World's Geographical Landscapes

Study Notes

Mountains:
- The Himalayas: stretch across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan; home to the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest
- The Tian Shan: located in Central Asia, stretching across China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan
Rivers:
- The Yangtze: longest river in Asia and third-longest in the world, flowing through China
- The Mekong: flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Deserts:
- The Gobi: located in northern and northwestern China and southern Mongolia
- The Arabian Desert: covers much of the Arabian Peninsula
Islands:
- Indonesia: comprises more than 17,000 islands, including Java, Sumatra, and Bali
- The Philippines: an archipelago of over 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia

Buddhism:
- Originated in India and spread to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and East Asia
- Theravada Buddhism: practiced in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos
- Mahayana Buddhism: practiced in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Islam:
- Widespread in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia
- Sunni Islam: dominant in Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
- Shia Islam: prevalent in Iran, Iraq, and parts of Pakistan
Hinduism:
- Predominant in India, Nepal, and Bali, Indonesia
- Complex pantheon of gods and goddesses, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Food:
- Rice: staple food in many Asian cultures, including China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
- Noodle dishes: popular in China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
- Spices: commonly used in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisine
Festivals:
- Chinese New Year: celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau
- Diwali: Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
- Eid al-Fitr: Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated in many Asian countries
Art and Architecture:
- Calligraphy: important in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures
- Pagodas: characteristic of Buddhist architecture in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia
- Mosques: grand examples in Istanbul, Turkey, and Isfahan, Iran

Mountains:
- Himalayas stretch across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan, featuring the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest
- Tian Shan mountain range is located in Central Asia, spanning across China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan
Rivers:
- Yangtze River is the longest in Asia and the third-longest in the world, flowing through China
- Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Deserts:
- Gobi Desert is situated in northern and northwestern China and southern Mongolia
- Arabian Desert covers a vast area of the Arabian Peninsula
Islands:
- Indonesia comprises more than 17,000 islands, including Java, Sumatra, and Bali
- Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia

Buddhism:
- Originated in India and spread to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and East Asia
- Theravada Buddhism is practiced in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos
- Mahayana Buddhism is practiced in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
Islam:
- Widely practiced in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia
- Sunni Islam is dominant in Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh
- Shia Islam is prevalent in Iran, Iraq, and parts of Pakistan
Hinduism:
- Predominant in India, Nepal, and Bali, Indonesia
- Features a complex pantheon of gods and goddesses, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Food:
- Rice is a staple food in many Asian cultures, including China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
- Noodle dishes are popular in China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia
- Spices are commonly used in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisine
Festivals:
- Chinese New Year is celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau
- Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
- Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated in many Asian countries
Art and Architecture:
- Calligraphy is highly valued in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures
- Pagodas are characteristic of Buddhist architecture in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia
- Mosques are grand examples of Islamic architecture in Istanbul, Turkey, and Isfahan, Iran