MAJOR CHOKE POINTS IN THE WORLD

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MAJOR CHOKE POINTSIN THE WORLD

• By
• Eleanor Joyce
• City of Salem Schools
• Salem, VA

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In this lesson, you will locate and label the
major global choke points on a map of the world
and discuss the reason each choke point is
critical to the economic and political stability
of the world.   You will determine which natural
resource would be most impacted by the blocking
of each choke point.   You will write a one-page
paper describing how your life would be impacted
if one of these choke-points were blocked.
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A global choke point is a strategic strait or
canal, which could be closed or blocked to stop
sea traffic through it.   When might a strategic
strait or canal be blocked?   What might be the
result of blocking a strategic strait or canal?
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See whether you can identify the locations of the
choke points on the world map shown on the next
slide.
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(No Transcript)
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On your desk map, locate the following choke
points and label them with your marker. (Click on
the name of each choke point to view a map.)

• Panama Canal

• Strait of Gibraltar

• Bosporus and Dardanelles

• Strait of Hormuz

• Bab el Mandeb

• Suez Canal

Click here to continue after viewing the maps.
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From what you already know about the natural
resources in the world and about current events,
what potential problems can you foresee if any of
these choke points in Asia and Africa were to be
blocked?
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Did you know the answer?
The blocking of the free flow of oil and natural
gas that are exported from the Middle East.
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This map shows the movement of oil around the
world.
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Each waterway has a major influence on the
economic and political stability of the world.
Using your prior knowledge and your newly
acquired knowledge, complete the following
assignment.   Write a one-page paper describing
how the blocking of any one of these waterways
could affect your daily life. Make sure you refer
to the geographic location of the waterway and
the resources would be affected.
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Strait of Gibraltar
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Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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Panama Canal
BACK
Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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Bosporus and Dardanelles
BACK
Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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Suez Canal
BACK
Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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Bab el Mandeb
BACK
Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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Strait of Hormuz
Map found at http//www.geography.about.com
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