ASIA Geography, Environment

Ganges River India’s most important river. Begins in the Himalayan Mountains Flows into the Bay of Bengal Carries tons of sediment that enriches the land that creates a fertile delta for farming Large population along the river causes heavy pollution

Ganges River

Bay of Bengal

Indus River Begins in the mountains of Tibet and flows almost 2000 miles though Pakistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea. The Indus River valley has one of the richest farming in the region. Many civilizations have lived along the river for many centuries.

India Geography and Climate In general, geography affects where people live, what they do there, and how they move around. The Indo-Gangetic Plain offers an example to demonstrate this. This large plain area lies between the Himalayan mountain ranges and the Deccan Plateau, within India. Much of this area benefits from the two large rivers of South Asia: the Ganges and the Indus. These rivers have their sources in the Himalayas. These rivers and their many tributaries carry silt from the mountains that fertilizes farmlands on the plains.

India Geography and Climate These rivers also provide a reliable source of irrigation. As a result of its steady sources of water, its fertile soil, and its long growing season, the Indo-Gangetic Plain is densely populated. In mountainous areas, travel is much more difficult. Mountain passes are important in these areas because they allow people to travel through or over mountains. The Khyber Pass has been used for centuries, and has been the way that invading armies took over South Asia from the northwest. Presently, the Khyber Pass connects Afghanistan to Pakistan. India has a high population density. Only China has a higher population than India It has 898 people per square mile compared to 354 for China and 79 for the US.

India Geography and Climate An alpine climate is very cold and exists in the high mountains such as the Himalayas. Plants can grow there, but they are limited. Few people live in alpine climates. A temperate climate is much milder - it is easier to grow crops and to sustain populations in temperate climates. A monsoon is a pattern of seasonal winds that return every year. The people of South Asia depend on such winds for their crops. From June to September, monsoons blow from the southwest, brining 80% of South Asia’s yearly rains. Since so much of the population is depended on agriculture, these summer monsoons are essential to a good growing season. India covers a vast area, therefore it is called a subcontinent

India’s Environmental Issues Air pollution is one of India’s most serious environmental issues. Large population and with rapid growth of cities and the development of industry has left India with some of the heaviest pollution in the world. Automobile emissions are responsible for 70% of the air pollution in urban areas of India.

India’s Environmental Issues

China’s Huang River (Yellow River) Begins in the mountainous plateau of Tibet Flows into the Yellow Sea Yellow dust from the Gobi Desert is picked up from the Huang He River and gives the river and the sea a yellowish color. Rich soil along the Yellow River makes for great farmland. The river is used for transporting people and goods, though annual floods make conditions dangerous.

Yangtze River Also named the Chang Jiang, begins in the Tibetan Plateau. Travels east into the East China Sea Shanghai an important port in China is located at the mouth of the river Yangtze River is over 3400 miles and is the longest river in China The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are connected by the Grand Canal, one of the oldest and longest canal systems. The oldest parts of the canal were built over 2000 years ago.

Environmental Issue Yangtze River passes through over 185 towns where almost 400 million people live. Pumping stations along the river extract water to supply the people with drinking water and other uses. Millions of gallons of sewage are dumped into the river along with chemicals from agricultural runoff and industrial waste. Cities along the river are at risk for health issues that directly lead from the river’s pollution. One risk is the consumption of contaminated fish.

Environmental Issue

Mekong River Begins in the Tibetan Plateau River runs south from China through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and ending in Vietnam where it empties into the South China Sea The delta has some of the richest farming land in the world

Gobi Desert Is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia The Gobi is a cold desert, with frost and occasionally snow occurring on its dunes The Gobi desert is expanding at an alarming rate, in a process known as desertification The expansion of the Gobi is attributed mostly to human activities, notably deforestation, overgrazing, and depletion of water resources.

Taklimakan Desert The Taklimakan Desert in northwest China is a vast region of sand desert sitting in a depression between two high, rugged mountain ranges. The desert is hemmed in to the north by the snow- covered Tien Shan Mountain range and to the south by the rugged Kunlun Mountains. Desertification and sandstorms are a major concern for the farmers and grazers who live at the desert's edge.

Himalayan Mountains The Himalayas stretch across the northeastern portion of India. They cover approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) and pass through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal. The Himalayan range is made up of three parallel ranges often referred to as the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas Mount Everest at 29,029 ft (8,848 m) is the highest peak in the Himalayas, the and highest peak on the entire planet. Himalayan Mountain Range is sometimes called the “roof of the world”