oil pollution endangers the water Oil pollution endangers the water supply. Since there is not much fresh supply. Since there is not much fresh water in the region, these water in the region, these environmental problems directly affect environmental problems directly affect the lives of Middle Easterners.the lives of Middle Easterners.

Government Environmental Government Environmental PoliciesPolicies

Developing environmental policies in Developing environmental policies in the Middle East is difficult, because the Middle East is difficult, because crucial water supplies are often shared crucial water supplies are often shared by several countries.by several countries.

The interests of one nation are often The interests of one nation are often different from those of another nation.different from those of another nation.

Some countries are also more Some countries are also more developed than others in the Middle developed than others in the Middle East.East.

As a result, what is a practical policy As a result, what is a practical policy for one nation is not for another for one nation is not for another nation.nation.

Policies that restrict how oil and other Policies that restrict how oil and other resources are extracted and used can resources are extracted and used can hurt nations that rely on these hurt nations that rely on these resources for revenue.resources for revenue.

Too many regulations can slow Too many regulations can slow economic development. economic development.

Ticket out the door.Ticket out the door.

1. Describe why water is so precious in the 1. Describe why water is so precious in the Middle East.Middle East.

2. What are some of the environmental 2. What are some of the environmental issues facing the Middle East?issues facing the Middle East?

3. What is one challenge to passing 3. What is one challenge to passing government policies to deal with government policies to deal with environmental policies in the Middle East?environmental policies in the Middle East?

4. Which do you think is more important to 4. Which do you think is more important to the Middle East- oil or water? Why?the Middle East- oil or water? Why?

5. Which statement BEST explains why 5. Which statement BEST explains why the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have been a source of conflict for many been a source of conflict for many years?years? A. They both form borders between Iraq A. They both form borders between Iraq

and Iran.and Iran. B. They are the quickest routes to the B. They are the quickest routes to the

Mediterranean Sea in the Middle East.Mediterranean Sea in the Middle East. C. They make up most of the water supply C. They make up most of the water supply

for Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.for Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. D. They are frequented by pirates.D. They are frequented by pirates.

6. Which statement BEST defines the 6. Which statement BEST defines the term “water rights”?term “water rights”? A. laws that say who can use the water in A. laws that say who can use the water in

a region.a region. B. laws that tell which side of a river ships B. laws that tell which side of a river ships

can sail on.can sail on. C. laws that protect the natural C. laws that protect the natural

environment from abusers.environment from abusers. D. laws concerning the bottling and D. laws concerning the bottling and

distribution of bottled water.distribution of bottled water.

7. Which statement BEST describes 7. Which statement BEST describes many of the Persian Gulf countries many of the Persian Gulf countries today?today? A. They are overcrowded.A. They are overcrowded. B. They lack adequate housing.B. They lack adequate housing. C. They have major oil deposits.C. They have major oil deposits. D. They are agricultural centers.D. They are agricultural centers.

8. Which phrase below BEST defines 8. Which phrase below BEST defines the term “desalination”?the term “desalination”? A. taking salt out of salt water.A. taking salt out of salt water. B. taking minerals out of the Earth.B. taking minerals out of the Earth. C. taking people out of their homelands.C. taking people out of their homelands. D. taking a nap.D. taking a nap.

9. Kuwait’s main source of water is9. Kuwait’s main source of water is A. desalinationA. desalination B. the Nile RiverB. the Nile River C. the Sea of GalileeC. the Sea of Galilee D. the Euphrates RiverD. the Euphrates River

10. Which war was caused by a 10. Which war was caused by a dispute over oil?dispute over oil? A. The Gulf WarA. The Gulf War B. Operation Iraqi FreedomB. Operation Iraqi Freedom C. Invasion of AfghanistanC. Invasion of Afghanistan D. Israeli-Egyptian conflictD. Israeli-Egyptian conflict