Physical Environment of Asia

Physical Environment of Asia

• Asia is the largest and most populated continent.
• Its total area is 44.5 million km².
• It is diverse in terms of people, geography, and plants/animals.
• Bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, Indian Ocean to the south, Pacific Ocean to the east, and Ural and Caucasus Mountains to the west.
• Asian countries are either continental (connected to mainland) or island nations.
• Russia is the largest country in Asia, while Brunei, Maldives, and East Timor are the smallest.
• Asia has the world's highest mountain (Mt. Everest) and deepest trench (Mariana's Trench).
• The sun rises in Asia, marking the start of the day globally.
• It was the birthplace of three major civilizations.

Meaning of "Asia"

• "Asia" originates from the word "asa", which signifies hope, sunrise, and new beginnings.
• Sunrise brings a sense of comfort and safety after the night.
• Historically, Asia was considered the centre of the world.
• Asian civilizations were among the first in the world.
• Western dominance over Asian territories occurred after Western colonizers conquered them.

Dividing Asia

• Geographers divide Asia into four hemispheres (North, South, East, West).
• Two main dividing lines are the Equator and the Prime Meridian.
• The Equator is a line at zero degrees latitude, equally distant from the North and South Poles.
• The Prime Meridian is a line that divides East and West, historically located in Greenwich, England.
• Longitude lines run vertically on maps to mark precise location. Each degree of longitude is approximately 111 kilometers apart.

Political and Geographical Regions of Asia

• Asia is divided into five main regions:
  • Western Asia (Middle East), including countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Turkiye (Turkey), Israel, Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Yemen.
  • South Asia, comprising countries in the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
  • Central Asia, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
  • Eastern Asia, encompassing China, Mongolia, Japan, Taiwan, and North and South Korea.
  • Southeast Asia, including continental states like Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as maritime states like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor (Timor Leste), and the Philippines.