Notes: South Asia’s Geography

LG: Describe the land of South Asia

1. Gangetic PlainA. Most of India’s population lives here

B. World’s longest alluvial Plain- a plain

where flooding occurs and rich soil is

produced when the water recedes.

i. Comes from the Ganges, Brahmaputra,

and Indus Rivers

2. Ganges RiverA. Flows east from the Himalayan

mountains to the Bay of Bengal

B. Covers a huge area: 400,000 sq. miles

C. Named after the Hindu goddess Ganesh

Why is Mount Everest so tall?

Mount Everest

3. Himalayan MountainsA. A mountain range that extends 1500

miles across the northern part of South

Asia

B. Mount Everest is found in this range: the

world’s highest mountain peak.

4. Vindhya & SatpuraMnt. RangesA. Found in central India

B. These mountains separate the cultures

of northern and southern India

5. Indus RiverA. Flows primarily through Pakistan and

empties into the Arabian Sea

B. This is an important transportation route

C. Known as the cradle of Ancient India-

where their early civilization began

6. Deccan PlateauA. A plateau region found in southern

India

B. Known for its rich soil

7. Brahmaputra RiverA. Flows through India and

Bangladesh

B. Joins up with the Ganges River and

empties into the Bay of Bengal

C. Provides transportation and

hydroelectricity

8. Natural DisastersA. Cyclones- similar to a hurricane. Has lots of rain

and winds up to 100 mph. Can cause storm surge

where water on coasts rise and flood.

B. Tsunami- Huge waves that are triggered by

underwater earthquakes

i. This regions last tsunami was in 2004 and killed hundreds of

thousands of people.

9. Weather: MonsoonsA. Monsoons are seasonal winds and rains

that occur over South Asia. It produces the

weather and seasons of the region.i. Hot/dry Season (Feb. - June)

ii. Wet Season (June-Sept)

iii. Cool Season (Oct. – Feb.)

***Monsoons• Dry season: May

• Wet Season: August