Physical Geography of Asia

The Asian continent . . .• largest – 17 M sq miles; 1/3 of the total land surface of the globe

• irregular shape but a huge portion of the Asian land mass is very much compact

• islands can also be found scattered throughout the Asian continent

• Asia’s winding coastlines touch the Indian and Pacific oceans as well as many seas. Within Asia’s vast land area are mountains, deserts, plains and great rivers.

• Climate – diverse: cold highlands and hot deserts in North & West Asia, mild climates in the East & tropical climates in the South.

Best known landforms and bodies of water in Asia

Mt. Everest- the World’s tallest mountain (South Asia)

Gobi desert of Mongolia (Central Asia)

Rub’ al Khali Desert : Empty Quarter of Arabian Peninsula (Southwest Asia)

Taklimakan Desert of China (Central Asia)

Yangtze River in China (Central Asia)

Ganges River of India (South Asia)

Indus River of Pakistan (South Asia)

Huang He River (Yellow River)- China’s Sorrow

Some 10 million people drowned or died of famine & disease as the result of the catastrophic floods (1887-1943).

Mekong River in Vietnam (Southeast Asia)

Mt. Fuji in Japan (North Asia)

Monsoons

Physical Geography of South Asia

South AsiaAttributes

Countries Landform Regions

Climate Natural Hazards

1. 1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3. 3.

4. 4. 4.

5. 5.

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Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Maldives

Landform Regions of South Asia

Himalayas

The Ganges River Basin

The Indus River Basin

The Deccan Plateau

Climates

Monsoons to the South and East; season heavy rainfall.

Dry climates to the west (in Pakistan).

Highland climates in the north (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan).

Natural Hazards in South Asia

EarthquakesMonsoons and FloodingDrought and FiresTsunamisTyphoons

Monsoons in Asia

MONSOONS To the people of India,

the monsoons are a source of life.

Seasonal reversal of winds that brings heavy rainfall.

General onshore movement in summer.

General offshore flow in winter.

Very distinctive seasonal precipitation

POTENTIALLY POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MONSOONS Supplies much needed water for drinking and

bathing Supplies agriculture with water so that the

populated regions can grow enough food to support life

Keeps potentially blistering temperatures at a more desirable level

Ends the cycle of drought

POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MONSOONS Widespread flooding Property damage Destruction to agricultural lands Damage to transportation infrastructure Homelessness Disease Malnutrition Serious injury Death