south asia the physical geography. standard 8.2.1 you should be able to identify the major political...
TRANSCRIPT
Standard 8.2.1
• You should be able to identify the major political features of the region
• Demonstrate mastery by successfully labeling the following countries on a map:
Check for Understanding
• On the handout given to you by the teacher, label the countries in the map to follow under the section titled “Standard 8.2.1 Checking for Understanding”
Standard 8.2.2
• You should be able to IDENTIFY and LOCATE the major physical features of the region– Mountains (Himalaya, Hindu Kush, Vindya
Range, Eastern and Westerh Ghats)
– Plains/Plateaus (Indo-Gangetic, Chota Nogpur, Deccan, Karnataka)
– Islands (Sri Lanka and Maldives)– Rivers (Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra)
A Separate Land
• Subcontinent• Large, distinct
landmass • joined to a continent• Natural barriers• 1/2 the size of the
United States
Mountains: The Himalaya
• Plate tectonics• Subcontinent
collided with Asia - 60 million years ago
• 1000 miles across northern edge
• Mt. Everest - world’s highest peak
Hindu Kush
• Completes chain in the west
• Kept India isolated and protected
• Khyber Pass - only way in for many years
Vindhya Range
• Central India• Divides India into Northern and Southern
regions• Two distinct Indian cultures have emerged
Plains and Plateaus
• Deccan Plateau• Once covered in
Lava• Rich black soil• Semi-arid• Western Ghats
prevent rain from reaching it
Tha Ganges Plain
• Indo-Gangetic Plain• Holds 1/10th of
human population• Fertile plain• World’s largest
alluvial plain• Watered by
Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra
Maldives
• 116 Sq. miles of land area
• Cover 35,000 miles of ocean
• Southernmost nation of South Asia
Rivers - 3 Major Systems
• Indus River• Mostly in Pakistan• Empties into
Arabian Sea• Important
transportation route
• “Cradle of Ancient India”
The Brahmaputra River
• From Himalaya into India and Bangladesh
• Joins Ganges at the delta
• Empties into Bay of Bengal
• Ships can navigate as far as 800 miles
• Hydroelectricity - 50% of Bangladesh’s power
The Ganges River
• Most important• Summer monsoons
cause massive flooding
• Hindus consider its waters sacred
• Most densely populated plain