South Asian Geography

Gondwanaland Large land mass that split off millions of years ago Drifted by plate tectonics and collided with the Asian continent The force of the impact created the Hindu-Kush & Himalaya mountains

3 Major Landforms Mountains Indo-Gangetic Plain The Deccan Plateau Hindu-Kush Himalayas Indo-Gangetic Plain The Deccan Plateau

Mountains

The Himalayas The world’s tallest and 2nd longest mountain range Stretches for 1,500 miles Separate the Indian Sub-Continent from the Asian continent Causes a large rain shadow to extend into Western China

Mount Everest The world’s tallest mountain peak

The Hindu-Kush In the Northwest of the region Today Pakistan & Afghanistan Very tall, but they are also very steep and rugged Kush means “death” Nearly impenetrable, except through mountain passes

Khyber Pass The main east-west corridor connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan

The Western Ghats A mountain range along the west coast of India They block some of the moisture from the sea from reaching the interior of the Deccan Plateau, causing a rain shadow

The Indo-Gangetic Plain Runs South through Pakistan, and east through northern India Series of fertile river valleys of the Indus, Ganges & Brahmaputra rivers

The Indo-Gangetic Plain This region has very fertile soil from silt and a steady fresh water supply The plain ends in Bangladesh in the Brahmaputra and Ganges deltas

Rivers

Indus River Main river system of Pakistan Source is the Himalayas Provides fertile soil, fresh water, irrigation & transportation Source of the Harappan river valley civilization Indus means “river”

Ganges River India’s principle river system Considered holy to Hindus because of it is the source of life Provides fertile soil, irrigation, transportation & hydroelectric power The site of many religious / cultural festivals & ceremonies

Brahmaputra River Begins on the Tibetan Plateau in China Its source is the run off from the Himalayas One of the world’s longest rivers Provides fertile soil / irrigation for parts of western India & Bangladesh Multiple crops per year Annual flooding

The Thar Desert “Great Indian Desert” Along the western edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain between India & Pakistan Covers 100,000 square miles Home of semi-nomadic herders of goats & sheep India’s - nuclear testing

The Deccan Plateau Located in South central India Region of high flat land and rolling hills Contains small farms and poor villages Water is scarce Only found in wells over 500 feet deep

Monsoons

What is a Monsoon? Seasonal winds which dominate the climate Wet monsoon in the summer Dry monsoon in the winter

Wet Monsoon Arrives: Late May / Early June Temp: Up to 120°F Rainfall occurs for the first time in months Wind blows cool moist air from sea to land **Can be good for crops, or flood and wash out all crops

Dry Monsoon Arrives: October Low humidity, mild temperatures, clear skies Wind blows dry air from land to sea