East Asia Overview

I. Archipelago - group of islands.

A. Japan1. created by volcanoes2. Fifty or more still active

II. MountainsA. “Roof of the World”

1. Five major mountain systems in Western Asia form border for continent.

2. Peaks of 25,000 ft. or taller.

III. LoessA. Yellowish brown topsoil carried by

the Yellow River1. dust from the western deserts

http://www.gvc.gu.se/ngeo/ng-hem/china/excursion/loess.htm

IV. ChinaA. Largest coal producer in the worldB. Only 10% of the land is arable

V. MonsoonsA. Seasonal winds

1. Summer – Hot, humid air from Pacific2. Winter – Cold, dry wind from Siberia

VI. TyphoonsA. Violent hurricanes from Aug.-Oct.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A1.html

VII. Gobi DesertA. Hot in summer, cold in winter

1. Winter average temp. is 10 F.

VIII. JapanA. Highly industrialized

1. Megalopolis – Super city including Tokyo and Yokohama2. Housing shortages3. High incomes

a)1997 avg. household income = $61,597.

4. Scarce farmland

IX. Religion A. Japan – Buddhism and Shinto B. China and N. Korea – Communists discouraged any.

http://www.aerobatics.ws/GEI/japan.html