ES quiz 1

>What does Geography have to do with politics?

Political geography looks at how governments and countries are affected by their location.

  • Unlike rivers and mountains, these aren’t a part of the landscape.

Political geography is the study of how humans have divided up the Earth's surface for management and control purposes.

>The relationship between politics and places:

  • How boundaries are made x

  • the size of a country affects how powerful it is 

  • How natural resources are distributed around the world affects trade and war

  • It’s NOT just theoretical: the design of constituencies for elections  (.تصميم الدوائر الانتخابية).




Geographical Features of the UAE 

  • Location: Arabian Gulf.

  • Borders: It is bordered by the Gulf from the (north and northwest), by Qatar from the (west) & KSA from the (West and South), Oman and the Gulf of Oman from the (East).

  • UAE’s coastline is 644 km stretching from the Qatar Peninsula(شبه جزيرة) in the west, to Ras Musandam in the east. (P—>M) 644km

  • Area:The total area of the UAE is 77,700 square kms(same),and the total area of the State including the islands amounts to 83,600 sq.km. 

  • it is the third largest in area among the GCC countries after KSA & Oman. 

  •  Features: 

  1. Internal Desert :Most of the country is desert land, particularly the internal Eastern areas. 

  2. The Oases:There are some well known oases such as AlAin and surrounding areas. The underground water is formed because of Jabal Hafeet (1220 ft).Its water is distributed, Through an irrigation network called aflaj which reaches the slopes of the northern area in RAK. 

  3. Mountain Series: Another mountain series known as Jabal Hafeet and Jabal al-Hajar which reaches 80 km. crossing Oman and dividing Musandam Peninsula

  4. Coastal Areas:. Most of the coastal areas are sandy, with the exception of the mountainous Musandam Peninsula.

  • The Gulf regional water is generally shallow, with an average depth of 35 m. apart from the Hormuz Straits where the depth is 145 m, the deepest in the area.

  • The water in the Gulf is the hottest in the world, it could reach 45 degrees. In spite of the water’s high salinity, it is rich with fish. 

  • Coral reefs,which are rich in shells of pearls, are found in the Gulf but sometimes form a hindrance to navigation  

  • The UAE comprises hundreds of islands spread along the Gulf, 200 of which belong to Abu Dhabi, the most important are Das, Delma & Umm al-Nar. Another important island lie near RAK like Tonb Assogra & Tonb al Kubra. 

  • The UAE climate lies within the dry tropical area extending across Asia and North Africa. It has excessive heat and increased humidity in summer but has varied temperatures in coastal & hilly areas. 

  • Rainfall is little, but the amount of evaporation is 20 times the amount of rainfall due to excessive heat. Rain increases in the hilly and mountainous areas. The Emirates climate has two seasons:

  1. The Rainy season (October to March ) 10-3

  2. Summer season (April to September) 4-9


THE EMIRATES OF THE STATE

  1. Abu Dhabi

  • (86.77%) total area, excluding the islands. 

  • 70% of its land is desert land. 

  • The capital of the eastern side is Al Ain. 

  • There are 200 islands which belong to the Emirates, the most famous is Bani Yas which is converted to a natural reservation.

  1. Dubai

  • It is bordered by the Gulf from the West, Sharjah from the North and East, and Abu Dhabi from the South. 

  • Its area is about 5% of the total area of the UAE.

  • The bay divides the city into 2 parts: Bur Dubai and Deira, linked together by Al Maktoom Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Shandaga Tunnel.

  1. Sharjah

  • is situated in a central location. 

  • Kelba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba lie on the Gulf of Oman and belong to Sharjah.

  • Sharjah’s area is 2590 sq. kms. and represents 3.3% of the state, excluding the islands.


  1. Ajman

  • Ajman is the smallest emirate. 

  • It is located on the Arabian Gulf. 

  • It controls 2 small inland enclaves Manama and Masfut. Both are primarily agricultural.(0.7%)


  1. Umm al-Quwain

  • Lies on the Arabian Gulf extending between the West of Sharjah & the East of Ras al-Khaimah. 

  • Its total area is (1%) of the total area of the UAE, excluding the islands. 

  • Filj al-Mualla is an agricultural area 

  1. Ras al- Khaimah

  • Its total area equal to (2.2%)of the total area of the UAE. 

  • It is situated on the farthest end of the Eastern part of the Arab World. 

  • It has a long border with Oman in the South and North East. 

  1. Fujairah

  • Lies on the Eastern Coast on the Gulf of Oman bordering Ras al-Khaimah and the Sultanate of Oman. 

  • Its total area is about (1.5%) of the total area of the UAE. 

  • It comprises of rough mountains lying between the Gulf of Oman and the Batnah Plain which is considered the most fertile area in the State. 

  • It contains several valleys of which Siji Valley & Ham Valley are the most famous.

> How did the mineral wealth of the UAE affect the economy of the country?

The country bordered by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. 

Due to which water resources are rare as compared to the oil and natural gas resources. 95% of the UAE's economy is based on exports. Apart from that tourism is also one of the biggest sectors that contributes to the economy.