SWAMENA Human Environment Interaction

Human-Environment

Interaction in the

Middle East

(Southwest Asia-North Africa)

Region around the Tigris, Euphrates,
and Nile Rivers continue to have
higher numbers of people living
there

Population
densities

4

Tigris,
Euphrate,
and Nile
Rivers

3

Centers of ancient civilizations -
source of water for human use and
farming

Desert

Arid or excessively dry land with
usually sparse vegetation and less
than 10 inches of rain annually

2

Desertification

Increase in desert areas due to
overuse of land or fertilizers.

5

Overgrazing

6

When animals are allowed to
graze to the point of damaging
vegetational cover

Match

Match the following definition with their word

• Arid or excessively dry land with usually sparse vegetation and less than 10 inches of rain annually

• Centers of ancient civilizations - source of water for human use and farming

• Region around the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile Rivers continue to have higher numbers of people living there

• Increase in desert areas due to overuse of land or fertilizers.

• When animals are allowed to graze to the point of damaging vegetational cover

Desert

Tigris, Euphrates and Nile Rivers

Population densities

desertification

overgrazing

• Desert

• Tigris, Euphrates and Nile Rivers

• Population densities

• desertification

• overgrazing

Oasis

A place in the desert where trees are
able to grow and where people can
survive by grazing animals and
growing a few crops

7

Nomadic
Herders

8

People who move from place to place
with animals, such as camels and
goats. Bedouin are one such group.

The control and movement of water
resources to minimize damage and
to maximize efficient use

Water
management

9

Drought

Extended period of time without
rainfall

10

Hydroelectric
power

11

One of the oldest and largest
forms of renewable energy;
Power is generated by water

Match

Match the following

• A place in the desert where trees are able to grow and where people can survive by grazing animals and growing a few crops

• People who move from place to place with animals, such as camels and goats. Bedouin are one such group.

• The control and movement of water resources to minimize damage and to maximize efficient use

• Extended period of time without rainfall

• One of the oldest and largest forms of renewable energy; Power is generated by water

Oasis

Nomadic Herders

Water Management

Drought

Hydroelectric Power

• Oasis

• Nomadic Herders

• Water Management

• Drought

• Hydroelectric Power

Aswan
High
Dam

Used to help control flooding and
drought around Nile River; Provides
electricity and irrigation to region

12

Desalination

13

The process of removing salt water
from seawater, making it usable by
humans

Unequally distributed in the Middle East -
countries with oil have greater access to
resources and development; Petroleum is
crude oil and can be refined into gasoline,
kerosene, diesel, and other products

Oil

14

OPEC

Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries; 13 member
nations control a large % of
world’s oil production/reserves

15

Pipelines

16

Mode of transporting oil to
refineries or tankers

Match

Match the following

• Used to help control flooding and drought around Nile River; Provides electricity and irrigation to region

• The process of removing salt water from seawater, making it usable by humans

• Unequally distributed in the Middle East - countries with oil have greater access to resources and development; Petroleum is crude oil and can be refined into gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and other products

• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; 13 member nations control a large % of world’s oil production/reserves

• Mode of transporting oil to refineries or tankers

Aswan High Dam

Desalination

Oil

OPEC

Pipelines

• Aswan High Dam

• Desalination

• Oil

• OPEC

• Pipelines

Persian
Gulf, Red
Sea,
Mediterranean
Sea

Ports located along these
waterways are then used to
move the oil to markets all over
the world

17

Suez
Canal

Man-made canal over 100 miles long
that connects the Red Sea with the
Mediterranean Sea, creating a
shortcut between Europe and parts
of Asia

18

Subsistence
Agriculture

19

Type of farming where nearly all the
crops or livestock are raised and used
to feed the family, with little extra

Irrigation

20

When people need to bring in water
from pipes, canals, or other
man-made means to water crops
because they cannot rely on rainfall

Terrace
Farming

21

Method of growing crops on sides of
hills or mountains; used to maximize
arable land area in variable terrains
and to reduce soil erosion and water
loss

Match

Match the following

• Ports located along these waterways are then used to move the oil to markets all over the world

• Man-made canal over 100 miles long that connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, creating a shortcut between Europe and parts of Asia

• Type of farming where nearly all the crops or livestock are raised and used to feed the family, with little extra

• When people need to bring in water from pipes, canals, or other man-made means to water crops because they cannot rely on rainfall

• Method of growing crops on sides of hills or mountains; used to maximize arable land area in variable terrains and to reduce soil erosion and water loss

Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea

Suez Canal

Subsistence Agriculture

Irrigation

Terrace Farming

• Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea

• Suez Canal

• Subsistence Agriculture

• Irrigation

• Terrace Farming