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Physical Systems and Processes of India and the Middle East

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Physical Systems and Processes of India and the Middle East

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When you think about the Middle East, what is the first word that comes to mind? Most people think of oil when they ponder the region referred to as the Middle East. However, oil is not enough to support this growing region. In this section we will explore sources of crude oil as well as how many nations are struggling to develop agriculture and other natural resources. The unique terrain of this region is home to one of the most interesting animals on the planet –the camel. Keep reading to learn more about all of these interesting physical features and processes of the region and much more!

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"While…many of the wars of this century were about oil … wars of the next century will be over water."

-Ismail Serageldin, former Vice President of the World Bank

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"The next war in the Middle East will be over water, not politics."

-Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary General of the United Nations

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Resources in the Middle East: Little Water, Plenty of Oil

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Resources in the Middle East: Little Water, Plenty of Oil

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Although the Middle East is known for having plentiful oil resources, the region is lacking in many other areas. The lack of water and the corresponding lack of agriculture threaten the stability and prosperity of the entire region. National economies throughout the Middle East struggled in the 19th and 20th centuries to develop their natural and human resources, to modernize their societies, and to raise their standards of living.

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From the map can you tell what countries are primarily made up of deserts? What countries have mountains? Rivers?

Water has always been an important resource in the Middle East -- for its relative scarcity rather than its abundance. Egypt, Iran, and Turkey are the only countries in the region with abundant fresh water resources. Roughly two-thirds of the nations in the Middle East depend on sources outside their borders for their water supply.

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The biggest deterrent to establishing sustainable agriculture is the problem of limited water and its constraints on agriculture in the region, which is largely arid and semi arid. Due to a lack of cultivable land and a limited amount of water, the Middle East produces less than half of the food and agro-industrial products it consumes. With the exception of Israel, agriculture in the region remains undeveloped. Most Middle Eastern countries are highly dependent on food from abroad. Agriculture must compete for water resources with large-scale industry and the needs of growing populations. Therefore, it is vital that the kind of agriculture practiced should use as little water as possible.

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Although agriculture is somewhat limited in many areas, the region continues to export a variety of products. Middle Eastern cotton and textile products are still an important export of the region. Have you ever bought a piece of clothing with a label that says "Made in Turkey?" Other important agricultural exports found in supermarkets around the world include citrus, dried dates, figs and apricots, and olive products.

Israel's success in growing exotic crops under arid conditions and introducing them to the European market has been envied by other Middle Eastern nations. In order to improve agriculture in the region, economists and agriculturalists identify four components necessary to improve agriculture in the region. First, nations must develop a way to attract larger numbers of skilled workers to the agricultural sector. Second, countries must work to come up with solutions to deal with the irregular yearly rainfall in semi-arid zones. Third, the current use of fertilizers and herbicides is outdated and must be upgraded. Finally, the use of farm machinery must be improved.

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Oil money has created both opportunities and problems for the region. Many countries located around the Persian Gulf have large quantities of crude oil. Over half the world’s oil reserves can be found in the Middle East. In fact, Saudi Arabia possesses nearly one-fourth of the world’s total oil reserves.

Middle Eastern nations have learned to manipulate their production of oil as an international strategy. The distribution of petroleum deposits is rather uneven. Many of the smaller countries in the regions with small populations have the most oil. Countries such as Egypt send many of their citizens to work in countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Unfortunately, while they are there, they are often treated like second-class citizens. Even within oil-rich nations themselves, there is a large gap between rich and poor.

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Can you name a country in the Middle East with no oil?

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Can you name a country in the Middle East with no oil?

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Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Israel are all oil-dry countries.

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Of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United States, which do you think produces the most barrels of oil per day?

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Of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United States, which do you think produces the most barrels of oil per day?

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Do you believe that the United States produces more barrels of oil per day than Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait?!

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The graph shows the oil reserves in different regions of the world.

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The graph shows the oil reserves in different regions of the world.

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All reserve estimates involve uncertainty, depending on the amount of reliable geologic and engineering data available and the interpretation of those data. Some countries also falsify data for political reasons. Usually, initial estimates are low and tend to grow in time.

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The image of the camel is the symbol of human survival in the desert. The history of the camel is intricately tied to the history of the major nomadic civilizations of the hot dry areas of the northern hemisphere. The camel embodies one of the essential elements of the culture and agriculture of these regions. Although the economic importance of camels has dissipated somewhat compared to pre-modern times, the camel remains an integral component of life in the Middle East.

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The camel is the ideal domestic animal in deserts with long and dry, hot periods of eight months or more and scarce, erratic annual rainfalls. Stony soil, increasing humidity, and the tsetse fly are all unfavorable to the camel. The camel prefers walking in sandy soil due to the structure of its large padded feet. Geographically, the camel is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical dry zones of North Africa, western Asia and northwest India. The camel has an ability to adapt to extremely harsh conditions. It can flourish where no other domestic animal can survive. The camel has some very unique anatomical and physiological characteristics. If the camel is able to forage on some greenery, it can go several months without water! In exceptionally dry conditions, a camel may drink only every eight to ten days and lose up to 30 percent of its body weight through dehydration.

The camel is used for several purposes throughout the Middle East and India. It is used as a beast of burden for transporting goods and people as well as for providing milk. Milk is often the only regular food source for its owners. The camel's meat, wool and leather are also widely utilized. In arid zones the camel is a better provider of food than the cow, which is severely affected by the heat, scarcity of water and feed. Following a decrease in the world camel population between 1950 and 1980, there has been a recent resurgence of camels in the past decade due to several factors. Mainly an increasing demand for milk and meat as a result of rising population has helped fuel the resurgence of the camel. Additionally, scientists predict that the desertification of larger swathes of land in the region is also impacting the need for more camels as pack and work animals where the cost of fuel is sometimes high.

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India is generally considered to be a part of south Asia. India is considered to be the 7th largest country in the world! India is bound by the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. On the map, try to identify the physical features and natural boundary divisions that follow the map.

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While China lies beyond the northeastern border of India, the Himalayas tower between the two countries as a colossal divide. Nepal forms a perfect Himalayan niche between India and China.

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The Bay of Bengal meets the eastern coast, demarcating India from Myanmar and Thailand.

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The Arabian Sea is located off the coast of Mumbai. Can you locate Mumbai on the map?

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The Ganges River is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent.

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mountain range and a natural boundary between China and India:

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mountain range and a natural boundary between China and India:

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Himalayas

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natural boundary between India, Myanmar and Thailand

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natural boundary between India, Myanmar and Thailand

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Bay of Bengal

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Arabian Sea

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a major river of India along the path of the Himalayas

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a major river of India along the path of the Himalayas

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Ganges River