East Asia Geography

China’s Mountains

• Himalayas divide China from Nepal• Highest peak in the world is Mt. Everest

Plateau of Tibet

• Spreads across one-fourth China’s land• Highest plateau on earth and is known as the

“roof of the world”

China’s Rivers

• Huang He begins in Plateau of Tibet, flows east and is called yellow river because of the silt that covers the plains. AKA- China’s Sorrow

• Yangtze- longest river at 3,400 miles long. Flows east.

North China Plain

• Is in eastern China and is fertile from alluvial soil from the Huang He and loess brought from winds.

China’s Deserts • Taklimakan is in

northwest China and is 600 miles wide. Dust storms in the spring lift the dust up to 13,000 feet high

• Gobi desert is located in central northern China. Name means waterless place and can temps can range from 114 to -40 degrees.

Japan

• Four main islands are Hokkaido, Honshu (largest) , Shikoku, and Kyushu. Sits atop two tectonic plates.

Mountains and Volcanoes

• Mountains cover more than 80% of Japan’s land. Japan’s tallest mountain is Mt. Fuji

• Volcanic eruptions are common in Japan which is part of the Ring of Fire.

Earthquakes and Climate

• Japan records as many as 1,500 minor earthquakes per year. Construct buildings able to withstand earthquakes.

• Climate is controlled by monsoons. They experience typhoons in summer and early fall.

The Koreas

• Located on the mountainous Korean peninsula.

• North Korea is filled with mountains and valleys

• South Korea is mixed with rugged mountains, coastal plains, and river valleys.

On your map label:

• Gobi • Taklimakan Desert• Yangtze River• Huang He River• Korean Peninsula• Himalayan Mountains • Mount Everest • Mount Fuji • North China Plain

• Indian Ocean• Pacific Ocean• Bay of Bengall• South China Sea• Yellow Sea • Sea of Japan