Geography of China

Satellite View of ChinaSatellite View of China

China has the most people in the world. One quarter of the worlds population, over a billion people, make China their home.

China is the third biggest country, next to Russia and Canada.

Its history dates back four thousand years. This makes China the oldest civilized country.

China also has one of the worlds hottest desert, called the Taklimakan Desert. The world’s highest mountains are the Himalayas, found on the border of China and Nepal. The tallest of these is Mt. Everest.

The Chinese Grand Canal is the longest canal in the world. The largest structure ever built is the Great Wall of China.

China vs. the U. S. in Size

China vs. the U. S. in Size

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000250Miles

China

United States

Comparing China & the U. S.

Comparing China & the U. S.

China United States

Size 3.7 million square miles

3.6 million square miles

Main physical barrier

Himalayas Rockies

Main River Yangtze / East - West

Mississippi / North – South

Population East Coast East Coast

Connectivity problems

North - South East - West

China – Step by Step Geography of China in 3 huge steps.

Top Step: South Western China Enormous mountains and the largest plateaus Tibet – roof of the world

Over 4000 meters high Very cold, frost free days are usually less than 50

per year. Mountains cover 1/3 of the land Himalayan Mountains - largest mountain range. Mt. Everest - world’s tallest mountain

Over 8848 meters tall Is Mt. Everest still growing?

Mountains & PeaksMountains & Peaks

Tian Shan

Altai Mts. Greater Khingan

Kunlun Shan

Himalayan Mts.

Check for Understanding

1. How many steps are there in China’s geography?

2. What is the roof top of the world?

3. What covers 1/3 of the land?

4. What is the world’s largest mountains?

5. What is the world’s tallest mountain?

2nd Step: Central China Smaller mountain ranges and huge deserts Mountains: Qilian Shan, Qun Ling, Kunlun 2 major river systems originate from the

Kunlun Mountains. Yellow River Yangtze River

Bodies of WaterBodies of Water

Huang-He

River

Yellow Sea

Yangtze River

Pacific Ocean

Amur River

Xi River

SouthChinaSea

Sea of

Japan

Rivers

Yellow River: aka Huang He One of the worlds largest water system

Yangtze: aka Chang Jian, aka Yangtzi, aka Chang, aka the Great River! 4th longest river in the world

Flood Waters: Friend or Foe? Provide fish, silt to fertilize land,

transportation, rich soil

The Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze River

2nd step continued

North West: great mountains enclose desert basins

Taklimakan: desert temp. is so extreme that rain evaporates before it touches the ground.

Sandstorms last for days Gobi Desert: 45-40 degrees Celsius

How many degrees Fahrenheit? Not sand, mostly rock and gravel

113 degrees

Deserts & PlateausDeserts & Plateaus

Tibetan Plateau

Taklamakan Desert

Gobi Desert

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China

• Built during Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)• The modern estimate is 8850 km (5500 miles)• Is a series of fortifications made of stone and bricks

Check for Understanding

1. What does the 2nd step contain?

2. What is the Yellow River?

3. What are the two deserts?

4. How hot does it get in the Gobi?

5. How long is the Great Wall of China?

3rd Step: Coastal Plains

Extend along the coast of the South and East China Seas.

Very Fertile land – good for Farming Weather is warm and humid 90% of China’s population live in this area. Major Cities: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai

Valleys / Plains / Basins

Valleys / Plains / Basins

Manchurian Plain

North China PlainTarim

Basin

Sichuan Basin

North China PlainNorth China Plain

Completed Topographic Map

Completed Topographic Map

Huang-He

RiverYellow

Sea

Yangtze River

Pacific Ocean

Amur River

Xi River

SouthChinaSea

Sea of

Japan

Tian Shan

Altai Mts. Greater Khingan

Kunlun Shan

Himalayan Mts.

Tibetan Plateau

Taklamakan Desert

Gobi Desert

Manchurian Plain

North China PlainTarim

Basin

Sichuan Basin

Check for Understanding

1. Where is the 3rd step of China?

2. What is good for farming?

3. What is the weather like?

4. How much of the population lives in this area?

5. What are the major cities?