1. The Middle East is a strategic location because it connects 3 continents and is at the crossroads of historic trade routes, it contains 65% of the world's known oil reserves, and houses many sites of religious importance. 2. Water resources in the Middle East both promote conflict and cooperation - countries fight over control of cross-border water sources but also build joint infrastructure like dams and irrigation systems to manage scarce water. 3. The major geographic features dictate settlement patterns by concentrating populations in places like the fertile Nile river valley, along coastal areas, and in oases, while vast deserts like the Rub al-Khali are virtually uninhab

2. The Geography of the Middle East

3. Middle East? OR Near East? OR Southwest Asia? OR….?

4. Crossroads of Continents: connects Europe, Africa and Asia Africa Europe Asia

5. The Natural Resources of the Middle East

6. World Oil Reserves Persian Gulf Oil Exports (2003)

9. Fresh Groundwater Sources

11. Middle East: Population Density

12. The Arabian Peninsula is mostly desert

13. Rub al-Khali: “ The Empty Quarter - large desert in Saudi Arabia, virtually uninhabited

14. Desert Oases: Water at a Premium! Oasis is a place where water comes to the surface in desert area.

15. The Mighty Nile River: “Longest River in the World”

16. *The Nile and its tributaries flow though nine countries.

17. The Nile River flows South to North, where accumulation of sediment forms a delta.

18. Egypt: The “Gift of the Nile” Annual Nile Flooding Nile Delta 95% of the Egyptian people live on 5% of the land!

20. The Fertile Crescent

22. Dust Storms Along the Tigris-Euphrates Flood Plains

23. The Jordan River System: Israel & Jordan--A Fight Over Water Rights?

24. Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth Highest Salt Content (35%) 1,360’ below sea level

26. The Middle East vs. the U. S. Latitude Lines

27. Middle East: Climate Regions

28. Middle East: Population Density

29. Cairo, Egypt: Most Populated City in the Middle East 17,000,000+ People!

31. Aswan High Dam, Egypt Hydroelectric Power Plant The Dam wall is 365 feet high Created artificial lake- Lake Nasser, which covers 300 miles

32. Sinai Peninsula located between Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula

33. Suez Canal Completed by the British in 1869

35. To what extent does the United States rely on the Middle East for its oil consumption? How do you think this dependence affects our relationship with oil producing countries? The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.

36. Kuwait: An Island Floating on a Sea of Oil Kuwait City

37. Saudi Oil Fields & Refineries

38. The Middle East: Natural Vegetation

39. Completed Map  Tigris River Nile River  Euphrates River  Jordan River  Persian Gulf Arabian Sea Mediterranean Sea Indian Ocean Red Sea Black Sea  Gulf of Aden Strait of  Hormuz Suez Canal  Dardanelles Strait  Atlantic Ocean  Gulf of Oman Caspian Sea Arabian Desert Negev Desert Sinai Desert Rub al-Khali  Atlas Mts.  Elburz Mts. Taurus Mts.  Zagros Mts. Iranian Plateau Anatolian Plateau Caucasus Mts. Hejaz Mts. Sahara Desert Libyan Desert