South Asia is made up of South Asia is made up of 7 countries7 countries

• India

• Pakistan

• Bangladesh

• Nepal

• Bhutan

• Sri Lanka

• The Maldives

The Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and The Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and several other mountain ranges several other mountain ranges

separate South Asia from the rest separate South Asia from the rest of the Asian land massof the Asian land mass

Geographers call the part of Geographers call the part of South Asia that lies to the south South Asia that lies to the south

of the Himalayas theof the Himalayas theIndian subcontinentIndian subcontinent..

How the Himalayas Were FormedHow the Himalayas Were Formed

Great Rivers in South AsiaGreat Rivers in South Asia Rivers provide farmers with Rivers provide farmers with

water to produce cropswater to produce crops Rivers provide transportation Rivers provide transportation

of goods to the rest of the of goods to the rest of the worldworld

Rivers also cause damage Rivers also cause damage and suffering when they and suffering when they overflow their banksoverflow their banks

Rivers provide farmers with Rivers provide farmers with water to produce cropswater to produce crops

Rivers provide transportation Rivers provide transportation of goods to the rest of the of goods to the rest of the worldworld

Rivers also cause damage Rivers also cause damage and suffering when they and suffering when they overflow their banksoverflow their banks

Ganges and Brahmaputra RiversGanges and Brahmaputra Rivers

Ganges RiverGanges River

One of the longest rivers in the worldOne of the longest rivers in the world Begins in the Himalaya Mts. as melting snowBegins in the Himalaya Mts. as melting snow River joins the Brahmaputra River to form the River joins the Brahmaputra River to form the

vast Ganges Delta in the Bay of Bengalvast Ganges Delta in the Bay of Bengal

Indus RiverIndus RiverIndus RiverIndus River

Also begins in Also begins in the Himalaya the Himalaya Mts. as melting Mts. as melting snowsnow

River flows River flows through the through the Hindu Kush Mts., Hindu Kush Mts., then to the then to the Punjab PlainPunjab Plain

Joins many other Joins many other tributaries before tributaries before entering into the entering into the Arabian SeaArabian Sea

3 Regions of the Subcontinent3 Regions of the Subcontinent

Northern Mountain Northern Mountain RimRim

Himalayan Mountain Himalayan Mountain range on the border range on the border with China and with China and PakistanPakistan

Himalayas are made Himalayas are made up of several mountain up of several mountain rangesranges

the highest mountain the highest mountain peaks are snow peaks are snow coveredcovered

3 Regions of the Subcontinent3 Regions of the Subcontinent

Ganges PlainGanges Plain between the between the

Himalayan Himalayan Mountain range Mountain range and the Deccan and the Deccan PlateauPlateau

extends across extends across India from the east India from the east to the west coaststo the west coasts

3 Regions of the Subcontinent3 Regions of the Subcontinent

Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau covers most of covers most of

central and central and southern Indiasouthern India

offers fertile soil, offers fertile soil, grass covered grass covered plainsplains

has most of India’s has most of India’s mineral resources.mineral resources.

Island CountriesIsland Countries

Formerly called Ceylon, this island nation lies 22 miles off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean and is known for its beauty

and the tea, rubber, coconuts, spices, and gemstones it produces.

Sri Lanka

Island CountriesIsland Countries

400 miles southwest of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. Largest island is about

5 square miles and only about 8 feet above sea level.

The MaldivesThe Maldives

Mighty MonsoonsMighty Monsoons

At the beginning of winter, the subcontinent cools rapidly, while the Indian Ocean is still warm because the temperature of water takes longer to change than does the temperature of land. The warm water heats the air over the oceans, forcing the air to rise. This movement draws cool air from the Himalayas and northern India to

the Indian Ocean. These northeast winter monsoon winds bring cool, sunny, and dry weather to India during

the winter.

Mighty MonsoonsMighty MonsoonsAs summer returns, the pattern reverses. The temperature in

southern Asia rises faster than that of the Indian Ocean. Some areas of northern and central India reach temperatures

of more than 100°. Hot air rises over the land, drawing masses of cool, damp air from the ocean towards the land.

These southwest winds mark the return of the summer monsoon rains. Moisture blown in by these winds condenses, resulting in sustained, heavy rains, which normally begin in

June and last until September.

Mighty MonsoonsMighty MonsoonsRain Shadow Effect

On the left side of this picture, we see a cloud full of water, approaching a mountain. As it climbs the

mountain, it loses moisture, in the form of rain. And when it gets to the other side of the mountain,

it has little water, and does not form any rain. In many places on earth, the winds almost always go in the same direction. In that case the far side of a

mountain range may be a desert. This desert is said to be in a rain shadow.

Mighty MonsoonsMighty Monsoons

The Himalayas form a barrier that forces the warm air to drop its moisture over southern Asia. The southern

Himalayas receive large amounts of precipitation, while the northern slopes receive small amounts. This orographic

effect also occurs along the southwestern coast of India as a result of the Western Ghāts Mt. Range causing certain areas of India to receive tremendous amounts of rain during the

summer monsoon season. Northeastern India receives about 430 inches of rain each year, most of that during the summer.

Mighty MonsoonsMighty MonsoonsThe Effects of

Monsoons

Mighty MonsoonsMighty Monsoons Floods are a normal Floods are a normal

occurrence, destroying occurrence, destroying crops and displacing the crops and displacing the people of south Asiapeople of south Asia

Floods are most Floods are most common in the low common in the low lands of Bangladesh lands of Bangladesh where the Ganges and where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers Brahmaputra rivers meetmeet

Floods are both a Floods are both a hazard and an asset, hazard and an asset, drowning crops and drowning crops and livestock and damaging livestock and damaging property, but also property, but also fertilizing the soil in the fertilizing the soil in the form of silt.form of silt.

Review QuestionsReview Questions1. What divides South Asia from the rest of Asia?

2. Why are the rivers and waterways of South Asia important to its people?

3. What is formed when the Ganges River joins the Brahmaputra River?

4. What are the 3 regions of the subcontinent?

5. How big is the largest atoll in the Maldives?

6. Why is it difficult to grow enough food to feed the people in Himalayan countries like Nepal?

7. What large body of water is responsible for the formation of summer monsoons in South Asia?