South Asia

Geography of India

• Subcontinent

• India is in Asia but is considered a subcontinent because of how it juts out.

• North of India are huge mountain ranges.

- Hindu Kush- Himalayas

• Mountains were a barrier from the people in the north.

Mt. Everest

• Region

• Rivers

• Three Zones in India1. Northern Plain (just below mountain

ranges)2. Deccan (huge plateau

in the center)

3. Costal Plains (on each side)

• Indus (Where India got its name)

• Ganges (gan-geez)

• Narmada

• MANY others!

• Deccan Plateau

• Raised triangle of land in the center of India

• Lacks moisture because of its altitude. The melting snow doesn’t reach it.

• Deccan is not good for farming.

• Sparsely populated. Deccan

• Monsoons • Seasonal Wind

• Winter Monsoons- hot, dry air that withers crops

• Summer Monsoons- Heavy daily rain

• The monsoon has shaped Indian life significantly!

Winter Monsoons: Nov.-April

Summer Monsoons: May-Oct.

• Modern India Stats.

• Population: – 1.2 BILLION

- 2nd most populous behind China.

• Exports: Rice (22% of worlds production), clothing, textiles.

• Currency: the Rupee

• Capital City: New Delhi

• Primary Religion: Hindu

TheSize ofSouthAsia

Hindu Kush

The Khyber Pass

The Himalayas

“him” [snow]

“aalaya” [home]

Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet. It is the highest mt. peak in the world.

Deserts / Plateaus

Thar

Desert

DeccanPlateau

TibetanPlateau

The Deccan Plateau

31,800 square miles in size.

Elevation range: 2,000 – 8,000 feet high.

From the Sanskrit word, “dakshina” [“the south”].

The tibetan Plateau

The “Roof of the World.”

average elevation is 16,400 feet.