SW Asia Geography & Environmental Issues Review

Which of these Southwest Asian nations has the MOST secure and reliable access to water?

• Iraq

• Kuwait

• Israel

• Turkey

Why is water pollution of great concern in Southwest Asia?

• because clean drinking water is scarce in the region

• because the economy is dependent upon exporting water

• because it prevents ships from traveling along major waterways

• because it reduces the amount of electricity generated by hydropower

Both the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow into which body of water?

• the Caspian Sea

• the Mediterranean Sea

• the Pacific Ocean

• the Persian Gulf

The Suez Canal connects which two bodies of water?

• the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea

• the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

• the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea

• the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea

The Strait of Hormuz connects which two bodies of water?

• the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea

• the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea

• the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

• the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Aden

In the 1980s, the Turkish government began the Southeastern Anatolia Project and built numerous dams on the Euphrates River. What trade-off is BEST associated with this project?

• While it improved the standard of living in Turkey, it significantly reduced the amount of freshwater available in Syria.

• While it improved the standard of living in Turkey, it caused high levels of pollution and made the water unsafe to drink.

• While it reduced the amount of freshwater available in Turkey, it led to the creation of millions of jobs for the Turkish people.

• While it caused high levels of pollution and made the water unsafe to drink, it created a cheap source of electricity for the region.

One way that wealthier more urbanized countries like Saudi Arabia have dealt with the lack of freshwater is through

• deforestation

• desalination

• desertification

• detoxification

What is desalination?

• The process of bringing water to dry land, especially for growing crops.

• The process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater.

• The process of collecting water from underground aquifers

• The process of flooding rivers to help crops grow

What is irrigation?

• The process of bringing water to dry land, especially for growing crops

• The process of removing salt and other chemicals from seawater

• The process of collecting water from underground aquifers

• The process of flooding rivers to help crops grow

What does OPEC stand for?

• Official Petroleum Expecting Continents

• Oil and Petroleum Exporting Continents

• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

• Oil Planning and Environmental Committee