Southwest Asia table. Southwest Asia and India

Includes the peninsula of Arabia, the Syrian-Palestinian mountains, the plains of Mesopotamia. The peculiarity in the geological structure is a fragment of the African. the Red Sea and the deep-dipped northern portions of the East African Rift Zone. The eastern part is a foothill trough of Alpine age (Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf). The originality of nature - with features. Continental tropical air masses dominate. High average annual rainfall, little rainfall - therefore, deserts also prevail. The oldest center of civilization, the center of Arab culture. The richest oil reserves (more than 30% of capitalist production), a number of ore minerals.

Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian occupies an area of ​​foothill foredeep of Alpine age with a uniformly leveled relief. The crystalline basement is at a great depth, covered by a thick layer of alluvial deposits of the Tigris and Euphrates. Active activity. The Persian Gulf retreated 500 km over 5 thousand years (the influx of terrigenous material). The rivers that flowed into the bay on their own merged into a single artery - the Shatt al-Arab.

Allocate Lower and Upper Mesopotamia. The first (Babylonia) is a monotonous alluvial lowland (no more than 100 m high). To the north of Baghdad, a ledge 6-8 m high is the ancient coastline of the Persian Gulf. The upper (Jezire) is a flat plateau up to 300-400 m with separate ridges up to 30-50 m. Dry channels (wadis) and small hills (tells).

Mesopotamia is one of the hottest places in Eurasia. In the northern part of the Mediterranean climate, in the south - tropical. Average July temperatures are from 30 to 34° (often rising to 50°). Average January in Lower Mesopotamia +11, +12°, in Upper +5, +7°. Winter maximum precipitation - they fall in the north 300-500 mm, in the south 60-100 mm.

Most of it is in the tropical, the far north is in the subtropical zone. Differences in temperatures of the winter months (from +8° in to +25° in Aden, in July from 26° in the north to 33° in the south). Arabia is one of the hottest places in the world, up to 55 ° was noted. Moisture is scarce (100-300 mm per year). In the northern part, precipitation is brought by Mediterranean cyclones in winter, in the south it is maximum in summer with the monsoon. In the mountains more than 1000 mm. Almost no outside. Relief shows ancient riverbeds (wadis). From west to east - traditional caravan routes.

Over 90% of Arabia is tropical desert. Sandy with waving sands and solonchaks in depressions predominate.

Vegetation is poor: saltwort, tamarisks, camel thorn. In the oases - date palm, acacia, jeddah.

Wormwood-ephemeral steppes are confined to more humid places in northern Arabia. In the mountains there are sparse forests with pistachio, carob, myrrh, dracaena, dragon tree. The vegetation of the river valleys and windward slopes of Yemen is the most diverse: ficuses, candelabra-like spurges, sikimores, and many endemics. The fauna is represented by ungulates (antelope, gazelles, onager), rodents, predators (jackal, hyena), reptiles.

Special features: the largest peninsula of Eurasia. An ancient crystalline block, raised in the west, lowered in the east. Diversity of relief: mountains, plains, cuestas, lava plateaus (jarra) with cones of extinct volcanoes. In the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, there are chains of extinct and active volcanoes. The difference between the types of deserts. Arabia is one of the hottest places in the world. In most of the peninsula, there is no external flow. Over 90% of Arabia is tropical desert.

The video tutorial allows you to get interesting and detailed information about the countries of Southwest Asia. From the lesson you will learn about the composition of Southwest Asia, the characteristics of the countries of the region, their geographical position, nature, climate, place in this subregion. The teacher will tell you in detail about one of the main countries of Southwest Asia - Turkey.

Rice. 1. Southwest Asia on the map ()

South Asia- a cultural and geographical region in Asia, including, from a geographical point of view, Transcaucasia, Kopetdag, Asia Minor, Armenian and Iranian highlands, Mesopotamia, the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant. From a political point of view, Southwest Asia includes the Middle East, Transcaucasia and the Middle East.

Compound:

1. Afghanistan.

2. Bahrain.

6. Israel.

7. Jordan.

8. Kuwait.

12. Saudi Arabia.

14. Turkey.

17. Palestine.

18. Armenia.

According to the form of government Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia are monarchies. According to the form of the administrative-territorial structure, the UAE is a federation.

The most powerful economies in the region are Turkey and Iran. Based on GDP per capita, Qatar is in the lead (almost $100,000).

All countries of Southwest Asia are characterized by the traditional type of population reproduction. It has some of the highest birth rates in the world.

In most countries, the mining industry, agriculture, nomadic cattle breeding, the oil and gas industries, petrochemistry, and mechanical engineering are widespread. Tourism is actively developing in Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan.

Resources: oil (the largest reserves in the world) and gas, salts, sulfur, non-ferrous metals.

Turkey. The full name is the Republic of Turkey. It was formed in 1923 as a result of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The main part of the country's territory falls on the Anatolian Peninsula and the Armenian Highlands, the smaller part - on the Balkan Peninsula between the Black and Mediterranean Seas. In 2000, it acquired the official status of a candidate country for membership in the European Union. The capital is Ankara.

Rice. 3. Flag of Turkey ()

The area of ​​the country is 779.5 thousand square meters. km. Part of the territory of Turkey - 97% - is located in Asia and 3% - in Europe. The maximum length of Turkish territory from west to east is 1600 km, from north to south - 600 km.

There are more than 100 types of minerals in Turkey. The country has many types of ore, mining, chemical, fuel and energy raw materials. First of all, chromium, tungsten, copper ores, borates, marble, coal, etc. should be mentioned. Turkey accounts for 25% of the world's mercury reserves.

The share of industry in the country's economy is about 28%, agriculture - 15%, construction - 6%, services - 51%. In the total volume of industrial production, the manufacturing industry has the largest share (84%, including construction). The textile, leather, food, chemical, pharmaceutical industries, energy, metallurgy, shipbuilding, automotive industry and the production of household goods are developed. Tourism is a dynamically developing industry. In recent decades, tourism has become increasingly important in the Turkish economy. Turkey is visited by more than 20 million foreign tourists annually. Most tourists come from Germany, Russia, Iran, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Azerbaijan. According to the Turkish Statistical Office, in 2011, foreign tourists replenished the state budget by $23 billion, up 10.6 percent from the previous year.

Rice. 4. Hotel in Antalya ()

Population. The main population of the country is Turks, the second largest population is Kurds (according to some sources, they make up to 18% within the country), a significant proportion of Crimean Tatars and Arabs. Most people in Turkey are Muslim. Religion is separated from the state. The largest city in Turkey is Istanbul, whose population, according to some sources, exceeds 10 million people.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 cells: Textbook for educational institutions / A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

2. Economic and social geography of the world: Proc. for 10 cells. educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovskiy. - 13th ed. - M .: Education, JSC "Moscow textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

3. Atlas with a set of contour maps for grade 10. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ().

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukov. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Examination 2011. - M .: MTSNMO, 2011. - 72 p.

6. Study guide for geography. Tests and practical tasks in geography / I.A. Rodionov. - M.: Moscow Lyceum, 1996. - 48 p.

7. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

8. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

9. USE 2012. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2011. - 288 p.

10. USE 2011. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Introduction ………………………………………………………………... 3

Natural conditions and resources ………….……………………………… 4-5

Population ……………………..………….……………………………... 5-7

Population accommodation ………..………….…………………………….. 7-9

Animal husbandry …………..………….….………………………...…… 9

Agriculture …………..………….………………………...…… 10-12

Transport ……………..………………….………………………...…… 12-13

Mechanical engineering ……………..………….………………………...…... 13-15

Industry ……………..………….……………….………..…... 15-16

Trade and services …………..………….…………….…………...……. 16-17

Recreation and tourism …………..………….………………………...……. 17-19

Conclusion …………..……………….….………………………...……. twenty

List of used sources.….………………………...……. 21

Annex №1 .….………………………………………..……...……. 22

Appendix №2 .….………………………………………..……...……. 23

Introduction:

• Azerbaijan

• Afghanistan

• Egypt (Sinai Peninsula only)

• Jordan

• Saudi Arabia

• South Ossetia

Foreign Asia is the largest region in the world in terms of area and population, and it retains this primacy, in essence, throughout the entire existence of human civilization.
The area of ​​Foreign Asia is 27 million km2, it includes more than 40 sovereign states. Many of them are among the oldest in the world.
Foreign Asia is one of the origins of mankind, the birthplace of agriculture, artificial irrigation, cities, many cultural values ​​and scientific achievements. The region mainly consists of developing countries.

Natural conditions and resources

Southwest Asia lies in the subtropical and tropical zones. This is one of the hottest and driest regions in the world. Most of it is occupied by mountains, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, which are used only as rough pastures. Farming here is possible in most cases only under the condition of artificial irrigation. Soils are poor in humus and suffer from erosion and salinization. There are almost no forests. Water is often valued more than land. Atmospheric precipitation can be expected only on the plateaus and in mountainous regions. Resources of surface and ground waters in the lowlands are limited. Seawater desalination, which has expanded in recent years, is concentrated on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf. The area is extremely homogeneous in terms of tectonic structure and relief: within its boundaries, the greatest amplitude of heights on earth is noted, both ancient Precambrian platforms and areas of young Cenozoic folding, grandiose mountainous countries and vast plains are located here. As a result, the mineral resources of Asia are very diverse. The main pools of coal, iron and manganese ores, and non-metallic minerals are concentrated within the Chinese and Hindustan platforms. Ores predominate within the Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific fold belts. But the main wealth of the region, which also determines its role in the MGRT, is oil. Oil and gas reserves have been explored in most countries of Southwest Asia, but the main deposits are in Saudi Arabia (about 35 billion tons, over 1/4 of the world), Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. The Persian Gulf basin contains 66% of the world's oil reserves and 26% of the world's natural gas reserves. Among other minerals, the chromites and copper ores of Turkey, the natural sulfur of Iraq and the mineral salts of the Dead Sea, and the phosphorites of Jordan and Israel stand out. Numerous mountain ranges and vast expanses of deserts complicate transport construction. Saudi Arabia is called the world's largest desert country, and the Hindu Kush mountain system in Afghanistan is one of the most difficult to pass. The agro-climatic resources of Asia are heterogeneous. Vast massifs of mountainous countries, deserts and semi-deserts are hardly suitable for economic activity, with the exception of animal husbandry; the provision of arable land is low and continues to decline (as the population grows and soil erosion increases). But on the plains of the east and south, quite favorable conditions for agriculture are created. Asia is home to 3/4 of the world's irrigated land.

Population

Population. More than 254 million people live in Southwest Asian countries. More than 80% of the population lives in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia. Its maximum number is in Iran (67.3 million people), the minimum is in Qatar (0.55 million people).

demographic features. The influence of Islam on the life of most countries was also indicated in demographic indicators: there is a rapid population growth, a “population explosion”.

Birth rates are very high - 20-35% per year. The average annual population growth rate is 2.8%. The maximum values ​​are observed in Qatar and the UAE (5.8%), Jordan (4.7%), Oman (4.5%), Saudi Arabia (4.3%), Yemen (4.2%), which are among from the highest levels in the world; minimum - in Georgia (0.2%), Kuwait (0.3%), Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey (1.7%), Cyprus (1.2%). Mortality has decreased over the past decades, and life expectancy has increased. The infant mortality rate in some countries is still very high, for example in Afghanistan (one of the highest in the world).

Men outnumber women - 53% of the population. In all Muslim countries, children and youth in the age structure of the population make up 33%. The number of elderly people in the region is insignificant (5%), but there is a tendency to increase it due to the increase in life expectancy. For men, it is 67 years, for women - 71 years.

Racial composition. The vast majority of the region's population belongs to the southern racial group of the large Caucasian race. It is distinguished by significant skin pigmentation, dark, mostly dark wavy hair, dark (brown and black) eyes.

Ethnic composition. Very colorful and represented by several language families: the Semitic-Hamitic family (the Arab population of the region, the Jews of Israel); Altai family (Turks, Azerbaijanis, Turkish Cypriots); Kartvelian family (Georgians) and Indo-European family (Iranian group - Persians, Kurds, Balochs, Pashtuns; Armenian group - Armenians; Greek group - Greek Cypriots).

National minorities live in every country. In particular, over 50% of the world's Azerbaijanis are concentrated in Iran (Iranian Azerbaijan); Kurds make up 20% of the population of Turkey and Iraq, there are many of them in Iran and Syria; in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, a significant number of Russians; in Afghanistan, 25% of the population are Tajiks who live in the north of the country; in Lebanon 4% Armenian; in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, the indigenous population represents only 50-60%, and the rest are foreign workers from other countries in the region.

Religious composition. The majority of the population professes Islam of different directions: Sunism (the predominant part of Islamic countries), Shiism (Iran, partly Iraq, Azerbaijan, Yemen), Wahhabism - Saudi Arabia, Kharijism (orthodox Islam) - Oman.

The region is the birthplace of Islam. On its territory there are saints for every Muslim city - Mecca (the holiest city in Islam), where, according to legend, Muhammad was born, and the "city of the prophet" - Medina, where on the site of the house in which Muhammad is said to have died, a majestic El-Haram Mosque, with the tomb of the founder of Islam and other "saints". Pilgrimage here is one of the five "pillars" of Islam. Islamic fundamentalism plays a significant role in the life of some Muslim countries in the region, especially in Iran.

The Jews of Israel profess Judaism - the official religion in the state, although this is not legally confirmed. Nevertheless, the influence of the rabbinate on the internal life of Israeli society is very great. Rabbis control the issue of marriage and family, since only they are authorized to draw up acts of civil status, monitor observance of kashrut (the rules for preparing, eating and preserving food) and Saturday (Shabbat), which requires the cessation of any production and service activities. Religious holidays in Israel are also state holidays.

The Greek Cypriots and Georgians are Orthodox, while the Armenians belong to the Virmeno-Gregorian Church. Approximately 1/2 of the population of Lebanon are representatives of local Christian churches of the Catholic and Orthodox directions.

Population placement

Due to the nature of natural conditions, the bulk of the inhabitants of the region live on the coast, in mountain valleys and lowlands (for example, the Ararat Valley of Armenia, Colchis in Georgia, etc.), in the valleys of large rivers - Mesopotamia in Iraq (average population density - 80 -100 people/km2 and more). Huge areas of the deserts of Arabia and the Iranian Highlands are poorly populated (1 person / km2) or do not have a permanent population at all.

There are noticeable migrations of people here, caused by traditions, socio-economic, political conditions, etc. Pashtuns in Afghanistan). According to various estimates, there are from 10 to 20 million people.

Many ancient cities of the region arose before our era in oases and at the crossroads of caravan routes. They are rich in monuments of medieval Muslim architecture. It is believed that on the territory of modern Israel there was the oldest city on Earth - Jericho (it arose as early as the 4th millennium BC near the mouth of the Jordan).

The level of urbanization is generally low and represents an average of 65%: in Kuwait - 97%, Qatar - 92, Israel - 91, UAE - 90, Yemen - 34, Afghanistan - 18, Oman - 13% (one of the lowest rates in the world). The largest agglomerations of the region are: Tehran (12 million people), Istanbul (10 million), Ankara (4 million), Baghdad (3.8 million). Millionaire cities - Er Riyadh (2.6 million people), Jeddah (2.6 million), Damascus (2 million), Izmir (2 million), Beirut (1.8 million), Baku ( 1.8 million), Yerevan (1.3 million), etc.

Almost half of the population lives in rural areas, mostly in compact villages.

Labor resources. The predominant part of the local population is employed in the areas of management, trade, finance, or lives on interest on capital. The majority of the economically active population (especially 80-90% in the manufacturing sector) of many oil-producing countries in the region (except Israel, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Cyprus, Afghanistan) are immigrants from poor Arab countries who are attracted by earnings that are 10-15 times higher than wages in their home country. In recent decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of foreign workers in the areas of the service sector.

The tense external economic situation for decades, the almost constant military conflicts in many countries of the region have affected the demographic situation, causing mass migration. Low living standards (poverty, illiteracy, the spread of diseases, epidemics, etc.) are characteristic of a significant part of the region's population.

animal husbandry

In animal husbandry, the main breeding is sheep and goats. The total number of sheep is almost 135 million heads. Many donkeys and camels (almost a quarter of their world population). Livestock productivity is low. The breeding of small cattle, horses and camels prevails. There are significantly fewer cattle here and there is no pig breeding at all. The main method of keeping animals is transhumance or nomadic grazing. The wool of angora goats from Turkey and karakul from Afghanistan are valued on the world market.

Fishing. The waters of the Red, Arabian and Caspian Seas, the Persian Gulf are rich in fish. Such valuable industrial fish species as tuna, mackerel, horse mackerel, etc. are caught here. Shrimp fishing is common in the waters of the Persian Gulf. On the world market of black caviar, Iran became its largest producer (270 tons of sturgeon caviar annually), displacing Russia and other Caspian countries. On the coast of the Arabian Sea, turtles are caught, the meat of which is used in food.

Composition of Southwest Asia: the region includes countries with an Arab population - Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates), UAE), Saudi Arabia, Syria. Non-Arab countries include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Iran, Turkey.

Geographical position of Southwest Asia Southwest Asia occupies a "middle" position in relation to parts of the Eastern Hemisphere - the Old World. The western part of Turkey - a country mainly Asian, is located in Europe, the conditional border of Asia and Africa runs along the Sinai Peninsula. Now this feature of the geographical location is taken into account when locating international airports.

The geographical position determined the special role of the region in the world civilizational, economic and political development. Thanks to him, two of the three world religions (Christianity and Islam), which originated in this region, have become widespread in the modern world. From here, millions of tons of oil and a huge amount of gas are distributed all over the world. The oil-producing countries of Southwest Asia are in a favorable position relative to their main buyers.

Southwest Asia one of the smallest regions in foreign Asia in terms of territory and population. It has a long history of development: here, in the interfluve of the Tigris and Euphrates and in the east of the region, the first powerful states appeared in the past, here for the first time a plow was used to cultivate the land, a water lift was invented for irrigating the land. For the first time in the history of mankind, wheat was introduced into the culture of the Iranian Highlands - the main bread of our time.

The formation of the Ottoman Empire, which colonized a significant part of the region and blocked the Great Silk Road, played an important role in the history of the region. The long-term dependence on backward Turkey resulted in the preservation of the agrarian and raw-material structure of the economy in many countries. To date, Turkey and Iran have managed to overcome it mainly. The principalities in the center of the Arabian Peninsula remained independent in the region, which in 1927 formed a single state, called Saudi Arabia since 1932. In the same years, exploration and production of oil began. In the 18th-19th century, numerous wars were fought in Southwest Asia.

Turkey and Iran sought to capture and convert the population of the Transcaucasian countries to Islam. Here their interests collided with the interests of Russia. As a result of the outcome of repeated wars, many peoples - Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Aisors were separated by the borders of different states. This was the reason for ethnic disagreements and clashes, which escalated in the late nineteenth, early and second half of the twentieth century. They were especially acute in Turkey. The Turkish-Armenian conflict led to the death and expulsion from the country of a significant part of the Armenians living in eastern Turkey. The exiles scattered throughout the world, that is, formed and diaspora.

Everything that is happening now in this region directly affects the interests of the neighboring territories of the Old World - Eurasia and Africa. Thanks to oil reserves, the region became a sphere of interest for the New World (Countries of North and South America).

Natural conditions and natural resources Even in the developing world, it is difficult to find a region in which the dependence of the economy on the characteristics of natural conditions and natural resources would be so great. main feature The natural conditions of the region are the low availability of moisture in vast areas of Southwest Asia. The lack of moisture has become one of the causes of international disputes and conflicts over the fair division of water. The limited water resources affected the distribution of the population. Densely populated areas gravitate to water arteries, sources of artificial irrigation and underground pools of artesian waters.

Oasis territories are combined with huge tracts of poorly developed and undeveloped lands, the areas of which are especially large in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The lack of water for a long time hindered the refining of oil, the main wealth of many countries in the region. It also influenced the structure of agriculture: very small areas are occupied by arable land. They are located either along rivers - sources of irrigation, or in elevated areas, where more precipitation will fall than on the plain. Iraq, Iran and Turkey have the largest tracts of arable land. On arid agricultural lands, small cattle are bred, mainly sheep, most adapted to poor pastures.

Cattle breeders lead a nomadic and semi-nomadic way of life, little changed from the Middle Ages. They are one of the poorest and most backward population groups. Desert nomads are called nomads, their way of life is nomadism. Now in most countries there is a transition of nomads to a settled way of life.

Second feature natural conditions - a large amount of heat, allowing for artificial irrigation to repeatedly use the land for crops. Hot and dry weather is favorable for ether-bearing plants. In the wild, medicinal herbs, raw materials for the perfume industry, are collected.

In Yemen and in the south of Saudi Arabia, aromatic resins are collected - frankincense, myrrh, which are necessary in the cult of Christian worship. Both substances have a strong bactericidal effect, so fumigation with incense was used in cathedrals and at the bedside of the sick to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Currently, high air temperatures, clear sunny weather are one of the most important tourist resources. The swimming season at many resorts in the region is longer than in many competing countries.

Third feature- Most countries of the region have access to the seas of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the past, this contributed to the use of fish resources of the sea, the fishing of sponges and pearls, and the development of foreign trade.

Now the access to the seas of two oceans provides favorable conditions for the export of oil to all regions of the globe. Extraction, transportation and refining of oil are the main sectors of the economy of Southwest Asia. The region has almost 40% of oil reserves and provides over 30% of its production. The main oil-producing country in Southwest Asia and the world is Saudi Arabia. 25% of the world's oil reserves are concentrated here.

Oil is produced in varying amounts in most countries of the region. The well-being of these countries and their inhabitants depends on oil prices on the world market. In Saudi Arabia, oil and oil products account for 90% of export earnings and form 75% of its budget. This is the main source of budget formation and economic development of all oil-producing countries in Southwest Asia, which is why their economy is called the "oil economy".

Oil and gas are finite resources, so most countries have enough oil reserves for 6 to 12 years. In Bahrain, it is almost over. Although geologists are constantly discovering new deposits in the Arabian Peninsula, for example, Oman and Yemen were among the oil exporters at the end of the 20th century, the question arises: how will these countries exist when oil runs out? Therefore, oil-exporting countries are developing programs to create an "oil-free" sector of the economy. Some of the programs have already been implemented, for example, more and more oil is processed in producing countries.

Technologies are used in which production requires less water. In addition, many countries operate seawater desalination plants. Saudi Arabia uses desalinated water both to supply the population and to develop oil refining and petrochemistry, and the metallurgical industry. In addition to these measures, oil exporting countries began to invest money received from its sale in the development of large companies located around the world. They buy up oil refineries in different countries, create networks of gas stations. Qatar is engaged in the development of information technology, Bahrain has become a banking center of world importance.

The oil economy has affected every aspect of life and economic activity. The main mode of transport is pipeline transport. Cargo external relations are carried out by sea. In passenger communication with other regions, air transport is the main one, as is the case throughout the world. Countries outside the Arabian Peninsula also receive "oil" money for the transportation of oil through their territories, for the use of ports through which oil is sent to consumers by tankers.

Population of Southwest Asia.

The population of the region is ethnically diverse, but religiously homogeneous. Most of the population is Muslim. This unites the region and creates conditions for a common policy and mutual support in political and economic life. For example, countries - oil exporters agree on the size of oil production, and prices for it. Islam influences all aspects of the life of the population of this region.

This is manifested in the features of everyday behavior, the lower social position of women in the family and society. Women are much less likely to receive education, very rarely continue to work after marriage. There are strict restrictions in communication, clothing. In some countries women won the right to vote only in the 1970s.

The virtue of Muslims is a large number of children, therefore, in most countries of Southwest Asia, there is a high birth rate. The age structure of the population is young. The largest proportion of children under 16 (46.2% of the population) is in Yemen. However, the population of oil-producing countries remains small. The largest oil-producing country is Saudi Arabia. It occupies an area of ​​more than 2.1 million km², but has only 28.14 million people.

Therefore, oil-producing countries are experiencing a shortage of labor and are forced to attract it from abroad. In countries such as Qatar, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), in some years the number of immigrants significantly exceeds the number of indigenous people. Immigrants work at oil producing and oil refineries, in tourism. Turkey is very different from the Arab countries in terms of population growth. Thanks to a higher level of development, a higher proportion of city dwellers, this country is approaching European countries in terms of birth and death rates. Population growth is low in Israel and in the countries of Transcaucasia.

Southwest Asia has a high proportion of the urban population. The cities of the region have a long history, their existence is overgrown with legends and myths. The capital of Syria - Damascus is the oldest of the existing cities in the world. No less famous are the cities of Baghdad, Tehran, Beirut, Aden. Istanbul, not being the capital of Turkey, remains its economic, cultural, and innovative center of the country.

The new cities of the UAE, where one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world is located, amaze with modern architecture. But the most famous city in the region is Jerusalem - the keeper of the shrines of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish religions. In the west of Saudi Arabia, at a short distance from each other, there are "two mosques" - Mecca and Medina - the holy cities of Muslims. Here the faithful perform the Hajj - visiting shrines. In Yemen, in the deserted corners of other countries, many medieval towns have been preserved, preserving the traditions and appearance of the Middle Ages. Among them is the Yemeni city of Tarim, which houses the world's largest library of ancient Arabic manuscripts.

Economy of Southwest Asia.

The most modern and industrialized country is Turkey. It is experiencing a shortage of oil and gas, but has significant reserves of chromites, raw materials for ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, and is developing machine building. Turkey has a fairly developed agriculture with some unique industries.

For example, they grow downy goats, once imported from the Orenburg steppes and giving excellent down - tiftik, used in knitwear production (2nd place in the world). The first place belongs to Turkey in the collection and export of nuts - hazelnuts and the fifth place in the collection of tea leaves. Turkey has become one of the main tourist countries in Asia. There are conditions for educational, beach and health, medical, pilgrimage tourism. Its ski resorts are becoming increasingly popular.

Israel occupies a special position in the region.

This state appeared on the world map in 1947. He was given a territory of about 14 thousand km². Already in 1948, Israel launched a war for the expansion of lands, then there were two more invasions of Arab lands. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is one of the most protracted in the world. Its settlement encounters great difficulties and obstacles for which both sides are to blame.

Now Israel is a developed state with a modern industrial structure and efficient agriculture, specialized in the cultivation and export of vegetables and citrus fruits. A growing industry is tourism - pilgrimage, beach and health, medical. Thanks to the Dead Sea, with its healing waters saturated with salts and bromine, Israel has become a health center of world importance. The structure of Iran's industry is no less diverse. A feature of the location of the industrial centers of Turkey and Iran is that large industrial centers are located here not only in port areas, but also in inland lands.

Thanks to oil and geographical position, Southwest Asia is economically open to the world, but closed to the influence of other cultures, protecting its foundations, customs and way of life. Southwest Asia, as the oldest region of economic development, has a diverse cultural heritage. Among them, the most significant number of cult monuments - ancient Christian cathedrals, mosques unique in architecture, shrines of Christians, Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem and other cities.

Conclusion: Southwest Asia is a region of great cultural, historical and economic importance. This is the main energy region of the modern world. Along with oil, gas and agricultural products, over the last decades of the 20th century, it has become a significant supplier of petroleum products, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The main problems of the region are the problem of efficient and careful use of oil resources, protection of the unique nature, cleanliness of the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. But the most important issue is to end ethnic conflicts and wars over oil fields. Resolving these conflicts will make our world more stable and secure.

Southwest Asia is the world's most important energy region and home to two world religions. Southwest Asia is characterized by exceptionally high dependence on natural conditions and resources. In terms of economic development, all countries in the region can be divided into countries with an “oil economy” and countries relying on other types of natural resources. Dependence on water resources and the availability of land suitable for irrigation leads to conflicts between countries, which are often disguised as religious and ethnic conflicts. Overcoming conflict situations, preserving natural well-being is one of the conditions for the security of the whole world. This is also important for the region itself, as tourism is rapidly developing in Southwest Asia.

Considering the specific features of this subregion, it is necessary to pay attention, first of all, to its extremely important, nodal economic, political and geographical position at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, at the crossroads of maritime and other communications of great international importance. The Black Sea straits (the Bosphorus - Sea of ​​Marmara - Dardanelles system) and the Suez Canal are of strategic importance.

The political map of Southwest Asia was largely formed in the middle and in the second half of the 20th century, and at present it presents various forms of government, including several types of republics (with various political regimes) and monarchies - absolute and fairly close to them (including, as already noted, the theocratic monarchy - Saudi Arabia).

This subregion is the most important component of the Arab and Muslim world, which significantly affects its international position. It must be remembered that it was here that the "homeland" and the foundation of the Arab Caliphate were located, that here are the shrines of Muslims around the world - the cities of Mecca and Medina (in Sa-

Ud Arabia), and in a number of countries (also Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, etc.) Islam is the state religion. The subregion contains half of the countries that make up the League of Arab States, a political and economic organization created in 1945; in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) is the headquarters of the Islamic Conference Organization, established in 1969 and uniting most of the Muslim states of the world. The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, an economic organization uniting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, has a narrower composition.

A special place in this sub-region of Asia is occupied by Jerusalem, the religious ("sacred") center of Jews, Christians and Muslims.

The diversity of the countries represented here is also expressed in their differences in the level of socio-economic development. Thus, according to the World Bank classification (according to the level of average per capita income; 1997), the group of low-income countries includes: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan and Yemen; Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, as well as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Palestinian Arab territories) have slightly lower income levels. The level of income per capita, slightly higher than the average - in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Finally, the high-income group includes Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates."

During the entire period after the Second World War, Southwest Asia was a "burning point" of the planet, a territory "saturated" with numerous problems and conflicts of an interstate, interethnic and other nature.

Let us single out only a few of them, the most acute and long-term ones.

7.2.1. Palestinian problem

The essence of this multifaceted problem lies in the self-determination of the Arab population of Palestine and the formation of their independent state in accordance with the well-known resolution of the UN General Assembly of November 29, 1947 (No. 181).

During the war of 1948-49. with neighboring Arab countries, Israel seized most of the territory of Palestine, which, according to this resolution, was intended for an Arab state, and the rest was under the control of Jordan

210 __________________________________ CHAPTER VII. POLITICAL MAP OF ASIA

(West Bank of the Jordan River) and Egypt (Gaza Strip, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea) and was captured by Israel during the war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan in 1967 (Fig. 7.1).

For a long time, the Palestinian Arabs did not recognize the partition of Palestine, UN General Assembly resolution 181 and, consequently, the existence of the State of Israel. For more than 40 years they have waged a political and armed struggle for the liberation of all of Palestine, refusing to negotiate with Israel.

November 15, 1988 in Algiers at the XIX session of the National Council of Palestine (NPC - Palestinian Parliament in exile) it was announced the creation of an Arab state - the State of Palestine. At this session of the NSP, Israel's right to exist was actually recognized, but a demand was put forward for its withdrawal from all Palestinian and Arab territories occupied by it since 1967, as well as the elimination of all Israeli settlements established there over the past years. Thus, the geographical scope of the proclaimed State of Palestine included the West Bank of the river. Jordan (5,878 sq. km) and the Gaza Strip (379 sq. km), home to an estimated almost 2 million Arab Palestinians and over 100,000 Israeli settlers. In addition, up to 4 million Arab Palestinians are in neighboring Arab countries and elsewhere in the world. East (Arab) Jerusalem was declared the capital of the new state.

7. 2. Southwest Asia_________________________________________________ 211

Characteristically, already on November 18, 1988, the Soviet Union declared its recognition of the "proclamation of a Palestinian state," and in January 1990 an embassy of the State of Palestine was established in Moscow. It has observer status in the UN and some other international organizations, has more than 100 representative offices in various countries of the world.

However, Israel did not recognize this act, and in fact the State of Palestine does not yet exist, since it does not have a state territory. At the same time, since 1991, Israel began to take part in negotiations on a Middle East settlement, as a result of which, in September 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is the core of the political structure of the Palestinian national liberation movement, concluded an agreement on mutual recognition and signed a declaration on the basis of which in 1994 the Palestinian Authority was established in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho region (West Bank of the Jordan River). In October 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty (such an treaty was signed with Egypt as early as 1979). Thus, Israel's relations with neighboring Arab states are gradually normalizing and conditions are being formed for the national self-determination of the Palestinian Arabs. As of the beginning of 1998, problems on the Syrian-Israeli and Israeli-Lebanese tracks remain unresolved.

7.2.2. Kurdish problem

This is also one of the most acute and long-term problems of the subregion - the problem of national self-determination of the Kurds, one of the numerous peoples of Southwest Asia (their total number, according to an estimate in mid-1992, was approximately 18 million people).

The historical fate of the Kurds has developed in such a way that

after the collapse of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire and the appearance in

this sub-region of the new states, the area of ​​their settlement, Kurdish-

; camp, divided between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. But,

Despite the absence of an independent Kurdish state

and attempts at forced assimilation, the Kurds managed to keep

1 their language, their customs, developed their national culture.

During the XX century. did not subside national liberation

movements for autonomy and statehood, covering the entire

Kurdistan.

CHAPTER VII. POLITICAL MAP OF ASIA

7. 2. Southwest Asia

So, in Iran, where about 5.6 million Kurds live, in 1945 the Kurdish Republic was created with its center in the city of Mahabad, in the north-west of the country, defeated by the Iranian army.

The uprisings of the Kurds in the struggle for autonomy were brutally suppressed in Turkey, where 7.5-8 million Kurds live, mainly in the southeast of the country. In 1986, in Turkish Kurdistan, the teaching of children at school in the Kurdish language, as well as the publication of books and newspapers, was actually prohibited.

A kind of "autonomy" was granted to the Kurds in Iraq in 1974: the most oil-rich lands in northern Iraq, around the historical capital of Kurdistan, Kirkuk, were taken from the Kurds, and the city of Erbil was appointed the capital of autonomy instead. There is evidence that in suppressing the uprising of the Kurdish people in 1988, Iraq used chemical weapons of mass destruction, as a result of which 5,000 innocent people died in Iraqi Kurdistan 2 .

A significant part of the Kurds was forced to migrate to neighboring (Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan) and other countries (the largest Kurdish diaspora is in Germany - about 240 thousand people).

7.2.3. Cyprus problem

This is the problem of the split of the Republic of Cyprus into two parts, due to a combination of political and interethnic contradictions in this country and closely related to the ethnic composition of the population, in which 78% are Greek Cypriots and 18% are Turkish Cypriots: two communities, two languages, two religions (Orthodox Christianity and Islam).

The island of Cyprus, located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and belonging to the sub-region of Southwest Asia, since 1878 the possession of Great Britain, gained independence in 1960. The granting of independence was formalized by the Zurich-London agreements of 1959, which limited the sovereignty of the republic: Great Britain, Greece and Turkey became the so-called. guarantors of the independence, territorial integrity and security of Cyprus; Greece and Turkey also received the right to maintain their military contingents on the island, Great Britain retained a territory of 99 square meters under its full sovereignty. miles, where two large military bases are located.

However, the agreements of 1959 failed to ensure the unity of the country, to prevent ethnic demarcation and intercommunal clashes.

These contradictions became especially acute in 1974, when, under the pretext of restoring constitutional order (an attempted coup was made in the country) and protecting the Turkish Cypriots, Turkey sent its troops to the island, occupying about 37% of its territory (the territory of the island is 9251 sq. km). This led to the actual split of Cyprus into two separate parts. In 1974-75. almost all Turkish Cypriots moved to the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops, and Greek Cypriots to the south of the island.

On November 15, 1933, on the part of the island occupied by Turkey, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) was proclaimed, recognized only by Turkey. The world community condemned this separatist action aimed at splitting Cyprus.

Thus, for almost a quarter of a century this island has been divided by the so-called. "green line" - the border between the Turkish and Greek communities, guarded by UN peacekeeping forces. Out of 737 thousand people. The country's population of 176 thousand live on the territory of the "TRNC". The "Green Line" also divides the capital of the country - the city of Nicosia (in the Greek part - 177 thousand, in the Turkish part - about 30 thousand inhabitants; 1996).

The resolutions of the UN Security Council emphasize the inadmissibility of dividing the island, point out the need to eliminate the foreign military presence and stop interfering in the internal affairs of the republic. With the mediation of the UN Secretary General, negotiations are held between the communities. The main principle of the settlement of the Cyprus problem remains the existence of a single state, which includes two politically equal communities.

7.2.4. Problems of the states of Transcaucasia

The geopolitical position of the three states of the Transcaucasus, the former Soviet republics of the USSR - Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, is complex; their relations with each other and with Russia are characterized by considerable difficulties and contradictions.

The internal political situation in Georgia. Did not find a solution to the status problem South Os

CHAPTER VII. FLOOR ITIC CARD/*

7. 3. South Asia

ti, whose leadership declared its independence and, referring to the results of the referendum held here in January 1992, raises the question of its secession from Georgia. Of vital importance is the deepening of integration processes between both parts of Ossetia - South and North Ossetia - Alania, a republic within the Russian Federation.

Georgian-Abkhazian armed conflict 1992-94 led to the actual separation of Abkhazia (Abkhazian Autonomous Republic) from the rest of the territory of Georgia. Thus, a complex problem arose of determining the political status of Abkhazia and, consequently, maintaining the territorial integrity of Georgia.

In 1988-89 a conflict arose between Azerbaijan and Armenia, then still union republics of the USSR, over Nagorno-Karabakh, a historical region in Transcaucasia inhabited by Armenians and Azerbaijanis, on the territory of which the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Okrug was formed in 1923 as part of Azerbaijan. This conflict led to armed clashes, which in 1993 escalated into large-scale hostilities, which ceased in 1994. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), supported by Armenia, but not recognized by the international community, was proclaimed, occupying part of the territory of Azerbaijan outside the AO (regions between Nagorno-Karabakh and the border with Iran, as well as along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border).

The Karabakh (Armenian-Azerbaijani) conflict is one of the most acute within the CIS, and they are trying to resolve it with the help of mediator states - the United States and Russia, with the assistance of the CSCE. The Karabakh conflict has turned, according to political scientist V. Nikonov, into a "Karabakh impasse": he believes that "Armenia and the NTK will not agree to the formula of vertical subordination of Karabakh to the authorities of Baku (that is, its preservation as part of Azerbaijan as an autonomous entity. - M.G.), and Azerbaijan will not accept the independence of the NKR or its accession to Armenia" 3 .

7.2.5. Issues in Afghanistan

Over the past 20 years, this country has been going through a period of almost continuous civil war, interethnic and other internal conflicts, accompanied by strong influence from outside.

In December 1979, in agreement with the leadership of the country (and to support it in the fight against the opposition), Soviet troops were brought into Afghanistan, which was later assessed as an illegal and criminal act, which led to the strengthening of the opposition movement, the extreme aggravation of tension in this country. The United States, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and some other states have joined the conflict in one form or another.

During the entire period of Soviet troops in Afghanistan (their withdrawal was completed in 1989), the opposition in that country continued its armed struggle for power, rejecting all proposals to start a peaceful dialogue with the government.

After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and the cessation of military supplies by the Soviet Union and the United States to the warring Afghan sides (since 1992), deep divisions continued to persist between government forces (and their allies) and opposition groups that control a large part of the country. Thus, the permanent civil war in this country does not actually subside, continuing to shake one of the least economically developed countries in the world, causing military-political tension along the southern borders of the CIS. In this regard, the protection of the Tajik-Afghan border has become especially important.