The Mesopotamian Lowland: a characteristic

The Mesopotamian lowland is the main form of relief in Western Asia. The traditional ancient name is Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia in Persian means "the land between two rivers." After all, the lowland lies between the valleys of the main rivers of the western part of Asia - the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Short description of the lowlands

The total area of the Mesopotamian lowland is almost 400 thousand square meters. Km, stretched to the northwest by 900 km, width - not more than 300 km.

The vegetation of the lowland is poor in its variety. Basically - it is a subtropical desert, only along the rivers are the so-called gallery forests, represented by willows, euphrates poplars, reed beds. The main occupation of the local population is cattle breeding. On the territory of the lowland there are such large settlements: Abadan, Baghdad and Basra.

Where is the Mesopotamian lowland and features of its structure

There is a plain on the territory of such states: its most part in Iraq, as well as in Kuwait, Iran and Syria.

The lowland is the foremost (marginal) trough in the junction zone of the Precambrian Arabian platform and the young mountain range of Zagros and Taurus (Alpine-Himalayan folding). The tectonic deflection in which this form of relief was formed is very deep and is represented by sediments of the Meso-Cenozoic and Paleozoic. The total thickness of the deposits reaches 15 km. It is here that the largest deposits of minerals in Asia are concentrated: oil, natural gas, sulfur, rock salt. Oil and gas deposits of the Mesopotamian lowland belong to the Persian oil and gas basin.

Characteristics of the Mesopotamian Lowland

The Mesopotamian lowland is a flat, flat alluvial terrain. Everywhere in its territory are lakes and marshes. The soils of the lowland are fertile, it depends on the fact that the bottom sands from the river valleys settled on the banks for many years and formed a layer of soil very fertile for agriculture. The height above sea level does not exceed 100 m, only the edges of the lowland rise to a height of up to 200 m. In the north, the plain reaches the mountain ostalce massif. Its average height is 500 m, the maximum point is Sinjar (1,460 m). In the south-west, the lowland reaches the Syrian-Arabian plateau, which is composed of strata and has heights of up to 900 m. And in the northeast rests on the Iranian highlands. Here is the highest mountain range of Iraq. Immediately located is Mr. Checha Dar (3,611 m) - the highest point in Iraq.

Climatic conditions

The Mesopotamian lowland is in an area where the climate is predominantly subtropical, continental. The southern part refers to a deserted tropical climate. In the summer in the southern region, sandstorms are common. Average temperatures in winter are within + 7 ... + 12 ° С, in summer +34 ° С. On some days, the maximum can reach + 48 ° C.

The Mesopotamian lowland is deprived of precipitation. Their annual amount, which falls on this territory, is only 150 mm. Therefore, the main water sources and arteries are rivers.

Lakes and rivers of the Mesopotamian lowland

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, each 2,000 km in length, cross the entire Mesopotamian lowland from northwest to southeast. And in the lower reaches merge into a common stream and carry their waters to the Persian Gulf. These two rivers are of great importance for virtually the whole region of West Asia. The waters of the Euphrates are used to irrigate the region. And the Tigris River, which is rich in tributaries, serves as a source of hydropower in the region. A cascade of hydroelectric power stations was built on the watercourse.

The Mesopotamian lowland is in a place of accumulation of a huge number of lakes. They are located in the relief depressions. The largest of them: Mileh-Tartar, El-Milh, Saadiya, El-Hammar. The widespread phenomenon of the Mesopotamian lowland is wadi. Wadi are dry river beds that can be filled with water, forming watercourses during the rainy season.

Historical facts

However, the Mesopotamian lowland is not popular geographically, but in historical terms. The fact is that it was in the Mesopotamia, in the valleys of the Tigris and the Euphrates, that one of the first civilizations of the Ancient World, Sumerian, was born. This place has become the main cultural focus for all of Asia. The first mention of the fact that the first settlements and cities appeared in river valleys dates back to the 8th millennium BC.

It is Sumerian considered the first written civilization in our history. The written language of the Sumerians was called the pictogram. Also due to them appeared irrigation farming and cattle breeding as a fishing. The Sumerians lived in a generic order. Where the Mesopotamian lowland is located, it was easier to engage in farming, cattle breeding and handicrafts. Civilization brought many new discoveries to life. It was the Sumerians who invented the wheel, the irrigation system, the potter's wheel, the writing, the primitive tools for farming (pick, hoe, shovel), brewing, bronze, and colored glass. They were the first to compose an annual calendar, they were able to calculate the area of geometric figures and invented arithmetic. Developed civilization was in terms of architecture. Great popularity had monumental buildings - ziggurats (by the type of mausoleums).

Tourists constantly visit this place, as it is filled with stunning scenic landscapes, embodying the beauty of nature. Very often people come here to take a dip in the lakes and just have a good rest.