Transcript Physical Geography of East Asia

East Asia Physical PPT Notes
• Warm-Up
• East Asia Physical
Geography
– In 2011, a tsunami (tidal wave)
suddenly hit Japan with deadly
force. Which of the
following physical processes
contributed to this occurrence?
– ocean currents
– tectonic forces
– Gravity
– In what ways do disasters in
other parts of the world, affect
us in the United States.
Physical Geography of East Asia
Where is East Asia?
Mountains
The tallest mountains in the world
are found in this region!!!
• ALTAI MOUNTAINS
• HIMALAYAS
• KUNLUN MOUNTAINS
• TIAN SHAN MOUNTAINS
• MT. EVEREST
What could have caused such a
rugged terrain?
• Tectonic collisions
– Limit the movement of
people
– Increase their isolation
Plateaus
Mongolian Plateau
Plateau of Tibet
• These regions tend to
have low population,
and cold and dry
climates.
• They are the source
of extremely cold
weather for
neighboring regions.
Deserts
Gobi Desert
• 500,000 Sq Miles
• Larger than Texas and
California Combined!
• Extremes of temperature
ranging from –40°C (–
40°F) in winter to +50°C
(122°F) in summer
Taklamakan (Taklimakan)
• Desert in Western China
• Used for nuclear testing
• Some oil and natural gas
resources
Great Wall of China
• Roughly 5500 miles long.
• Multiple walls built over
many centuries
• Not physically connected
along entire length.
• Built to keep out/deter
invaders from north.
Peninsulas & Islands
In East Asia, these are both
often tectonically active, with
many volcanos and earthquakes.
Important Peninsulas:
• Korean Peninsula – N and S.
Korea
Important Islands:
• Japanese Archipelago
• Taiwan – Independent from
China
• East Asian Islands developed
into trading economies
• Why?
River Systems
East Asia has several major rivers, most in China
Huang He (Yellow)
• Named for the yellow silt which colors the
water
• Silt forms soil called “Loess”, rich and fertile
• Millions have died from flooding over the
centuries.
Xi Jiang (West/Pearl)
• Southernmost of the three
• Feeds into estuary at Hong Kong
Chang Jiang (Yangtze)
• 3,900 miles – Longest in Asia
• Major Trade route since ancient times
• Now dammed by the “Three Gorges Dam”,
one of largest constructs in the world.
Resources of East Asia
• Land and Forests
– Limited land for Agriculture
– Most Agriculture is in River Basins in the East
– All countries have supplies of timber
– Japan buys timber from other countries
• Mineral and Energy
– Lots of coal
– China’s resources have allowed it remain
isolated & self sufficient
– Japan must trade for what it needs.
• Water Resources
– Major rivers provide irrigation,
transportation, and hydroelectric power
– Japan has developed a large fishing industry.
Summary Question
• How might China’s three large river
systems have affected the development
of agriculture and trade in the area?
– Think about:
• The obstacles that mountains and deserts
present to agriculture
• The network of travel and communication
offered by a river system
3 Gorges Dam Movie
• Based on what you have seen…Do the positive
effects of the Dam outweigh the negatives?
Explain in 5-6 sentences.