North Africa and Southwest Asia (Middle East)

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North Africa
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Climate Geography

• North Africa has a primarily desert and semi-arid
  climate, which means there is little to no
  rainfall in the area.

The climate doesnt allow for very much
vegetation. Soil in the area is poor. The best
vegetation occurs around rainy coastal areas
along valley floors of rivers.
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Rainfall and Flooding

• When it rains the regions deltas, rivers, oases,
  and wadis are subject to seasonal flooding which
  deposits rich silt for farming.

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Sahara Desert
The northernmost region of the African continent
is separated from the rest of Africa by the
Sahara Desert.
The Sahara Desert stretches over most of North
Africa, it is the worlds largest dry desert.
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The regions MOST PRECIOUS resource.
Even though this is a dry area, water plays a
very large role. There are several large bodies
of water which play a major role in world
politics.
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Nile River
The Nile is the main source of water for Egypt.
All of the population lives along the Nile River
valley. It is the only river that runs south to
north.
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Atlas Mountains

• Northern
• Morocco Algeria

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Suez Canal
It is a transportation corridor located in Egypt.
It enhanced shipping routes in the region.
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Aswan High Dam

• Positive Effects
• Controls flooding
• Recreation areas
• Power

• Negative Effects
• Land losing fertility
• Lost homes when built

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Governments
Algeria Parliamentary Republic
Egypt In transition
Libya In transition
Morocco Constitutional Monarchy
Tunisia Republic
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Economy

• The area has a heavy reliance on primary economic
  activities such as oil drilling and agriculture.

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• The area is the home of the Organization of
  Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Many
  countries are still members.

Large oil revenues - major producers of worlds
oil.

• Negative Effects
• Reliance on one industry
• Pollution
• Unequal distribution of wealth

• Positive Effects
• Jobs
• Revenue
• Position of power

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Trade

• Trade has been important to the region from the
  earliest time.
• Today regional conflicts and political unrest
  have affected trade and tourism.
• The area today has contemporary trade routes (sea
  lanes).

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City Center of Trade and Culture

• Cairo, Egypt is a major center for trade and
  culture because of its location in the middle of
  North Africa and Southwest Asia.

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Cultural Characteristics

• The area has experienced rapid urbanization,
  moving or changing from country to city.
• Most modernization has centered around urban
  areas, while the traditional lifestyle has
  continued in the rural, the country area or
  lifestyle, areas.

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Population
A large percent of the population is under the
age 15 due to conflict, disease, and the
hardships associated with the region.

• The population is generally unevenly distributed
  due to the environment and resources.

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Languages
In Northern Africa, language is an extremely
important cultural feature that is often linked
to religion.
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Arabic
Is the official language spoken in most countries
in North Africa. It spread through the area
because of the Islamic religion.
There are dialect differences between the North
African countries.
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Berber
Is the language of the native people (Berbers) in
the area before Arabic was spread through Islam.
It is still spoken by some Moroccans, Algerians,
and Libyans.
Ramses II
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Languages by Country
Algeria - Arabic , French, Berber
Egypt - Arabic , English, French (widely
understood by educated classes)
Libya - Arabic, Berber, Italian, English (widely
understood in major cities)
Morocco - Arabic , Berber, French (often used for
business government), Spanish, English
Tunisia - Arabic , French (business)
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Religion

• North Africa and S.W. Asia are the birthplace to
  3 major monotheistic religions Judaism,
  Christianity, and Islam.

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Religions by Country
Algeria - Islam 99 Christianity and Judaism
1
Egypt - Islam 90 Coptic 9
Christianity 1 Other 6
Libya - Islam 97
Morocco - Islam 98 Christianity 1
Judaism and other 1
Tunisia - Islam 98 Christianity 1 Judaism
and other 1
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Religious Conflict

• Since 1949, the region has been in conflict over
  the area known as the West Bank and Gaza. This
  area was once PALESTINE and is present day ISRAEL.

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Standard of Living

• Great variation in the standard of living in the
  region. It ranges from the relatively high to the
  poverty stricken.

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Bedouins/Nomadic Lifestyle

• Bedouins - desert dwellers in Arabic.

Many cultures have been traditionally nomadic.
Today, many nomads have settled, but there are
still some in the region.
NOMADS people who follow a food source from
place to place never settling down.
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Cultural Landscape
Mosques - minarets (architectural feature)
Bazaars Souks (marketplaces)
Oil rigs in Libya
Walled cities in Morocco
Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt
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Art

• The art of the region reflects the diversity of
  the religions

Geometric tiles
Calligraphy
Prayer rug
Stained glass
Mosaics