Southwest Asia & Middle East 2025

plateau

A large area of flat land elevated high above sea level

desert

An extremely dry area with little water and few plants

oasis

A fertile place in a desert where there is water and vegetation

wadi

in the desert, a stream bed that is dry except during a heavy rain

semiarid

climate zone that is somewhat dry; Hot, dry summers and cool, dry winters

arid

extremely dry

fossil water

water that fell as rain thousands of years ago and is now trapped deep below ground

polytheism

belief in more than one god

monotheism

Belief in one God

hydropolitics

The politics surrounding water access and usage rights

covenant

an agreement with God

prophet

a messenger of God

alluvial plain

a plain created by sediment deposited during floods

millennium

a period of 1000 years