Physical Geography of Southern and Eastern Asia

Physical Geography of Southern and Eastern Asia

An OverviewAn Overview

Land of Contrasts

Larger than North and South AmericaLarger than North and South America 1/3 of the earth’s land1/3 of the earth’s land Many physical features - huge mountains, Many physical features - huge mountains,

deserts, fertile river valleys and plainsdeserts, fertile river valleys and plains

Vocabulary

Asia has a Asia has a subcontinent - a large land - a large land mass that is smaller than the continentmass that is smaller than the continent

Only continent to have a subcontinentOnly continent to have a subcontinent The subcontinent is India, but also

includes the countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal

Thousands of Islands

Formed by Formed by volcanoesvolcanoes

Archipelagoes Archipelagoes (groups of many (groups of many islands)islands)– Indonesia - largest, Indonesia - largest,

has 13,500 islandshas 13,500 islands– Philippines - has Philippines - has

7,000 islands7,000 islands

The World’s Highest Mountains

The Himalayas - Mt. The Himalayas - Mt. EverestEverest

Form the heart of AsiaForm the heart of Asia Called “The Roof of the Called “The Roof of the

World”World” Many mountain ranges Many mountain ranges

- Pamirs (center of the - Pamirs (center of the “roof” - the “Pamir Knot”“roof” - the “Pamir Knot”- Altai- Altai- Tian Shan- Tian Shan

Mountains affect…

ClimateClimate Soil fertilitySoil fertility Amount of rainfallAmount of rainfall Separate countries and peoplesSeparate countries and peoples

Effect of Mountains

Farming and traveling difficultFarming and traveling difficult Uncomfortable living (very cold & dry)Uncomfortable living (very cold & dry) Block rain-bearing winds from southBlock rain-bearing winds from south

-north of mountains and Plateau of Tibet -north of mountains and Plateau of Tibet are desertsare deserts

- Gobi- Gobi

- Takla Makan- Takla Makan

River Valleys

Rivers flow down from mountainsRivers flow down from mountains Extremely high populationExtremely high population Flood and leave behind rich, fertile soilFlood and leave behind rich, fertile soil

Vocabulary

Winds blowing off mountains blow Winds blowing off mountains blow yellow top soil into the yellow top soil into the North China Plain

Creates Creates loess - very fertile soil, - very fertile soil, refertilized every yearrefertilized every year

The rivers are…

Huang River (or Yellow River)Huang River (or Yellow River) Chang River (or Yangtze River)Chang River (or Yangtze River) Mekong RiverMekong River Also the Ganges, Indus, & BrahmaputraAlso the Ganges, Indus, & Brahmaputra

Rivers start in the Plateau of Tibet, flow Rivers start in the Plateau of Tibet, flow across the plains and empty into the across the plains and empty into the seasea

Vocabulary

Civilization began in China along the Civilization began in China along the Huang He RiverHuang He River

People learned to farm the People learned to farm the alluvial soil - fertile soil deposited by the river as it - fertile soil deposited by the river as it flowsflows

Huang is called “China’s Sorrow”Huang is called “China’s Sorrow”

The Pattern of the Land

High mountains and great river valleys - High mountains and great river valleys - reason why some areas are crowded reason why some areas are crowded and some are notand some are not

Mountains isolate regions and peoples -Mountains isolate regions and peoples -so cultures developed without outside so cultures developed without outside influencesinfluences

AsiaIndia - The Taj Mahal Japanese Symbols

A Chinese Symbol