Geography of Southeast Asia

Terms and Places The Strait of Malacca is a busy shipping lane. Malay Peninsula is the long narrow piece of land in southeast Asia. An Archipelago is a group of islands. The Mekong River borders or goes through all five mainland countries of SE Asia. The Strait of Malacca is a busy shipping lane.

Location

Southeast Asia is this region in yellow.

Borders of Southeast Asia This area is bordered on the north by mainland China. South Asia Borders of Southeast Asia New Guinea and the Pacific Islands lay to the East. Australia lies to the south.

Features of Southeast Asia Archipelagoes (groups of islands) South China Sea Malay Peninsula Features of Southeast Asia

Nations

Ten countries exist in southeast Asia. Five of these lie on the mainland. Five of these are on islands. Malaysia is both on the mainland and on and island.

Climate

Most of Southeast Asia is tropical rainforest.

Wet Sub-Tropical Wet Tropical Wet Tropical Wet Tropical The Oriental World is divided by the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. Wet Sub-Tropical monsoon monsoon monsoon monsoon Wet Tropical monsoon Wet Tropical In the south, the climate is controlled by annual rainstorms called “Monsoons”. Wet Tropical

People

Many different types of people live in Southeast Asia

Observe that most population follows coastlines in this region.

People of Southeast Asia follow Buddhism, Christianity, tribal religions, and Islam.

During World War II, Southeast Asia was conquered by the Japanese Empire.

What nation conquered Southeast Asia during World War II? What type of climate covers most of Southeast Asia? Wet hot United States Dry hot China Japan Dry cold India Wet cold What religions are found in Southeast Asia? Where are populations often found in Southeast Asia? Islam United States Catholicism China Buddhism Japan Tribal Religions India

Please read “Climate and Vegetation of Southeast Asia.” World Explorer: Eastern Hemisphere. Prentice- Hall, 1998. pg. 547-551. “Natural Resources.” World Explorer: Eastern Hemisphere. Prentice-Hall, 1998. pg. 552-553. Topic: bamboo, fertile river valleys, Himalayan farming Vocab: surplus, cash crop, Thailand, Java