Name:______Date: ______Sec.:______

Southwest and Central Asia Mapping Lab

Instructions: Use the maps on pages 582-590 to respond to the following prompts in complete sentences.

Physical Features

  1. Which sea is found to the west of Israel? What are two other major seas found in the region
  1. In the past, Iran has threatened to cut off the Strait of Hormuz, so that no other countries could send boats through this strait. Why do you think the Strait of Hormuz would be important?
  1. Name two mountain ranges found in the region. For each mountain range, list one country where the range is found.
  1. Which countries border the Aral Sea? What is the absolute location of the Aral Sea?

Climate

  1. Name three countries that have entirely arid climates.
  1. In what country do you find a humid continental climate (human continental equals warm, rainy summers and cool, snowy winters)?
  1. Name two countries that appear to be the least arid (or semiarid) in the region.
  1. How do you think the major climate zones in the region impact daily life?

Vegetation

  1. Name two countries that have major forest areas.
  1. Based on the vegetation zones that you see in Saudi Arabia, what challenges do you think the country might face? Explain…
  1. What type of vegetation do you find around the Aral Sea (in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)?
  1. In what countries do you find ice cap? Why do you think there would be ice cap in these locations?

Population Density

  1. Using the scale, estimate how far it is from Baghdad to Kuwait City (the route of Iraq’s invasion into Kuwait in 1990).
  1. How many cities with a population of over 4 million are there in the region?
  1. In which country will you find Istanbul?
  1. What are the three biggest cities in Iraq? Near what physical feature are all three located? (hint: you can see it on the map- it may help to remove the transparency)

Economic Activity

  1. What three nonrenewable energy resources do you see throughout the region?
  1. If oil and natural gas were to run out, what do you think the economy of the region would be like?
  1. Name three countries that have commercial fishing.
  1. Where are the only three places that you can find farming going on below 30* North latitude?