Geography of China

“The Roof of the World” – Tibetan Plateau

• A HUGE raised plain that forms most of Tibet

• Sits higher than most mountaintops in the USA

• Many of Asia’s largest rivers begin on this plateau

• Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2BMvL8gJxI

Huang River (Yellow River)

• 3,000 miles long

• Starts as a clear stream, but picks up silt on its journey

• Spreads enough silt on the North China Plain to create a delta

• China’s oldest civilization grew from farming communities along the lower part of the river

Short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkD4lKWS0ro

The Huang River Valley

• GIANT curve around the Ordos Desert

• Cuts through hilly region made of LOESS (yellow soil)

• Short Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGwb3zxRR-A

Loess: A Blessing and a Curse

• Short Video (start at 4:10, end 5:00) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAfVmksdqi8

• Loess-silt helps farmers because it is fine, rock-free, and very fertile

• Can easily be carried away by storms because it is light and fluffy

• After storms, farmers are left with poor soil

Controlling the Floods

• Unlike Egypt, did NOT welcome floods – they would wash away the soil

• Built earth LEVEES (walls) to keep river in banks

• Canals were built, but were sometimes ineffective – loess would clog them

What happens when a levee breaks? Qiantang River footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5ePTrZn-rk

Huang Valley’s Population Grew, and…

• Farmers had to clear trees to plant crops

• Erosion was a result: the wearing away of soil

• Difficult for farmers to grow crops when soil is washed away

• Famines occurred

Summing it Up (Answer in Partners)

• How has loess helped China’s farmers? How has it caused problems?

• Why was it important for ancient farmers to control the Huang River? What made it hard for them to achieve their goal?

• What caused ancient farmers to strip loess-lands of their trees and shrubs? What effects did this have on life along the Huang?