Download Human Geography of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia
Test Review
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia
Landforms
• The 11 countries of Southeast Asia can be divided
into two areas: the mainland in the west and the
island archipelagoes in the east.
• Due to its position along the Pacific Ocean within
the Ring of Fire, most of Southeast Asia is
mountainous, has active volcanoes, and is prone to
earthquakes…The Ring of Fire is a belt of tectonic
plate boundaries around the Pacific
• Borneo has no volcanoes, making it the exception.
• Most of Indonesia made up of numerous volcanoes
Areas of Southeast Asia
Mainland Southeast Asia is West and Archipelago islands are to the East
Countries of Southeast Asia
Know all
11 countries
East Timor
The Pacific Ring of Fire
Ring of Fire: a belt of tectonic plate boundaries around the Pacific
Volcanoes in SE Asia
Most of Indonesia made up of numerous volcanoes
Waterways, Cont.
The Pacific Ocean
is ideal for
transportation,
which has made it
the basis of
international trade
networks and much
of sub region's
tourism.
Mekong River
• The Mekong River is the
longest in the region and it
flows through five countries.
• The other four major rivers
are shorter and are mostly
confined within a single country.
Main Rivers
1) Mekong (5 countries)
2) Salween (Myanmar)
3) Irrawaddy (Myanmar)
4) Chao Phraya Thailand)
5) Red River (Vietnam)
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
• The climate is tropical and subtropical and is
based more on rainfall than temperature.
• In Southeast Asia, they experience severe
tropical storms similar to hurricanes, called
Typhoons.
• The Mainland countries experience dry and rainy
seasons due to the Monsoon winds change
direction.
• The region is rich in minerals, and especially oil.
Most of Southeast Asia is located along the equator, hence
Their tropical and sub-tropical climate.
Monsoon Winds
 Monsoons are winds which seasonally change their direction and
characteristics, blowing from the sea in the summer and from the
continent in the winter.
SE Asia Resources
Human Geography of Southeast Asia
History and Government
• Its position between India and China has made
Southeast Asia, at some times, a shatter belt,
or a region where political alliances fracture
based on ethnicity, and at other times, a buffer
zone, or a neutral area separating powerful
nations from each other.
Human Geography of Southeast Asia
Population Patterns
• Southeast Asia is not densely populated, though there are
several urban centers that have high population densities.
• Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the
world.
Human Geography of Southeast Asia
Society and Culture Today
• The greatest ethnic diversity is found on the island
countries.
• The area’s religions reflect historical waves of
immigration, making Islam the most common.
Predominant religions are:
Buddhism & Islam
Human Geography of Southeast Asia
Economic Activities
• Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam are considered
to be emerging markets.
• Agriculture is the leading economic activity.
• Rich in mineral resources and oil, as the area
industrializes, countries are using these
resources internally, rather than exporting them.
• Most shipping between Europe and Asia passes
through Singapore’s free port, free of import
duties, creating a booming economy.
People and Their Environment: Southeast Asia
Managing Resources
• As the area’s economies shift from rural to
urban, deforestation and pollution grow.
• The practice of shifting cultivation, or a form
of agriculture where an area is cleared,
cultivated, then abandoned, also threatens rain
forests.
People and Their Environment: Southeast Asia
Human Impact
• Air pollution is becoming increasingly worse, as
forests are cleared by fire to make way for palm
oil plantations.
People and Their Environment: Southeast Asia
Addressing the Issues
• Many countries are shifting their economic
policies to focus on sustainable development,
or economic growth that does not deplete
natural resources in a given area.
Southeast Asia, Cont.

Southeast Asia’s population is primarily located on
the fertile volcanic islands.

Southeast Asia is a significant world trade center
largely because of its location in the Pacific along
major shipping routes.
Southeast Asia, Cont.

Southeast Asia is a major exporter of Palm oil,
which is an ingredient in more than half of the
foods found in grocery stores.

Java, an island in Indonesia, contains about 60% of
its inhabitants and has rich soils due to volcanoes.
Southeast Asia, Cont.
Countries not in Southeast Asia that are also affected by the Ring of
Fire include the west coast of the United States, Japan, Chile, New
Zealand and Mexico.
Volcanic eruptions can cause ash to block solar energy, causing
crops to fail; destructive and unpredictable eruptions cause loss of
property and life; and weather patterns can be disrupted for many
years into the future.
Southeast Asia’s climate fits into the category of wet tropical.