The Land Where Continents Collided South Asia The Land Where Continents Collided

Mountains and Plateaus Subcontinent – large landmass that is smaller than a continent Northern Mountains Himalaya Mountains Hindu Kush Karakoram Mountains Southern Plateaus Vindhya Range Deccan Plateau

Rivers, Deltas, and Plains Great Rivers Indus River flows west and then south through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea Ganges River drops down from the central Himalayas and flows eastward across northern India. Brahmaputra River winds its way east, then west and south through Bangladesh The Ganges and Brahmaputra meet and form a delta before entering the Bay of Bengal.

Fertile Plains Indo-Gangetic Plain – most heavily populated part of South Asia. Contains 3/5 of India’s population New Delhi and Kolkata in India Dakha in Bangladesh

Offshore Islands Sri Lanka The Maldives Lush tropical land Rugged mountains dominate the center – 8,000 feet in elevation The Maldives Comprise an archipelago – island group of more than 1,200 small islands (200 are inhabited) Atoll – an island formed from a peak of a submerged volcano.

Natural Resources Great River systems bring alluvial soil (rich soil) down from the mountains. When rivers overflow their banks, they deposit this soil on alluvial plains – lands that are rich farmland. Result: Indo-Gangetic Plain is one of the most fertile farming regions in the world

Natural Resources Water and Soil Forests Minerals Great river systems Fish: Mackerel, sardines, carp, and catfish Forests Timber Rain forests produce hardwoods Deforestation - problem Minerals India – 4th in coal production India, Pakistan, Bangladesh – natural gas resources India – iron ore (leading exporter) used in steel industry India – mica, key component in electrical equipment – India has growing computer industry Sri Lanka – sapphires and rubies

Climate – Wet and Dry, Hot and Cold Half of the climate zones that exist on Earth can be found in South Asia!!! 6 main climate zones (Tropical Wet, Tropical Wet and Dry, Desert, Semiarid, Humid subtropical, Highland)

Climate Monsoons and Cyclones Monsoons – seasonal winds – Oct. through Feb. dry winds blow across South Asia from the northeast June through September – winds blow in from the southwest, bringing moist ocean air and heavy rains

Climate Cyclone Extreme weather pattern Violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain Most destructive in Bangladesh A severe cyclone can cause widespread damage and kill thousands of people

Vegetation: Desert to Rain Forest Plat life in South Asia varies Vegetation Zones Forested areas – tropical wet zones (western coast of Indian and southern Bangladesh), rain forests Highland Zone – northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan – forests of pine, fir, and other evergreens Humid Subtropical – river valleys and foothills Deforestation is a problem everyone Less than 1/5 of India’s original forests remain

Human-Environmental Interaction Ganges River – not only an important water resource, but also a sacred river to the Hindus (the religion of most Indians) Most well-known river and extremely important to human life in this region (Lifeblood of India) Flows 1,500 miles from its source in a Himalayan glacier to the Bay of Bengal Important for Indians Drinking water, farming, and transportation

A Sacred River According to Hindus, the Ganges is a sacred river that brings life to its people. The Hindus worship the river as a goddess, and they believe its water has healing powers. Sacred sites and temples line the banks of the Ganges Pilgrims come from all over the world to drink and bathe in its waters Scatter ashes

Varanasi One of the most sacred sites on the Ganges As sun rises, Hindu pilgrims enter the water for purification and prayer They float baskets of flowers and burning candles on the water Daily celebration of their faith in the Ganges and its sacred water.

A Polluted River One of the most polluted rivers in the world Millions of gallons of raw sewage and industrial waste flow into the river everyday Huge problem According to Hindus, Ganges is too holy to be harmed by pollution