Southern Eastern Asia POPULATION TRADE Brain Wrinkles Asia

Southern & Eastern Asia: POPULATION & TRADE © Brain Wrinkles

Asia • The vast continent of Asia has many different mountain, desert, and water features. • Icy mountain ranges are located in the north, while steamy rainforests lie in the south. • A large part of Asia is desert, yet much of southern and eastern Asia receives massive amounts of rain each year. • These features impact trade and affect where people live. © Brain Wrinkles

Physical Features © Brain Wrinkles

Southern and Eastern Asia’s Population Density © Brain Wrinkles

Impact of Mountains © Brain Wrinkles

Himalayas • The Himalayas are a mountain range with some of the tallest peaks in the entire world. • They have a significant impact on life in southwest China and northwest India. • Hydroelectric power plants have been built on glaciers throughout the range, which supplies energy throughout the region. © Brain Wrinkles

Himalayas • India is separated from the rest of Asia on three sides by mountain ranges. • On India’s side of the Himalayas, the high mountains trap rain clouds, so rainforests and grasslands can be found. • The Chinese side of the icy Himalayas receives very little rainfall and the population is much lower here. © Brain Wrinkles

Tibetan Plateau • The Tibetan Plateau covers the majority of western China and is the world’s highest plateau at 14, 800 feet above sea level. • Because of the region’s extremely high elevations, it has been nicknamed “the roof of the world”. • Many of Asia’s major rivers begin in the Tibetan Plateau, and are fed by more than 30, 000 glaciers that are located here. © Brain Wrinkles

Tibetan Plateau • In this region, summers are very short and winters are long and extremely cold. • During the few warmer months, farmers are able to let livestock graze in the region’s grasslands. • Overall, this region has a low population density of only two persons per square mile. © Brain Wrinkles

Impact of Deserts © Brain Wrinkles

Gobi Desert • The Gobi Desert is located in northern China and is Asia’s largest desert. • The region is extremely dry and the southern portion of the desert is completely waterless. • The Gobi is known for its extreme temperatures with winter lows of -40°F and summer highs above 120°F. © Brain Wrinkles

Gobi Desert • 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. © Brain Wrinkles

Taklimakan • 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. © Brain Wrinkles

Taklimakan • Oil has been discovered in the Taklimakan, but shifting sand dunes make it nearly impossible for people to get to work locations. • Few people other than small nomadic groups inhabit the region. © Brain Wrinkles

Impact of Water © Brain Wrinkles

Water • Many Asian countries have long coastlines and millions of people live along the ocean. • Southern and Eastern Asia have large port cities where fishing, ship repair, and ship building are important industries that provide numerous jobs. © Brain Wrinkles

Water • Millions of other people throughout Southern and Eastern Asia live near rivers. • These water sources provide them with water for drinking and irrigating their crops. © Brain Wrinkles

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 and the land is flat and fertile. • The river allows ships to transport people and goods throughout the region. © Brain Wrinkles

Yangtze • The Yangtze River is China’s longest river and 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 (25% of China’s farmland is located here). © Brain Wrinkles

Yangtze • 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. © Brain Wrinkles

Shanghai and the Yangtze River © Brain Wrinkles

Ganges • The Ganges River starts on a glacier high in the Himalayan Mountains and 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 and is worshipped as the goddess Ganga. © Brain Wrinkles

Ganges • 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. © Brain Wrinkles