Chapter 1 East Asia Physical Geography Section 1

Chapter 1 East Asia: Physical Geography

Section 1 Land Water

Question to think about… • What are the main physical features of Asia and the Pacific?

Objectives • Learn about landforms and water bodies found in East Asia • Find out where most people in East Asia live

Landforms and water bodies • Plateaus-raised areas of level land bordered on one or more sides by steep slopes or cliffs • The Himalays – Highest mountain in the world – Mount Everest – China and Nepal

Islands • Earthquakes • Volcanoes • Mount Fuji – Hasn’t erupted since 1707

China • One of the oldest civilizations on Earth • Population is more than 1 billion • Mountains and deserts= more than 1/3 of land • Chang and Huang Rivers • Fertile-soil capable of supporting abundant plant growth

Japan • Archipelago- group of islands • 4 main islands and more than 3, 000 smaller ones • Every major city located on the coast • Hokkaido • Honshu-largest and most populated* Tokyo • Shikoku • Kyushu

The Koreas • Peninsula- a piece of land nearly surrounded by water • Has been divided since 1945

Population in East Asia • Few people live in mountains, deserts, or plateaus • 1. 5 billion live in East Asia • Population density- average number of people living in a square mile • North China Plain better suited for settlement • Why does the North China Plain have such a high population density?

Section 2 • Climate and Vegetation

A variety of climates • Large part of eastern China-humid subtropical climate – Cool winters – Hot summers – Lots of rain • To the north- humid continental – Warm summers – Cold winters

Monsoons • Winds that change direction with the change of the season – Summer~ winds blow northwest • Bring rainfall starts in June • Hot humid weather starts in July – Winter~ winds blow east • Icy cold • Very dry

Typhoons • Violent storm that develops over the Pacific Ocean • 74 mph or more

How climate affects vegetation • Bamboo – Can survive in many different climates • Deciduous – Leaf-shedding • Many plants able to survive extreme changes

Section 3 • Natural Resources and Land Use

Mineral Resources in the Two Koreas • Limited mineral resources – Coal-North – Iron-North – Tungsten-South – Graphite-South • Developing country- country with low industrial production and little technology • Developed country- one with many industries and well-developed economy

Mineral Resources in Japan • Modern industrial society • Few mineral resources • Largest importer – Coal – Natural gas – Oil

Mineral Resources in China • Large supply of mineral resources • One of the world’s largest supplies of coal • Oil deposits – Uses most • Mining – copper – Tin – Iron

Water for Energy Production • Building dams is costly • Essential for industrial development • 2002 -China produced 17% of electricity from hydroelectric power

Water for Aquaculture • Important source of food • Aquaculture-fish farming • Includes – Farm-raised fish – Shrimp – Oysters – Mussels – Clams – seaweed

Terrace farming • Terraces- horizontal steps cut into steep hillsides • Have to use every inch of available land to feed population • Use land at sides of raod and railways

Double cropping • Growing two or more crops on the same land in the same season or at the same time • Plant a crop between rows of other crops • Some farmers grow up to three crops in a year

Review Chapter 1 1. Which East Asian countries have mountains, wide plains, and plateaus? 2. Where are the Himalayas located? 3. Name two major rivers in China 4. Which of these rivers flows through the North China Plain? 5. How does this river make the North China Plain a fertile region?

Review Chapter 1 6. What are Japan’s 4 main islands? 7. How is the physical geography of Japan different from the physical geography of the Koreas? 8. Which parts of East Asia have a very high population density? 9. What does most of the population in China live in the eastern half of the country?

Review Chapter 1 10. How does water affect the climates of the Koreas and Japan? 11. What does the summer monsoon do in East Asia and in what direction does it blow? 12. What three basic questions do countries ask when planning their economies? 13. How do Japan and South Korea make up for their lack of mineral resources?

Review Chapter 1 14. Where is the Three Gorges Dam? 15. How might the Three Gorges Dam affect energy production in China? 16. How have farmers of East Asia made the best use of the land for farming? 17. Which farming method is linked to the physical landscape of East Asia?