1
NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS- L1
READ TO DISCOVERY
What are the major landforms and rivers of Central Asia?
: Landforms- The Altan Shay, the Tian Shan and the Pamirs, the Kopet-Dag.
Rivers- Amur Dar’ya, Sir Dar’ya, the Irtysh River.
What climates, biomes, and natural resources does the region have?
: Central Asia has mostly semiarid and arid climates. The region’s highest peaks are too
cold, dry and windy for vegetation. However, deciduous forests grow at middle elevations.
In fact, Central Asia is known for its many walnut trees. In this arid region, water is the
most precious resource. Also, energy and mineral resources.
LOCATE
Altay Shan- are a mountain range in Central and East Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia,
and Kazakhstan come together, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their headwaters.
Tian Shan- meaning the Mountains of Heaven or the Heavenly Mountain, is a large system
of mountain ranges located in Central Asia.
Pamirs- are a mountain range between Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia, at the
junction of the Himalayas with the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush.
Kopet-Dag- is a mountain range on the border between Turkmenistan and Iran that
extends about 650 kilometers.
Caspian Sea- is the world's largest inland body of water, variously classed as the world's
largest lake or a full-fledged sea.
Aral Sea- was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in
the south which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up by the 2010s.
Amu Dar’ya- is a major river in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Syr Dar’ya- historically known as the Jaxartes, is a river in Central Asia.
Irtysh River- is a river in Russia, China, and Kazakhstan.
Lake Balkhash- is one of the largest lakes in Asia and 15th largest in the world. It is in the
east of Central Asia in southeastern Kazakhstan and belongs to an endorheic basin.
Issyk-Kul- is an endorheic lake in the Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern
Kyrgyzstan.
Kara-Kum- is a desert in Central Asia. Its second word means sand;
Kyzyl-Kum- is the 15th largest desert in the world. Its name means Red Sand in Turkic
languages. It is located in Central Asia.
2
HISTORY AND CULTURE- L2
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How have various cultures and invaders affected the region’s history?
: They made the people already living there get influenced by other traditions or religions;
brought things from their home-country that was new to that place.
What are some features of Central Asian cultures?
: They are called the Turkistan. The majority speaks Turkic. Russian is the main language
and ethnic identity for a sizable minority.
LOCATE
Samarqand- is a city in Uzbekistan known for its mosques and mausoleums.
Fergana Valley- is a valley in Central Asia spread across eastern Uzbekistan, southern
Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan.
3
THE REGION TODAY- L3
READ TO DISCOVERY
How has the economy of Central Asia changed over time?
: Turkmenistan depends on the world’s longest irrigation channel to water grain and cotton
fields in the country’s southern areas. Corruption, poor transportation links, and a lack of
cash for investment also hurt development.
What are the region’s cities like?
: Central Asia has relatively few big cities because, throughout history, most of the people
have been nomads or farmers. As a result, few of the cities have many old features.
What issues must Central Asia face to improve its economy?
: The countries are landlocked, as a result, they are cut off from major global trade routes.
Also, the need for water in this dry land is at the heart of many problems.
LOCATE
Bukhara- is an ancient city in the central Asian country of Uzbekistan.
Tashkent- is the capital city of Uzbekistan. It’s known for its many museums and its mix
of modern and Soviet-era architecture.
Bishkek- the capital of Kyrgyzstan, borders Central Asia's Tian Shan range.
Almaty- Kazakhstan's largest metropolis, is set in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau
mountains.
Astana- Nur-Sultan is the capital city of Kazakhstan. Known between 1998 and 2019 as
Astana and before that Akmola.
4
Natural environments- L1
What regions formed the persian gulf and interior southwest asia?
Saudi Arabia and the smaller countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
Which are the largest countries that stretch farther inland into asia?
The north and northeast of the arabian peninsula. (Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan)
Which are the countries that have coasts in the persian gulf?
Iraq and Iran.
Where does Southwest Asia is placed?
Near the intersection of the African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates.
What is in the interior of the southern area?
The uninhabited desert is called Rub’ al-Khali or ‘’Empty Quarter’’.
Why is the lowlands of Saudi Arabia one of the hottest places in the world?
Because of the subtropical high pressure with clear skies and little shade and the
temperatures of above 114F.
Why is there not much plantation in these regions?
Because of the type of area that is dry and the ground is just rock and sand. In some places
soil is so salty that plants cant grow.
Which are the regions most important natural resources?
Oil and water.
Where does water can be found?
It can be found only at an oasis.
What is the region's most valuable natural resource?
Oil.
5
History and Culture- L2
Where did the world's first civilization develop?
An area known as Fertile Crescent.
What attracted the invaders to Mesopotamia?
Their rich resources.
How much did the real empire extend?
To Zagros Mountains and the Mediterranean cost.
Who established Islam?
The prophet Muhammad.
What did Muhammad established before his death?
A Muslim community centered at Medina.
What happened during the 1200s with the Mongols?
They swept out of Central Asia to conquer what are now Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran.
What happened during the 1800s during the period of independence?
The expanding British and Russian empires tried to control Iran and Afghanistan.
What is the religion and language of most people in the Persian Gulf and interior of
Southwest Asia?
They are mostly Arabs and their language is arabic.
Who makes up the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan?
The Pashtun.
Which are the two branches that Islam split into?
The Sunni Islam and Shi’ism.
6
The Region Today- L3
What are the economies of the countries along the Persian Gulf?
Oil and gas production.
What makes farming so difficult in these regions?
The arid climates and the rugged landscapes.
What does subsistence agriculture consist of?
Producing only enough to support their families.
What does farmers grow for sale?
Citrus fruits, dates, grapes, nuts and olives.
Why is the Persian Gulf best known for?
For its beautiful region and valuable wool rugs.
Which are the largest cities in the region?
Tehran,Iran. Baghdad, Iraq. Kabul, Afghanistan. And Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Which are the 3 basic themes about the region’s politics and concerns?
The use of oil wealth, the desire of some to preserve the authority of traditional leaders, and
the role of Islam in a modernizing world.
Which country is the largest exporter of oil in the world?
Saudi Arabia.
What does OPEC mean?
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Who elected Hamid Karzai as the country’s transitional president?
The loya jirga, a traditional council, with representatives from all ethnic groups.
