Name ______

Southern and Eastern Asia Geographic Understandings

SS7G11 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources, and population distribution on Southern and Eastern Asia a. Describe the impact climate and location have on population distribution in Southern and Eastern Asia b. Describe how the mountains, desert, and water features of Southern and Eastern Asia have affected the population in terms of where people live, the types of work they do, and how they travel.

Terms to define: Subcontinent: Natural resources: Hazard:

India  Separated from the rest of Asia by 3 ranges of mountains, the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas, and the Karakoram ranges.  For this reason, India often called a subcontinent  Located south of the large mountain ranges, India is made up of a broad plain between the Indus River and the Ganges River  This plain is very fertile due to tons of silt that is deposited from the rivers and enriches the soil.  South of the plain is a higher plateau- Deccan Plateau.  Further south the land becomes a narrow tropical strip along the coast of the Indian Ocean  Mountains sometimes offered protection from invaders from the north who wanted India’s fertile river valleys  Sometimes invaders found mountain passes they could use and would work their way into the heart of India to set up new rulers and customs (movement and migration)  Most Indians live in the fertile river valleys.  People moving to cities from rural areas looking for work and better opportunities for their families.  Rivers provide transportation, trade routes, water for irrigation, and water for people living in the cities.  They are the easiest way of disposing of human, animal, and industrial waste.  Nearly all of India’s large cities have problems with over-crowding and air and water pollution. China  North of the Himalayan Mountains and across the Tibetan Plateau  Enormous size = variety of climates and terrain  Two great deserts in Northern China: Taklimakan and Gobi  Few people live here- just nomads and animal herders  Other northern and western parts are more moderate and farming is possible  Northeast, along the route of the Huang He (Yellow River) is most populated area of China  Beijing is in this area  Agriculture is still common, but this region is China’s industrial center.  Farming is most common occupation in the southeastern part of the country.  Southeastern part- Yangtze River flows to Shanghai, China’s largest port.  The Three Gorges Dam is in this region.  Large hydroelectric project designed to bring electricity to China’s rural areas.  Due to rapid industrialization, many Chinese workers have left their rural homes and found work in overcrowded cities North Korea  Too many mountains make agriculture difficult.  Hydroelectric power has been developed from the fast-flowing rivers in the mountains  Coal, iron, and copper bring a profit to the country.  Most people live in the western half of the country where the mountains slope to the sea and farming is somewhat successful. South Korea  Less mountainous and a large part of the country has excellent farmland.  Population greater than North Korea  About 25% of the people live in and around the capital of Seoul.  These people have advantages of markets, jobs, and education that are hard to find in rural areas  Cold winters and warm summers, climate is milder than North Korean climate because of ocean winds. Japan  80% mountainous  Small percentage of land suitable for farming.  Japanese have created farmland out of mountains by building terraces, putting in irrigation channels, and using different fertilizers and farming techniques.  Japan still has to import food  Many volcanoes in Japan which can cause earthquakes  Japan has more earthquakes every year than any other place on earth.  Although these cause lots of damage, the Japanese have adjusted to the threat.  Some areas have developed hot springs around the volcanic areas.  Others use the heat to warm water for people to use.  People depend on fishing since there is so little farmland  Japan imports food and fuel. (Oil is not a big natural resource)  Highly developed industrial economy, but no gas or oil  Depend on world market for petroleum products. (At the mercy of OPEC) Natural Resources  Distribution of natural resources throughout the area plays a major part in determining what work people do and how comfortably they are able to live.  Natural resources are things found in the environment that people need and can use.  Ex: fresh water, trees, rich soil, minerals, and oil, etc.  One extremely important natural resource in this area is rich farmland.  All of the countries of Southern and Eastern Asia rely on agriculture to feed their growing populations  China and India can claim large areas of rich farmland as a natural resource  However they have such HUGE populations that they have trouble producing enough food.  India, China, North Korean and South Korea have good supplies of coal.  Coal= important fuel and energy source for all the economies, however coal burning is a major source of air pollution.  Air pollution = one of the greatest environmental hazards facing the countries of Southern and Eastern Asia  North and South Korea both have a number of mineral deposits, including lead and zinc.  South Vietnam mines phosphates for export as well as being able to drill for oil.  Japan, an industrial powerhouse has practically no natural resources.  Japan must rely on industry and trade to supply its population with what they need.