There is no single, agreed-upon, definition of what specifically constitutes the Middle East. Physical The Middle East region represents an area of over 5.0 million square miles. The physical geography of the Middle East is varied.
Vast deserts are common in the region.
The Sahara Desert runs across North Africa, essentially limiting settlement to along the Mediterranean coastline and in Egypt along the Nile River. Other significant deserts exist throughout the region. Mountain ranges exist throughout the region with some peaks rising as high as 19,000 feet. Snow is a common sight in these mountain ranges. Ease of movement in and out of the Middle East by water is also affected by the presence of a number of narrow water passageways.