As we learn about Southwest Asia and how they use their water, students will complete a concept web. Water in Southwest Asia Why is there a limited amount.

As we learn about Southwest Asia and how they use their water, students will

complete a concept web.

Water in Southwest Asia

Why is there a limited amount of water?

What can we conclude from this map?

• There are few major fresh water sources, like the TIGRIS and EUPHRATES Rivers.

• Southwest Asia must find other ways to collect water for daily uses and survival.

Big Dry Problem

Let’s add to our concept map. Include both written and visual information.

Water in Southwest Asia

Why is there a limited amount of water?

How have people modified the environment?

Desert andSemi-arid Climate.

Few major freshwater sources

How have people in Southwest Asia modified the environment to

provide valuable water?

1) Damming Rivers

2)

3)

4)

The Hemren Dam on the Tigris River provides water for drinking,

irrigation and hydroelectricity.

Note the arid climate and lack of vegetation

Let’s add to our concept map. Include both written and visual information.

Water in Southwest Asia

Why is there a limited amount of water?

How have people modified the environment?

1) DammingRivers – Provides water for drinking,

irrigation, and hydroelectricity.

Desert and Semi-arid Climate.

Water is so valuable that countries will fight for its control and use!

• There is controversy over Turkey building a series of dams on the Euphrates River.

• TASK Explain the controversy.– Turn to p. 495. Read the

section titled “Dams and Irrigation Systems.”

– Add the REASON FOR THE CONTROVERSY to your chart.

Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River in Turkey

Dam Controversy

• SYRIA and IRAQ think it will take away precious water supplies that THEY need for drinking, irrigation, and hydroelectric power plants.

How have people in Southwest Asia modified the environment to

provide valuable water?

1) Damming Rivers

2) Pivot Irrigation

3)

4)

Pivot Irrigation is an above ground system of watering crops that forms

circles of arable land.

Circles of green irrigated vegetation in Saudi Arabia, April 1997

Arable Land

Desert Land

Pivot Irrigation systems at work!

Pivot Irrigation

• Task Pivot Irrigation Explanation/Sketch– Turn to someone near

you. – Explain Pivot Irrigation.

– Sketch an example of

Pivot Irrigation on your concept map.

How have people in Southwest Asia modified the environment to

provide valuable water?

1) Damming Rivers

2) Pivot Irrigation

3) Desalination Plants

4)

Desalination Plants are water treatment plants that remove salt

from ocean water.

- =

Desalination Plants - Clip• Intro – This clip is about a small community in

California that built a desalination plant to address it’s water problems.

• Question – How does a desalination plant work?

Water comes in on this side

Water comes out on this side

Desalination Plant in Tampa, FL

Problems with Desalination Plants

1. Water can be too salty for irrigating crops

2. Expensive to operate (costs a lot of money)

3. Cannot provide enough fresh water for all the needs of citizens

How have people in Southwest Asia modified the environment to

provide valuable water?

1) Damming Rivers

2) Pivot Irrigation

3) Desalination Plants

4) Drip Irrigation

http://www.omarproperties.co.uk/irrigation.html

Drip Irrigation is the use of small pipes to slowly drip water just

above the ground.

Keeps water from Evaporating in the arid climate

Drip Irrigation allows for date palm trees to grow on a farm in the

deserts of Southwest Asia

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~parish/geraldlink1.html

A Kibbutz in Israel is an agricultural community relying on irrigation to produce crops for the community

and country.

Notice the climate surrounding the irrigated land

Complete your concept map. Add a picture for Drip Irrigation

Water in Southwest Asia

Why is there a limited amount of water?

How have people modified the environment?

1) DammingRivers – Provides water for drinking,

irrigation, and hydroelectricity.

Desalination Plants -

Pivot Irrigation -

Drip Irrigation -

Desert andSemi-aridClimate.

Complete your concept map.

Water in Southwest Asia

Why is there a limited amount of water?

How have people modified the environment?

How have people adapted to the environment?

1) DammingRivers – Provides water for drinking,

irrigation, and hydroelectricity.

Drip Irrigation -

Pivot Irrigation -

DesalinationPlants -

Desert andSemi-aridClimate.

How have people in Southwest Asia adapted to the arid climate?

• Agriculture – Grow crops and raise animals that require less water.

• Recycle – Treat waste water for use in agriculture.