This land plot is often referred to as “new breath.”Islamic civilization ", or the main springboard of the modern Arab world. Indeed, these two subregions have a lot in common: South-West Asia and North Africa. The EGP, composition, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the two regions will be discussed in our article.
North Africa and South-West Asia - what is in common?
Though they are on different continents, butperceived by many researchers as one large region. By and large, geographically, they are separated only by a rather narrow and very salty Red Sea.
Why is North Africa and South-West Asia so often separated into one region? There are at least four very good reasons for this. We list them:
- the predominance in all countries of one group of peoples - the Arabs;
- common faith (Islam) and language (Arabic);
- The EGPs of North Africa and South-West Asia have many common features;
- mainly commodity economies (not typical for all states).
The region under consideration at the junction of twoThe continents are often also called the Arab or Arab-Muslim world. It covers the territory of more than two dozen countries with an aggregate population of 350 million people.
Key cultural features of subregions
At the very beginning it is worth mentioning that thesetwo regions became the cradle for many of the famous ancient civilizations of our planet (Minoan, Sumerian, Egyptian and others). It was here that centers were formed that for a long time produced ideas that radically changed our world. It is also worth remembering that three major religions of the Earth originated within South-West Asia and North Africa: Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Separately, it should be said about the Muslim religion.She miraculously managed to spread her influence over vast territories, from southern Europe to Southeast Asia. At the same time, Islam introduced unrest and split into once-integral nations, dividing them into warring camps.
Natural wealth of the subregions and their use
What else does North Africa have in common?Southwest Asia? Many countries of these regions nature has awarded the richest deposits of gas and oil. Alas, not all states of the Arab world have learned to use these resources rationally.
Many countries just rock black gold,getting super profits and not thinking about their development prospects in the near future. But not all do so. A vivid example of a successful and progressive country is the United Arab Emirates (abbreviated to the UAE).
North Africa and Southwest Asia onThe modern political map of the world is 26 independent states. However, it would be a gross mistake to say that the borders of the macroregion under consideration coincide with the borders of these 26 countries. Moreover, its borders are very blurred and impermanent.
What makes North Africa special and unique? The EGP of the subregion, its natural resources and economic structure will be discussed further. Which of the countries of North Africa are the richest?
North Africa: EGP (briefly) and natural resources
The total area of this subregion is about10 million square meters. km True, most of this territory is occupied by the hot and lifeless Sahara desert. There are seven countries in North Africa (six of them are sovereign, and one is partially recognized). It:
- Morocco.
- Libya.
- Sudan.
- Tunisia.
- Algeria.
- Egypt.
- Western Sahara (SADR).
EGP North Africa as a whole cancharacterize as profitable. The subregion has a wide outlet to the Mediterranean and Red Sea, as well as to the Atlantic Ocean, which allows building constructive trade relations with the leading states of the planet.
Недра Северной Африки чрезвычайно богаты на various types of mineral raw materials. Thus, the most actively developed deposits of oil, gas, iron and manganese ore, uranium, gold and phosphate.
Characteristics of the EGP of North Africa: the pros and cons
The economic and geographical position of any country or region has its advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes there are more pluses and sometimes minuses.
The EGP of North Africa is distinguished by severalbeneficial aspects. Firstly, the region has a wide access to the Mediterranean Sea. Through it, the countries of North Africa border the European Union, which gives them an excellent opportunity to build close trade, economic and other relations with the most developed countries of our planet. In addition, the European Union is the world's largest market for product sales.
The second beneficial aspect of the EGP region is the presence of powerful mineral and raw material bases both within North Africa and in its immediate vicinity.
Its shortcomings in the economic and geographicalThe position of the region is also present. First of all, it is worth noting that the population of North Africa is distributed very unevenly (due to natural and climatic conditions). There is no shortage of the region in its “hot spots”. Military insurgencies, revolutions and terrorist attacks have already become very familiar to many countries in North Africa.
Conclusion
The EGP of North Africa and Southwest Asia isquite profitable and promising. A rich mineral resource base, a good transport position and the wide access to two oceans at once - all this lays good prerequisites for intensive economic development of this macro-region.
It is here, at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia,originated many of the most ancient civilizations of the planet. Two of the three world religions also originated here. Finally, it was in this region that important discoveries were made that changed our world.
