The Land of Asia Asia’s features are the product of very active plate tectonics “The Ring of Fire” Circle of 450+ volcanoes around the Pacific

Many of the islands in the Pacific are products of these volcanoes

More famous volcanoes include: –Mt. Fuji (Japan) –Krakatau (Indonesia) –Mount Yasur (Vanuatu) –Iwo Jima (Japan) –Mount Pinatubo (Philippines) –Mount Merapi (Indonesia)

There is also intense seismic activity

Asia also has many notable mountain ranges and non- volcanic mountains

The more famous include: – The Himalayas and Karakoram Range separate China from South Asia

– Mount Everest (Himalayas) world’s highest mountain – K2 (Karakoram Range) 2 nd highest and deadliest to climb)

Plate tectonics has also caused deep trenches under- water Mariana Trench – Deepest Point on Earth

There are numerous Archipelagos: groups of islands

The Pacific contains the world’s most Atolls: ring- shaped islands formed along the rim of submerged volcanoes (coral build up)

Southeast Asia contains ¼ of the world’s known coral reefs – limestone skeletons of small creatures – 80% of the reefs here are at risk of destruction

On the Asian continent, there are also many unique features not related to tectonic activity: Alluvial plains: fertile areas around a river

Significant Asian rivers include: – Yangtze River (longest river in Asia) – Yellow River (birthplace of Chinese civilization) – Ganges River (sacred to Hindus and huge drainage basin)

Indus River (tied to Ancient civilizations) Mekong (flows through six countries & contains giant fish)

Asia also has many peninsulas Malay Peninsula Indochina peninsula Korean Peninsula

And Asia has a couple notable deserts: – Taklimakan (one of the largest shifting-sand deserts in the world) – Gobi (Largest desert in Asia)