Southern &
Eastern Asia:
• The vast continent of Asia has many different
mountain, desert, and water features.
• Icy mountain ranges are located in the north, while
steamy rainforests lie in the south.
• A large part of Asia is desert, yet much of southern and
eastern Asia receives massive amounts of rain each
year.
• These features impact trade and affect where people
live.
Physical Features
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Southern and Eastern Asia’s Population Density
Impact of
• The Himalayas are a mountain range with some
of the tallest peaks in the entire world.
• They have a significant impact on life in
southwest China and northwest India.
• Hydroelectric power plants have been built on
glaciers throughout the range, which supplies
energy throughout the region.
• India is separated from the rest of Asia on three
sides by mountain ranges.
• On India’s side of the Himalayas, the high
mountains trap rain clouds, so rainforests and
grasslands can be found.
• The Chinese side of the icy Himalayas receives
very little rainfall and the population is much
lower here.
• The Tibetan Plateau covers the majority of western
China and is the world’s highest plateau at 14,800 feet
above sea level.
• Because of the region’s extremely high elevations, it
has been nicknamed “the roof of the world”.
• Many of Asia’s major rivers begin in the Tibetan
Plateau, and are fed by more than 30,000 glaciers that
are located here.
• In this region, summers are very short and
winters are long and extremely cold.
• During the few warmer months, farmers are able
to let livestock graze in the region’s grasslands.
• Overall, this region has a low population density
of only two persons per square mile.
Impact of
• The Gobi Desert is located in northern China
and is Asia’s largest desert.
• The region is extremely dry and the southern
portion of the desert is completely waterless.
• The Gobi is known for its extreme temperatures
with winter lows of -40°F and summer highs
above 120°F.
• Some mining is done in the Gobi Desert, but it is
not enough to support large cities.
• The small nomadic population of the Gobi
travels with its herds of small livestock looking
for oases.
• Inhabitants use camels to travel through the
desert.
• The unforgiving Taklimakan Desert is one of the
sandiest places in the world.
• It lacks adequate rainfall or other water sources.
• Like the Gobi, the Taklimakan Desert also has
extreme temperatures that vary across the
region.
• Oil has been discovered in the Taklimakan, but
shifting sand dunes make it nearly impossible
for people to get to work locations.
• Few people other than small nomadic groups
inhabit the region.
• The Taklimakan has oil, but shifting sand dunes
make it difficult to get to.
• Some mining in Gobi, but not enough to support
large towns
Impact of
• Many Asian countries have long coastlines and
millions of people live along the ocean.
• Southern and Eastern Asia have large port cities
where fishing, ship repair, and ship building are
important industries that provide numerous
jobs.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Millions of other people throughout Southern
and Eastern Asia live near rivers.
• These water sources provide them with water for
drinking and irrigating their crops.
• The Huang He River basin is located in northern China.
• This area is home to more than 100 million people.
• The Huang He River valley receives an abundance of
rainfall and the land is flat and fertile.
• The river allows ships to transport people and goods
throughout the region.
• The Yangtze River is China’s longest river and it
is located in southeast China.
• The Yangtze River basin receives significant
rainfall that flows into the river.
• Flooding of the Yangtze River keeps the region’s
soil fertile (25% of China’s farmland is located
here).
• The Yangtze River allows ships to transport
people and goods from around the world to
China’s inland cities.
• Many of China’s cities are located along the
Yangtze River.
• Shanghai, with a population of 22 million
people, is located here.
Shanghai and the Yangtze River
• The Ganges River starts on a glacier high in the
Himalayan Mountains and winds 1500 miles
through India and Bangladesh.
• It is the most highly populated river basin in the
world, with over 1,000 people per square mile.
• The river is considered sacred by the Hindu religion
and is worshipped as the goddess Ganga.
• The Ganges River is the most important river in the
Indian subcontinent.
• Indians use the Ganges for irrigation, drinking water,
fishing, and for manufacturing needs.
• Ships carry agricultural goods down the Ganges River.
• Delhi, one of India’s most populated cities with 11
million people, is located along the Ganges.
• Look at each of the features that will be shown on the screen.
Based on what you have learned, decide if the feature shown has
a high population density or a low one.
• Depending on the correct answer, hold up the Sign Language
symbol for H (high) or L (low).
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Himalayan Mountains
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LOW
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Ganges River
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HIGH
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Gobi Desert
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LOW
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Tibetan Plateau
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LOW
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Huang He River
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HIGH
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SE Asia’s Coastlines
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HIGH
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Taklimakan Desert
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LOW
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Yangtze River
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HIGH