UPSC Express

Headline : Prelims Program: Map- Middle East

Details :

Middle East

• The Middle East is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia, Turkey (both Asian and European), and Egypt (which is mostly in North Africa).
• Arabian peninsula is the largest in the world. In the eastern parts there is salt desert, western parts there is sandy desert.

Note: Egypt is often considered a part of the Middle East, as the Sinai is geologically a part of Asia. Sometimes Azerbaijan is considered a part of the Middle East, as a border region between Europe and Asia.

• Largest Country: Saudi Arabia
• Smallest Country: Bahrain
• Largest Ethnic groups: Arabs, Turks, Persians, Kurds, and Azeris
• Climate: The Middle East generally has a hot, arid climate.
• Fertile Cresent: Nile Delta in Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates watersheds of Mesopotamia
• Crude Oil: Most of the countries bordering Persian Gulf have vast reserves of crude oil. More than ½ of World’s oil reserve and 40% of worlds natural gas reserve is found in this region.
• Major rivers:

• Lifeline of Egypt: River Nile

• Lifelines of Iraq: River Tigris and Euphrates
• Boundary between Israel and Jordan: Jordan river

• Strait of Hormuz: Between Iran and UAE connects Persian gulf with Gulf of Oman and then Arabian sea.

• Gulf of Aqaba: It connects Red Sea with Israel

• Gulf of Suez : It connects Red sea with Mediterranean sea.