East Asia Physical Geography

Main idea O East Asia’s landforms, bodies of water, and climate influence where people live.

Landforms O High mountains and plateaus cover much of East Asia. O The Kunlun Mountains and Tibetan Plateau are important features in China. O The largest desert in the region is the Gobi desert covering parts of China & Mongolia.

Water O The Chang Jiang River (also called the Yangtze) is the longest river in China. O River basins- low areas drained by rivers O River basins support large populations because of the fertile farm land. O People in the region depend on the Pacific Ocean for fishing, trade, and transportation.

Yangtze River

River basin farmland

Water O The Huang He (also called the Yellow River) is China’s second longest river. O It is called the yellow river because it flows through an arid region that contains loess. O Loess is a fine yellowish soil. O The river valleys provide rich agricultural land for growing rice and wheat.

Climate O East Asia’s climate is varied O Parts of China, South Korea, and Japan are tropical. O Most of Mongolia is desert. O Monsoons great influence the region’s climate. O Monsoon- season winds that bring intense rainfall for part of the year.

Monsoon flooding

Three Gorges Dam

History O In 1994, the Chinese government began construction on the Three Gorges Dam. O At 1.4 miles long and 630 feet high (roughly the height of a 50-story building), it is the world's largest dam. O It will produce a giant lake, or reservoir, 350 miles long and hold more than a trillion gallons of water.

Construction

Benefits O This massive effort will allow the government to control the river's chronic flooding, which caused more than 2,000 deaths in just one year and left nearly 14 million people homeless. O In addition, ocean vessels will be able to travel farther inland, which will boost trade and tourism. O Hydroelectric power from the dam will generate inexpensive electricity, thereby cutting greenhouse gas emissions and the use of coal and fossil fuels.

Consequences O The dam cost $24 billion to build O Approximately 2 million people have been forced to relocate. O Although the government provided assistance with resettlement, there were issues like: O inadequate housing O lack of economic opportunity for farmers resettled in urban areas O unfair compensation for property losses

Bridges and highways had to be built at higher levels, replacing older structures.

13 cities, more than 1,600 villages, and 300 factories were submerged

Garbage collection after water level was raised 78,000 tons of garbage

Japan The Island Arc

Japan O Japan is an archipelago, or a chain of islands O It has 4 main islands and thousands of smaller ones that extend about 1,400 miles in length.

Japan’s Mountains O Mountains cover ¾ of Japan and run like a spine down the middle of the 4 main islands O The Japanese islands were formed by the top part of a mountain range thrusting up from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Ring of Fire O Japan is on the Ring of Fire. O Ring of Fire- An area along the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently. O Every year there are 1,500 earthquakes and thousands of eruptions.

March 11, 2011 O A 9.0 earthquake rocked northern Japan. O It also triggered a tsunami. O It destroyed countless homes & businesses, as well as damaging several of Japan’s nuclear power plants. O Almost 16,000 people were killed and thousands more were injured.

March 11, 2011

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Japan’s Resources O Japan’s most important natural resource is fish. O Japan’s fishing industry is the largest in the world, & it is vital to the country’s economy. O Because Japan is an island with only small quantities of mineral resources, they must import raw materials such as iron ore, lead, petroleum, and coal. O Japan exports cars and electronics.