Transcript Indian Subcontinent - NSF GeoBee Juniors

Session – 8
Indian Subcontinent
• The land referred to as the Indian
subcontinent is a tectonic plate that
began to separate itself from other
surrounding slabs of rock (or plates)
millions of years ago.
• The movement of that plate changed the
landscape, and formed the Himalayas,
the world's most elevated mountain
range; home to Mount Everest, the
world's tallest mountain.
• Most of this region rests on the Indian
Plate and is isolated from the rest of Asia
by mountain barriers.
• The subcontinent land itself is a
peninsula that extends south into the
Indian Ocean.
• It includes all of India, as well as
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Pakistan. This region is also known as
“South
Asia”,
“South
Asian
Subcontinent”.
• This area is Asia's 10% or the world's
2.4% of the land.
Indian subcontinent in Asia Continent
Indian map and Flag
Flag Description
Three equal horizontal bands of
saffron (subdued orange) (top),
white, and green, with a blue
chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered
in the white band; saffron
represents courage, sacrifice, and
the spirit of renunciation; white
signifies purity and truth; green
stands for faith and fertility; the
blue Ashoka chakra symbolizes the
wheel of life in movement and
death in stagnation.
Quick Facts
Name -
Republic of India, Bharat, Hindustan
Location -
The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The country is surrounded by the
Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.
Time Zone - IST (UTC+05:30)
Bordering Countries - (6) Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), China, Nepal, Pakistan
Area -
Seventh largest country in the world
(land) 1,147,950 sq miles (2,973,193 sq km); (water) 121,262 sq miles (314,070 sq km)
(TOTAL) 1,269,212 sq miles (3,287,263 sq km)
Coastline: 4,349 miles (7,000 km)
Capital -
New Delhi
Currency - Indian Rupee (INR)
India Population: 1,220,800,359
Independence - 15 August 1947 (from the UK)
National Symbols –
National Anthem - "Jana-Gana-Mana“ composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore
National Song - The song “Vande Mataram” , composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji
State Emblem - The state emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.
National Bird - The Indian peacock
National Animal – Tiger
National Flower - Lotus
Quick Facts Continued
Ethnic groups - Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religions - Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1%
Geographic Center - About 33.64 miles (54.13 km) east of Bhopal
Climate - Varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain - upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in
north
Natural Resources - coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth
elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Natural hazards - droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe
thunderstorms; earthquakes
volcanism: Barren Island (elev. 354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years
Environment current issues - deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial
effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural
resources
Highest point - Kanchenjunga 28,208 ft (8,598 m); third highest mountain in the world.
Lowest Point - Indian Ocean 0m
Indian States and Territories
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India comprises of 29 states and 7 union
territories.
In 1956, under the States Reorganization
Act, states were reorganized on a
linguistic basis.
Each state or union territory is further
divided into administrative districts.
The districts in turn are further divided
into tehsils and ultimately into villages.
Languages: Hindi 41% (Official
Language), Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%,
Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%,
Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam
3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%,
Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other
5.9%
English is the subsidiary official language
Sanskrit is considered as the mother of
all higher languages.
Largest Cities: (by population) Mumbai
(Bombay), Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore,
Chennai (Madras)
State and Union Territories Names
States
1. Andhra Pradesh
4. Bihar
7. Gujarat
10. Jammu and Kashmir
13. Kerala
16. Manipur
19. Nagaland
22. Rajasthan
25. Telangana
28. Uttarakhand
2. Arunachal Pradesh
5. Chhattisgarh
8. Haryana
11. Jharkhand
14. Madhya Pradesh
17. Meghalaya
20. Odisha
23. Sikkim
26. Tripura
29. West Bengal
3. Assam
6. Goa
9. Himachal Pradesh
12. Karnataka
15. Maharashtra
18. Mizoram
21. Punjab
24. Tamil Nadu
27. Uttar Pradesh
Union territories
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
5. Lakshadweep
7. Puducherry
2. Chandigarh
4. Daman and Diu
6. National Capital Territory of Delhi
Physical Geography
Mountain Ranges:
Himalaya Range
Karakoram Range
Purvanchal Range
Vindhya Range
Satpura Range
Aravalli Range
Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats
Grasslands:
Sundarbans
Plateau Regions:
Chota Nagapur Plateau
Deccan Plateau
Deserts:
Great Indian
Islands:
Andaman
Lakshadweep
Nicobar
Peninsulas:
Kathiawar
Straits:
Palk
Bays:
Bay of Bengal
Gulfs:
Gulf of Khambhat
Gulf of Kutch
Gulf of Mannar
Ocean:
Indian
Seas:
Andaman
Arabian
Laccadive
Rivers:
Brahmaputra
Ganges
Yamuna
Indus
Mountain Ranges of India
There are a total of eight major mountain ranges
in India. All of these have peaks with a height of
over 1000 feet.
– Himalaya Range
– Karakoram Range
– Purvanchal or Patkai Range
– Vindhya Range
– Satpura Range
– Aravalli Range
– Eastern Ghats
– Western Ghats
Mountain Ranges of India – Himalaya Range
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The highest mountain range Himalayas means
“abode of snow” is the one of the youngest
mountain ranges in the world.
By extension Himalaya Range also include the
Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and other lesser
ranges. Karakoram is one of the Greater Ranges
of Asia.
Himalaya mountain ranges are the highest in the
planet and home for the worlds highest peaks
that include Mount Everest and K2.
The Great Himalaya mountain is a source of
some of major rivers in India as well as in the
world.
The second longest glacier in the world Siachen
Glacier is also the part of Great Himalaya range.
Great Himalaya also host some of the most
amazing valley’s which contains group of most
beautiful lakes in India such as Pangong Tso Ladakh, Tsongmo Lake -Sikkim and the frozen
one Sela Lake of Tawang.
Kangchenjunga and K10 Saltoro Kangri I are
respective highest mountain peaks of Himalaya
Ranges and Karakoram ranges in Indian
territories.
Mountain Ranges of India – Vindhya Range
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The Vindhya range is one of seven chief holy
mountain ranges in India.
The Vindhya geographically separates the
Northern India from the Southern India as it
runs across the central India.
Vindhya range is a very old mountain range
in central India. It extends in east-west
direction from Varanasi through Madhya
Pradesh to Gujrat.
Vindhya range is parallel to Satpura ranges.
The southern slopes of the range are
drained by the Holy Narmada River also
known as Narmada valley.
Amarkantak is the tallest peak of Vindhya
Range with an elevation of 1,048 m (3,438
ft) in Madhya Pradesh.
Mountain Ranges of India – Purvanchal/Patkai Range
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The Purvanchal Range is the extension of
the Great Himalaya range in north-east
region of India.
It is parallel to Karakoram and ladakh range.
Three hill ranges that come under the
Purvanchal ranges are, the Patkai, the
Garo–Khasi–Jaintia and Lushai Hills.
It is the most densely forested area and full
of flora and fauna in India. These hill region
also known for highest rainfall.
Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well
famous for highest annual rainfall and
wettest place on earth.
Phawngpui is the highest peak of
Purvanchal Range situated in Manipur with
an elevation of 2,157 m (7,077 ft).
Mountain Ranges of India – Satpura Range
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The Satpura range stretches through the
states in the central part of India.
It extend across Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Satpura range is triangular in shape with its
apex at Ratnapuri other two sides being
parallel to the Tapti and Sacred Narmada
River.
The Narmada and the Tapti are the only
major rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea.
It runs parallel to the Vindhya range, The
Satpura range was formerly heavily
forested.
These forest provide habitat for some of
India’s remaining large mammals, including
The Royal Bengal Tiger, gaur, bear and black
buck.
The highest peak of Satpura mountain
range is Dhupgarh with an height of 1,350
m (4,429 ft) in Madhya Pradesh.
Mountain Ranges of India – Aravalli Range
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The Aravali range is the oldest mountain
range in India, running across Rajasthan to
Haryana.
The Aravalli range is the eroded stub of a
range of ancient folded mountains.
Aravalli Range is one of the most popular
mountain ranges in India also known as
mewat hills.
Aravalli range is famous for mineral
resources and surrounded by dense forests
with rich in flora and fauna.
The highest peak of Aravali Mountain Range
is Guru Shikhar with height 1,722 m (5,650
ft) at Mount Abu.
Mountain Ranges of India – Western Ghat Range
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The range starts near the border of
Gujarat and ending at Kanyakumari.
About sixty percent of the Sahyadri
Range are located in the state of
Karnataka.
This area is one of the world’s ten
“Hottest biodiversity hotpots.
The Arabian sea area is known as Konkan
area, one of the best tourist attraction in
India.
Green city Pune is the largest city within
this mountain range in Maharashtra.
The western ghats mountain ranges
make up an impressive fortress all along
Kerala. There are a number of beautiful
hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries in
Kerala.
AnaiMudi in the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala
is the highest peak in the Western Ghats.
Mountain Ranges of India – Eastern Ghat Range
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The Eastern Ghats is an irregular range of
mountains, which include four major
rivers The Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna
and Kaveri.
Its range start from West Bengal to Tamil
Nadu.
The Nilgiri hills “The Blue Mountains” in
Tamil Nadu lies at the junction of the
Eastern and Western Ghats. This area has
the largest population of Indian
elephant.
This discontinuous mountain ranges run
parallel to the Bay of Bengal.
The Shevaroy hills is the highest peak in
the Easter Ghat.
North East Region
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Northeast India refers to the easternmost
region of India consisting of the contiguous
Seven Sister States (Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,
Nagaland, and Tripura), Sikkim, and parts of
North Bengal (districts of Darjeeling,
Jalpaiguri, and Koch Bihar).
In the far northeast, the Chin Hills and Kachin
Hills, deeply forested mountainous regions,
separate India from Myanmar.
The Bangladesh-India border is defined by
the Khasi Hills and Mizo Hills, and the
watershed region of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
The Patkai, or Purvanchal, are situated near
India's eastern border with Myanmar, made
up of the Patkai–Bum, the Garo–Khasi–
Jaintia and the Lushai hills.
The Garo–Khasi range lies in Meghalaya.
Mawsynram, a village near Cherrapunji ,
located on the windward side of these hills,
has the distinction of being the wettest place
in the world.
Central Region
• Vindhyachal mountain range
defines central India, located
as they are almost in the
middle part of Indian subcontinent.
• The mountain range of
Vindhyachal extends from
the state of Gujarat to Bihar,
passing through the central
Indian states of Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• Sonabhadra and Narmada
rivers originate from the
Vindhyachal, the mountain
range that divides India into
two distinct halves: northern
India and peninsular India.
South Region
• South India is located in the
Peninsular Deccan Plateau and
is bordered by the Arabian Sea
in the West, the Indian Ocean
to the south and the Bay of
Bengal to the east. South India
also includes two mountain
ranges; The Western Ghats
and the Eastern Ghats.
• India reaches its peninsular tip
with South India, which begins
with the Deccan in the north
and ends with Kanyakumari.
• The states in South India are
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and
Kerala
and
the
union
territories of Lakshadweep,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Puducherry.
West Region
• The
states
of
Gujarat,
Maharashtra,
Goa,
and
Rajasthan constitute Western
India.
• Extending from the Gujarat
peninsula down to Goa, the
west coast is lined with some of
India's best beaches. The land
along the coast is typically lush
with rainforests.
• The Western Ghats separate the
verdant coast from the Vindhya
Mountains and the dry Deccan
plateau further inland.
• Apart from the Arabian Sea, its
western border is defined
exclusively by Pakistan.
• West India is bordered by the
Thar Desert in the Northwest
and the Vindhya Range in the
north.
North Region
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Himalayas, the world's highest mountain
chain and Nepal as its neighboring
country, dominate India's northern
border.
Following the sweeping mountains to the
northeast, its borders narrow to a small
channel that passes between Nepal,
Tibet, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, then
spreads out again to meet Burma in the
"eastern triangle”.
North India is the country's largest region
begins with Jammu and Kashmir, with
terrain varying from arid mountains in
the far north to the lake country and
forests near Srinagar and Jammu.
Moving south along the Indus river, the
North becomes flatter and more
hospitable, widening into the fertile
plains of Punjab to the west and the
Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh and
the Ganges river valley to the East.
Located between these two states is the
capital city, Delhi.
East Region
• India is the home of the sacred
River Ganges and the majority
of Himalayan foothills, East
India begins with the states of
Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and
West Bengal, which comprise
the westernmost part of the
region.
• East India also contains an
area known as the eastern
triangle, which is entirely
distinct. This is the last area of
land that extends beyond
Bangladesh, culminating in the
Naga Hills along the Burmese
border.
River map of India
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Seven major rivers (Indus, Brahmaputra,
Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and
Mahanadi) along with their numerous
tributaries make up the river system of
India.
All major rivers of India originate from
one of the three main watersheds.
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The Indian River system is classified as
Himalayan, peninsular, coastal, and
inland-drainage basin rivers.
Himalayan Rivers
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The main Himalayan river systems are the
Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra
river systems.
Peninsular Rivers (the rivers traversing
the Deccan Plateau)
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The Himalaya and the Karakoram ranges
Vindhya and Satpura ranges and
Chotanagpur plateau in central India
Sahyadri or Western Ghats in western
India
The main peninsular river systems
include the Narmada, the Tapi, the
Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri and the
Mahanadi river systems.
Coastal rivers gush down the peaks of the
Western Ghats into the Arabian Sea
Streams like the Sambhar in western
Rajasthan are mainly seasonal in
character, draining into the inland basins
and salt lakes.
River System of India
Name
Length (km)
Area
Originates From
Ends in
Places Benifited
Indus
3100
3,21,290 Sq.Km.
In Tibet Kalish Range 5080 mts.
Arabian sea
India and Pakistan
Ganga (Bhagirati)
2480
3,37,00 Sq.Km.
Gangothri
Bay of Bengal
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Bihar, West Bengal
Yamuna (Jamuna)
1370
3,59,000 Sq.Km.
Garhwall in Yamunotri
Bay of Bengal
Delhi, Haryana and UP
Brahmaputra
725
2,40,000 Sq.Km.
Lake Manasarovar
Bay of Bengal
North Eastern state
Kaveri (Dakshina
Ganga" or Ganges of
the south)
805
87,900 Sq.Km.
Hills of Coorg, Karnataka
Bay of Bengal
Karnataka and Tamilnadu
Godavari
1465
3,12,812 Sq.Km.
Nasik Hills
Bay of Bengal
South-easterly part of Andhra
Pradesh
Krishna
1400
2,59,000 Sq.Km.
Near Mahabaleshwar in
Maharashtra
Bay of Bengal
Maharastra & Andhrapradesh
Narmada
1312
98,796 Sq.Km.
Amarkantak hill in Madhya
Pradesh
Arabian sea
Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra
Tapti
724
65,145 Sq.Km.
Bettul
Arabian sea
Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra
Mahanadi
858
1,41,600 Sq.Km.
Amarkantak Plateau
Bay of Bengal
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa
Vaigai
240
7,000 Sq.Km.
Cardaman Hills
Bay of Bengal
Madurai and Ramanathapuram in
Tamil Nadu
Periyar
244
5,398 Sq.Km.
Cardaman Hills
Bay of Bengal
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Thamiraparani
123
4,400 Sq.Km.
Agasthiyar Hills
Gulf of Mannar
Thirunelveli in Tamil Nadu
Map of Vegetation in India
National Parks in India
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Corbett National Park
Dudhwa National Park
Bandipur National Park
Nagerhole National Park
Rangathittu National Park
Periyar National Park
Ervikulam - Nilgiri National Park
Kaziranga National Park
Manas National Park
Nameri National Park
Sundarbans National Park
Namdhapa National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park
Kanha National Park
Pench National Park
Tadoba National Park
Satpura National Park
Ranthambhore National Park
Velavadar National Park
Gir National Park
Rann of Kutch National Park
Bharatpur National Park
World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO in India
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Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
Red Fort
Churches and Convents of Goa
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat
Group of Monuments at Hampi
Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh
Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves
Elephanta Caves
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria
Terminus)
Sun Temple, Konarak
Keoladeo National Park
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
Great Living Chola Temples
Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
Mountain Railways of India
Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
Sundarbans National Park
Western Ghats
Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Ranthambhore), (Amber
Sub-Cluster), (Jaisalmer), (Gagron)
Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar
Bhutan Location and Flag
Flag Description
Divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner;
the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is
orange; centered along the dividing line is a large
black and white dragon facing away from the hoist
side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is
the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for
purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth;
the background colors represent spiritual and secular
powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with
Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling
dynasty.
Quick Facts
Name -
Kingdom of Bhutan
Location -
Land locked; Southern Asia, between China and India.
Time Zone - BTT (UTC+06:00)
Bordering Countries - (2) India, China
Area -
(land) 38,394 sq km; (water) 0 sq km
Capital -
Thimphu
Currency - Ngultrum (BTN)
Population - 725,296
Independence - 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
Religion - Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Language - Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Highest Point - Kula Kamgri 24,783 ft. (7,554 m)
Lowest Point - Drangme Chhu 318 ft. (97 m)
National Symbols – Thunder dragon known as Druk
Political Map
Government type - constitutional
monarchy
Administrative divisions –
20 districts (dzongkhag, singular
and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug,
Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse,
Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi
Phodrang
Largest Cities - (by population)
Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Pajo,
Tashi Yangtse
Physical Geography
Bhutan is a rugged land of steep
mountains and deep valleys, that is easily
divided into three main geographical
regions.
• Western Bhutan
• Central Bhutan
• Eastern Bhutan
The lowlands front its southern border
with India; the lesser (or lower) Himalayas
cover the central areas, and its northern
border with China is dominated by the
massive peaks of the Himalayas.
Many mountain peaks in northern Bhutan
reach heights of over 7,000 meters.
Bhutan's highest point is Kula Kamgri
which reaches a height of 24,783 ft. (7,554
m).
Mountains of Bhutan
• Mountains of Bhutan located on the southern end of the Eastern
Himalaya, has one of the most rugged mountain terrains in the world,
whose elevations range from 160 meters to more than 7,000 meters
(23,000 ft) above sea level
• Bhutan's highest peak, at 7,554 metres (24,783 ft) above sea level, is
north-central Kula Kangri, close to the border with China
• The second highest peak, Jomolhari, overlooking the Chumbi Valley in
the west, is 7,314 metres (23,996 ft) above sea level
• Nineteen other peaks exceed 7,000 metres (23,000 ft)
• The mountains of Bhutan define its three main geographic zones: the
Great Himalaya, the Lower Himalayan Range (or Inner Himalaya), and
the Sub-Himalayan Range.
– The Dongkya Range forms the trijunction of the Bhutan-Sikkim-Tibet
border, separating Sikkim from the Chumbi Valley
– Black Mountains in central Bhutan form a watershed between two major
river systems, the Mo Chhu and the Drangme Chhu.
– The steep Donga Range forms the watershed between the Raidāk and
Manas River systems.
– The Tawang Range (also called Kollong) forms the eastern boundary of
Bhutan.
River system - Bhutan
Bhutan has four major river systems,
each flows swiftly out of the Himalayas,
southerly through the Dooars to join the
Brahmaputra River in India to flow into
the Bay of Bengal.
The river systems of Bhutan are:
Drangme Chhu
Puna Tsang Chhu or Sankosh,
Wang Chhu, and
Torsa Chhu.
Drangme Chhu
Drangme Chhu is the largest river system
of Bhutan. It flows to the southwest and
Puna Tsang Chhu
rises in the Indian state of Arunachal
Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rising in northwestern Bhutan and fed by snow from the Great
Pradesh It has three major branches that
Himalayan Range, flow southwards towards Punakha, where they join to merge Puna Tsang
form Drangme Chhu basin together. They
Chhu. The 320 km long Puna Tsang Chhu flows to the south and enter West Bengal of India.
are:
Wang Chhu
Drangme Chhu,
Wang Chhu rises in Tibet and flows southeasterly towards west-central Bhutan. It flows
Mangde Chhu, and
through Ha, Paro, and Thimphu valleys and then through Duars, where it is known as the
Bumthang Chhu.
Raigye Chhu. It flows into West Bengal and has tributaries that are 370 km long.
Torsa Chhu
It is the smallest river system and is known as the Amo Chhu towards north. This river
system rises in Tibet, flows out of it into the Chumbi Valley, flows swiftly through western
Bhutan, broadens near Phuntsholing and then flows into India.
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Bhutan
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Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park
TrumshingLa National Park
Royal Manas National Park
Jigme Dorji National Park
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary
Khaling Wildlife Sanctury
Philsoo Wildlife Sanctury
Wangchuck Wildlife Sanctuary
Torsa Strict Nature Reserve
World Heritage Sites - Bhutan
WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN BHUTAN
Bhutan currently has no sites on the World Heritage List.
TENTATIVE LIST OF BHUTAN
• Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong
• Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
• Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong,
Trongsa Dzo
• Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP)
• Royal Manas National Park (RMNP)
• Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants
• Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS)
• Tamzhing Monastery
Bangladesh Location and Flag
Flag Description
Green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising
sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the
green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of
Bangladesh.
Quick Facts
Name -
People's Republic of Bangladesh (Former name : East Pakistan)
Location -
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.
Time Zone - BST (UTC+06:00)
Bordering Countries - (2) India and Burma (Myanmar)
Area -
(land) 50,258 sq miles (130,168 sq km); (water) 5,340 sq miles (13,830 sq km)
(TOTAL) 55,598 sq miles (143,998 sq km)
Coastline - 360.4 miles (580 km)
Capital -
Dhaka
Currency - Taka (BDT)
Population - 163,654,860 (2013 est.)
Independence - 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)
Religion - Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9%
Language - Bangla (official), English
Highest Point - Keokradong 4,035 ft. (1,230 m)
Lowest Point - Indian Ocean 0 m
National Symbols – Bengal tiger, water lily
Political Map
Government type - parliamentary
democracy. The head of the state is the
president of the country, while the prime
minister is the head of the government.
Land Divisions: 7 divisions - Barisal,
Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi,
Rangpur, and Sylhet
Largest Cities - (by population) Dhaka,
Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi
Climate - tropical; mild winter (October to
March); hot, humid summer (March to
June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to
October)
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land,
timber, coal
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much
of the country routinely inundated during
the summer monsoon season
Principal Crops: Rice, jute, tobacco, tea,
sugarcane, vegetables, potato, pulses
Major Industries: Jute, sugar, paper,
textiles, fertilizers, cement, steel, natural
gas,
oil-refinery,
newsprint,
power
generation, rayon, matches, fishing and
food processing, leather, soap, carpet,
timber, ship-building
Physical Geography
Bangladesh lies almost entirely within the
combined delta of the Ganges,
Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and
consists primarily of a low-lying alluvial
plain.
Lands are exceedingly flat, low-lying, and
subject to annual flooding, in most places,
only slightly above sea level.
The only significant area of hilly terrain,
constituting less than one-tenth of the
nation's territory is the southeast, where
the Chittagong Hills—a series of steep
ridges—reach an elevation of 4,035 feet
(1,230 m)
Grasslands – Sundarbans (located in
southern Bangladesh, borders Bay of
Bengal.
Bays – Bay of Bengal
Deltas – Mouths of Ganges feed into the
Bay of Bengal
River map of Bangladesh
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Bangladesh is a great delta formed by
the alluvial deposits of the three
mighty Himalayan Rivers: the Ganges,
the Brahmaputra and the Meghna.
There are about 405 rivers in
Bangladesh of which 57 are
transboundary rivers. Out of the 57
transboundary rivers, 54 are common
with India and remaining 3 with
Myanmar.
The Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the
Meghna river systems drain a total
catchment area of about 1.72 million
sq km through Bangladesh into the Bay
of Bengal . Out of this large catchment
area, only 7% lies in Bangladesh. The
other co-riparian countries are India,
Nepal, Bhutan and China.
Most of the country's land is formed
through silt brought by the rivers.
The life and livelihood of the millions
of people of Bangladesh have been
revolving around waters of these rivers
over the ages.
River System of Bangladesh
River
Length (km) Length (miles)
Drainage area
(km²)
Outflow
Countries in the drainage
basin
Ganga River
2,525
1,569
1,080,000
Bay of Bengal
India, Bangladesh
Padma River
120
75
NA
Bay of Bengal
Bangladesh
Meghna River
264
164
82,000
Bay of Bengal
Bangladesh
Brahmaputra
River
2,900
1,800
651,334
Bay of Bengal
India, Bangladesh, China
Jamuna Rive
250
155
47,000
Joins Padma River Bangladesh
Teesta River
309
192
12,540
Brahmaputra River India, Bangladesh
Karnaphuli River 270
170
2,500
Bay of Bengal
Bangladesh
Surma River
900
540
NA
Meghna River
India, Bangladesh
Mahananda
River
360
224
20,600
Ganges River
India, Bangladesh
Atrai River
390
240
NA
Chalan Beel
Bangladesh
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Bangladesh
There are nine national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries in Bangladesh.
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Bhawal National Park – Gazipur
Himchari National Park – Cox' Bazar
Kaptai National Park – Chittagong Hill Tracts
Lawachara National Park – Moulavibazar
Medha Kassapia National Park – Cox's Bazar
Modhupur National Park – Tangail/Mymensingh
Nijhum Dweep National Park – Noakhali
Ramsagar National Park – Dinajpur
Satchari National Park – Hobigonj
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Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhola
Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary – Chittagong
Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary – Chittagong Hill Tracts
Rema-Kelenga Wildlife Sanctuary – Hobigonj
Sundarban (East) Wildlife Sanctuary – Bagerhat
Sundarban (West) Wildlife Sanctuary – Satkhira
Sundarban (South) Wildlife Sanctuary – Khulna
World Heritage Sites - Bangladesh
Site
Historic Mosque City of
Bagerhat
Ruins of the Buddhist
Vihara at Paharpur
Image
Location
Bagerhat
District, Khulna
Division
Cultural
Naogaon
District, Rajshahi Cultural
Division
Khulna Division
The Sundarbans
Criteria
Natural
PAKISTAN
Borders: India, Afghanistan, Iran, China, maritime (water) border withOman,
Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman
Total Size: 803,940 square km
World Region or Continent: Asia
General Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;
Balochistan plateau in west
Geographical Low Point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Geographical High Point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Major Cities: Karachi 13.125 million; Lahore 7.132 million; Faisalabad 2.849
million; Rawalpindi 2.026 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 832,000 (2009)
Major Landforms: Indus River Valley, Hindu Kush Mountains, Karakoram
Mountains, Pamir Mountains, K2, Balochistan Plateau, Thar Desert, Cholistan
Desert
Major Bodies of Water: Indus River, Jhelum River, Ravi River, Kabul River,
Manchar Lake, Keenjhar Lake, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea
Famous Places: Jinnah Mausoleum, Minaret of Pakistan, Badshahi Mosque,
Lahore Fort, Rani Kot Fort, Hingol National Park, Pir Shohawa, Concordia, K2
Mountain, Trango Towers, Port Grand, Tomb of Jahangir, Mohenjo-daro
• The country of Pakistan
is divided up into the
four main provinces of
Balochistan, Sindh,
Punjab, and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. Other
regions include the
capital city area of
Islamabad, Tribal Areas,
and disputed areas (with
India) in Kashmir.
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National Anthem or Song: Qaumi Tarana (National
Anthem)
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National Symbols:
Animal - Markhor, snow leopard
Bird - Chukar
Aquatic mammal - Indus River dolphin
Reptile - Mugger crocodile
Fish - Golden mahasher
Amphibian - Indus Valley toad
Tree - Deodar tree
National icon - Shaheen falcon
Motto - Faith, unity, discipline
• Languages Spoken: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant)
10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,
English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government
ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Nationality: Pakistani(s)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other
3%
Origin of the name Pakistan: The name "Pakistan" was originally coined
by Choudhry Rahmat Ali. He suggested the name and that the letters each
stood for a different region:
P - Punjab
A - Afghania
K - Kashmir
S - Sindh
TAN - Balochistan
The name also means "Land of the Pure" in the Persian and Urdu
languages.
Group Exercise -- Lets explore physical
geography
• Visit http://pakistangeographic.com/
• Explore Mountains .Have each kid take turns
to read about each mountain range to the
class
• Explore rivers at
http://pakistangeographic.com/rivers.html
• Have Children explore other parts of this site
at leisure to learn more on physical geography
UNESCO sites in Pakistan
• Please open document on pakistan UNESCO
sites and walkthrough
SRILANKA
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Fast Facts
Population:
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Capital:
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72
GDP per Capita:
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Sri Lankan rupee
Life Expectancy:
–
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Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim
Currency:
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Sinhala, Tamil, English
Religion:
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65,525 square kilometers (25,299 square miles)
Language:
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Colombo; 648,000
Area:
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19,722,000
U.S. $3,700
Literacy Percent:
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92
Regions, major cities
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Central Province (Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya)
Here are the highlands with a lot of beautiful tea
plantations, waterfalls, valleys and streams. The
highest mountain of Piduruthalagala and the famous
Worlds End are situated in Nuwaraeliya.Northern
Province (Jaffna)
After the end of the 30 year civil war this region is
slowly returning to its status as an important tourist
attraction. Some areas remain unsafe and have yet
to be cleared of mines.North Central
Province (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dam
bulla)
The ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka dating back over
2500 years. Rich in history, the area is known as the
cultural triangle.Eastern
Province (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay)
North Western Province (Kurunegala)
Sabaragamuwa (Ratnapura)
Southern
Province (Galle, Weligama, Matara, Tangalle, Unawat
una, Yala National Park)
the historic city of Galle and national
parksUva (Badulla, Haputale, Bandarawela)
cool highland hill retreatsWestern Province (Sri
Jayewardenepura
Kotte, Beruwela, Colombo, Gampaha,Negombo)
the administrative capital and the largest city plus
some popular beach resorts
Ecological Zones
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The mountains and the southwestern part of the country, known as the "wet zone," receive ample
rainfall (an annual average of 2500 millimeters)
Most of the southeast, east, and northern parts of the country comprise the "dry zone, which
receives between 1200 and 1900 mm of rain annually
In the wet zone, the dominant vegetation of the lowlands is a tropical evergreen forest, with tall
trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth 7of vines and creepers
The natural vegetation of the dry zone is adapted to the annual change from flood to drought.
Ruhunu National Park in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks
Wilpattu National Park in the northwest preserves the habitats of many water birds, such as storks,
pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills.
During the Mahaweli Ganga Program of the 1970s and 1980s in northern Sri Lanka, the government
set aside four areas of land totalling 1,900 km² as national parks
10 fun facts
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1. Sri Lanka is known as both the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and the ‘teardrop of India’ due
to its shape.
2. In Sri Lanka, when someone shakes their head from side to side with a slight wiggle, it
actually means “yes.”
3. Although cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka, the national sport of the country is
in fact volleyball.
4. Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest tea exporters.
5. Adam’s Peak is the most sacred mountain in the country. Pilgrims from all over climb to its
peak by candlelight to stand in what they believe to be the footsteps of Buddha.
6. Because the country has lots of waterfalls, most of Sri Lanka’s electricity is powered by
hydro-powered energy.
7. The spice cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka and was discovered by the Egyptians.
8. There are eleven universities in Sri Lanka.
9. 92% of people living in the country are literate which means that they boast the highest
literacy rate in the whole of South Asia.
10. Sri Lanka’s national flag is said to be one of the oldest flags in the world.
NEPAL
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Population:
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Capital:
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59
GDP per Capita:
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Nepalese rupee
Life Expectancy:
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Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim
Currency:
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Nepali, English, many other languages and dialects
Religion:
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147,181 square kilometers (56,827 square miles)
Language:
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Kathmandu; 741,000
Area:
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25,371,000
U.S. $1,400
Literacy Percent:
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45
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Climate:
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varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
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Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (highest point in Asia)
Natural resources:
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quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
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arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 0.8%
other: 83.2% (2011)
Irrigated land:
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11,680 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
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210.2 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 9.5 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)
per capita: 334.7 cu m/yr (2006)
Natural hazards:
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severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents);
wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest
and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively
Fun facts
• 1. Nepal opened its borders to the world in the 1950s and
2011 is Nepal Tourism Year! So make this year count and join
the celebration!
• 2. People in Nepal do not greet one another with a
handshake, but rather put their palms together and bow their
forehead and say Namaste (directly translated as ‘I salute the
God in youˇ). This is the same greeting used throughout India.
• 3. A popular and cheap ‘fast food’ is the Momo. Delicious
dumplings made from flour and water filled with different
fillings like chicken, meat or vegetables either fried or
steamed and served with a dipping sauce. My favorites were
the yak-meat filled ones at the Yak Cafà in Kathmandu.
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4. Nepal is home to one of the few places on earth where you can see both the
Bengal tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros. We were lucky to see 3 rhinos on our
safari!
5. The Annapurna region was voted one of the top 10 best trekking places on
earth. The trek to Poon Hill is a moderate 5-day trek with views that will blow you
away!
6. Everest in the Nepali language is Sagarmatha which means goddess of the sky
and it stands at a staggering 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level.
7. Bob Seger wrote a song called Kathmandu in 1975. He wrote it at a time when
he wanted to disappear from the record business, media and touring. Kathmandu
represented a far way land where no one would be able to find you.
8. Little Princes written by Conor Grennan is about child trafficking in Nepal and
spawned the NGO Next Generation Nepal which reunites children and their
families and aids rural communities. A must read and a portion of the proceeds
from every book go directly to the cause!
9. The Sherpas are an ethnic group from mostly the eastern mountainous part of
Nepal. Many are employed as porters for mountain expeditions as they do not
suffer the effect of altitude and due to their genetics and upbringing. Many groups
refer to their porters as Sherpas.
• 10. Nepal is the birthplace for the Lord Buddha.
Lumbini and a pilgrimage for many devout Buddhists.
• 11. Nepal has the densest concentration of World
Heritage Sites. Kathmandu valley alone has 7 World
Heritage Cultural sites within a radius of 15
kilometers.
• 12. The Nepali flag is the only nation with nonquadrilateral flag.The two triangles symbolize the
Himalaya Mountains and represent the two major
religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.
UNESCO Heritage Sites
1. The cultural heritage of the
Kathmandu Valley is
illustrated by seven groups
of monuments and buildings
which display the full range
of historic and artistic
achievements for which the
Kathmandu Valley is world
famous. The seven include
the Durbar Squares of
Hanuman Dhoka
(Kathmandu), Patan and
Bhaktapur, the Buddhist
stupas of Swayambhu and
Bauddhanath and the Hindu
temples of Pashupati and
Changu Narayan.
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
2. Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha,
was born in 623 B.C. in the famous
gardens of Lumbini, which soon became
a place of pilgrimage. Among the
pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka,
who erected one of his commemorative
pillars there. The site is now being
developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage
centre, where the archaeological
remains associated with the birth of the
Lord Buddha form a central feature.
3.Chitwan National Park
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few
remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which
formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It
has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last
populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the
park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal
tiger.
4.Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha is an exceptional area with dramatic
mountains, glaciers and deep valleys, dominated by Mount
Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 m). Several
rare species, such as the snow leopard and the lesser
panda, are found in the park. The presence of the Sherpas,
with their unique culture, adds further interest to this site.
THE END