Physical Geography of South Asia TULOSO-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL.
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Transcript of Physical Geography of South Asia TULOSO-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL.
Physical Geography of
South Asia
TULOSO-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL
Landform Regions of South Asia
Himalayas
The Ganges River Basin
The Indus River Basin
The Deccan Plateau
HIMALAYAS• Separate India
from other countries in the region
• Contains the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest (~29,000 ft above sea level)
HIMALAYAS• Formed by tectonic
forces - convergence
• Earthquakes are common in region
• Among the youngest mountain ranges on the planet (70 million years old)
Hindu Kush• Smaller in area than
the Himalayas, but almost as high and just as rugged.
• Located mostly in Afghanistan.
• The word “kush” means “death.”
Khyber Pass• Best known pass
through the Hindu Kush.
• For centuries, traders and invaders traveled through this pass.
Kashmir• Isolated valley in
northern India.• Famous for the
production of a fine wool.
• Split between India, Pakistan and China.
Indo-Gangetic Plain• Large plain formed
by the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers.
• Most fertile and densely populated part of South Asia.
Indus River• Largest river of
Pakistan.
• The word “indus” means “river.”
• India’s name comes from this river.
DECCAN PLATEAU• Makes up most of
central and southern India
• Rugged area
• Access difficult
• Low population density
Deccan Plateau• Large plateau (an
elevated flat or hilly landmass)
• Bordered by mountains:– Vindhyas– Western Ghats– Eastern Ghats
DECCAN PLATEAU
RIVER SYSTEMS• Indus River and
Ganges River are the two most important in the region
• Provide for farming (irrigation) and energy production (hydroelectric power)
GANGES RIVER• Religious rituals of
the Hindu include:
– Bathing for purification and
– Disposal of their deceased
• RESULT:
• One of the most polluted rivers in the world
Ganges River• Largest river in
India.• Most holy river of
Hinduism.• Joins with
Brahmaputra to create an enormous delta in Bangladesh.
GANGES RIVER
• POLLUTED RIVER
GANGES RIVER• National Geographic article on the
polluted state of the Ganges River– http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
news/2011/11/111123-india-ganges-river-pollution/
Brahmaputra River
• Large river that starts in Tibet (China).
• Runs through India and Bangladesh.
• Name means “Son of Brahma.”
Thar Desert
Large desert in India and Pakistan.
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats create a “rain shadow.”
Windward Side Leeward
Side
Review: Physical Features• Deccan
Plateau• Himalayas• Hindu Kush• Indo-Gangetic
Plain• Thar Desert• Western
Ghats
Hindu Kush
HimalayasThar Desert
Indo-Gangetic
Western Ghats
Deccan Plateau
Climates• With monsoons to the
South and East, there is heavy seasonal rainfall (India).
• Dry climates to the west (in Pakistan).
• Highland climates in the north (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan).
MONSOONS• To the people of India,
the monsoons are a source of life.
• Seasonal reversal of winds bring heavy rainfall or no rain at all.
• General onshore movement in summer, bringing rainfall (lots of it).
• General offshore flow in winter, resulting in little rain.
• Very distinctive seasonal precipitation
POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MONSOONS
• Widespread flooding• Property damage• Destruction to agricultural lands• Damage to transportation infrastructure• Homelessness• Disease• Malnutrition• Serious injury• Death
Natural Hazards in South Asia
• Earthquakes
• Monsoons and Flooding
• Drought and Fires
• Tsunamis
• Cyclones
TSUNAMIS• A series of ocean waves generated usually by
an earthquake in the sea floor. • In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only
be a few inches high.
• The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a fast moving wall of turbulent water several meters high.
TSUNAMIS• Video of March 11, 2011 tsunami in Japan
• http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/environment-news/japan-tsunami-2011-vin/
• Video of tsunami in Sri Lanka
• http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-disasters/tsunamis/tsunami-sri-lanka/
CYCLONES• A cyclone is a hurricane that occurs in
the South Pacific or Indian Oceans
CYCLONES• More on cyclones from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/cyclone.html