Southern & Eastern Asia's Geography

• Southern & Eastern Asia have diverse mountain, desert, and water features.
• Icy mountain ranges are located in the North.
• Steamy rainforests lie in the South
• A large part of Asia is desert.
• Southern and Eastern Asia receives massive amounts of rain each year
• These features impact trade and affect the region.

Impact of Mountains

• The Himalayas are a mountain range with some of the tallest peaks in the world.
• The Himalayas have a significant impact on life in southwest China and northwest India.
• Hydroelectric power plants have been built on glaciers throughout the Himalayas, which supplies energy throughout the region.
• India is separated from the rest of Asia on three sides by mountain ranges.
• The high mountains trap rain clouds on India's side of the Himalayas, so rainforests and grasslands can be found.
• The Chinese side of the icy Himalayas receives very little.

Tibetan Plateau

• The Tibetan Plateau covers the majority of western China.
• The Tibetan Plateau is the world's highest plateau at 14,800 feet above sea level
• The Tibetan Plateau is nicknamed "the roof of the world" due to the region's extremely high elevations.
• Many of Asia's major rivers begin in the Tibetan Plateau.
• The rivers are fed by more than 30,000 glaciers that are located on the plateau.
• In this region, summers are short and winters are long and extremely cold.
• During the few warmer months, farmers can let livestock graze in the region's grasslands.
• Overall, this region has a low population density of only two persons per square mile.

Impact of Deserts

• The Gobi Desert is located in northern China.
• The Gobi Desert is Asia's largest desert.
• The region is extremely dry.
• The southern portion of the Gobi Desert is completely waterless.
• The Gobi is known for its extreme temperatures with winter lows of -40°F and summer highs above 100°F.
• Some mining is done in the Gobi Desert, but it is not enough to support large cities.
• The small nomadic population of the Gobi travels with its herds of small livestock looking for oases.
• Inhabitants use camels to travel through the desert.
• The unforgiving Taklimakan Desert is one of the sandiest places in the world.
• It lacks adequate rainfall or other water sources.
• Like the Gobi, the Taklimakan Desert also has extreme temperatures that vary across the region.
• Oil has been discovered in the Taklimakan.
• Shifting sand dunes make it nearly impossible for people to get to work locations.
• Few people other than small nomadic groups inhabit the region.

Impact of Water

• Many Asian countries have long coastlines.
• Millions of people live along the ocean.
• Southern and Eastern Asia have large port cities
• Fishing, ship repair, and ship building are important industries that provide numerous jobs.
• Millions of people throughout Southern and Eastern Asia live near rivers.
• These water sources provide them with water for drinking and irrigating their crops.

Huang He

• The Huang He River basin is located in northern China.
• This area is home to more than 100 million people.
• The Huang He River valley receives an abundance of rainfall.
• The land is flat and fertile.
• The river allows ships to transport people and goods throughout the region.

Yangtze

• The Yangtze River is China's longest river.
• It is located in southeast China.
• The Yangtze River basin receives significant rainfall that flows into the river.
• Flooding of the Yangtze River keeps the region's soil fertile.
• Approximately 25% of China's farmland is located in the Yangtze River basin.
• The Yangtze River allows ships to transport people and goods from around the world to China's inland cities.
• Many of China's cities are located along the Yangtze River.
• Shanghai, with a population of 22 million people, is located here.

Ganges

• The Ganges River starts on a glacier high in the Himalayan Mountains.
• The Ganges winds 1500 miles through India and Bangladesh.
• It is the most highly populated river basin in the world, with over 1,000 people per square mile.
• The river is considered sacred by the Hindu religion.
• It is worshipped as the goddess Ganga.
• The Ganges River is the most important river in the Indian subcontinent.
• Indians use the Ganges for irrigation, drinking water, fishing, and for manufacturing needs.
• Ships carry agricultural goods down the Ganges River.
• Delhi, one of India's most populated cities with 11 million people, is located along the Ganges.