Transcript Unit 7: South Asia - Wando High School

Landforms
• South Asia is separated from the rest of Asia by the
Himalaya, Karakoram Range, and the Hindu Kush
mountain ranges.
• India occupies most of the subcontinent, a large
landmass that is part of a continent but still distinct
from it.
• The Gangetic Plain, the world’s longest alluvial
plain, an area of fertile soil deposited by
floodwaters, is India’s most densely populated area.
Water Systems
• Three major river systems, the Ganges, the
Brahmaputra, and the Indus, flow from sources high
in the Himalaya through the northern part of the
subcontinent.
• The Ganges is a sacred river to the Hindus, and
many major cities are located on its shores.
• The Indus flows mostly through Pakistan and is an
important source of irrigation and a major
transportation route.
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
• India’s shape, proximity to the Equator, and the
influence of the Indian Ocean affect its climate.
• The monsoon winds cause rainfall and temperatures
to fluctuate, or ebb and flow, creating wet and dry
seasons.
• Cyclones, storms with heavy rains and high winds,
are the most common natural hazards in South
Asia.
• Tsunamis, huge sea waves caused by undersea
earthquakes, also threaten the region and can
destroy villages and kill thousands.
Landforms
• Bangladesh is almost entirely low and flat, while
Pakistan has large areas of low, flat plains as well as
high mountains.
• The high mountains of Pakistan are generally
impassable, but the Khyber Pass in the Hindu Kush
range has been the traditional gateway for armies
to enter South Asia.
• The mountainous northern and western regions of
Pakistan are prone to highly destructive
earthquakes.
Water Systems
• The most important river in South Asia, the Ganges,
draws water from a 400,000-square-mile basin and
provides an important source of hydroelectric
power, as do the Indus and the Brahmaputra Rivers.
• Depressions in Bangladesh form freshwater
wetlands that maintain fish life and provide support
for agriculture.
• Coastal regions in both countries are prone to
flooding from monsoons, cyclones, and tsunamis.
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
• Seasonal monsoons create three distinct seasons:
hot, hot and wet, and cool.
• The tropical wet climate of Bangladesh is home to
rare and endangered fish, birds, and plant species.
• Pakistan has a much drier climate than Bangladesh
and has far less vegetation.
• Rivers provide for basic human and economic
needs.
• Both countries have few natural resources.
Landforms
• Their locations on the fringe of South Asia means
their physical and human geography have been
influenced by the South Asian core.
• Nepal and Bhutan each have four geographic zones,
with few people living in the rugged mountain
areas.
• Sri Lanka has two regions, a mountain range in the
Central Highlands and a plain the covers most of
the island.
• Maldives is a scattered collection of 1,200 islands
grouped into thirteen atolls with barrier reefs.
Water Systems
• Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers feed into the Ganges and
have great potential, or ability to be developed, as
a source of hydroelectric power.
• Bhutan’s rivers supply the Brahmaputra.
• Sri Lanka’s Mahaweli features many spectacular
waterfalls and helps irrigate fields.
• Maldives has underground aquifers, water-bearing
layers of porous rock, that supply water.
• The Indian Ocean surrounds Maldives and Sri Lanka
and offers both benefits and dangers
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
• Monsoons affect the climates of all four countries.
• Nepal and Bhutan each have four climate zones due
in part to large variations in elevation.
• Maldives has a humid tropical climate.
• Sri Lanka has a humid tropical climate in the
lowlands and a cooler climate in the highlands.
• Bhutan has been successful in making use of, or
exploiting, its hydroelectric power.
• Sri Lanka has many mineral resources.