Geography Part 1
A Man-made structure that connects Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea
Suez Canal
Why is the Suez Canal so important to international shipping?
It makes it possible to get from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea without sailing around Africa.
Which country has fought military battles over water rights to the Jordan River?
Israel
What are the three prominent religions in the Middle East?
Judaism, Islam, Christianity
The oldest religion in Southwest Asia is
Judaism
This small territory has been a source of dispute between Israel and its neighbors for many years
Gaza Strip
Which are connected by the Strait of Hormuz?
Persian Gulf & Arabian Sea
Because of its harsh climate, which country has to rely on desalination plants to provide most of its citizens’ drinking water?
Saudi Arabia
What ethnic group lives in the mountains of Turkey and Iraq?
Kurds
What issue led to the split between the Sunni and Shia Muslims?
They disagreed over who should lead Muslims after Muhammad died.
Much of the world’s oil supply is shipped through this narrow waterway
Strait of Hormuz
What rivers are like twin rivers flowing through Turkey and Iraq?
Tigris and Euphrates
Pollution from oil spills on the Black Sea contaminate this country’s water supply
Turkey
Where do most Middle Eastern Jews live?
Israel
What are the Five Pillars?
Five basic obligations that Muslims are supposed to do in their lives.
This river is the key water source for Israel, Lebanon, and Syria
Jordan River
What are three major water problems in Southwest Asia?
Water shortages, unequal distribution, pollution
Decades of war has damaged this country’s water treatment facilities
Iraq
The majority of people in Southwest Asia belong to which ethnic group?
Arab
Which best describes the religion of Arabs?
Most are Muslim, though there are also many Christians and those of other faiths.
Because mountains block winds coming from the oceans, much of the interior of Southwest Asia is
Desert
Over the last 50 years, people have been leaving the nomadic life to live here
Cities
Which best describes the climate of much of Southwest Asia?
Hot and dry
Today, most Iranians speak Farsi and belong to this ethnic group
Persians
Who is a common figure in the origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Abraham