Transcript Physical Geography of Asia

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 Asia
Attributes
Countries
Landform
Regions
Climate
Natural
Hazards
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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
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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
 Earthquakes
 Monsoons
and Flooding
 Drought and Fires
 Tsunamis
 Typhoons
Monsoons in Asia
What
are
they?
Positive
Impacts
Negative
Impacts
MONSOONS
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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
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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
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Widespread flooding
Property damage
Destruction to agricultural lands
Damage to transportation infrastructure
Homelessness
Disease
Malnutrition
Serious injury
Death