South AsiaSouth Asia

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography

What countries are considered What countries are considered part of part of South AsiaSouth Asia??

IndiaIndia PakistanPakistan NepalNepal BhutanBhutan BangladeshBangladesh Sri LankaSri Lanka MaldivesMaldives

SubcontinentSubcontinent

South Asia is sometimes called a South Asia is sometimes called a subcontinentsubcontinent – a large landmass – a large landmass that is that is smaller than a continentsmaller than a continent..

In fact, it is often called In fact, it is often called the the Indian Indian SubcontinentSubcontinent because India because India dominates the region.dominates the region.

How does the size of South Asia How does the size of South Asia compare to that of the United compare to that of the United

States?States?

Is the population of South Asia Is the population of South Asia greater or less than the U.S.?greater or less than the U.S.?

India has 3 times the India has 3 times the population of the USA!!!!!!population of the USA!!!!!!

South Asia (all those countries in the first South Asia (all those countries in the first slide put together) has more than slide put together) has more than 1 1 billion inhabitantsbillion inhabitants – 1/5 of the – 1/5 of the world’s population.world’s population.

What can you say about the What can you say about the population densitypopulation density of South of South

Asia?Asia?

What is the world’s What is the world’s tallesttallest mountain?mountain?

Mt. McKinley’s in Alaska but it’s not the tallest!Mt. McKinley’s in Alaska but it’s not the tallest!

What two countries is Mr. Everest What two countries is Mr. Everest in?in?

What are What are South South Asia’s Asia’s

highest highest mountains?mountains?

Starts with Starts with an “H”an “H”

Hit f5 to Hit f5 to make it full make it full

screen.screen.

The land now called the Indian Subcontinent The land now called the Indian Subcontinent was once part of East Africa. It split off from was once part of East Africa. It split off from

Africa and started drifting towards Asia. Africa and started drifting towards Asia. When the two land masses collided, the land When the two land masses collided, the land

in the collision zone was forced upward to in the collision zone was forced upward to form the Himalayas.form the Himalayas.

These mountains are still rising and These mountains are still rising and scientists predict that as the two tectonic scientists predict that as the two tectonic

plates continue to push against each other, plates continue to push against each other, India will eventually become one huge India will eventually become one huge

mountain range.mountain range.

What What island island lies off lies off

the the coast of coast of India?India?

What is the longest river in What is the longest river in India?India?

South Asia’s two longest rivers – it’s a tie!!

Ganges RiverGanges River

It flows from a glacier in the It flows from a glacier in the Himalayas to the Bay of BengalHimalayas to the Bay of Bengal

The Ganges is not only an important The Ganges is not only an important water source but a sacred river.water source but a sacred river.

According to Hindu beliefs, it is a life According to Hindu beliefs, it is a life giving river and they believe the giving river and they believe the river has healing powersriver has healing powers

PollutionPollution

The Ganges is one of the most polluted The Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in the worldrivers in the world

Raw sewage and industrial wasteRaw sewage and industrial waste Dead animals float in the water and even Dead animals float in the water and even

human corpses are thrown inhuman corpses are thrown in As a result the water is poisoned with toxic As a result the water is poisoned with toxic

chemicals and deadly bacteriachemicals and deadly bacteria Many people who drink or bathe in the Many people who drink or bathe in the

water become ill with stomach or intestinal water become ill with stomach or intestinal diseasesdiseases

According to many Hindu believers, the According to many Hindu believers, the river is too holy to be harmed by pollution.river is too holy to be harmed by pollution.

What is What is the the

general general elevatioelevatio

n n pattern pattern

from from south to south to north?north?

Gradual increase moving towards Gradual increase moving towards the Himalayasthe Himalayas

What is What is the the

general general elevatioelevatio

n n pattern pattern

from from east to east to west?west?

Elevation is lowest on the coasts Elevation is lowest on the coasts and gradually increases as move and gradually increases as move

inlandinland

How does How does the the

elevation elevation pattern of pattern of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka compare compare

to the to the rest of rest of South South Asia?Asia?

Very similar, except there are no Very similar, except there are no high mountainshigh mountains

Sri LankaSri Lanka

Lies off the southern tip of IndiaLies off the southern tip of India Lush and tropicalLush and tropical Center of the island dominated by Center of the island dominated by

mountainsmountains

More than More than 1200 islands1200 islands

Only about Only about 200 are 200 are

inhabitedinhabited

None of them None of them rise more rise more

than 6 feet than 6 feet above sea above sea

levellevel

The Maldives ArchipelagoThe Maldives Archipelago

The first great civilization of The first great civilization of South Asia developed along South Asia developed along the Indus River more than the Indus River more than

4,000 years ago4,000 years ago

What appear to be the natural What appear to be the natural boundaries of the Indus Valley boundaries of the Indus Valley

civilization?civilization?

Mountain Mountain ranges, Thar ranges, Thar

Desert, Arabian Desert, Arabian SeaSea

To what physical feature does the To what physical feature does the civilization appear to conform?civilization appear to conform?

Indus RiverIndus River

What What country country

dominates dominates South South Asia?Asia?

Interesting FactInteresting Fact

Until about 1960, Bhutan was a kingship forbidden to outsiders. At that time only about 100 western visitors had been to Bhutan. This isolationism was helped by its borders being made up of jungles or mountains.

In which country are the most In which country are the most religions practiced?religions practiced?

Which religion is predominant in Which religion is predominant in India?India?

Which religion is predominant in Which religion is predominant in Pakistan?Pakistan?

What is the predominant religion in What is the predominant religion in Sri Lanka?Sri Lanka?

Where is the highest Where is the highest population density? Why?population density? Why?

What areas have the least What areas have the least amount of economic activity? amount of economic activity?

Why?Why?

What is the major economic What is the major economic activity in this region?activity in this region?

Half of the Half of the climate zones climate zones that exist can that exist can be found in be found in

South Asia – 6 South Asia – 6 zones. zones.

This means This means that Asians that Asians

must adapt to must adapt to widely widely varying varying

conditions.conditions.

See the cold, See the cold, mountainous mountainous

area?area?

That’s the That’s the area of the area of the Himalayas Himalayas where snow where snow exists year exists year

roundround

The lower The lower elevations of elevations of the mountain the mountain

range are much range are much warmer and are warmer and are

humid humid subtropical.subtropical.

The Semi arid The Semi arid regions have regions have

high high temperatures temperatures

and light and light rainfall.rainfall.

What would be What would be the driest area?the driest area?

Where would Where would the wettest the wettest area be? area be? For For

example, example, “west” or “west” or

“southeast” or “southeast” or whatever.whatever.

Monsoons and CyclonesMonsoons and Cyclones

Monsoons are seasonal windsMonsoons are seasonal winds

October – February dry winds blowOctober – February dry winds blow June – September winds blow in from June – September winds blow in from

the Southwest bringing moist ocean the Southwest bringing moist ocean airair

Cyclones is a violent storm with Cyclones is a violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain. fierce winds and heavy rain.

What is the main vegetation What is the main vegetation region?region?