Sub Continental Regions
From ZuluNotes - Free Leaving Cert Notes
Examine the development of primary economic activities in a Continental/Sub-Continental Region you have studied.
[30m]
The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt. Without it the country would be home to a few thousand nomads and oases dwellers. Instead the waters of the Nile have irrigated the country for thousands of years. As a result agriculture today contributes substantially to Egypt's GDP ( 4000 EURO ), employs a large part of the labour force ( 40% ), and provides the country- through agricultural exports- with an important part of its foreign exchange. This is despite the fact that farming is limited to 3% of the total land area due to its climate. Increased pressure of population has led to an intensification of cultivation almost without parallel elsewhere. Heavy capital is invested in the form of canals, drains, dams, water pumps, and barrages. The investment in skilled labour, commercial fertilizers, and pesticides is also great. Thus despite multiple cropping, yields are very high. Strict crop rotation, in addition to government controls on the allocation of area to crop, on varieties planted, on the distribution of fertilizers and pesticides, and on marketing- contributes to the high productivity of agriculture. Unlike the situation in other developing countries, Egyptian agriculture has an overwhelming commercial rather than subsistence basis. Field crops contribute 75% of the total value of agricultural production, while the rest comes from livestock products, fruits and vegetables, and other speciality crops. Egypt has two seasons of cultivation, one for winter and another for summer crops. The main summer field crop is cotton, which occupies more than 20% of the regions arable land. Egypt is the worlds principal producer of long- staple cotton ( 2.5 cm and longer ) in the world. Following the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the government encourgaed the development of a thriving fishing industry. Construction of such projects ( a fish farm and fishery complex at Lake Nasser ) have led to a considerable increase in the number of freshwater fish.
This answer is 30/30 and includes the mention of fishing as dictated by activities .
Examine the development of secondary economic activities in a Continental/Sub-Continental Region you have studied.
[30m]
Initially local manufacturing industries developed in Egypt included food processing e.g wheat and maize made into bread, cereals etc. Citrus fruits were bottled and canned. Local supplies of cotton etc were made into textiles of clothes, carpets, rugs etc. However, oil and gas deposits are significant - producing 700,000 barrels a day at present. Over the last 20 years, more than 200 oil companies have spent 27 billion EURO in exploration. Egypt's abundance of natural gas will more than meet its domestic demand for many years to come and the country is increasing its exports of gas. It has extensive supplies of granite in the Weestern Deesert, together with large amounts of manganese, phosphates, iron ore, lead and glass sand. Emphasis was placed on the development of heavy industry after a long term agreement was signed with the Soviet Union in the 1960s and this included the establishment of an iron and steel plant and a number of power-based industries including an aluminium complex to utilise the power of the Aswan Dam. An ammonium nitrate fertilizer plant was opened based on the gases produced in the coking unit of the steel mill at Hulwan. Nitrate fertilizer plants were also opened at Aswan and the Delta area using local natural gas supplies. Egypt also has a number of oil refineries, again based on the local supplies of oil and these in turn have led to the establishment of petro-chemical industries. Egypt has made great achievements in increasing industrial production in such traditional industries, such as spinning and weaving, as well as in the more modern industries. Cairo and Alexandria are the main industrial centres, while major industrial plants are also located in the other cities of the Nile valley, the Delta and at Port Said and Suez.
This answer is 30/30
Account for the development of one tertiary economic activity in any one Continental / Sub- Continental Region that you have studied.
2009 [30 m]
Tourism in Egypt has seen rapid growth during the last decade. With a share of around 25% of the Middle East tourism market, it has witnessed a growth rate of 10%, higher than the world average ( 7% ). In 2000, international tourist arrivals reached 5.5 million, a growth rate of 15% from 1999. There was a drop in 2001 due to political conflict in the region and the September 11th attacks. Growth has been steady ever since with only minor blips due to terror attacks eg. the recent Sharm El Sheikh bombings and the crisis in Lebanon. The main attractions include; beach holidays and water activities in the Mediterranean and Red Sea resorts, history based holidays with the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings, River cruises on the Nile and Camel and jeep Safaris into the desert. The tourist sector makes a significant contribution to the Egyptian economy, representing around 5% of GDP, employing 7% directly, and 12% indirectly. Tourism is also the largest foreign exchange earner in the country, with reciepts reaching a value of 4.5 billion EURO. Egypt attracts tourists for a range of purposes, manily recreational to a variety of destinations, and from a variety of countries, particularly from Europe. Egypt Air, the states Flag Carrier, provides reliable domestic air service to major tourist destinations from its Cairo hub, in addition to overseas routes. Transport facilities are centered in Cairo and largely follow the pattern of settlement along the Nile. The Nile River system of 1,600 km and the principal canals 1,600 km are important locally for tourism.
This answer is 30/30 and came up in my leaving this year. I was kinda shocked by the restriction of the question to one tertiary economic activity but common sense and ingenuity are in order. :)
