South Asia

Physical FeaturesChapter 24 section 1

Subcontinent

• Referred as the Indian Subcontinent

• 1/5 of world’s pop• ½ size of USA

Himalayas

Himalayas

• Highest mountain chain in the world• Formed 50 million years ago• Stretch 1,500 miles long• Over 24 peaks above 24,000

Mount Everest

Tallest mountain in the World29,035 ft.

Other Mountains

• Karakoram Mountain Range

• Hindu Kush• Fighting over access

to Khyber Pass• Eastern and Western

Ghats

K2, 2nd highest mountain in the World

Rivers

• Three great river systems: Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra

• All 3 originate from Himalayas

• Create Indo-Gangetic plain

Indo-Gangetic Plain• Brings rich soil, alluvial soil, creating alluvial

plain• Has the most fertile soil in the world• Home to major cities and 3/5 of India’s pop

Thar Desert

• AKA: Great Indian Desert

• One of world’s most arid regions

Maldives• Archipelago: island

group, more than 1200 islands

• Stretches 500 miles• Tops of submerged

volcanoes, surrounded by reef called atoll

• Only 115 sq miles• Only 200 islands

inhabited

Resources• Read pg. 554-5551. What mineral resources have led to the development

of industries in India?2. What does this area get from the oceans?3. What “green” types of energy is this region working

on?4. What types of timber is produced in this region?5. What problem is associated with the timber industry?6. Besides energy, what has India used their uranium

deposits for?7. Why is mica important to India and the world?