South AsiaSouth Asia

Land, Economy, and PeopleLand, Economy, and People

Physical Geography of S. AsiaPhysical Geography of S. Asia

• Himalayas to the north.

• Western Ghats in west India.

• Eastern Ghats in East India

• Deccan Plateau in central India.

• Desert/Semi-Desert in Pakistan.

Bodies of WaterBodies of Water

• Indus River in Pakistan

• Ganges River in India

• Arabian Sea to the West

• Indian Ocean to the south

• Bay of Bengal to the east

Map of South AsiaMap of South Asia

HimalayasHimalayas

South Asia’s climatesSouth Asia’s climates

• In the west there are deserts and semi-deserts.

• In the north it is a highland climate.

• In the south it is a tropical wet or tropical savanna climate.

• In the north below the Himalayas it is humid subtropical.

MonsoonsMonsoons

Monsoon picturesMonsoon pictures

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/india_monsoon

Effects on ClimateEffects on Climate

• Monsoons: Wet monsoons bring warm winds and rain during the summer months, and dry monsoons bring cool, dry air in the winter months.

• Elevation: The Himalayas form cold climates.

• Latitude: South Asia is close to the tropic of cancer and the equator.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

• 70% of India’s people are farmers.• They produce cash crops such as: tea, cotton,

coffee, and sugarcane in India. Mostly along the Ganges River and coast.

• Because there is little oil, India relies on hydroelectric power.

• Pakistan does farming along the Indus River.• Iron ore and coal are the main mineral

resources.

PeoplePeople

• India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. They have a population of about 1 billion.

• Most people in South Asia live in coastal areas and in the north along the Indus or Ganges Rivers.

• Bangladesh is one of the most crowded countries in the world.

PeoplePeople

• Most people in India follow the religion of Hinduism.

• Most people in Pakistan follow the religion of Islam.

• Most people in Bhutan and Sri Lanka follow the religion of Buddhism.

ConflictConflict

• India and Pakistan have been in conflict since the early 1900’s.

• They have conflict over religion and land.

• They have been fighting over who controls Kashmir, which is on the northwestern border of India.

• Nuclear weapons have been developed.

LanguageLanguage

• Most people speak Hindi in India.

• There are 15 recognized languages in India.

• Many people speak English.

South AsiaSouth AsiaIndia

• India is growing fast. By 2050, India is expected to have the highest population.

• 72% of the people live in rural areas.

• ¼ of India’s people live in poverty. India’s middle class is growing.

• India’s economy is growing by developing their industries such as computer software, textiles, and electrical equipment.

Pakistan• Pakistan’s economy is based on

agriculture.

• Most farm along the Indus River.

• Pakistan has a dry climate, so drought can be a problem.

• Farmers must irrigate water from the Indus River.

• Most factories are located along the Indus River so they can use hydroelectric power.

• Many dams generate hydroelectric power.

South AsiaSouth Asia

India• Kashmir has caused major

conflicts between India and Pakistan.

• Both India and Pakistan have tested nuclear weapons causing fighting.

• Health care and education has improved in India.

• Life expectancy and the literacy rate are improving in India.

• India is a developing country.

Pakistan

• Most factories produce textiles, chemicals, or steel mills.

• Pakistan is famous for its carpets and rugs.

• Pakistan is a developing country.