Land of the Middle East

Middle EastIncludes Southwest Asia and North Africa

Deserts, Mountains, Peninsulas, and Seas

Deserts

DesertsMost of the region is desert.

Most of the desert is “desert pavement”

Very little of the deserts contain sand dunes. The largest area of sand dunes is the Rubal Khali (Empty Quarter) in southern Saudi Arabia.

Mountains

Atlas Mts.Asir M

ts.

Zagros Mts.

Taurus Mts.

Pontic Mts.

Elburz Mts.

Atlas - longest mountain chain in Africa

Mt. AraratTheologians believe this was the resting place of Noah’s Ark.

Peninsulas

Arabian Peninsula

Anatolian Peninsula

Sinai Peninsula

Suez Canal

Seas

Black SeaConnected to the Mediterranean by the Turkish Straits system, which includes Bosporus Strait, Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles.

The city of Istanbul (Byzantium, Constantinople) is split by the Bosporus Strait, making it the only city located on two continents.

Caspian SeaBy definition, the Caspian Sea is actually a lake. It is the largest lake in the world.

Rich in oil and natural gas.

Red SeaInlet of the Indian Ocean

Created by the Great Rift Valley.

Dead Sea

Only major source of inflow is the Jordan River

Lowest elevation on Earth.

Saltiest body of water in the world.

Part of the Great Rift Valley

Dead Sea

Nile

Longest river in the world. 4160 miles long.

Formed by the confluence of the Blue and White Nile.

Source is Lake Victoria.

Nile

Aswan DamCreates Lake Nassar.

Benefits - prevents flooding, hydroelectric power, recreation.

Problems - prevents soil deposition, disease

Tigris

Euphrates

Mesopotamia

Etymology

Join to form the Shatt al Arab.

Wadi Rum

Cyprus

Petroleum