Lecture Notes: Physical Characteristics of the Middle East and North Africa

Introduction

• Focus on physical characteristics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
• MENA is often considered one region due to shared cultural and physical traits.

Definition of the Region

• Middle East (Southwest Asia):
  • East of the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Extends to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
  • Includes Anatolian Peninsula in Turkey, Arabian Peninsula.
  • Levant Subregion: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Iraq, Cyprus.
• North Africa:
  • From Mediterranean Sea to south of Sahara Desert.
  • Sinai Peninsula is the only part of Egypt in Asia.

Surrounding Water Bodies

• Mediterranean Sea:
  • North coast of Africa, east coast of the Levant.
  • Strait of Gibraltar: Connects Mediterranean to the Atlantic, major shipping lane.
• Red Sea:
  • Separates Middle East and Africa.
  • Connected to Mediterranean by Suez Canal.
  • Suez Canal: Vital for trade, $4 billion annual revenue for Egypt.
• Bab el-Mandeb Strait:
  • Connects Red Sea to Gulf of Aden.
  • Former hotspot for Somali piracy.
• Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea:
  • Lead to Strait of Hormuz.
  • Strait of Hormuz: Critical for oil and gas transport.
• Persian Gulf:
  • Major oil-producing area, scene of recent conflicts.
• Dead Sea:
  • Saltiest body of water, located between Jordan and Israel.

Climate Overview

• Desert Climate:
  • Predominantly hot and dry.
  • Notable high temperatures exceeding 120°F.
• Deserts:
  • Sahara Desert: Largest desert, spans Northern Africa.
  • Arabian Desert: Covers Arabian Peninsula, with Rub' al Khali as the largest sand area.
• Mountainous Areas:
  • Iran and Turkey have cooler, Mediterranean climates.

Major Rivers and Landforms

• Nile River:
  • Flows through Egypt, world's longest river.
  • Crucial to ancient Egyptian civilization.
• Euphrates and Tigris Rivers:
  • Begin in Turkey, vital to Mesopotamian civilizations.
• Mountains:
  • Atlas Mountains: Located in Northwest Africa, influence Sahara's climate.
  • Zagros and Elburz Mountains: In Iran, contribute to cooler climate.

Natural Resources

• Oil and Gas:
  • MENA holds 59% of world's oil reserves, 45% of natural gas.
  • Oil is a major economic driver, with low extraction costs in Saudi Arabia.
• Water Scarcity:
  • Only 1% of world's renewable freshwater.
  • Reliance on aquifers and desalination plants.
  • Desalination costly, uses significant energy.

Conclusion

• Physical geography is crucial to understanding MENA.
• Upcoming lessons will cover culture and people of the region.