The Middle East

Credit: MODIS team; NASA, Posted on: Wednesday, 28 June 2006, 05:33 CDT Download full size image

This MODIS Terra image of the Middle East was acquired recently. The green Nile Delta, in Egypt (to the west) contrasts with the surrounding desert areas. To the east of the Nile, two forks of the Red Sea surround the Sinai Peninsula. The left branch is the Gulf of Suez – the Suez Canal is visible on this image, running north from the Gulf.

The right fork of the Red Sea is the Gulf of Aqaba. It separates the Sinai Peninsula from Saudi Arabia. North of Saudi Arabia is Jordan. Between the Sinai and Jordan is Israel. The Gaza Strip is shown on the larger image, as a small area in the south-west of Israel, on the border with Egypt.

The West Bank is the larger outlined area bordering Jordan. The Dead Sea is visible on the border of the West Bank and Jordon. North of the West Bank, and near the northern border of Jordan, is another body of water, the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias.

North of Israel is Lebanon. North of Lebenon and Jordan is Syria. To the north-west, all these countries are bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. The coasts of Lebabon and Israel have some vegetation – but much of the Middle East is desert.

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