Physical Geography of East Asia: A Rugged Terrain The mountainous landscape, open ocean, and harsh climate of East Asia isolate the region and present challenges for the people living there. Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. NEXT

A Rugged Terrain Physical Geography of East Asia: SECTION 1 Landforms and Resources SECTION 2 Climate and Vegetation SECTION 3 Human-Environment Interaction Unit Atlas: Physical Unit Atlas: Political NEXT

Landforms and Resources Section 1 Landforms and Resources • East Asia has a huge mainland area that includes rugged terrain. • East Asia has a number of important islands off its eastern coast. NEXT

Landforms and Resources SECTION Landforms and Resources 1 Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus A Survey of the Region • East Asia stretches from western China to the east coast of Japan - also includes Mongolia, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea • Landscape has high mountains, deserts, cold climate, Pacific waters • Rugged terrain created by tectonic plates colliding - natural barriers limit human movement, increase isolation Continued . . . NEXT

Mountain Ranges of the Region SECTION 1 continued Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus Mountain Ranges of the Region • High mountains limited China’s contact with rest of Asia - world’s highest mountains located on western edge of region • Kunlun Mountains are located in west China - source of Huang He (Yellow) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze) rivers • Qinling Shandi Mountains separate the cultures of northern and southern China Map Continued . . . NEXT

The Islands of East Asia SECTION 1 continued Peninsulas and Islands The Islands of East Asia • East of China is continental shelf— the submerged border of continent • Isolation of shelf islands allows them to develop in peace, security • Chinese islands include Hainan and part of Hong Kong - Hong Kong was Britain’s; returned to China’s control in 1997 • Japan is a small island nation with large economic power • Taiwan once belonged to mainland China, which still claims it today Chart NEXT

River Systems The Huang He The Chang Jiang Deadly Gifts SECTION 1 River Systems The Huang He • Huang He (Yellow River)—northern China river - starts in Kunlun Mountains in west, winds east for 3,000 miles - empties into Yellow Sea, named for yellow silt the river carries The Chang Jiang • Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)—longest river in Asia - flows 3,900 miles from Xizang (Tibet) to East China Sea - major trade route; floods often causing great damage Image Deadly Gifts While their resources help with the economy, they are also responsible for some of the deadliest floods in history.

Other Rivers of the Region SECTION 1 continued River Systems The Xi Jiang • Xi Jiang (West River) flows southeast through south China - joins Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) to flow into South China Sea - Xi Jiang, three other rivers form estuary between Hong Kong, Macao Other Rivers of the Region • Yalu Jiang river flows 500 miles along North Korea, China border - Chinese troops cross it in 1950 - attack UN forces, enter Korean War NEXT

Resources of East Asia Uneven Distribution Land and Forests SECTION 1 Resources of East Asia Uneven Distribution • China, Mongolia, North Korea have natural, mineral resources • Japan, South Korea, Taiwan have limited natural resources Interactive Land and Forests • Limited farmland in sparsely populated, mountainous, western areas • Most Chinese are in fertile eastern river basins where rice is grown • Abundant forests in China, Japan, Taiwan, North and South Korea - Japan reserves forests by buying timber from other regions Continued . . . NEXT

SECTION 1 continued Resources of East Asia Water Resources • China’s long river systems are important to its economy - provide crop irrigation, hydroelectric power, transportation - Three Gorges Dam on Chang Jiang will control floods, create power - Huang He and Xi Jiang provide hydroelectric power, transportation • Sea is important food source for East Asia - Japan has one of world’s largest fishing industries NEXT

Climate and Vegetation Section 2 Climate and Vegetation • East Asia has a dry highland climate in the west. • The region has a humid climate in the east. NEXT

Dry Zones Semiarid Desert • Includes parts of Mongolian Plateau SECTION 2 Dry Zones Semiarid • Includes parts of Mongolian Plateau • Vegetation is mostly short grasses, food for grazing animals Desert • Most of region’s deserts are in west central mainland • Taklimakan Desert—in west China, between Tian Shan, Kunlun mountains • Gobi Desert—in north China, southeast Mongolia - prime area for dinosaur fossils Image NEXT

Tropical Zones Tropical Wet SECTION 2 Tropical Zones Tropical Wet • Typhoon— tropical storm that occurs in western Pacific • Tropical climate zone in East Asia is small - strip of land along China’s southeastern coast - island of Hainan, southern tip of Taiwan • High temperatures, heavy rainfall, high humidity all year • Tropical rain forest has tall, dense forests of broadleaf trees NEXT

Human-Environment Interaction Section 3 Human-Environment Interaction • The Chinese are building the Three Gorges Dam to control flooding. • The Japanese have developed creative ways to use their limited amounts of land. NEXT

Human-Environment Interaction SECTION Human-Environment Interaction 3 The Three Gorges Dam An Engineering Feat • In 1993, China began construction of the Three Gorges Dam - being built on China’s Chang Jiang river - should reduce flooding, generate power, make it easier to ship goods • China’s largest construction project will be world’s biggest dam - will be 600 feet high, spanning a mile-wide valley - will create 400-mile-long reservoir, covering 1,000 towns Image Continued . . . NEXT

SECTION 3 continued The Three Gorges Dam Negative Effects • Most observers feel dam will also have negative effects - negative environmental impact may outweigh any benefits • One to two million people had to move - hundreds of historical sites, scenic spots submerged • Dam could cost $75 billion rather than original $11 billion estimate - costs scare away many potential investors Continued . . . NEXT

SECTION 3 continued The Three Gorges Dam Negative Effects • In building dam, government has not protected the environment • New reservoir will flood land, reduce animal habitats - submerged factories could leak chemicals into water - region’s climate, temperature will be affected - some species (alligator, river dolphin, others) may vanish • International groups slow to invest due to environmental concerns NEXT

Use of Space in Urban Japan SECTION 3 Use of Space in Urban Japan Crowded Living and Working Spaces • 60% of 127 million people live on 3% of land along coastal plains - 80% live in largest cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo - 25 million in Tokyo, one of world’s largest cities • Cities poisoned with mercury, PCBs —factory pollutants—in 1950s, ’60s - PCBs build up in animal tissue; cause disease, birth defects - PCBs banned in 1977 Continued . . . NEXT

Adapting to Limited Space SECTION 3 continued Use of Space in Urban Japan Adapting to Limited Space • Houses are small, sparsely furnished • Many in cities live in apartments - family of four in a one-bedroom apartment is common • Some move to suburbs, but must commute several hours to work • Coastal cities reclaim land with landfill - landfill is solid waste buried in layers of dirt - Done in order to increase amount of land suitable for building NEXT