Download 08WGC Chapter 23

Introduction
Section 1:
The Land
Section 2:
Climate and Vegetation
Visual Summary
A study of the physical
geography of South Asia
will explain the contrasts
between the northern and
southern areas of the
region and how South
Asia’s large populations
depend upon the seasonal
monsoon rains that
sometimes bring
devastating consequences.
Section 1:
The Land
Places reflect the
relationship between
humans and the physical
environment. In South
Asia’s varied landscapes,
large numbers of people
depend on the region’s
physical environment, river
systems, and natural
resources for their
livelihoods.
Section 2: Climate and
Vegetation
The characteristics and
distribution of ecosystems
help people understand
environmental issues.
Seasonal winds in South Asia
strongly influence temperature
and rainfall, which affect what
crops people grow and how
people and the environment
are affected by too much or
too little rain.
The Land
In South Asia’s varied
landscapes, large numbers
of people depend on the
region’s physical
environment, river
systems, and natural
resources for their
livelihoods.
The Land
• subcontinent
• alluvial plain
• eroded
• challenges
• generated
The Land
A. Himalaya
B. Khyber Pass
C. Gangetic Plain
D. Vindhya
E. Satpura Range
F. Deccan Plateau
G. Ganges River
H. Brahmaputra River
I. Indus River
The Land
Which mountain range absorbs the
monsoon rains and slowly releases
them into the region?
0%
D
D. Vindhya Range
C
C. Himalayas
B
B. Western Ghats
A. A
B. B
C. C
0%
0%
0%
D. D
A
A. Eastern Ghats
Landforms
South Asia’s landforms affect where people
live and influence seasonal rain patterns.
• Northern landforms:
– Himalaya Mountains
– Karakoram Mountains
– Hindu Kush range
– Khyber Pass
Landforms (cont.)
– Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra rivers
– Gangetic Plain
– Chota Nagpur Plateau
Landforms (cont.)
• Central and Southern landforms:
– Vindhya Range
– Satpura Range
– Eastern and Western Ghats
– Deccan Plateau
– Karnataka Plateau
– Sri Lanka
– Maldives
South Asia: Elevation Profile
South Asia is separated
from the rest of Asia by
which of the following?
A. Rivers
B. Mountains
C. Dense forests
D. An ocean
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Water Systems
South Asia’s major river systems bring
fertile soil to the floodplains, serve as
transportation routes, and provide
hydroelectricity.
• Three major river systems:
– Ganges—most important river in South Asia
– Brahmaputra
– Indus
Which river is known as the
“cradle of ancient India”?
A. Ganges
0%
C
A
0%
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
B. Brahmaputra
C. Indus
Natural Resources
South Asia has a variety of natural
resources upon which large populations are
dependent for their livelihoods.
• Rivers:
– Drinking water
– Hydroelectric power
– Alluvial soil
– Fish
– Transportation
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Mineral resources, such as iron ore and graphite
• Energy sources, such as petroleum, natural gas
• Timber resources, such as sandalwood and teak
Which country is the world’s
largest producer of graphite?
A. Sri Lanka
B. Pakistan
C. Bangladesh
D. India
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Climate and Vegetation
Seasonal winds in South
Asia strongly influence
temperature and rainfall,
which affect what crops
people grow and how
people and the
environment are affected
by too much or too little
rain.
Climate and Vegetation
• monsoon
• cyclone
• period
• triggers
• tsunami
Climate and Vegetation
A. Bay of Bengal
B. Sundarbans
C. Thar Desert
Climate and Vegetation
Most of Asia experiences
which type of climate?
A. Tropical
B. Highland
C. Midlatitude
D. Dry
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C0%
D
C
0%
D
Climate Regions
Much of South Asia has tropical climates
with ample rainfall and a variety of
vegetation; however, the climates vary
widely in the north and west, where
mountain ranges block rainfall.
• Tropical regions:
– Tropical wet
– Tropical dry
South Asia: Vegetation
Climate Regions (cont.)
• Midlatitude and highland regions:
– Mixed forest
– Deciduous forest
– Humid subtropical
– Himalayan highlands
• Dry regions:
– Desert—Thar Desert
– Steppe
Does much of South Asia lie
south or north of the Tropic
of Cancer?
A. South
B. North
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Seasonal Weather Patterns
Seasonal weather patterns bring muchneeded rainfall to South Asia, but monsoon
winds, as well as other natural disasters,
can also bring devastating hardships.
• Three distinct seasons:
– Hot
– Wet
– Cool
Comparing Climates
Seasonal Weather Patterns (cont.)
• These seasons depend on seasonal winds
called monsoons.
• Temperature and rainfall impact agriculture
in the region.
• Factors:
– Extreme heat
– Monsoon winds
Seasonal Weather Patterns (cont.)
• Natural disasters:
– Flooding from monsoon rains
– Cyclones
– Earthquakes
– Tsunamis
The monsoons are heaviest
in which part of South Asia?
A. Eastern
B. Western
C. Northern
D. Southern
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
A. The Himalaya
•
Created by
collision of tectonic
plates; extend
more than 1,500
miles (2,414 km)
across northern
edge of South Asia
•
Includes Mount
Everest, the
world’s highest
peak at 29,028
feet (8,848 m)
B. Gangetic Plain
• World’s longest
alluvial plain
• Watered by the
Ganges,
Brahmaputra, and
Indus Rivers;
agriculturally
productive area
• India’s most
densely populated
area
C. Vindhya and
Satpura Ranges
•
Mountains in
central India
created by
collision of tectonic
plates
•
Separate the
distinct cultures of
northern and
southern India
D. Indus River
• Flows mainly
through Pakistan;
empties into
Arabian Sea
• Known as the
cradle of ancient
India
• Remains an
important
transportation
route
E. Deccan Plateau
• Plateau region in
southern India;
located between
Western Ghats
and Eastern Ghats
• Rich soil with wet
and dry seasons
F. Ganges River
• Flows east from
the Himalaya;
empties into Bay
of Bengal
• Drainage basin
covers about
400,000 square
miles (about 1
million sq. km)
• Named for Hindu
goddess Ganga;
sacred to Hindus
G. Brahmaputra
River
• Flows through
India and
Bangladesh
• Joins the Ganges
river to form a
delta; empties into
Bay of Bengal
• Major inland
waterway; also
provides
hydroelectric
power
H. Monsoons
• Hot season is from
late February to
June
• Wet season is
from June or July
to September
• Cool season is
from October to
late February
subcontinent
large landmass that is part of a
continent but still distinct from it, such
as India
alluvial plain
floodplain, such as the Gangetic Plain
in South Asia, on which flooding rivers
have deposited rich soil
monsoon
in Asia, seasonal wind that brings
warm, moist air from the oceans in
summer and cold, dry air from inland
in winter
cyclone
storm with heavy rains and high
winds which blow in a circular pattern
around an area of low atmospheric
pressure
tsunami
Japanese term used for a huge sea
wave caused by an undersea
earthquake
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