Bell RingerWhat is the “Middle East”?

Why does it matter to the USA when things happen in the Middle East, like a crisis (for example)?

The Middle East

Where is the Middle East?The Middle East is at the crossroads of

three Continents:1. Asia2. Africa3. Europe

What is the Middle East Region?• Areas west of Afghanistan/Pakistan including Iran• Countries in Northern Africa along Mediterranean Sea• Turkey

Why is Northern Africa included in the region?• Islam and Arabs– same religion, similar culture

Physical Geography - Middle East: Climate Regions

What climate type dominates the region?

What climate type is found around water?

Physical Geography - The Middle East: Natural Vegetation

What is the dominant vegetation zone in the region?

Why is there a different vegetation zone through central Egypt?

Fresh Water• Limited supplies in most

countries• Desalination plants – remove

salt from water• Dams - hydroelectricity• Irrigation - for farming

Petroleum/Oil• Most countries either have oil or

make money from it (refining it or pipeline fees)

• ½ of world supply of petroleum is in Middle East

How does this affect you?

What resources are in the Middle East?

Physical Geog - The Natural Resources of the Middle East

What is the dominant form of agriculture in the Middle East?

What mineral resource is most common in the Middle East?

Where are there Fresh Groundwater Sources?

What is Oil? Why is it Important?Produced from microscopic marine plants and

animals, squeezed underground for millions of years.

Oil is a “finite resource”• Once it is used up, it is gone forever.• Nobody is certain how much is left.

Oil is used for many things:1. Fuel, (gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil)2. All plastic is made from petroleum3. Asphalt used in road construction4. Synthetic rubber in tires5. Fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides6. Detergents, many drugs, and paints7. Artificial fibers used in clothing (Nylon,

Polyester)

Where is the Oil?

Who Controls the World Oil Supply?

• OPEC - “Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries”

• Controls the price, production and distribution of oil.• 66% of world reserves of oil, 40% of world oil production

Daily production

Oil Producing Nations

Where is the Persian Gulf?

Why is the Persian Gulf important?• The Persian Gulf is a vital part of the world oil supply. • It is in a very dangerous part of the world• It can easily be closed off by hostile countries.

What is the future of oil?• Prices will

increase drastically!

• Europe 5 - 7 dollars a gallon

• U.S. $3 - $4 - $5?

What are our alternative energy sources?

• Solar• Wind• Hydrogen• Nuclear• Vegetable oil• Grain alcohol –

Gasohol/Ethonal• Hydroelectric• Ocean Currents• Geo-Thermal

7th Pd Grades