GEOGRAPHY 23 – 1THE LAND OF SOUTH ASIA

A Separate Land

• Subcontinent– Large, distinct

landmass – joined to a

continent– Natural barriers

• 1/2 the size of the United States

Mountains: The Himalaya

• Plate tectonics• Subcontinent

collided with Asia - 60 million years ago

• 1000 miles across northern edge

• Mt. Everest - world’s highest peak

Hindu Kush

• Completes chain in the west

• Kept India isolated and protected

• Khyber Pass - only way in for many years

Vindhya Range

• Central India

• Divides India into Northern and Southern regions

• Two distinct Indian cultures have emerged

Questions to Answer

• Why is South Asia a “sub continent”

• What is the major mountain range of South Asia

• What is the Northern Mountain Range

• What Pass was found that allowed people to come through?

• What is the central mountain range. Why is it important?

The Ganges Plain

• Indo-Gangetic Plain

• Holds 1/10th of human population

• Fertile plain• World’s largest

alluvial plain• Watered by

Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra

Rivers - 3 Major Systems

• Indus River– Mostly in Pakistan

• Empties into Arabian Sea

• Important transportation route

• “Cradle of Ancient India”

The Brahmaputra River• From Himalaya into

India and Bangladesh

• Joins Ganges at the delta

• Empties into Bay of Bengal

• Ships can navigate as far as 800 miles

• Hydroelectricity - 50% of Bangladesh’s power

The Ganges River• Most important

• Summer monsoons cause massive flooding

• Hindus consider its waters sacred

• Most densely populated plain

Questions

• What is the main river of India?

What plain is so important to the people of India?

What river system is considered the ancient cradle of India?

What river is around the ancient cradle of region?