Southern & Eastern Asia

Geography and Countries

Georgia Performance Standards

SS7G9 The student will locate selected features in Southern and Eastern Asia. a. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Ganges River, Huang He (Yellow River), Indus River, Mekong River, Yangtze (Chang Jiang) River, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, Sea of Japan, South China Sea, Yellow Sea, Gobi Desert , Taklimakan Desert, Himalayan Mountains, and Korean Peninsula. b. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the countries of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Ganges River

The Ganges also known by its Hindu name Ganga. 

Starting at Gaumakh in the southern Himalayas on the Indian side of the Tibetan border.

Considered the most sacred river in India

Ganges River

It is 1,560 miles (2510

The river flows through 29 cities and about 48 towns and flows through NE, India, Nepal and Bangladesh

Himalayan Mountains

Himalayan Mountains

Located along the northern edge of the Indian subcontinent through Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar(Burma)

It is the world’s largest mountain region

Nine of the world’s ten tallest peaks are located in the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, the highest in the world

Himalayan Mountain Chain

Indus River

Largest river in Pakistan 1800 miles

Begins in the Himalayan mountain chain of Tibet and flows through India, Pakistan and into the Arabian Sea

Bay of Bengal

Shallow bay leading into the Indian OceanIt is about 1,000 mi (1,600 km) wide, with an average depth exceeding 8,500 ft (2,600 m).Located west of India and east of Myanmar. Many large rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri (Cauvery), Ganges (Ganga), and Brahmaputra, flow into it.

Bay of Bengal

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is surrounded by Iran, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to the north; the Malay Peninsula in South Asia

3rd largest ocean on the earth

It borders Australia, and the Southern ocean

About 69 million sq km long

Indian Ocean

Produces Storm systems such as Monsoons (December to April), (June to October)

Tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November and January/February

Gobi Desert

Gobi Desert

Known as the Shamo: sand desert, is the largest in Asia at 1,040,000 sq km (400,000 sq miles)

Sets between northern China and Mongolia

The northern part of Gobi is rich in minerals

Ex: chalk-like gypsum

Gobi Desert

Marco Polo and his brothers were the first relatives to cross the

desert around 1260 to avoid entering Mongolia’s

civil war

Mekong River

Mekong

The Mekong River is a major river in southeastern Asia Longest in the region: 4,200 km (2,610 mi). Begins in China's Qinghai Province near the border with TibetFlows southeast to the South China Sea Borders Myanmar (Burma) and Laos; and Laos and Thailand. Helps poor farmers grow rice crops in its basin

Mekong

Huang(Hwang) HeYellow River

Huang (Hwang)HeYellow River

China’s second longest river at 3395 miles long

Also called “China’s Sorrow” because of its devastating floods each year.

Huang He is named for the muddy yellow silt it carries along its path through China and empties in the Gulf of Bohai in the Northern Yellow Sea.

China’s civilization began in the central area of this river basin

Huang (Hwang) HeYellow River

Taklimakan Desert

Taklimakan Desert

Located in northwestern China, this desert sets between two rugged mountain ranges: Tien Shan and Kunlan.

One of the world’s largest sandy wastes, it is about 600 mi (960 km) across, with an area of 123,550 sq mi (320,000 sq km).

Its sand dunes cover 85 percent of its surface

Taklimakan Desert

Yangtze (Chang Jiang) River

Yangtze (Chang Jiang) River

Largest and longest river in China and Asia at 3964 miles. 3rd largest in world.Flows east from the Qinghai glacier and empties into the China Sea (east).Receives water from over 700 tributariesDivides China north and southProvides hydroelectric power, water for irrigation, and transportation for cargo ships

Yellow Sea

Yellow Sea (Huang Hai)

Lying between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula and merges with the E China Sea.

About 600 miles (960 km) from N to S and about 435 miles (700 km) from E to W and occupies an area of about 380,000 km²

The Yellow Sea derives its name from the color of the silt-laden water discharged from the numerous Chinese rivers that drain into its waters. (Yellow River, Huai River, Liao River, and Yalu River).

South China Sea (Nan Hai)

South China Sea

Lies between Vietnam and the Philippines and borders other Asian countries

It is the largest sea and is part of the Pacific Ocean

The Pearl, Red, Mekong, and Chao Phraya are the major rivers flowing into the South China Sea.

It has a large amount of biological diversity, as well as abundant oil and natural gas resources.

South China Sea

Korean Peninsula

Korean Peninsula

A peninsula in East Asia that extends southwards for about 684 miles or 1,100 km from the continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean.

The East Sea/Sea of Japan surrounds the peninsula on the east, the East China Sea to the south, the Yellow Sea

Korean Peninsula

Since 1948, this peninsula has divided Korea into 2 countries:

North Korea (Democratic Republic)

South Korea (Republic of Korea)

Korean Peninsula

Sea of Japan

Sea of Japan

Also known as the East Sea," "Sea of Korea," "Sea of Japan" and "Oriental Sea“

Located between Asia and Japan it is almost closed by the surrounding land masses

978,000 sq miles it is highly developed for transportation, fishing industry, oil spills,waste dumps, and petroleum exploration