LänsiAasian

LänsiAasian (Western Asia) is the western part of the Asian continent and is commonly associated with the Middle East. The precise boundaries vary among sources; a typical definition places the northern edge along the Caucasus and the Taurus Mountains, the southern edge at the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, and the western edge along the eastern Mediterranean. Some schemes also include Turkey or parts of the Caucasus, while others exclude Cyprus.

Geographically, Western Asia features deserts such as the Arabian and parts of the Syrian Desert, mountain belts including the Zagros, Taurus, and the Caucasus, and river basins around the Tigris, Euphrates, and Jordan. Climate ranges from arid and semi-arid to Mediterranean along coastal zones.

Demographically, the region is diverse, with Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds, Armenians and Jews among its many communities. Major languages include Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Turkish, Kurdish and Armenian, with Hebrew spoken in Israel. Religions are likewise diverse, with Islam (Sunni and Shia) as the predominant faith, along with Christian and Jewish communities.

Economically, Western Asia is rich in energy resources, with large oil and natural gas reserves. Major economies include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. Historically, the region is the cradle of ancient civilizations—Mesopotamia, the Levant and Anatolia—and a crossroads of trade routes such as the Silk Road and other historic networks.