PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY South Asia. Mountains Mountains are important in Asia because they influence: A....

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

South Asia

Mountains

Mountains are important in Asia because they influence:

A. Population patternsB. Movement of people and goodsC. Climate

Mountains

The most important mountain range in Asia is the Himalaya Mountains.

The Himalayas separate India from China.The Himalayas block clouds that are formed

by monsoons from entering Western China.The Himalayas isolate Tibet and make

transportation difficult.

What is the Earth’s tallest mountain and where is it located?

Why is it so important to Asia?

Mt. Everest

The Earth’s highest mountain in a section the Himalayas

It’s peak reaches 8848 meters on the international border of Nepal and China

Many are injured and even die attempting to climb it’s peak due to altitude sickness, weather, and wind challenges

Mountains Some other mountains

in Asia are:A. The Hindu-KushB. The Eastern and

Western Ghats in IndiaC. The Tian Shan

MountainsD. Mount Fuji in Japan

Rivers and Bodies of Water

Many rivers in Asia start in the Himalaya Mountains.

Rivers erode away the mountains and carry sediment (little bits of dirt) down to the flat plains at the base of the mountains.

The sediment makes the soil by the rivers fertile and a good place to farm.

Rivers and Bodies of Water

The most important rivers in South Asia are:

A. The IndusB. The GangesC. The Brahmaputra

Rivers and Bodies of Water

The Ganges and Brahmaputra start in the Himalayas and flow into the Bay of Bengal. Both rivers flow through Bangladesh and as a result, this country often floods during the monsoon season.

Seasonal Monsoons

The Ganges

The Ganges deposits sediment on a flat area called the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This river is important to India because it:

A. Provides water for agricultureB. Provides water for factories and industriesC. Provides water for human useD. Is considered sacred by Hindus

The Ganges

Hindus build temples on the banks of the Ganges River. One city, Varanasi, is considered sacred by Hindus and the focal point of pilgrimages. Hindus often pray in the water and when they die many are cremated and the ashes cast into the river.

Varanasi on the Ganges River

The Ganges

The Ganges River has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world due to:

A. Pesticides and fertilizers that spill into the river.

B. Chemicals and metals from factories.

C. Raw sewage

D. Human use

Islands

A group of islands is called an archipelago. There are many archipelagoes in Asia such as:

A. JapanB. PhilippinesC. IndonesiaD. Maldives

Maldives

The Maldives are located off of the southwest coast of India in the Indian Ocean. There are over 1200 small islands in the archipelago. The islands are atolls, the tops of submerged volcanoes surrounded by coral reefs.

Other Islands

Some other islands in Asia are:

A. Hainan

B. Taiwan

C. Sri Lanka

D. Singapore

E. Hong Kong

Natural Hazards

The natural hazards that are found in Asia are:

A. MonsoonsB. Typhoons (Cyclones)C. Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Monsoon

A monsoon is a seasonal wind that occurs in South and Southeast Asia. During the summer monsoon wind blows from south to north. The wind pushes clouds over South and Southeast Asia causing rain.

Sri Lanka