Geography
Name ____________________________________ Central Asia – Map Activity Directions: Locate and label the following areas on the map included. Countries: Label the following in BLACK Georgia Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan Armenia Tajikistan Kazakhstan Azerbaijan Uzbekistan Cities: Label the following in RED Tbilisi Ashgabat Bishkek Baku Dushanbe Astana Yerevan Tashkent Bodies of Water: Label the following in BLUE Black Sea Caspian Sea Aral Sea Physical Features: Label the following according to instructions beside them Kara Kum (Label ORANGE) Kyzyl Kum (Label ORANGE) Caspian Depression (Shade and Label PURPLE) Caucasus Mountains (Label BROWN) Lesson 1: Physical Geography 1. Central Asia stretches from the _________________ to ____________________. 2. The landforms are mainly __________________ and ________________. 3. All the countries of the region are ________________________, meaning they have no access to the sea. 4. The western section is called the _____________________, named for the mountain ranges there. 5. The eastern section has mountains separated by ___________________ and __________________, some of which have water and fertile soil. 6. The many earthquakes in the region show that there is much ______________________. 7. The ____________________ is the world’s largest inland sea. 8. The ____________________ has mostly dried up since 1960, when water from its main feeder was diverted to irrigate fields. 9. _____________________ in Eastern Kazakhstan has also lost a lot of water after its feeder river was dammed. 10. Central Asia is in the middle of the continent and far from any oceans, so the climates are generally _________________________. 11. Parts of the ______________________ that borders deserts across Eastern Kazakhstan are fertile and are used for agriculture. 12. The Caucasus Mountains and the mountains of the eastern subregion have ________________________ climates. 13. The major resources in the region are the oil and natural gas found under the ____________________________. 14. In what ways has the Aral Sea changed? 15.Were these changes natural or as a result of human activity? 16.What did the dry climate have to do with the changes? Lesson 2: Human Geography 1. Both __________________ and ___________________ formed kingdoms more than 2,000 years ago and were Christianized under Roman rule in the A.D. 400s. 2. Peoples in countries whose names end with “stan” lived as _______________________ in ancient times. 3. For several decades, Central Asia was under _____________________ control, which improved the standard of living but held down the native cultures. 4. The Soviet invasion of _____________________ in 1979 led to the growth of the _______________________ there, which later sheltered the al­Qaeda terrorist group. 5. Settlement patterns are strongly affected by ___________________ and ________________________. 6. Because the people of Central Asia traditionally supported themselves by ____________________ and ____________________, the region has few urban areas. 7. ____________________ in Central Asia are fairly small; Tashkent, Uzbekistan is the largest in the region. 8. The region is ethnically _________________, which has led to conflict, such as in the rebellious provinces of Georgia where non­Georgians have declared their independence. 9. Except for Afghanistan, most of the countries have a 98% _______________________ rate; in Afghanistan, the rate is 30%. 10. Urban and economically advanced countries such as _________________ and ________________ tend to have the best access to the Internet and other technology. 11. ____________________ had rights to education and equality under Soviet rule that, in some cases, have been lost under Islamic rule. 12. In the six countries of the eastern subregion, a rich __________________ documents the adventures of cultural heroes through epic poems. 13. The countries of Central Asia are not ___________________, and rely on agriculture and exporting natural resources. 14. ________________________ produces cotton and silk, and ______________________ is among the world’s top ten producers of wheat. 15. While most countries of Central Asia have moved from the Soviet era command economy, many still struggle to move entirely to a ________________________. 16. Though _____________________ plays only a small role in Central Asia, countries do produce some goods, such as automobiles, tractors, and agricultural equipment. 17. What are some examples of the influence of traditional culture, Islam, and Soviet rule in Central Asia today? Lesson 3: People and their Environment 1. What are the effects of agriculture on the environment of Central Asia? 2. Why are pipelines needed in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan? 3. How is hilly land used if it is not suitable for farming? 4. Why are deforestation and desertification problems in Afghanistan? 5. What is the environmental legacy of the Soviet era? 6. How do scientists describe the Apsheron Peninsula of Azerbaijan, and why? 7. How has the Aral Sea changed from 1959 to 2010? 8. What is Armenia doing that is causing it to be criticized by environmental activists, and why does Armenia feel this is important to do? 9. What are two reasons governments seek outside help in solving the environmental issues? 10. How are the countries of the eastern subregion managing water resources? 11. What is being done to save the Caspian Sea? 12. How is Afghanistan addressing a serious problem resulting from earlier military conflicts? 13. How have Soviet era policies harmed the environment throughout the region?