Physical Features of Asia

SSWG5 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary South

Asia, Southeastern Asia, and Eastern Asia.a. Describe the location of major physical features and their

impact on the regions of Asia.

Dividing the Region

• South Asia (Indian Peninsula)– India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives,

Bhutan, Nepal• East Asia– China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Japan, North and South

Korea• Southeast Asia – Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,

Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Brunei

Mountains/Highlands

• Major features: Himalayas, Mt. Everest, Hindu Kush, Tian Shan, Kunlun Mts. Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, Mt. Fuji

• Himalayas highest in the world & create border for Indian sub-continent

• Everest tallest mountain in the world• Frequent earthquakes & low population density• Mt. Fuji has sacred meaning to Buddhists

Mountains/Highlands

Mt. Everest Mt. Fuji

Mountains/Highlands

Hindu Kush Western Ghats

Plateaus

• Major features: Deccan Plateau, Plateau of Tibet

• Deccan Plateau is triangular area in Central India

• High population density & fertile soil• Area of Tibet is disputed & linked to religion

(Dalai Lama)

Plateaus

Deccan Plateau Plateau of Tibet

Rivers

• Major Features: Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Xi, Huang He, Yangtze, Mekong

• Indus = area of ancient civilization, is shared and causes conflict

• Brahmaputra = used for transport• Huang He = yellow silt, called “China’s Sorrow”

because of flooding• Ganges = sacred to Hindus, extremely polluted,

high population density

Rivers

Huang He River Ganges River

Seas

• Major features: Celebes Sea, Java Sea, Sea of Japan, South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea

• Yellow Sea is called that because of the yellow colored silt

• Celebes & Java Seas are in Indonesia

Seas

Yellow Sea Celebes Sea

Additional Water Features

• Major features: Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Bay of Bengal

• Bay of Bengal is part of the Indian Ocean• Ganges & Brahmaputra flow into it• Cyclones often strike in this area

Additional Water Features

Bay of Bengal

Deserts

• Major features: Gobi & Taklimakan• Taklimakan is sandy in places and rocky in others. • Oases are only found on edges• Used to be part of the Silk Road• Gobi is a “cold” desert in winter with temps falling

to -40F• Great Wall of China runs across its southern border• Oil found in eastern Gobi

Deserts

Gobi Desert Taklimakan Desert

Additional Land Features

• Major feature: Korean Peninsula• Includes North & South Korea• Great difference between the two Koreas

Additional Land Features

Korean Peninsula “Korea at Night”