Central Asia & the Caucusus

1. Central Asia & the Caucusus

2. Landforms

3. Physical Geography

4. Mountains • The Caucusus Mountains lie between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea • They separate Russia from Central Asia

5. Water Features • Aral Sea • Caspian Sea

6. Natural Resources • Turkmenistan has the world’s largest supplies of sulfur and sulfates • Sulfate is used in glass, paperboard, and detergent • The region is also known for chromium, gold, lead, manganese, and zinc

7. Climate • Desert & Steppe • Deserts: • about 10 inches of rainfall per year • Cold winters with freezing temperatures • Nomadic animals graze on brush • Steppe: • Borders deserts • Less than 14 inches of rain per year • Allows short grasses to grow • Pastoralism: the raising and grazing of livestock

8. The People of Central Asia Predominant Ethnic Groups and Traditional Garb

9. Pashtun (Afghanistan)

10. Armenian & Georgian (Caucasus)

11. Uzbeks & Kazakhs (Turkic Peoples Outside of Turkey)

12. Population Density • Most populous country in region: Afghanistan • Population displaced by conflict • Armenian Genocide • Mass emigration after takeover by Soviet Union produced harsh conditions • Kyrgyzstan

13. Population Distribution • Population is spread unevenly • Why might that be? • Tajikistan: people settle in river valleys • Amu Dar’ya • SyrDar’ya

14. History & Gov’t • Crossroads of European and Asian cultures • Silk Road • led to prosperity for certain areas • Also inspired invasions by the Mongols, Greeks, Persians, Arabs, and Ottoman Turks

15. Crossroads of Culture • Armenia is surrounded by countries whose inhabitants identify as Muslim, but over 90% of Armenians practice Christianity • Azerbaijan is surrounded by Christian countries in the Caucasus, but maintains an Islamic culture • Armenia is classified as an enclave: a territory that is culturally or ethnically different from surrounding larger cultures • Azerbaijan is considered an exclave: a distinct group of people who are isolated from the main/larger part of the country

16. Central Asia and the USSR • Harsh conditions led to people fleeing the region during the Soviet Era • After the fall of the USSR, many countries declared independence • Armenia has some economic stability and reform • Tajikistan was chaotic without central authority • Most of Afghanistan was taken over by the Taliban • Poverty and unemployment widespread • Armenia, Georgia, & Kazakhstan hope that oil and gas will stabilize the economy

17. Language • Turkic languages are the most common • Georgia is the only country in the region with a wholly unique language and alphabet • Russian is still the official language of Kazakhstan and widely spoken in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Georgian Alphabet and Pronunciation Chart

18. Religion • Islam is most popular • Most countries follow the Sunni branch • Azerbaijan follows the Shia branch • Christianity is the major religion in Armenia and Georgia • 90% of Armenians follow the Armenian Apostolic Church (300s AD) • Georgia uses follows the Georgian Orthodox Church

19. Life • Universal education • Mandatory through secondary schools for many countries • Literacy roughly 88% for most countries (Tajikistan) • Afghanistan & Uzbekistan lagging • Armenia & Georgia near 99% • Healthcare poor since dissolution of USSR • Little money to spend on social programs after years of conflict • Region known for literary tradition • Suppressed during Soviet Era

20. Economy and Human Impact

21. Economy • Azerbaijan has the most arable land in the region (21%) • Turkmenistan has the least arable land (5%) • In Afghanistan, 67% of people depend on farming but only 12% of the land is arable • Climate plays a role • Georgia is known for citrus fruits (humid subtropical climate) • Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton producers • Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan raise silkworms • Azerbaijan exports wheat, cotton, potatoes, and tea • Kazakhstan produces large amounts of grain • Oil pipelines from Azerbaijan to Georgia

22. Transportation • Much of the region is reliant upon roads instead of waterways or ports • Mountains and deserts make building roads difficult and expensive • (Fairly) Recent development: 1998 Tajikistan unveils railroad system • Some Central Asian countries have their own airlines

23. Communications • Desert makes communications difficult • Satellites are improving communications services • Cell phone usage is growing • 1998 – 16,767 mile telecommunications cable follows Silk Road route • Plans to create Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) • Hope to promote peace and regional cooperation, increase access to worldwide markets, improve routes to landlocked countries, and access oil and gas deposits in Caspian region

24. The End 

25. Mini Poster • Computer paper & colored pencils • Draw and label the most important aspects for • Physical • Cultural • Human impact • When you are done, explain your drawings in small groups and turn in