Download Ancient China Geography Notes

Geography of China
China’s Physical Geography :
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China has many different geographical
features.
Some features separated groups of people
within China.
Some features also separated China from
the rest of the world.
What makes China a Vast
and Varied Land?
Size:
Gobi Desert:
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China is about the same size as the United
States.
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The Gobi desert is a harsh desert that
separates China from the areas around it.
The Gobi desert spreads over most of
China’s north.
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Manchurian Plain and
North China Plain:
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East of the Gobi are low-lying plains (The
Manchurian Plain and North China Plain).
These plains cover most of eastern China
and form on of the world’s largest
farming regions.
Eastern Border:
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The Pacific Ocean is the country’s eastern
boundary.
South China Sea, East China Sea, and
Yellow Sea
Mountains:
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Rugged mountains make up China’s
western frontier.
In the southwest, the Plateau of Tibet has
several mountain peaks that reach more
than 26,000 feet.
Smaller mountain ranges spread
eastward-Most important of these ranges
is the Qinling Shandi (Chin-Ling shahnDEE).
Qinling Shandi separates northern China
from Southern China.
What is the Climate like in China?
Northeast:
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Weather and temperature varies widely
across China.
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Climate is cold and dry.
Winter temp. drops below 0 degrees F.
Rivers frozen for more than half the year.
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The deserts are very dry.
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Heavy rains fall.
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The wettest region.
Monsoons can bring 250 inches of rain
each year (cover a two-story house).
Northwest:
Eastern Plains:
Tropical Southeast:
What are the rivers like in China?
The Huang He (Yellow River):
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Stretches for nearly 3,000 miles across
northern China.
Often floods leaving behind layers of silt.
Floods can be very destructive and
millions of people have died in the floods.
Sometimes called “China’s Sorrow”
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Located south of the Yellow River.
Cuts through central China.
Longest river in Asia.
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The two rivers helped link people in the
eastern part of China with those in the
west.
The mountains between the rivers did
limit contact though.
Difficult to get to China due to
surrounding mountains, desert, and
Ocean.
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The Chang Jiang (Yangzi River):
Contact between people:
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