South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 In this section you will: Learn about the landforms of South Asia. Discover the most important factor that affects climate in South Asia. Examine how people use the land and resources of South Asia. Objectives

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Key Terms subcontinent (SUB kahn tih nunt) n. a large landmass that is a major part of a continent alluvial (uh LOO vee ul) adj. made of soil deposited by rivers cash crop (kash krahp) n. a crop that is raised or gathered to be sold for money on the local or world market

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Scientists believe that all of Earth’s continents were once joined, and the Indian subcontinent was attached to the east coast of Africa. They think that the Indian subcontinent broke from Africa and slid slowly toward Asia about 200 million years ago.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 About 50 million years ago, the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia, crumpling the land where they met and forming the Himalaya Mountains. The Himalayas form a barrier between South Asia and the rest of Asia. They stretch 1,550 miles from east to west and include Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Nations in South Asia include: Bangladesh Bhutan India The Maldives (islands) Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka (island)

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Most of the people live in areas that have abundant rainfall, including coastal areas, northeastern India, and Bangladesh. South Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. About 70 percent of the population of South Asia live in rural areas, especially fertile river valleys.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 South Asia: Physical

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 The Ganges and the Indus—the two major rivers in South Asia—both begin in the Himalayas. The Ganges flows across northern India and empties into the Bay of Bengal, and the Indus flows west from the Himalayas into Pakistan.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 The plains have fertile soil, so they are good for farming and are heavily populated. South of India’s plains lies the Deccan Plateau, which is framed by two mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. Huge alluvial plains stretch from the mouth of the Indus River to the mouth of the Ganges River.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 South Asia: Climate and Region

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 During the summer, steady monsoon winds blow from the southwest across the surface of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Monsoons are the single most important factor affecting the climate of South Asia.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 In this way, the monsoon rains work their way inland until they finally reach the Himalayas. The rain cools the land, so when the next air mass blows in, it travels further inland before dropping rain on the land. The winds pick up moisture and drop it as rain over the hot western tip of India.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 During the winter, the monsoons change direction, and the winds blow from the frigid northeast. The Himalayas block the cold air, so South Asia has dry, mild winter weather.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Cash crops bring in money, but countries must be careful not to rely on them too much or their economies might suffer if global prices drop. Some countries in South Asia grow cash crops such as tea, cotton, coffee, and sugar cane.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 India has only a small amount of oil, though, so it relies heavily on hydroelectricity and nuclear power plants. India has a vast supply of minerals, including iron ore, coal, copper, limestone, and bauxite.

South Asia: Physical Geography Chapter 14 Section 1 Ganges River Indus River Bay of Bengal Himalaya Mts. Alluvial Plain Deccan Plateau Eastern and Western Ghats