2014 Chinas Geography Powerpoint

Size in Comparison to the USAPopulation

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*Comparing Size & Latitude

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

Comparing China & the U. S.

ChinaUnited StatesSize3.7 million square miles3.6 million square milesMain physical barrierHimalayasRockiesMain RiverYangtze / East - WestMississippi / North SouthPopulationEast CoastEast CoastConnectivity problemsNorth - SouthEast - West

China versus USA

ChinaUnited StatesSize3.7 million square miles3.6 million square milesMain physical barrierHimalayasRockiesMain RiverYangtze / East - WestMississippi / North SouthPopulationEast CoastEast CoastConnectivity problemsNorth - SouthEast - West

Population

China has more than 1.2 to 1.3 billion people, making it the most populous nationThe population density is over 110 people per square kilometer90% of Chinas population lives on less than 40% of the land

PopulationChina is multi-ethnic: Han, Manchu, Mongol, Turkish, and TibetanThe majority of ethnic minorities live in the northeast, northwest, and southwestMongols are one of the largest minority group in ChinaMade up of more than 50 ethnic groupsSpeak several languages and dialects

Eventually, overcrowding and shortages of food and shelter will be major issuesPopulation Control PoliciesFamilies can have no more than 1 childOne-couple, one-child policy couples were given special rewards such as better housing and payCouples who didnt follow faced fines and wage cutsResultsRural families rarely followed the policiesMore children allowed more workers on the farmPolicies have slowed population growthTiananmen Square Massacre in 1989

Effects: Chinas Size

Effects: Cities of ChinaChina has more than 50 cities with populations of half a million or moreCoastal Shanghai is the largest city in China with a population of around 15 million

Effects: Chinas Demographic IssuesThe problems of controlling it...The population exploded after 1949.Population control was secondary.Mao Zedong saw numbers as a workforce and a way to fight the Soviet Union and the United States.Calls for women to breed for the motherland.Population distributionExcessive concentration:50% of the population lives on 8.2% of the land.Bulk of the population along the coast.East China accounts for 90% of the population.56%, about 728 million, are living in mountainous areas.High density rural areas.

Geographic Barriers of China

Chinas Geographic BarriersFor thousands of years, the ancient Chinese thought they were pretty much alone on the planet, except for the barbarians to the north, the Mongols.

Chinas natural barriers to the west, south, and east helped protect these early people from invasion.

*Physical barriers in China cover 80% of the countryGobi DesertMongolian and Tibetan PlateausHimalayan MountainsGeographic Barriers

Natural Borders and BarriersThe Gobi Desert in northern China separates the country from its neighbors.Rugged mountains make up Western China.Qinling Shandi, an important mountain range, separates N. China from S. China

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*Chinas Geographic Barriers: EffectsISOLATIONNatural protective barriersDistanceInward looking (central kingdom) with minor incidences of cultural diffusionEffects of one oceanA history of emperors who restricted use of the coastline, except in local circumstancesToday the ocean is playing a major role in the economic (and cultural) transformation of coastal China.

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

How was China isolated from other civilizations because of its geography?The high Tibet-Qinghai Plateau made contact with lands to the southwest of China difficult

The dry Gobi & Taklimakan Deserts made contact with lands to the northwest of China difficult

China was protected & isolated from outsiders by deserts & the Himalayan Mountains and the Pacific Ocean to the east (Three natural barriers)The Chinese referred to themselves as the Middle Kingdom & rarely traded with outsiders. Why? Ethnocentrism?

Middle Kingdom and Geographic BarriersWhat is the Middle Kingdom?Geographic barriers like mountains and seas cut China off from other landsThey had no knowledge of other cultures like Greece, Rome, India, or EgyptThey thought that they were at the center of the world and called themselves the Middle Kingdom

Climate of China

Climate and VegetationEast Asias climate is often described as varied.7 different climate regions cover East Asia.5 major climate regions:Semiarid, arid, humid subtropical, humid continental, and highlands.East Asias climate is influenced by:Monsoons: a wind that changes directions with the change of seasons.

China, Mongolia, and Taiwan have a range of climates and natural resources.CLIMATESoutheast regionTropical with warm to hot climateMonsoons bring heavy rains in the summer. Typhoons strike the southeast coast in the summer and fall.Northeast regionDry and cold climateNorth and west regionMainly dry climateTemperatures vary and can get both very hot and very cold.

Weather and TemperatureDifferent regions of China have different climates.The Northeast has a cold and dry climateThe Northwest is made up of dry desert.The Eastern Plains experience heavy rainfall.The Southeast has a tropical climate. It is the wettest region. During the monsoon season they can get up to 250 inches of rain.

Climate and VegetationThe climate affects what plants will grow in East Asia. Bamboo is a plant grown in southern China and Japan. It is reliable because of its ability to stand seasonal differences in temperatures and rainfall. It can also survive dry spells.

WindsMonsoons, seasonal winds, shaped trade Winds blow northeast in the summer and southwest in the winterShips relied on monsoons to sail from place to place, often had to wait in port until winds shifted to resume the voyageMany Southeast Asian port cities became important economic centersTradeSoutheast Asia waterways, main trade routes between India and ChinaTwo most important: Malacca Strait between Malay Peninsula, Sumatra; Sunda Strait, between Sumatra, JavaControl of these, other important trade routes, brought wealth and powerClimates

Climate and VegetationClimate also affects the diet in East Asia.Rice: grows best in warm weather.In Southern China rice is grown and eaten.Wheat: grows best in cool weather.In Northern China people eat more things made from wheat, such as noodles.

Chinas VegetationAgriculture is the most important economic industry of China, employing over 300 million farmers. China ranks first in worldwide farm output, primarily producing rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, and oilseed.About 75% of China's cultivated area is used for food crops. Rice is China's most important crop, raised on about 25% of the cultivated area. Wheat is the second most-prevalent grain crop, grown in most parts of the country, but especially on the North China Plain. Other crops include sweet potatoes in the south, white potatoes in the north, and various other fruits and vegetables. Tropical fruits are grown on Hainan Island, apples and pears are grown in northern Liaoning and Shandong, and citrus fruits are grown in South China.

TyphoonsTyphoons or cyclones are tropical storms that occur in the Pacific Ocean. In the northern hemisphere they rotate counter clockwise. In the southern hemisphere they rotate clockwise. These storms cause enormous damage in coastal areas and countries with low elevations.

Ring of FirePart of Asia is on The Ring of Fire; an area around the Pacific Ocean where many tectonic plates meet. This area is at a greater risk for having earthquakes and active volcanoes.

Rivers of China

The development of civilization in early China was aided by features like long rivers, fertile soils, temperate climates, and isolated valleys. Chinas Rivers

IsolationCombination of rivers for irrigation, fertile soil for planting allowed Chinese to thrive, as did Chinas relative isolationMountains, hills, desert protected China from invasionHimalaya Mountains separate southern China from India, rest of southern Asia; vast Gobi Desert prevented reaching China from westCrops Most of eastern China covered with fertile soils; some regions better suited than others for growing certain cropsSouthern Chinawarm, receives plenty of rainfall, excellent region for growing riceFurther northclimate cooler, drier; suitable for grains, wheat, milletImpact of Rivers

The Rivers of ChinaChina has three major rivers that begin in the Himalayas and flow into the East China Sea or Yellow Sea.RiverChinese NameYellow RiverHuang HeYangtze RiverChang JiangWest RiverXi Jiang

Impact of the Rivers on Chinas History and DevelopmentEarly civilizations developed near riversChina had a few rivers that provided resources to be successfulChang Jiang River (longest river)Huang He RiverYangzi RiverChinas rivers overflowed just like others we have studiedProvides fertile soil for farmingThe Huang He River is also known as the Yellow River because of the LoessLoess is yellow-brown soil that the Yellow River carries along

Chinas Rivers1- Huang He (Yellow River).Can carry up to 40% sediment weight (highest in the world).Subject to flooding, especially in its delta.Changed course many times.2- Chang Jiang (Yangtze).Longest river, Chinas main street (6,300 km).Flood of 1998 left 14 million homeless.3- Pearl River delta systemMost productive and sustainable ecosystem in the world.Rice paddies and fish ponds.4- Heilong Jiang (Amur).China's border with Russia.

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River systemsHuang He (Yellow) -Named due to yellow silt the river carriesChang Jiang (Yangtze)Longest river in Asia - Major trade route since ancient timesXi Jiang (West River)Runs in South China

China began along the Yellow (Huang He) & Yangtze Rivers in the North China Plain; Only 10% of China is suitable for farmingThe Yellow River flooding was unpredictable & was called Chinas Sorrow because its floods often destroyed entire villages

Yellow or Huang He River(HWAHNG*HUH)

Yellow RiverSecond longest river in ChinaRuns 3395 miles longOften called the cradle of Chinese civilizationMuch of the lower reaches of the Yellow River are not navigableThe huge amount of silt the river carries is deposited in these lower regions raising its bed above ground level in the flat North China Plain.

Yellow RiverDevastating floodsTo reduce effects of flooding, have built earthen dikes or walls long the river to protect cropsDikes slowed rivers flow and causes silt to deposit on bottom of riverSilt levels grew higher, so Chinese build higher wallsChang Jung---an engineer in the 1st century BC proposed a solution to the flooding but everyone ignored him

Yellow RiverChinese kept building higher dikes to prevent floodingHuang or Yellow River now flows 12 feet above the surrounding lands due to the dikesFlooding still continues every few years when dikes break and crops are destroyed and many people dieRainfall in the area is unpredictable and contributes to flooding

Yellow RiverWhat is Chinas Sorrow?The river was unpredictable and dangerous and often killed The river also brought life through fertile soilDestructive floods would come without warningTo control the flooding the people built dikes or walls that hold back water

Huang He River (Yellow River)- Chinas Sorrow Some 10 million people drowned or died of famine & disease as the result of the catastrophic floods (1887-1943).

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*Yellow River and Flooding IssuesErosion on the Loess PlateauHuang Hes sediment burden from the Loess PlateauLoess a fine, wind-blown deposited materialLight tan color accounts for the old name, Yellow river and Yellow SeaLoess is fertile, but vulnerable to erosion when plowed Loess Plateau - one of the poorest parts of China

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

Yangtze or Chang Jiang or Yangzi River(CHAHNG*JYAHNG)

*Yangtze RiverYangzi (Yangtze) River in Central China Chinas largest waterway, 3rd longest in the worldFlows for 3,434 miles (6,300 km)The Chinese say, if you havent traveled up the great Yangtze River, you havent been anywhere.Considered the lifeline of ChinaCuts a deep channel in the valleyLarge ships can navigate 600 miles up streamSmall ships can navigate 1,700 miles up stream

Yangtze River stretches through nine provinces. The city of Shanghai is known as the gateway to the Yangtze.

Yangtze RiverChangjiang in ChineseMeans long riverCreates a basin of more than 2,000 miles from west to east and a basin of more than 600 miles from north to southDrains into the South China SeaCarries more water than any other river in ChinaThe land area of Yangtze River valley is 19% of the total land in China.The total population of Yangtze River valley is 358 million, nearly 35% of the national population (1983).

Yangtze RiverOpen to navigation all year roundThree Gorges is dangerous to navigate due to the currents and shallowswhy they built the dam thereFeeds into Lake Dongting, the second largest lake in ChinaEventually flows into the sea near Chinas largest city of Shanghai

Many earn a living from fishing on the river. How will the dam affect them? About 350 million people live near the Yangtze River and its 700 tributaries. The lives of the people living near the Yangtze are affected in some way everyday by the river. Dangerous floods kill people and livestock living near the river.

This is what the Yangtze valley looks like at the momentRiver boat cruises, like this one, is way of life for many and is how they earn a living.What will happen to these people when the project is finished?Almost all of the boating traffic in China is on the Yangtze River.

Grand Canal

Rebuilding Chinas EmpireThe Sui Dynasty Reunites ChinaSui Dynastys greatest achievement was the Grand Canal, which links the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) and the Huang He (Yellow River).

Shipping products on the Grand Canal helped unite Chinas economy.

Some 2,500 years ago the ancient Chinese took the trouble to build a canal to link the Hwang He with the Yangtze.

Later on they even extended the Grand Canal north to Peiping and south to Hangchow, making the whole canal 1,200 miles long.

Part of the Grand Canal is now silted up. But the part between the rivers is still used. It is an everlasting reminder of what marvelous engineers the Chinese were long ago.

Grand Canal SystemThe Grand CanalAchievement of Imperial hydrological engineering.First segments completed around 602 AD (Sui Dynasty).At its peak during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).Totaled about 2,500 kilometers, 1,700 still in use today.Grain distribution through the empire, notably its capitals.HangzhouSuzhouYangzhouChuzhouJizhouKaifengLuoyangBeijingHuaiyinBian Canal(Song)Tongji Canal (Sui)Jizhou Canal(Yuan)Yangzhou Canal(Song and Yuan)Jiangnan Canal(Sui, Song and Yuan)Yongji Canal(Sui and Yuan)Tonghui Canal(Yuan)Yongji Canal(Sui)Jiao-Lai Canal(Yuan)400 kmOld course ofthe Yellow River(Song)Yellow SeaEast ChinaSea

General InformationLargest ancient canal (1200miles)Took six yearsSui Dynasty Wendi initiatedSui Yangdi finishedNorth/South ChinaMillions of forced workers

Results of Grand CanalThe Grand Canal allowed the integration of the Yangzi Valley with northern China and contributed to the economic and cultural development of eastern China. Many routes converged on Changan including the Grand Canal. Changan became the center of the tributary system. This city also had over one million residents with restaurants, inns, temples, mosques, and street stalls. The different neighborhoods were walled and locked at night to prevent crime reminiscent of todays gated communities.

Results of CanalLots of grain shipped to BeijingRice and food crop sent northCultural exchanges/unityMain artery of transportation and communication for north/south

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*Chinas Grand Canal: North-South Transportation SystemCenturies-old engineering feat that is being upgraded for greater use in the coastal growth zone now.

Present BenefitsTourismShipped goodsRecently refurbishedLess crucial to Chinese economy

Plains of China

North China Plain

North China PlainIs in eastern ChinaMany people live thereIt is the center of agriculture and industryMuch of Chinas food is produced thereLands on the plain have LOESS or yellow-brown soil that blows from the desertCrops like soybeans, wheat, and cotton are grown on terraces or platforms of earth like stairsBeijing, the capital of China, is on the plain

North China PlainFlat region of grassland in Inner ChinaClimate is fairly mildWarmer than the areas to the north and cooler than areas to the southSometimes called the Land of Yellow Earth due to the yellow limestone silt known as LOESSPlains cover 12% of China, River basins cover 19%

Why did most early people settle on the North China Plain?The Tibet-Qinghai Plateau and Northeastern Plain are too cold and dry for agricultureThe Northwestern Deserts are too dry for agricultureThe heavy rains of the Chang Jiang Basins may have made farming difficultThe North China Plain was ideal because it has water, fertile soil, and a moderate climate

What did the North China Plain offer to the early people that settled there?Huang He (Yellow River) was a source of water for farming

Silt from the flooding of the river helped to fertilize the land

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*North China PlainFlooding in Northern ChinaNorthern China Plain has long been plagued with floods and droughtsWorst floods caused by Huang He (Yellow River)Huang He carries a huge sediment load (suspended clay, silt, sand); is the worlds muddiest riverMany dikes, but its still the river of Chinas sorrow

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

North China Plain

Effects of Plains: Agriculture in China

Brown China vs. Green ChinaRice DominantWheat DominantPasture and OasisDouble-crop riceSOURCE: Topic 5: The Awakening Giant by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.

Above North China Plain (Temperate Climate) farming. Below Southern China rice farming.

ChinaAgricultural diversityNorth: continental climate growing wheat, sorghum and corn.South: subtropical climate growing rice.A China of the West with pastoralism and oasis agriculture.China feeds approximately 25% of the worlds population with approximately 7% of the worlds arable land.Rice DominantWheat DominantPasture andoasisDouble-crop rice

Agriculture and Industry Agriculture

More Chinese work in agriculture than in any other industry.China is a leading producer of several crops.Chinas main farmlands are in the eastern plains and river valleys.Only about 10 percent of Chinas land is good for farming, but a large labor force enables China to produce a lot of food.Industry

Industry in China is growing rapidly.China produces everything from satellites and chemicals to clothing and toys.Industry and manufacturing are the most profitable part of Chinas economy.

South China

Chinas Agricultural IssuesRecent problemsIncreasing the agricultural output:Agricultural output increased significantly in the 1990s due to reforms.About 10 million new mouths to feed each year with declining agricultural surfaces.Production of grain is diverted to livestock (meat) and other produces (e.g. beer).Traditional land structures have reach optimal capacity:Output cannot be increased without the usage of modern techniques such as machinery and fertilizers.Farm size is too small (less than 1 hectare per household in coastal areas).Limited investments in agriculture by the peasant.

Chinas Agricultural IssuesLand ownership:Peasants do not own the land they use (collectivization).With reforms, most of the land has been rented.Peasants victims of high taxes and arbitrary expropriation.Urbanization, industrialization and transport:Decreased agricultural land in the most productive areas.Speculation around cities towards golf courses and leisure centers at the expanse of agriculture.The state is investing less in agriculture.Local authorities are more interested by business (more taxes).Dependency:China is now a net importer of grain.By 2030, China would need to import the current global grain production.

Mountain Ranges of China

Chinas Mountain RangesMountain RangesMany in the areaHimalayasSeparate China from IndiaKunlun MountainsWest ChinaSource of Chinas two great riversHuang He (Yellow) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze)Kunlun Mountains

Chinas Mountain RangesMountains cover 33% of ChinaThere are five main mountain rangesWe are going to focus on three.

Himalayan Mountains

Himalayan MountainsThe 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.

Himalayan MountainsChinas natural barriers include huge mountains. The Himalayas are very rugged, with ten of the tallest peaks in the world. Extends more than 2, 400km in an arc shape along the Chinese-Indian and Chinese-Nepalese bordersMount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

Kunlan Mountains

Kunlan MountainsOne of the longest mountain chains in AsiaExtends across western China and the Tibetan PlateauThe highest mountain is the Kunlun Goddess at 23, 514 feet.

Tien or Tian Shan Mountains

Tien or Tian Shan MountainsA large mountain range located in central AsiaIt is positioned to the north and west of the Taklamakan Desert near the border of Kyrgystan and western ChinaThe highest peak is Victory Peak at 24,406 feet

Altay or Atlai Mountains

Altay or Atlai MountainsA mountain range in east-central Asia where Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhistan come togetherThe highest mountain is Belukha at 14,784 feet

Plateaus of China

Inner Mongolian Plateau

Inner Mongolian PlateauIs a combination of prairie, mountain, and desertSuitable for raising sheepExtremely dry weather good for growing melons and grapes

Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

Yunnan-Guizhou PlateauIn the southwestSharp elevationUsed terraced farming due to steep landgrade

Tibetan Plateau

Tibetan PlateauIn southwest ChinaMade up of high and super-high mountains and massive highlandsAveraging height of 13,000 to 15,000 feet above sea levelHighest point of plateau is Mount EverestPeople on the Tibetan Plateau live mostly in the river valleysIn the summer, herders move their tents to new pastures

Tibetan PlateauRocky area of China with mountain rangesPeople who live here are called the ZhuangZhuang are nomadsThe climate and food here are very differentThe Tibetan Plateau is sometimes called the Roof of the World due to the HimalayasWorlds largest plateauRegion is bitterly cold place to liveThere are only about 50 days a year without frostSnowstorms are common, even in July

Tibetan Plateau

Tibetan PlateauIn the southwestern part of Outer ChinaAlso known as the Tibet-Qinghai PlateauCovers about of ChinaRocky land surrounded by towering mountainsSince its so high, the climate is very cold and the air is thin and dryNatural vegetation consists of sparse scrubs and grassesAntelopes and yaks roam the area

Tibetan PlateauDry, desolate region punctuated by mountains and isolated lakesEmbraces the Himalayan Mountains, the Kunlan Mountains, and the Tahseh Shan Mountains

Loess Plateau

Loess PlateauOne of the least inviting landscapes in ChinaWas once covered by forest but is now largely bare except in areas of agricultureEverything is gritty yellow: the mountains, the cliffs, the housesSometimes the conditions are like the Dust Bowl in OklahomaOn some barren slopes, without trees or a bush in sight, are the slogans Make the Green Mountain Even GreenerThere have been problems of sinkholes in the areaMay 2005: a huge sinkhole swallowed 11 houses in Jixian County 16 people escaped the 80 meter wide, 1250 meter long holeMany farmers live in caves carved out of the Loess cliff sidesSome farmers even dig down into their fields and make homes underground

Great Wall of China as Geographic Barrier

*The Great Wall 4,000 miles long 30 feet wide

Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff*The Great WallSeveral walls were built over a long periodProtection from Mongol horsemen from the north communication systemMonumental engineering feat they claim it can be seen from orbit in space

Great Wall of ChinaAncient Chinese started building the fortifications as early as the 8th century BC to help in their military efforts against nomads in the northThe first emperor of the Qin Dynasty from 221-206 BC connected the existing walls into a single system known as the Great WallThe Great Wall was periodically rebuilt, with the most current wall dating to the Ming Dynasty from 1368-1644 AD.

Deserts of China

*DesertsAsia is home to 3 of the worlds largest cold desertsChang Tang, on the Plateau of Tibet in ChinaTaklimakan Desert Gobi (Mongolian for "waterless place")

The Gobi Desert is one of the driest deserts in the world. In the Gobi, there is at least the hope of water, although an oasis is rare. The Taklamakan Desert, China's other desert, is nicknamed the Sea of Death. It offers poisonous snakes, frequent sand storms, boiling days, freezing nights, and intense water shortages. The Sea of Death is not a small desert. In fact, it is the second largest desert in the world.

Gobi Desert

Gobi Desert

Gobi DesertStretches over 500,000 square milesCovers part of China and MongoliaHas very few sand dunesMost of the desert is stonySurface is made up of small pebbles and tiny bits of sandVegetation is sparsePlants tend to be small and widely spread

The Gobi DesertThe largest desert in this area is the Gobi Desert.The Gobi Desert is formed by orographic precipitation. South Asia gets rain from the monsoons but the Himalaya Mountains block the rain from entering Western China. Most of Western China and Mongolia are in a rain shadow.

Gobi DesertThe Gobi Desert is the largest desert in Asia and the fourth largest one in the world. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China and of southern Mongolia. It is about 1,610 kilometers at its widest point, and it is about 36 times larger than Taiwan.One of largest in the worldIn China and MongoliaCovers more land than Texas and California combined!

Gobi DesertThe temperature in the Gobi Desert changes quickly, and at night it can be up to 38C colder than it was in the daytime. In winter the temperature can go down to -45C , and in summer the temperature can be as hot as 50C.There are also very big snowstorms and sandstorms that make living in the Gobi Desert difficult. Although it is a desert, the Gobi Desert is home to many types of desert animals, including brown bears and wolves. Some people also live there, but life is difficult and more and more inhabitants are moving away.

Gobi Desert of Mongolia

Gobi DesertUnlike many other deserts, much of Gobi Desert is not covered with sand, but with rock.The Gobi Desert was the home to the Mongols, who built the huge Mongol Empire across China about eight hundred years ago. The famous Silk Road linking China with the West also runs through this desert. In 1271 AD, Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road to China through the Gobi Desert.

Taklamakan Desert

Taklamakan DesertCovers about 105, 000 square milesConsidered one of the most dangerous deserts in the worldHuge sand dunes shift and change as the wind blowsSandstorms arise with stunning speedLegend says that two armies and 300 cities are buried 600 feet beneath the sand dunesDesert is too dry for much vegetation

Taklamakan Desert

Taklamakan Desert Location

Taklamakan lies in the center of the Tarim Basin, and the Basin is at the south of Xinjiang which is in northwestern China.

Taklamakan Desert Area

It has 337.6 thousand square kilometers and it is almost ten times bigger than Taiwan. It is 1000km long and 400km wide.It is the second largest moving-sand desert on the earth just next in area to the Sahara Desert in Africa.

Sea Of Death

In the Uygur languageTaklamakan means never get back if you go in. Hence it is known as Sea of Death . Because of the size of the desert ,shortage of the water resource and easily changeable weather condition, exploring the desert has been a game of death.

Taklimakan Desert of China

Rich Oil Resource Found

In recent years, the finding of the oil fields is the main reason for the government to construct the highway. For instance, they mine oil out from the oil field of , which is a new prospect in the center of desert.

Natural Resources of China

Natural ResourcesChinas Natural Resources:Many mineral resourcesCoal, copper, tin, iron, and oilOne of the largest coal suppliers in the world.Hydroelectric power (water)The Three Gorges Dam:Located on the Chang RiverBuilt to produce more hydroelectric powerControl flooding Aquaculture: farming of fish, shellfish, and seaweed.

Chinas Natural ResourcesChina has a large and varied stock of natural resources. The variety of different landforms, soil conditions, and climate patterns offers many different kinds of opportunities for agricultural production. A tremendous range of food and industrial crops can be grown, and this makes it possible for China to keep imports to a minimum. Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest) From:http://www.student.britannica.com/comptons/article-195616/ChinaFrom:http://www.indexmundi.com/china/natural_resources.html

Natural ResourcesUsing the LandLittle Farmland:Many mountains and plateausEast Asians farm every bit of land to feed its population.Farmers:cut terraces: a flat area in a hillside that allows more space to grow crops. use double cropping: growing two or more crops on the same land, in the same season, and at the same time.

Natural ResourcesWater resourcesRivers and seasLarge energy resourcesPetroleum, coal, natural gasHuman resourcesMore MANPOWER than anywhere else in the world!!

**S*Teachers notes: In geography, as you know, a natural barrier is any landform or body of water that barricades or blocks easy access to an area. You will probably need to check to make sure your students understand the definition of a natural barrier. If they cannot define it, have someone look it up in a dictionary or your textbook and read the definition to the class. *The Geography of ChinaNatural barriers somewhat isolated ancient China from all other civilizations. To Chinas east lay the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Mountain ranges and deserts dominate about two-thirds of Chinas landmass. In west China lay the Taklimakan (TAHkluhmuhKAHN) Desert and the icy 15,000-foot Plateau of Tibet. To the southwest are the Himalayas. And to the north are the desolate Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Plateau. River Systems Two major river systems flow from the mountainous west to the Pacific Ocean. The Huang He (hwahngHUH), also known as the Yellow River, is found in the north. In central China, the Chang Jiang (changjyhang), also called Yangtze (yangSEE), flows east to the Yellow Sea. The Huang He, whose name means yellow river, deposits huge amounts of yellowish silt when it overflows its banks. This silt is actually fertile soil called loess (LOHuhs), which is blown by the winds from deserts to the west and north. Environmental Challenges Like the other ancient civilizations in this chapter, Chinas first civilization developed in a river valley. China, too, faced the dangers of floodsbut its geographic isolation posed its own challenges. The Huang Hes floods could be disastrous. Sometimes floods devoured whole villages, earning the river the nickname Chinas Sorrow. Because of Chinas relative geographic isolation, early settlers had to supply their own goods rather than trading with outside peoples. Chinas natural boundaries did not completely protect these settlers from outsiders. Invasions from the west and north occurred again and again in Chinese history.Chinas Heartland Only about 10 percent of Chinas land is suitable for farming. Much of the land lies within the small plain between the Huang He and the Chang Jiang in eastern China. This plain, known as the North China Plain, is Chinas heartland. Throughout Chinas long history, its political boundaries have expanded and contracted depending on the strength or weakness of its ruling families. Yet the heartland of China remained the center of its civilization.*********The Geography of ChinaNatural barriers somewhat isolated ancient China from all other civilizations. To Chinas east lay the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Mountain ranges and deserts dominate about two-thirds of Chinas landmass. In west China lay the Taklimakan (TAHkluhmuhKAHN) Desert and the icy 15,000-foot Plateau of Tibet. To the southwest are the Himalayas. And to the north are the desolate Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Plateau. River Systems Two major river systems flow from the mountainous west to the Pacific Ocean. The Huang He (hwahngHUH), also known as the Yellow River, is found in the north. In central China, the Chang Jiang (changjyhang), also called Yangtze (yangSEE), flows east to the Yellow Sea. The Huang He, whose name means yellow river, deposits huge amounts of yellowish silt when it overflows its banks. This silt is actually fertile soil called loess (LOHuhs), which is blown by the winds from deserts to the west and north. Environmental Challenges Like the other ancient civilizations in this chapter, Chinas first civilization developed in a river valley. China, too, faced the dangers of floodsbut its geographic isolation posed its own challenges. The Huang Hes floods could be disastrous. Sometimes floods devoured whole villages, earning the river the nickname Chinas Sorrow. Because of Chinas relative geographic isolation, early settlers had to supply their own goods rather than trading with outside peoples. Chinas natural boundaries did not completely protect these settlers from outsiders. Invasions from the west and north occurred again and again in Chinese history.Chinas Heartland Only about 10 percent of Chinas land is suitable for farming. Much of the land lies within the small plain between the Huang He and the Chang Jiang in eastern China. This plain, known as the North China Plain, is Chinas heartland. Throughout Chinas long history, its political boundaries have expanded and contracted depending on the strength or weakness of its ruling families. Yet the heartland of China remained the center of its civilization.**Many earn a living from fishing on the river. How will the dam affect them? About 350 million people live near the Yangtze River and its 700 tributaries. The lives of the people living near the Yangtze are affected in some way everyday by the river. Dangerous floods kill people and livestock living near the river.*This is what the Yangtze valley looks like at the momentRiver boat cruises like this one is way of life for many and is how they earn a living.What will happen to these people when the project is finished?Almost all of the boating traffic in China is on the Yangtze River.********S******