South Asia Physical

South AsiaSouth Asia

Physical LandscapePhysical Landscape

South AsiaSouth Asia Geography has helped Geography has helped

South Asia develop South Asia develop separately from the separately from the rest of the worldrest of the world

The Himalayan and The Himalayan and Hindu Kush mountains Hindu Kush mountains form barriers to the form barriers to the northnorth

The Arabian Sea, Bay of The Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Bengal, and the Indian Ocean surround South Ocean surround South Asia on 3 sides.Asia on 3 sides.

South AsiaSouth Asia ““The Indian The Indian

Subcontinent”Subcontinent”– Another name for South Another name for South

AsiaAsia

– SubcontinentSubcontinent: a large : a large landmass that is smaller landmass that is smaller than a continentthan a continent

Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia

There are 3 There are 3 major regions:major regions:

1.1. Northern Northern MountainsMountains

2.2. Northern PlainsNorthern Plains

3.3. Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau


1.1. Northern Northern MountainsMountains

– The HimalayasThe Himalayas– The Hindu KushThe Hindu Kush

Northern PlainsDeccan Plateau

1.1. Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains– The HimalayasThe Himalayas

Create a wall that separates the Indian Create a wall that separates the Indian Subcontinent from the rest of AsiaSubcontinent from the rest of Asia

Contains some of the world’s tallest Contains some of the world’s tallest mountainsmountains


Mount Mount EverestEverest


1.1. Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains– The Hindu KushThe Hindu Kush

Very high and rugged mountainsVery high and rugged mountains Many of S. Asia’s major river systems Many of S. Asia’s major river systems

begin herebegin here

2.2. Northern PlainsNorthern Plains– From Pakistan to From Pakistan to

BangladeshBangladesh– Densely populatedDensely populated– Two major rivers Two major rivers

flow through the flow through the Northern PlainsNorthern Plains1.1. Indus RiverIndus River

2.2. Ganges RiverGanges River



2.2. Northern PlainsNorthern Plains– Indus RiverIndus River

The major river of PakistanThe major river of Pakistan Many Pakistanis live near the riverMany Pakistanis live near the river ““Indus” means “river”Indus” means “river”

– Source of the name Source of the name

““India”India”



2.2. Northern Northern PlainsPlains

– Ganges RiverGanges River Flows across Flows across

India into India into BangladeshBangladesh

It is the most holy It is the most holy river in South river in South AsiaAsia

““Known as Known as Ganga MaGanga Ma—Mother Ganges——Mother Ganges—the river is revered as a goddess whose the river is revered as a goddess whose purity cleanses the sins of the faithful and purity cleanses the sins of the faithful and aids the dead on their path toward aids the dead on their path toward heaven. According to Hindu mythology, heaven. According to Hindu mythology, the Ganges was once a river of heaven the Ganges was once a river of heaven that flowed across the sky. Long ago, she that flowed across the sky. Long ago, she agreed to fall to earth to aid a king named agreed to fall to earth to aid a king named Bhagiratha, whose ancestors had been Bhagiratha, whose ancestors had been burned to ash by the angry gaze of an burned to ash by the angry gaze of an ascetic they had disturbed during ascetic they had disturbed during meditation. Only the purifying waters of meditation. Only the purifying waters of Ganges, flowing over their ashes, could Ganges, flowing over their ashes, could free them from the earth and raise them free them from the earth and raise them up to live in peace in heaven.”up to live in peace in heaven.”

2.2. Northern PlainsNorthern Plains– Ganges RiverGanges River


2.2. Northern Northern PlainsPlains

– Thar DesertThar Desert Covers and area Covers and area

the size of the size of Colorado Colorado (100,000)(100,000)


3.3. Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau– A region of high, flat A region of high, flat

land with many riversland with many rivers– Millions of tiny farms Millions of tiny farms

dot the landscape dot the landscape



3.3. Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau– The Eastern and Western GhatsThe Eastern and Western Ghats

Low-lying mountain rangesLow-lying mountain ranges ““ghats” = passesghats” = passes


Resources and ClimateResources and Climate

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources– Water (for irrigation)Water (for irrigation)– Mineral resources: iron ore, copper, coalMineral resources: iron ore, copper, coal– Nuclear powerNuclear power

Governments have supported its use over oilGovernments have supported its use over oil

ClimateClimate– Climate and vegetation vary greatlyClimate and vegetation vary greatly

In areas of heavy rainfall, tropical rainforests In areas of heavy rainfall, tropical rainforests flourishflourish

Where there is little rain, there are desertsWhere there is little rain, there are deserts

– MonsoonsMonsoons: seasonal winds that control : seasonal winds that control the lives of farmers in South Asiathe lives of farmers in South Asia


Rain shadowRain shadow– Mountains can create a Mountains can create a rain shadowrain shadow


Wet, windward Dry, leeward

ReviewReview Geography has separated South AsiaGeography has separated South Asia

Indian Indian SubcontinentSubcontinent

Three Major Regions of South AsiaThree Major Regions of South Asia1.1. Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains

2.2. Northern PlainsNorthern Plains

3.3. Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau Identifying on a map…Identifying on a map…

HimalayasHimalayas

Hindu KushHindu Kush

Indus RiverIndus River

Ganges RiverGanges River

Thar DesertThar Desert

Eastern GhatsEastern Ghats

Western GhatsWestern Ghats

ResourcesResources– Water, mineral resourcesWater, mineral resources– Nuclear powerNuclear power

ClimateClimate– VariedVaried– Rain ShadowsRain Shadows

ReviewReview

Technology

South Asia Physical