Geography of the Middle East

Geography of the Middle East The UN needs your help!

Directions: Imagine you are a social scientist who has just discovered a new region in the world. The UN has sought you out to help them with a presentation. They want to be proactive and try to predict issues that may develop in this region that they can be prepared to fix them. Follow the steps below to help the United Nations.

Step 1: Label the topographical features listed below on the blank physical map. Use page 901 of the textbook.

Mediterranean Sea Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River Red Sea Persian Gulf Sahara Desert Rub’AL Khali Desert Arabian Desert An Nafud Desert Taurus Mountains Pontus Mountains Asir Mountains Elburz Moutains Zagros Mountains Aswan Dam Suez Canal

Step 2: Break up into groups of 4 Examine the maps on page 550, 551, 542, 890, & 913 Step 3: Each group will answer one of the questions below by using the maps provided.

1. Where would civilizations develop? Support your answer with facts from the following maps, page 913, physical map, page 542.

(b) What problems could this create?

2. Describe the population trends? Why are the trends the way they are? Support your answer with facts from the following maps, page 550, page 551, page 913.

3. (a) What is the rainfall (water) situation in the Middle East? What evidence is there that the Middle East suffers from periodic drought or unreliable rainfall? Support your answer with facts from the following maps, physical map, page 550-551, page 542.

(b) What problems could this create? 4. What advantages and disadvantages does Israel have geographically? Support your answer with facts from the following maps page 890 and the physical map.

5. Describe the regions location in the world. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the location? Support your answer by using all the maps provided.

Step 4: As a group summarize the major issues the Middle East will face or are currently facing.