SOUTH ASIA The Land Where Continents Collided Mountains

Mountains and Plateaus � Himalayan Mountains ◦ Divide Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates ◦

� Northern Mountains ◦ Created by collision of tectonic plates ◦ Himalayas � 2

� Southern Plateaus ◦ Smaller mountain ranges �Vindhya �Deccan Plateau �Western Ghats �Eastern Ghats

Rivers, Deltas, Plains � Indo-Gangetic Plain ◦ Northern Indian Plain ◦ Lowland northern region

� Fertile Plains ◦ Indo-Gangetic fertile farming region �Alluvial plain �Rivers flood banks �Rivers

Natural Resources � Water and Soil ◦ Food through farming and fishing ◦ Transportation

� Forest ◦ Rainforests �Hardwood �Teak �Bamboo �Sandalwood ◦ Nepal �Pine �Fir �Softwoods ◦

� Minerals ◦ India � 4 th in coal production �Fulfills half its petroleum

Climate and Vegetation � Climate Zones ◦ Six Zones Page 557 � Monsoons ◦

Vegetation: Desert to Rainforest � Vegetation Zones ◦ Rainforest in tropical wet zone �West

Human-Environment Interaction � Living along the Ganges ◦ Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal

◦ Polluted river continued �Poisons, Deadly Bacteria and Toxins cause disease �Stomach illness �Typhoid

Controlling the Feni River � River overflows ◦ Storm surges �Floods coastal flatlands �Fields,

� People power � Cheap materials and low tech procedures ◦ Large pool of

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SOUTH ASIA The Land Where Continents Collided

Mountains and Plateaus � Himalayan Mountains ◦ Divide Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates ◦ Mt. Everest �Worlds Highest Peak � 29, 000 ft. � Subcontinent ◦ Smaller Continent ◦ 1/5 of the world’s pop.

� Northern Mountains ◦ Created by collision of tectonic plates ◦ Himalayas � 2 dozen peaks over 24, 000 ft. �Stretch 1, 500 mi. �Landlocked Nepal and Bhutan ◦ Hindu Kush Mountains �West end of Himalayas �Separate Pakistan from Afghanistan �Khyber Pass � Karakoram Mountains ◦ Northeast portion ◦ Home of K 2

� Southern Plateaus ◦ Smaller mountain ranges �Vindhya �Deccan Plateau �Western Ghats �Eastern Ghats �Keep rain from reaching inteior

Rivers, Deltas, Plains � Indo-Gangetic Plain ◦ Northern Indian Plain ◦ Lowland northern region of India � Great ◦ ◦ Rivers Origins in Himalayas Indus Ganges Brahmaputra �Meet Ganges �Delta in Bay of Bengal

� Fertile Plains ◦ Indo-Gangetic fertile farming region �Alluvial plain �Rivers flood banks �Rivers provide irrigation, rich soil � Offshore islands ◦ SRI Lanka �The Subcontinent’s Tear Drop ◦ Maldives Archipelago �Island group � 1, 200 small islands

Natural Resources � Water and Soil ◦ Food through farming and fishing ◦ Transportation and Power �Goods send down rivers �Working on hydroelectric power �Baspa-II

� Forest ◦ Rainforests �Hardwood �Teak �Bamboo �Sandalwood ◦ Nepal �Pine �Fir �Softwoods ◦ Deforestation (over cutting) �Soil erosion, flooding, landslides, loss of habitat

� Minerals ◦ India � 4 th in coal production �Fulfills half its petroleum needs �Iron ore deposits �Mica - Key components for electrical equipment ◦ India, Pakistan, Bangladesh �Natural Gas �Uranium ◦ Sri Lanka �Precious gems

Climate and Vegetation � Climate Zones ◦ Six Zones Page 557 � Monsoons ◦ ◦ ◦ Seasonal winds June through September Bring moist ocean air and heavy rain Highly unpredictable Cause severe damage and flooding � Cyclone ◦ Violent storm ◦ Heavy wind and rain ◦ Low lying Bangladesh hit hardest

Vegetation: Desert to Rainforest � Vegetation Zones ◦ Rainforest in tropical wet zone �West coast of India and Bangledesh ◦ Highland Zone �Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan ◦ Semi Arid Zone �Deccan Plateau �Pakistan-India Border �Desert �Little vegetation ◦ Tropical Wet and Dry �Sri Lanka

Human-Environment Interaction � Living along the Ganges ◦ Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal ◦ Home to 350 million people ◦ Sacred River (Hindi belief) �Gangamai “Mother River” �Brings life to its people �Water has healing powers �Varanasi �Sacred site on Ganges ◦ Polluted River �Millions of gallons �Raw sewage �Industrial waste �Dead animals �Cremated bodies

◦ Polluted river continued �Poisons, Deadly Bacteria and Toxins cause disease �Stomach illness �Typhoid �Cholera �Clean up efforts �Sewage treatment plants �Tough industrial regulations �Not effective �Mother Ganges will fix it

Controlling the Feni River � River overflows ◦ Storm surges �Floods coastal flatlands �Fields, villages ◦ 1980’s propose dam �Problems �Mouth 1 mile wide �High cost �Bangladesh limited resources and technology

� People power � Cheap materials and low tech procedures ◦ Large pool of unskilled labor ◦ Hired Dutch engineers ◦ Heavy mats of bamboo ◦ Reeds weighted with boulders �Prevent erosion ◦ More boulders covered with clay � Completing ◦ ◦ the Dam Concrete and brick on sides Road on top Largest Estuary Dam in South Asia Success bring hope for future