Chapter 24Chapter 24

Physical Geography of Physical Geography of

South AsiaSouth Asia

Landforms and ResourcesLandforms and Resources

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit Everest in 1953.were the first to summit Everest in 1953.

Mountains and PlateausMountains and Plateaus– The Himalayas form part of India, Pakistan, The Himalayas form part of India, Pakistan,

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, known as South Asia.the Maldives, known as South Asia.

– South Asia is called a subcontinent.South Asia is called a subcontinent.– It has 1/5It has 1/5thth of the world’s population. of the world’s population.

Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains

South Asia was part of East Africa.South Asia was part of East Africa.

50 million years ago it split and moved 50 million years ago it split and moved northward.northward.

It collided with the Eurasian continent and It collided with the Eurasian continent and created the Himalayas.created the Himalayas.

They have nearly two dozen peaks above They have nearly two dozen peaks above 24,000 ft, making the Himalayas the 24,000 ft, making the Himalayas the highest mountain chain.highest mountain chain.

Northern Mountains: cont’dNorthern Mountains: cont’d

The Hindu Kush are in the west part of the The Hindu Kush are in the west part of the chain and form the boundaries between chain and form the boundaries between Pakistan and Afghanistan.Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Karakoram Mountains lie in the The Karakoram Mountains lie in the northeast.northeast.

They are home to the 2They are home to the 2ndnd tallest peak, K2. tallest peak, K2.

Southern PlateausSouthern Plateaus

The Deccan Plateau tilts east toward the The Deccan Plateau tilts east toward the Bay of Bengal.Bay of Bengal.

It makes up most of India.It makes up most of India.

The Eastern and Western Ghats separate The Eastern and Western Ghats separate the plateau from the coast.the plateau from the coast.

It also prevents moist air from reaching the It also prevents moist air from reaching the interior.interior.

Rivers, Deltas, and PlainsRivers, Deltas, and Plains

The 3 great rivers start in the Himalayas.The 3 great rivers start in the Himalayas.The Indus flows west and then south The Indus flows west and then south through Pakistan and into the Arabian Seathrough Pakistan and into the Arabian SeaThe Ganges flows eastward across The Ganges flows eastward across Northern India.Northern India.The Brahmaputra goes through The Brahmaputra goes through Bangladesh.Bangladesh.The Ganges and Brahmaputra join before The Ganges and Brahmaputra join before entering the Bay of Bengal.entering the Bay of Bengal.

Fertile PlainsFertile Plains

These rivers deposit soil on alluvial plains.These rivers deposit soil on alluvial plains.

The Indo-Gangetic Plains are the most The Indo-Gangetic Plains are the most fertile and most populated plains.fertile and most populated plains.

To the south lies the Great Indian Desert.To the south lies the Great Indian Desert.

Offshore IslandsOffshore Islands

Sri LankaSri Lanka– A tear shaped island to the south east of A tear shaped island to the south east of

India.India.– Has mountains higher than 8,000 ft.Has mountains higher than 8,000 ft.– Has a very tropical climate.Has a very tropical climate.

The MaldivesThe Maldives– An archipelago, or island group.An archipelago, or island group.– They are the low-lying tops of submerged They are the low-lying tops of submerged

volcanoes.volcanoes.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Water and SoilWater and Soil– The rivers bring alluvial soil to enrich the land The rivers bring alluvial soil to enrich the land

and water for irrigation.and water for irrigation.– The rivers also supply transportation.The rivers also supply transportation.

ForestsForests– Woods such as teak, bamboo, and soft wood Woods such as teak, bamboo, and soft wood

trees like pine are common.trees like pine are common.– These woods make for many products.These woods make for many products.

MineralsMinerals

India ranks 4India ranks 4thth in the world in coal in the world in coal production.production.

It has enough petroleum to supply half of It has enough petroleum to supply half of its needs.its needs.

Uranium helps with nuclear power.Uranium helps with nuclear power.

The Deccan Plateau has huge iron ore The Deccan Plateau has huge iron ore deposits.deposits.

Supplies much of the world’s mica.Supplies much of the world’s mica.

Climate and VegetationClimate and Vegetation

Climate ZonesClimate Zones– Southeast Asia has 6 main climate zones.Southeast Asia has 6 main climate zones.– The Himalayas are cold highlands.The Himalayas are cold highlands.– Nepal and Bhutan are humid sub-tropical.Nepal and Bhutan are humid sub-tropical.– The western end of the Plains is semiarid.The western end of the Plains is semiarid.– The Indus Valley makes up the desert.The Indus Valley makes up the desert.– Coasts of Bangladesh and India are tropical Coasts of Bangladesh and India are tropical

wet zones.wet zones.– Northern Sri Lanka is tropical wet-dry.Northern Sri Lanka is tropical wet-dry.

Monsoons and CyclonesMonsoons and Cyclones

Monsoons are seasonal winds.Monsoons are seasonal winds.

October through February monsoons bring October through February monsoons bring in dry air from the north.in dry air from the north.

June through September they bring moist June through September they bring moist air from the south to create the rainy air from the south to create the rainy season.season.

These monsoons can cause severe These monsoons can cause severe flooding.flooding.

Monsoons and CyclonesMonsoons and Cyclones

Cyclone – a violent storm with fierce wind Cyclone – a violent storm with fierce wind and heavy rain.and heavy rain.

Most destructive in Bangladesh.Most destructive in Bangladesh.

They can kill thousands of people.They can kill thousands of people.

In 1970, one cyclone killed 300,000 In 1970, one cyclone killed 300,000 people.people.

Vegetation ZonesVegetation Zones

The most forested parts are in the tropical The most forested parts are in the tropical wet zone.wet zone.

The Highland zone has many evergreens.The Highland zone has many evergreens.

The humid subtropical zones carry palms The humid subtropical zones carry palms and other species of trees like oak.and other species of trees like oak.

In semiarid regions there is less plant life In semiarid regions there is less plant life such as shrubs.such as shrubs.

Human Environment InteractionHuman Environment Interaction

The Ganges River drains an area more The Ganges River drains an area more than 3 times the size of France.than 3 times the size of France.

It provides water for farming, It provides water for farming, transportation, and drinking.transportation, and drinking.

The Hindus worship the river and believe The Hindus worship the river and believe that it has healing powers.that it has healing powers.

Daily rituals occur on the Ganges in order Daily rituals occur on the Ganges in order to honor what it brings the people.to honor what it brings the people.

A Polluted RiverA Polluted River

After centuries of human use, the Ganges After centuries of human use, the Ganges has become one of the most polluted has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world.rivers in the world.

Raw sewage is emptied into it, as well as Raw sewage is emptied into it, as well as dead animals and even human corpses.dead animals and even human corpses.

It will take a great deal of time, effort, and It will take a great deal of time, effort, and money to reverse the effects that humans money to reverse the effects that humans have had on it.have had on it.

Controlling the Feni RiverControlling the Feni River

Located in Bangladesh, the river usually Located in Bangladesh, the river usually floods during monsoon season.floods during monsoon season.

There have been attempts to build dams There have been attempts to build dams and dikes in order to control this flooding.and dikes in order to control this flooding.

In the 1980’s, attempts were made to build In the 1980’s, attempts were made to build a dam at the mouth of the river, but a dam at the mouth of the river, but Bangladesh is poor and unable to afford Bangladesh is poor and unable to afford the cost.the cost.

Using People PowerUsing People Power

In 1984, engineers from the Netherlands In 1984, engineers from the Netherlands came to help build the dam.came to help build the dam.

They emphasized the use of cheap They emphasized the use of cheap materials.materials.

After 6 months, workers had partially After 6 months, workers had partially blocked the river.blocked the river.

February 28, 1985 was the day they shut February 28, 1985 was the day they shut off the river.off the river.

Completing the DamCompleting the Dam

After the river closed, the dam was After the river closed, the dam was reinforced with concrete and other reinforced with concrete and other materials.materials.

Three months later, a monsoon hit the Three months later, a monsoon hit the area and the dam held.area and the dam held.