Physical Geography of Asia

Part 1-Physical geography of Asia      archipelago: A chain or group of islands. monsoons: Systems of winds that bring heavy rainstorms; Major storm systems that affect climates and human activities; 우기 torrential: Rushing, turbulent, or violent. tsunami: A massive and destructive wave caused by seismic activity under the sea. typhoons: Swirling, rotating storm systems. Physical Regions  Central Asia-Caspian Sea nations  Eastern Asia-China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula  Southern Asia- Indian Subcontinent  Southeastern Asia- Indochina and the Malay Archipelago  Northern Asia- Eastern Russia Peninsulas- Indochina, Korea, Malay, Kamchatka Mountains in Central and Southern Asia  Urals- Traditional boundary between Europe and Asia  Pamirs- “Roof of the World”,  Himalayas- World’s highest mountains. 29,035 f Mountains of East Asia  Mountains of China- Tian Shan, Chinghai (North Korea and China)  Japanese Alps- Mt.Fuji  Mountains of Southeast Asia- Annamite range, volcanic ranges of the Philippines and Indonesia Plateaus of Asia   Tibetan Plateau- Highest / largest plateau in the world Deccan Plateau- Highlands cover much of southern Asia Asian Lowlands and Plains  Manchurian and North China plans- River basins of eastern and northeastern China  West Siberian Plain- one of largest flatlands in world; covers over 1 million square miles  Ganges Plain- Home to one tenth of the world’s population. Asia’s Deserts  Central Asia: Karakum- East of Caspian Sea, Supports mining and livestock   East Asia: Taklamakan, Gobi Desert (largest desert in Asia/ Extreme seasonal temp.) Southern Asia: Thar Desert (Great Indian desert)- Across India and Pakistan, Irrigation, and settlement projects Asia’s Major Islands  Japanese Archipelago: Four major islands  Taiwan: republic of China  Sri Lanka: South of India  Malay Archipelago/ East Indies: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines Major Bodies of Water  Oceans: Indian, Pacific, Arctic  Bays, seas, and gulfs: Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, Yellow sea, Sea of Japan  Rivers: Southern Asia (Indus, Ganges), Southeast Asia (Mekong), Eastern Asia (Huang He; Yellow, Yangtze), Northern Asia (Lena)  Lakes and Inland Seas: Caspian Sea- Natural boundary between Europe and Asia, Saltwater lake, largest lake or inland sea, Lake Baikal – Eastern Russia, Deepest, Aral SeaLocated between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Evaporating and shrinking salt water lake Storm Systems  Monsoons: Summer rainstorms flood rivers and irrigate crops in South and Southeast Asia; Caused by rising summer temperatures and moist ocean air  Cyclones and typhoons: Swirling, rotating storm systems, High wind speeds and torrential rain, hurricanes  Tsunamis: Massive and destructive waves; caused by seismic activity at sea; Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 killed many people living near the Indian Ocean’s coasts cased by major earthquake near Sumatra; most casualties in Indonesia Volcanic activity  Ring of Fire: Chain of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific; 50 active volcanoes in Japan, 23 active volcanoes on the Kamchatka peninsula, over 100 active volcanoes in southeast Asia Earthquakes  Central Asian mountains- 2005 earthquake in Kashmir  Coastal regions- Seismic and volcanic activity along Pacific Ocean  Earthquakes common in Japan and Indonesia Climate Regions  Tropical rainforest: Tropical rainforest, Tropical savanna  Dry: Desert, Steppe  Midlatitude: Humid subtropical, Humid continental  High latitude: Subarctic, Tundra, Highlands Ecosystems  Tropical rainforest: Ebony, vines, bamboo, mango, palm trees, Elephants, tigers, orangutans  Deciduous forest: Ash, maple, oak, mulberry tree, bamboo, giant panda, red panda, deer, silkworm  Coniferous forest: Pine, firs, spruces, grasses, mosses, brown bears, elk, sables, ermines, otter  Desert: Cacti, shrubs, sheep, goats, camels, Mongolian gerbils  Grasslands: Short grass, shrubs, small trees, rodents, insects, lizards, livestock animals  Highlands: Mosses, grasslands, hardwoods, snow leopards, antelope, sheep, Siberian tigers  Tundra: Mosses, summer flowers, small shrubs, reindeer, rabbits, foxes, wolves Agricultural resources  Rice: Throughout East, Southeast, and Southern Asia; Rice paddies  Wheat: Plains of China and Russia  Tropical agriculture: Yams, spices, rubber, jute  Tea: India and China, Colonial legacy Major Asian Industries  Lumber, Fishing, Hydroelectricity, Tourism, Mining, Manufacturing Environmental Challenges  Pollution: Air pollution, Contaminated water supply- waste disposal issues, outdated machinery, Radioactive materials  Deforestation- overuse of sources for logging and manufacturing  Desertification- Growth of Asia’s deserts, overuse of water sources for agriculture. Responses to Challenges  Pollution and Overcrowding o Restriction on industry, Updating manufacturing tech, use of hybrid cars and alternative transit o Deforestation and desertification: conservation areas, Aquaculture, Green Revolution, Scientific study Part 2- Cultural geography of Asia    calligraphy: Highly decorative handwriting; considered an art form. caste: A hierarchical and hereditary social class system based on Hindu beliefs of reincarnation. compulsory: Required, mandatory.  dynasty: A line of rulers from the same family. Culture of Asia  Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines (influenced by India and China)  South Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (Few natural barriers, region conquered by many civilizations, mixture of many cultures_  East Asia: China and Japan (Geographic barriers, culture developed in isolation) Southeast Asia  Indonesia, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, and the Philippines. o Major cities: Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta, Indonesia  Historical Influences o Chinese Han dynasty began rule (111BCE-789Ce) o Khmer Civilization (800-1431)- Buddhism and Hinduism capital city of Angkor o Spread of Island, beginning in the 110s o European colonialism- Dutch, French and British  Angkor o Khmer Empire (800-1431)- one of the most powerful civilizations in Southeast Asia; Hinduism; Capital city: Angkor- World’s largest preindustrial city, home to large religious temple, created large freshwater lake that triples in size each summer (highly developed irrigation systems-controlled water supplies) o Fall of Civilization- 1431 cause is uncertain  Religion and Language o Islam and Buddhism dominant  Indonesia- 86% Muslim, 10% Christian  Thailand – 95% Buddhist (blend with traditional animism)  Philippines- 85% Christian o Languages: Indonesian, Malay, Khmer, Chinese, Thai, English  Arts and Culture o Wayang Puppets, Martial Arts, Batik, Traditional Dance South Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal  25% of the world’s population  Major cities- Delhi Mumbai, Kolkata, Islamabad  Historical Influences- Aryan, middle Eastern empires. o Few geographic barriers- invasion common o Aryan Civilization (1500-500 BCE)  Intro of Sanskrit, Vedic literature, caste system, Buddhism, and Hinduism o Muslim Empires (1206-1658)  Mughal Empire, Taj Mahal o European colonialism (1498-1947)- Intro of Western Ideas      Religion o Hinduism and Islam dominant religions o Other religions include Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Christianity Language o Language is linguistically diverse  India has 15 official languages- Two language families, Indo-Ayran and Dravidian; Hindi is most common  Pakistan speaks dozens of languages  English commonly used for business and commerce throughout region. Caste System o India’s caste system  Strict divisions in society based on social class- more than 3000 divisions; Aryan civilization  Each class has own occupations and customs  Indians do not socialize or marry far outside their caste  1950 constitution unsuccessfully tried to limit influence of casts  More socialization occurs today; Prejudice and discrimination still common in rural Education o Literacy rate and access to education limited throughout region  India’s literacy rate- 61%, only have attend school afer 10, half of all women marry before 18; Pakistan Culture and the Arts o Folk Dance, Bollywood, Sports East Asia: China, Japan, Taiwan and the Koreas