geography and government[1]

LBST 2202 UNC Charlotte

The Arab World

Geography and Government

In this lesson, we will talk aboutthe overall geography of the Arab World concentrating on Saudi Arabia and UAE briefly and on Lebanon in a little more details.

Geography of the Arab World

The Arab world belongs to two continents, Asia and Africa. It is

surrounded by long coastlines. 

Modern Boundaries

Areas of the Arab world were under the power of several other countries such as the Romans, Greeks, Ottomans, French and British. However, the Europeans, mainly Britain and France, were the ones that shaped the borders in the region during the 19th and early 20th century.

(Notice the straight line borders in the previous map.)

Strategic Importance Of The Arab World

The crossroad between East and West.

Location of several world religions. Multitude of ethnic and linguistic

groups. Close to 60% of earth’s oil reserves

are at or near the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia possesses the world’s

largest reserves of oil.

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf

Types of Government

• The Arab World is represented in different types of Governments.

• Monarchies (Kingdoms) such as in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco.

• Emirates such as in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

• Sultanate such as Oman.

• The rest of the Arab countries are all Republics. However, Lebanon is the only country where democratic elections take place. Mauritania has recently became democratic.

Climate

There is a variety of climate conditions in the region. It varies from dry in the Gulf, to seasonal rainfalls in Morocco, Tunisia and the mountains of Lebanon.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a very important sector of the economy in the Arab world.  The most important products are wheat, dates, rice, and olives, which are main ingredients in the Arab cuisine, as well as, a variety of fruits and vegetables.

http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/dates/dates-2-medium.html

Saudi Arabia and UAE

• In Saudi Arabia, the Qur'an is part of the constitution. They have a set of laws, but it never overrides Islamic Law.

• In the United Arab Emirates, we find a Federal, Presidential, elected Monarchy government where the ruler of Abu Dhabi is President of the United Arab Emirates, the head of state, and the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the head of government.

Saudi Arabia video

Saudi Arabia

Borders• The red sea to the West and the Persian Gulf to the East

• It is surrounded by 8 countries: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Yemen.

• The capital city is Riyadh

• Population 28,686,633

• Area 856,355 sq mi

Information

The Emirates

The United Arab Emirates(UAE) is a federation of sevenstates: 1.Abu Dhabi (Capital)2. Dubai3. Ajman4. Fujairah5. Ras al Khaimah6. Sharjah7. Umm al Qaiwain. The UAE was formed in 1971after independence from Britain.

Population 5.066 millionArea 32,300 sq mi

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai, in the northeastern United Arab Emirates is known as the Venice of the Gulf.

Dubai is the chief port and commercial center of the country.

Oil drilling has replaced traditional occupations like pearl diving, fishing and camel breading.

'Dubai Towers - Dubai', a cluster of breath-taking towers that combine, to form a truly inspiring and dynamic sculpture. To be completed in 2009

http://www.dubaitowersdubai.com/

Dubai World Trade Center

Dubai relies on tourism with popular events such as the World Cup of horse racing and the Dubai Shopping Festival.

The Dubai World Trade Center, a 39 story tower, promotes international business relationships and world trade through exhibitions and conferences throughout the year.

Dubai also hosted the International Film Festival, in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 featuring various films, showcasing contemporary and classic global cinema.

Dubai cont’d

The modern city life that lacks air pollution, traffic jams, poverty and crime makes Dubai a great place to live in.

Energy and Environment

“Oil-producing Dubai, a key commercial and technological crossroad in the Persian Gulf region, is taking its first cautious steps towards the eventual production of renewable hydrogen in close cooperation with car maker BMW. If the strategy takes hold and succeeds, it could mark a revolutionary shift in the world's system of energy distribution. “

http://www.ewire.com/display.cfm/Wire_ID/153

The tallest building in the world

160 stories 828 m (2720 ft)2009

http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/

Metro

The Dubai Metro Project cost $7.6 billion, and it is considered to be the world's longest automated driverless project. It opened to the public on September 9, 2009.

Ski Dubai It started in December 2005. This indoor ski slope is the worlds third largest of its kind. An area that fits 6000 tons of snow. The average temperature throughout the year is around 75°F (24°C). The summer season extends from May to October during which the temperature varies between 113°F to 122°F (30°C-47°C).

Burj Al Arab Hotel

305m tall luxury hotel in Dubai, claimed to be the only seven star hotel in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68NxxW6kyf4&feature=related

The Palm Jumairah

http://www.thepalm.ae/jumeirah/news---media/video-gallery-1/palm-tv---episode-1/

Lebanon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKMUEQhhok&feature=related

Lebanon

Borders

The Republic of Lebanon, is a small, mostly mountainous country in Western Asia. It is bordered by The Mediterranean Sea from the west, Syria from the north and east, and Israel/Palestine from the south.

Information

Capital City: BeirutPopulation 4 million Area 3,950 sq mi

The flag

The red stripes symbolize the pure blood shed in the aim of liberation. The white stripe symbolizes peace, and the white snow covering Lebanon's mountains. The green cedar symbolizes immortality and steadiness.

The flag of Lebanon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mJ469qb8KgNational Anthem

The nature of Government

• Lebanon developed a political system, known as Confessionalism.

• Confessionalism is a style of government that distributes political and institutional power proportionally among religious communities.

Parliament square, Beirut

Parliament

The National Pact, an unwritten covenant, gave

• The Presidency to Maronite Christians

• The Prime Minister post to Sunni Muslims

• The Speaker of Parliament to Shia Muslims.

• It also provided that the ratio of seats in parliament would be six Christian seats to five Muslim seats.

Population of Lebanon

Population:3,971,941 (July 2008 est.)

18 religious sects:• Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri)• Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite

Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant)

• other 1.3% recognized

Languages:Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian are spoken

Literacy: 87.4%

Lebanon’s name لبنان The name of Lebanon, or Lubnan is linked to

Phoenician and Aramaic root “LBN” which means in various languages “white” or “milk” in reference to the snow-capped Mount Lebanon.

Lebanon and its Cedars appear 75 times in the Old Testament.

Lebanon’s name has been around for 4,000 years non-stop (it's the oldest country/nation's name in the world!)

Climate

Lebanon has distinct four seasons each year.

In Beirut the average daily high temperature is 14 C (57 F) in winter and 32 C (90 F) in summer.

In the mountains, the summer time temperature is cooler. Snow falls in winter at higher elevations and can last year-round.

Forests, Mountains and Rivers

Major Forests of Lebanon

Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve: It has an area of 550 km², nearly 5.3% of the Lebanese territory.

Horsh Ehden is a Nature Reserve located in north Lebanon.

Mountains of Lebanon

The Eastern Mountain Range of Lebanon:

• Length: about 150 km (93.21)

• Highest peak: 9,232 ft.

The Western Mountain Range of Lebanon

• Length: about 160 Km (100 mi)

• Highest peak: 10,131 ft.

Lebanon Photo:- Becharri view of the town, with the mountain behind it

Plains

Several Plains

Hirmel: vegetable and fruit production. Akkar: vegetable and fruit production. Damour: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit. Saida: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit. Sour: citrus, bananas, vegetable and fruit. Koura: famous for Olive production. Beqaa valley: yields the majority of Lebanon’s produce.

Beqaa Valley

Beqaa: is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. Located 19 miles east of Beirut.

It stretches down to the Red Sea about 75 miles in length and about 10

miles in width.

Beqaa Valley plain

Lakes

Qaraoun lake (dam)

Qaraoun lake is a very famous man-made lake in Lebanon. Its area is about 4.25 sq miles. Located in the Beqaa, along the Litani river.

It is considered one of the most fascinating sights of the country.

Along lakeside, you find fish restaurants , boat rides, and water skiing.

Trees

Types of trees

Lebanon is home to:

• Cedar trees

• Pine trees

• Cypress trees

• Olive trees

• Citrus trees

• Apple trees

• Banana trees

• Grape vines

• Plum trees

• Peach trees

• Almond

• Walnut trees and many more..

Apples from Tannourin, Lebanon

Cedar Tree

The most striking characteristics of the Lebanon Cedars are the numerous large and wide-spreading horizontal branches and the broad and flattened summit of the full-grown tree.

Pine Trees

Pine Trees (2)

Olive Trees

Genetic and archaeological studies indicate that the original center of olive cultivation was Lebanon, Cyprus, Crete and Israel/Palestine.

Lebanese stamps represent the fruits of Lebanon

Much of Lebanon's livestock was lost during the civil war and the Israeli invasion in 1982. In 2001 there were only an estimated 399,000 goats, 329,000 sheep, 78,000 head of cattle, and 32,000,000 poultry. As Lebanon's own meat and milk production is below consumption needs, animal and milk products are imported.

Livestock

Volcanos

No Volcanoes

Fossils

“Some of the earliest reports of fossils refer to 'fish in the rocks of the mountains of Lebanon‘. A Remarkable picture of life in the sea a hundred million years ago complete with worms, squids, the occasional octopus, prawns and of course fish.”

http://ddc.aub.edu.lb/projects/geology/geology-of-lebanon/

Earthquakes

Earthquakes

02/12/2008. An earthquake hit near the town of Tyre (Sour) in south Lebanon. A second earthquake was felt as far as Bint Jbeil near the Israeli border.

The largest Lebanese earthquake struck in 1956 and caused 136 deaths, destroyed 6,000 buildings and damaged 1,700 more. It destroyed a big part of the old city of Saida. (Sidon)

In 1759 an earthquake completely destroyed Beirut and Damascus killing 40,000.

Oil

No Oil

But there is an Oil Spill The spill came in the July 2006 war,

after an Israeli plane hit a Lebanese power plant dumping 15,000 tons of oil into the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

It may take 10 years to recover. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Jiyeh_Power_Station_oil_spill

Caves

Jeita Grotto

o The caverns of Jeita Grotto, Mount Lebanon are on two levels: the lower caverns are visited by boat over a lake 2000 ft (623 meters) long, while the dry upper gallery can be seen on foot.

o It is entered in The Official New 7 Wonders of the World - chosen by over 100 million votes and entered the 3rd and final stage.

Rivers

There are 15 rivers in Lebanon

all of them coming from its ownmountains.

Important Rivers

Hasbani: starts in Lebanon and ends in Jordan Nahr al-Kabir: forms in the north near Syria and flows into the Mediterranean

Sea. Nahr al-Kalb: It runs for 19 miles from a spring near the Jeita Grotto to the

Mediterranean Sea. Litani River: It rises west of Baalbek in the fertile Beqaa Valley and empties into

the Mediterranean Sea north of Tyre. It is the longest river. Nahr Ibrahim: This river was known as the Adonis River during ancient times. Orontes River: modern name ‘Asi ("rebel"), referring to it’s flow in the opposite

direction. It passes through Syria and enters Turkey.

Deserts

No Deserts

Some statistics of Lebanon

18 religious communities. 40 daily newspapers. 42 universities. 100 banks, not branches. 70% of the students are in

private schools. One doctor per 10 people.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/history/48826-statistics-about-lebanon.html

Major Cities

The largest two cities

Beirut:

The Capital City of Lebanon, a candidate for the 2024 Summer Olympics games.

Tripoli city:

Second Capital city of Lebanon.

It is 85 kilometers north of Beirut. Famous for sweets and making of wood furniture.

2nd twolargest cities

Sidon, or Saida:

Located south of Beirut and one of the famous names in ancient history. The castle was built by the Crusaders in 1228 AD.

Tyre, or Sour:

The city of origin of Alyssar, the founder of Carthage, a city in Tunisia. Roman and Arab ruins are around the city and its shores.

Two historical cities

Beiteddine:

The city of the Beiteddine palace which is:

o19th century architecture.

oHome of emir Bechir El Chehab II,

oBecame president’s summer house.

oNow is used as music festivals place.

Byblos, or Gbail

Where Alphabet was first created. The oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

Famous Ruins

Baalbek

o Lebanon's best preserved Roman treasure.

o It can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world.

Aanjar

East of Beirut. It represents the period of the Umayyad, 660–750 whose capital was Damascus.

United Nations headquarters in Beirut