SafekipediaWest Asia
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. It includes places such as Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the Levant, the island of Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula and the South Caucasus. This area is separated from Africa by the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, and from Europe by the Turkish Straits and the Greater Caucasus.
West Asia covers an area of 5,994,935 km2 and has a population of about 313 million people. Some of the most populous countries here are Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. While many people use the terms West Asia and the Middle East interchangeably, they are not exactly the same. The Middle East is a political term that changes over time, while West Asia is a fixed geographical region.
The region is surrounded by twelve seas, including the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Red Sea. West Asia is rich in history and culture, and it plays an important role in the world today.
Definition
The term West Asia is used in different ways by various groups and organizations. Some include countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Others may also include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Cyprus, depending on the group.
Sports organizations in West Asia usually involve the same group of countries, hosting events like the West Asian Games and having federations for sports such as basketball, billiards, football, and tennis.
Main article: Middle East
Main articles: Eastern Mediterranean, Near East
Countries
West Asia is a region in the western part of Asia. It includes several areas such as Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and the Levant. The region is also home to important lands like Mesopotamia, the Armenian highlands, the island of Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula, and the South Caucasus.
West Asia is separated from Africa by the narrow Isthmus of Suez in Egypt and from Europe by water routes like the Turkish Straits and the mountains of the Greater Caucasus. This area has many countries and cultures that have shaped history for thousands of years.
History
See also: History of the Middle East, Ancient Near East, History of the Ottoman Empire, Treaty of Gulistan, Treaty of Turkmenchay, and Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire
The term "Western Asia" began to be used in the late 1700s and early 1800s as a way to talk about a part of Asia. Back then, it included places like Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. Later, in the 1900s, the term was used mostly by people studying old civilizations, like those in the Fertile Crescent, but not including Ancient Egypt. Today, people use "Western Asia" when talking about geography, politics, and the world's economy.
Geography
See also: Geography of Asia
West Asia is surrounded by several major seas, including the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The region is bordered by Europe to the northwest and north through the Turkish Straits and the Greater Caucasus, and by Africa to the southwest at the Isthmus of Suez. To the northeast and east, it connects with Central Asia and South Asia.
The landscape of West Asia includes deserts, mountains, and fertile valleys. Major rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates support agriculture across the region. However, water shortages are common due to growing populations and challenges like salinization and pollution. The area also experiences special wind patterns, such as the dry and dusty sharqi and the northwesterly shamal, which can create sandstorms and affect daily life.
Economy
See also: Economy of the Middle East
The economy of West Asia is varied and growing quickly. Turkey has the biggest economy in the area, with Saudi Arabia and Iran following. A big part of the region's work comes from petroleum, because West Asia holds more than half of the world's oil reserves and about 40% of the world's natural gas reserves.
Demographics
Further information: Demographics of the Middle East
See also: Ethnic groups in the Middle East
West Asia is home to around 272 million people, with numbers expected to grow to about 370 million by 2030. The region has a fast growth rate, higher than the world average. Turkey and Iran are the most populous countries, each with about 79 million people. Other large countries include Iraq and Saudi Arabia, each with around 33 million, and Yemen with about 29 million.
The main languages spoken are Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, with smaller groups speaking Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Hebrew, Armenian, and Neo-Aramaic. Islam is the most common religion, followed by Christianity, Judaism, and smaller groups like Druze, Baháʼí, Yarsanism, Yazidism, Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, and Shabakism. Many different religious traditions began in this area, and it remains important to many faiths today.
Culture
The West Asian region has many sports organizations that help manage different games. The West Asian Tennis Federation takes care of tennis championships and leagues, while the West Asian Billiards & Snooker Federation handles billiards and snooker tournaments.
There are also special games just for West Asia called the West Asian Games, which were held in 1997, 2002, and 2005. Football (soccer) has its own group called the West Asian Football Federation, started in 2001, which organizes the WAFF Championship. Basketball fans can enjoy the WABA Championship, organized by the West Asia Basketball Association since 1999.
Images
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