Chapter 3: WEST ASIA

Introduction

Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, turkey, Bahrain, Qatar are countries. Arabian peninsula is the largest in the world. In the eastern parts there is salt desert, western parts there is sandy desert.

Tigris and Euphrates are lifelines of Iraq. Jordan river forms boundary between Israel and Jordan. But its a shallow, meandering river which cant be used for navigation.

Fig 1a: Bosphorus strait between Turkey and Europe

Strait of Hormuz is between Iran and UAE connects Persian gulf with Gulf of Oman and then Arabian sea.

Fig 2: Strait of Hormuz

Gulf of Aqaba connects red sea with Israel, gulf of Suez connects red sea with Mediterranean sea.

Fig 2: Gulf of Aqaba and Suez

Countries on the western part have Mediterranean climate and on eastern part have tropical climate.

More than ½ of World's oil reserve and 40% of worlds natural gas reserve is found here. India's has top sources of crude oil are Saudi Arabia and then Iraq. Top natural gas sources are Qatar and Egypt.

Fig 3: Oil, Natural Gas in Middle east and World

Q.Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (UPSC CSAT 2015)

• Syria




• Jordan




• Lebanon




• Israel

Ans . B

Q.The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to: (UPSC CSAT 2015)

• Central Asia




• Middle East




• South-East Asia




• Central Africa

Ans . B

Q.Turkey is located between (UPSC CSAT 2014)

• Black Sea and Caspian Sea




• Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea




• Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea




• Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea

Ans . B

Chapter Review

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