Physical Geography of SWA & NA

SSWG3a Describe the location of major physical features and their

impact on North Africa/Southwest Asia.

General Information

• Southwest Asia is also called the “Middle East”• The entire area is NOT desert.• Mesopotamia or the “Fertile Crescent” is the

ancient area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

• North Africa is dramatically different from the areas south of the Sahara.

Mountains

• Mountains: Atlas, Zagros, Ahaggar • Impact:– People have had to adapt their clothing, housing

and economic activity– People have to find other ways of traveling

because of physical barriers– Affect climate

Mountains

Atlas Mts. Zagros Mts.

Rivers

• Rivers: Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan, Nile• Impact:– Most of these are the only real freshwater sources– The areas around the rivers are fertile and allow

farming—ex. Nile River Valley.– Jordan River provides water and religious

significance to people of the region– Damming of the rivers in Turkey impact everyone

down stream.

Rivers

Tigris River Euphrates River

Additional Water Features

• Water features:– Seas: Red, Arabian, Dead– Gulf: Aden, Oman, Persian– Strait: Hormuz– Canals: Suez

• Impacts– Suez Canal allowed for easier trade from the area. – Provide water for the region, but must be

desalinated

Water Features

Dead Sea Suez Canal

Deserts

• Deserts: Sahara, Rub al-Khali, Syrian– Some deserts are sand, and others are salt.

• Impacts– People have had to adapt to the environment

through dress, housing as well as economic activity

– Limited farming can be done with sophisticated irrigation systems.

Deserts

Sahara Desert Rub al-Khali

Other Land features

• West Bank– Primarily Palestinian territory located on the Western Bank

of the Jordan River– App 2270 square miles

• Gaza Strip– Primarily Palestinian territory located in Southwestern Israel– App 146 square miles

• Golan Heights– Primarily Israeli occupied plateau in Syria– Disputed area of land

Land Features

West Bank & Gaza Strip Golan Heights