South Asia Geography Unit 2 Global Studies 9

South Asia

Countries Afghanistan Nepal Pakistan Bhutan India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Maldives

Bodies of Water Indus R. Brahmaputra R. Ganges R. Bay of Bengal Arabian Sea Indian Ocean

Subcontinent South Asia is considered a subcontinent Why? Cut off in north by mountains; Remaining land surrounded by water.

The Size of South Asia

Population Over 1.2 Billion people 900 million people in India (1/2 size of U.S.: 3x population) Pakistan 130 million people Bangladesh 125 million people in an area the size of Wisconsin.

Demographic Map

Language India has 15 official languages. 35 major regional languages More than 700 different dialects (regional).

Diversity

Major Regions Northern Mountains Indo-Gangetic Plain Deccan Plateau

Mountains & Peaks Karakoran Mts. Khyber Pass I I Hindu Kush Mt. Everest ▲ Himalayas Vindhya Hills Eastern Ghats Western Ghats

Northern Mountains Himalayas “House of Snow” Highest mountain range in the world Few usable passes Mt. Everest Himalayas stretch for 1500 miles What were 2 effects of the Himalayas on the region of South Asia? (Homework) Mt. Everest

Northern Mountains Hindu Kush Smaller in area, but nearly as high and rugged. “Kush” means “death” Khyber Pass was main invasion and migration route into India. Both mountain ranges form the “Roof of India”

Hindu Kush

The Khyber Pass

The Himalayas

Indo-Gangetic Plain One Broad Plain stretching for 1500 miles Drained and watered by the Indus and Ganges River Very fertile Hot and heavily populated “Breadbasket of South Asia” Grow Rice and Wheat

Elevation Levels

Deserts / Plateaus Tibetan Plateau Thar Desert Deccan Plateau

Deccan Plateau Interior plateau of India Varied region Agriculture, mining, grazing, and forest lands. Sparsely populated.

Climate of South Asia

Monsoons Means “season” in Arabic: Seasonal winds; dominates climate of south Asia.

Winter Monsoons (Dry) Wind that blows from northeast: Late September – March Loses moisture over Himalayas. Hot, dry air. No rain for nearly 8 months

Winter Monsoons

Summer Monsoon Wind that comes from southwest Late May or early June to mid September Moisture from Indian Ocean: Spreads unevenly Most rainfall comes from these months Critical time

Summer Monsoons

Rivers of South Asia Indus River Ganges River Brahmaputra River

Indus River 1st civilization located here Located almost entirely in Pakistan

Ganges River Most important river to India Very fertile soil Considered sacred by Hindus (80% of pop.) Shrines and temples line its banks. Malta Ganga

The Ganges River System 1,560 miles long

Brahmaputra River Joins Ganges in Bangladesh Forms enormous delta Heavy flooding

The Brahmaputra River System 1,800 miles long

Flooding on the Brahmaputra

“Fire Rim of the Pacific”

2004 Earthquake In Indonesia: Tsunami Devastates Indian Ocean Coastlines!

2004 Indian Tsunami