Southwest Asia

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Southwest Asia
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Peninsulas and Waterways

• Two major peninsulas Arabian and Anatolian
  peninsulas.
• The Suez Canal is used to transport goods from
  Asia to ports in Europe and North Africa.
• The Straits of Hormuz are important because of
  the world wide dependence on oil.

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• The Fertile Crescent, between Tigris and
  Euphrates, has supported several ancient
  civilizations

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The Dead Sea
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Resources

• Oil is the most abundant resource in the region.
• ½ of the worlds oil reserves are found in
  Southwest Asia.
• Water is a major resource in certain parts of the
  region, but scarce in others.
• Coal, copper, salt etc.

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Climate/Vegetation

• Most areas receive less than 18 inches annually.
• The vegetation and animals in this region can
  survive without water for a while.

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The Rub al-Khali

• Approximately the size of Texas.
• The sand can get as hot as 150 degrees during the
  summer.
• 10 years can pass without rain.

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Water

• The most critical resource in Southwest Asia is
  water.
• Fresh water is in short supply.

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Oil

• Petroleum is the source of gasoline for
  automobiles, heating oil and the basis of many
  chemicals used to make everything from
  fertilizers o plastics.