Chp 24: Physical Chp 24: Physical Geography of South AsiaGeography of South Asia

Landforms and ResourcesLandforms and Resources

South Asia = subcontinentSouth Asia = subcontinent Peninsulas surrounded by mountains and Peninsulas surrounded by mountains and

oceansoceans ½ the size of the U.S.½ the size of the U.S. More than 1 billion inhabitantsMore than 1 billion inhabitants

Take Five…Take Five…

Look at the graphic on pg 551.Look at the graphic on pg 551. How do scientists believe the Himalayas How do scientists believe the Himalayas

were formed?were formed?

Mountains and PlateausMountains and Plateaus

Himalayas are located in 5 countries: Himalayas are located in 5 countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, NepalNepal

Serve as a natural barrier between South Serve as a natural barrier between South Asia and the rest of AsiaAsia and the rest of Asia

Mt. Everest 29,035 feetMt. Everest 29,035 feet

Wally Points…Wally Points…

How many people have successfully How many people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest?climbed Mt. Everest?

How old was the oldest person to How old was the oldest person to successfully climb the mountain?successfully climb the mountain?

How young was the youngest person to How young was the youngest person to successfully climb the mountain?successfully climb the mountain?

How many corpses remain on the How many corpses remain on the mountain?mountain?

Answers…Answers… How many people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest? How many people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest?

At the end of the 2004 climbing season, 1,400 different At the end of the 2004 climbing season, 1,400 different climbers from twenty different countries had completed a climbers from twenty different countries had completed a total of over 2,000 climbs. total of over 2,000 climbs.

How old was the oldest person to successfully climb the How old was the oldest person to successfully climb the mountain? Yuichiro Miura age 70mountain? Yuichiro Miura age 70

How young was the youngest person to successfully climb How young was the youngest person to successfully climb the mountain? Temba Tsheri 15the mountain? Temba Tsheri 15

How many corpses remain on the mountain? To date, 189 How many corpses remain on the mountain? To date, 189 people have died trying to reach the summit, which sets the people have died trying to reach the summit, which sets the fatality rate at around nine percent. Most of these fatalities fatality rate at around nine percent. Most of these fatalities happened before 1990. In the last ten years, advances in happened before 1990. In the last ten years, advances in climbing equipment and more experienced guides have climbing equipment and more experienced guides have resulted in a steep drop in fatality statistics: from 37% in resulted in a steep drop in fatality statistics: from 37% in 1990 to 4.4% in 2004. 1990 to 4.4% in 2004.

Mountain ranges as natural barriersMountain ranges as natural barriers

Hindu Kush—west of the Himalayas cut off Hindu Kush—west of the Himalayas cut off Pakistan from AfghanistanPakistan from Afghanistan Khyber PassKhyber Pass

Rivers, Deltas & PlainsRivers, Deltas & Plains Indus, Ganges & Brahmaputra RiversIndus, Ganges & Brahmaputra Rivers Meet and form one large delta before Bay Meet and form one large delta before Bay

of Bengalof Bengal Provide irrigation for agricultureProvide irrigation for agriculture Carry alluvial soil to alluvial plains Carry alluvial soil to alluvial plains

(deposits of fertile soil)(deposits of fertile soil) Indo-Gangetic Plain one of most fertile region Indo-Gangetic Plain one of most fertile region

in the worldin the world 3/5’s population of South Asia located here3/5’s population of South Asia located here

Indus RiverIndus River

Ganges RiverGanges River

Brahmaputra RiverBrahmaputra River

Offshore IslandsOffshore Islands

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Teardrop island in the Indian OceanTeardrop island in the Indian Ocean

The MaldivesThe Maldives Archipelago—island group of 1,200 islandsArchipelago—island group of 1,200 islands

• Atoll—tops of submerged volcanoesAtoll—tops of submerged volcanoes• Only 200 of the islands are inhabitableOnly 200 of the islands are inhabitable• 115 square miles115 square miles

““Teardrop” Sri LankaTeardrop” Sri Lanka

Sri LankaSri Lanka

The MaldivesThe Maldives

Take Five…Take Five…

Complete the Skill Builder questions on pg Complete the Skill Builder questions on pg 554554

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Water resourcesWater resources

Alluvial plains (for fertile agriculture)Alluvial plains (for fertile agriculture) Irrigation for agricultureIrrigation for agriculture HydroelectricityHydroelectricity Transportation and tradeTransportation and trade FishingFishing

TimberTimber Rainforests—teak, sal, bamboo & sandalwoodRainforests—teak, sal, bamboo & sandalwood Highlands & Nepal—pine, fir etcHighlands & Nepal—pine, fir etc Deforestation & soil erosion are problemsDeforestation & soil erosion are problems

MineralsMinerals Coal production (India=4Coal production (India=4thth largest in the world) largest in the world) Natural gas production—India, Pakistan & BangladeshNatural gas production—India, Pakistan & Bangladesh Uranium, mica, diamonds & iron-ore—IndiaUranium, mica, diamonds & iron-ore—India Diamonds & other precious gemstones—Sri LankaDiamonds & other precious gemstones—Sri Lanka

Natural Mineral ResourcesNatural Mineral Resources

Take Five…Take Five…

Complete the Skill Builder questions on pg Complete the Skill Builder questions on pg 557557

Sec 2: Climate and VegetationSec 2: Climate and Vegetation

6 main climate zones (see skill builder 6 main climate zones (see skill builder map)map) Tropical wetTropical wet Tropical wet/dryTropical wet/dry Desert—only 10 inches per year ave.Desert—only 10 inches per year ave. Semiarid—high temps & light rainfallSemiarid—high temps & light rainfall Humid subtropicalHumid subtropical Highland—coldest climateHighland—coldest climate

MonsoonsMonsoons

Seasonal windsSeasonal winds Oct-Feb dry winds from northeastOct-Feb dry winds from northeast June-Sept moist winds from southeastJune-Sept moist winds from southeast

• Provides rainfall for regionProvides rainfall for region• Unpredictable Unpredictable

Flooding or drought…Flooding or drought…

South Asia MonsoonsSouth Asia Monsoons

Devastation from monsoon floodingDevastation from monsoon flooding

CyclonesCyclones

Hurricanes/tornadoes—devastating storms Hurricanes/tornadoes—devastating storms with heavy rains and windswith heavy rains and winds

Bangladesh most prone to cyclonesBangladesh most prone to cyclones

CyclonesCyclones

Vegetation of South AsiaVegetation of South Asia

Lush Rainforest of BangladeshLush Rainforest of Bangladesh Deserts like Thar Desert with little Deserts like Thar Desert with little

vegetationvegetation

Sec 3: Human-Environment Sec 3: Human-Environment InteractionInteraction

The significance of the Ganges RiverThe significance of the Ganges River Hinduism religious ritualsHinduism religious rituals Drinking waterDrinking water Effects of pollutionEffects of pollution

• Raw sewageRaw sewage• Industrial wasteIndustrial waste• Corpses of animals & humansCorpses of animals & humans• Plethora of bacteriaPlethora of bacteria• Illness, disease and deathIllness, disease and death

Take Five…Take Five…

Complete the Skill Builder question on pg Complete the Skill Builder question on pg 561561

Ganges River…the Holy RiverGanges River…the Holy River

Ganges River—One of most Ganges River—One of most polluted rivers in the worldpolluted rivers in the world

Flooding of the Feni RiverFlooding of the Feni River

The process of building a damThe process of building a dam Employing a Dutch engineering firmEmploying a Dutch engineering firm Unskilled labor force of BangladeshUnskilled labor force of Bangladesh Bamboo mats to prevent erosionBamboo mats to prevent erosion Boulders to weight down the matsBoulders to weight down the mats Clay filled bags on top of the bouldersClay filled bags on top of the boulders Feb. 28, 1985—filling in the closure (completing Feb. 28, 1985—filling in the closure (completing

the dam)—low tidethe dam)—low tide 600,000 bags followed by clay to 30 ft then 600,000 bags followed by clay to 30 ft then

concrete, brick with a road built over the topconcrete, brick with a road built over the top

Building a dam to control flood waters Building a dam to control flood waters of the Feni Riverof the Feni River