Ch 24 SOUTH ASIA Sec 1 Physical Geography

Ch. 24 SOUTH ASIA! Sec. 1 Physical Geography

Subcontinent • South Asia is considered a subcontinent. • Subcontinent- large DISTINGUISHABLE landmass that is smaller than a continent.

Mountains • Mt. Everest, the world’s TALLEST mountain at 29, 035 feet is located in South Asia.

Part of Africa? What? ? ? • Millions of years ago, the land that makes South Asia was actually a part of East Africa. • This land slowly split off and drifted northward.

Plateaus • South of the Vindhya mountain range is the Deccan Plateau. • Covers much of southern India. • A lot of shrubs and grasses are found throughout the plateau.

Fertile Plains • Rivers play a key role in transporting rich soil, called alluvial soil, down from the mountains. • These rivers deposit the alluvial soil on the alluvial plains.

Islands • The Subcontinent’s “Tear Drop”: • Sri Lanka is a large, tear-shaped island. • Located in the Indian Ocean just off India’s southeastern tip.

• The Maldives island group (1, 200 small islands) is located farther off the Indian coast to the southwest. • Island groups are called archipelago. • These islands are atolls. • Atolls- islands that are tops of volcanoes submerged in water.

Natural Resources • Alluvial soil helps enrich farming. • Timber is another important resource.

• India ranks fourth in the world in production of coal. • India has enough petroleum to support half its oil needs. • India supplies most of the world’s mica. • Mica- a key component in electrical equipment. • Mica is the reason why India has a growing computer industry.

Sec. 2 Climate and Vegetation

Six Main Climate Zones • Tropical wet (rainfall is heavy) • Tropical wet and dry • Desert • Semiarid (high temps, light rain) • Humid subtropical • Highland (coldest climate, snow yearround)

Monsoons • Monsoons are strong seasonal winds. • October-February these dry winds blow across South Asia from the northeast. (dry monsoon) • June-September winds blow in from the southwest, bringing in moist ocean air, causing heavy rainfall. (wet monsoon)

Cyclone • Most extreme weather in S. Asia is the cyclone. • Cyclone- violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain. • Cyclones bring in high waters called storm surges along the coast of Bay of Bengal. • In Bangladesh (a low-lying coastal region) the Cyclone of 1970, killed more than 300, 000 in 1970.

Sec. 3 Human-Environment Interaction

The Ganges River • To the Hindus, the Ganges River is a sacred place. • Hindus-those who practice the religion of Hinduism. (Most Indians are Hindus) • Hindus believe the river is the home of their goddess Ganga.

• The river also provides water for drinking, farming, and transportation. • Hindus believe the water has healing powers.

Pollution In The Ganges River • After centuries of human use, it has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world. • Raw sewage, industrial waste, bodies of dead animals and human corpses are all thrown into the water.

Quiz 1. Why is South Asia called a subcontinent? 2. What is the name of the tallest mountain in the world? 3. What is the name of the “tear drop” island that is south of India? 4. What are atolls? 5. What are strong seasonal winds in South Asia called? 6. What is the most extreme weather in South Asia? 7. Cyclones bring in high waters along the coast called what? 8. What river is sacred to the Hindus? 9. Hindus practice what religion? 10. Hindus believe the water has what kind of powers?

Answers 1. It’s a large landmass that is smaller than a continent. 2. Mt. Everest 3. Sri Lanka 4. Islands that are the tops of volcanoes 5. Monsoons 6. Cyclones 7. Storm surges 8. Ganges River 9. Hinduism 10. Healing