T HE P HYSICAL G EOGRAPHY OF S OUTH A SIA Questions we’re looking to answer…. 1.What landforms exist in South Asia? 2. What are the three great river systems on which life in South Asia depends? 3. How do the peoples of South Asia use the region’s natural resources?

“S EPARATE L AND ” Seven countries make up South Asia It is separated from the rest of Asia by mountains. South Asia is called a SUBCONTINENT—which is a large, distinct landmass that is joined to a continent. Geologically speaking…South Asia has some of the OLDEST & NEWEST landforms on Earth.

“S EPARATE L AND ” Forms a peninsula of about 1.7 square million miles Touched by THREE bodies of water…. Arabian Sea—to the WEST Indian Ocean—to the SOUTH Bay of Bengal—to the EAST Region also includes many small islands…and the large island of the country Sri Lanka.

L ANDFORMS NORTHERN PART: South Asia has some of the world’s highest mountain ranges, along with high desert plateaus, and rich valley SOUTHERN PART: Older, more eroded mountains and flat plateaus How can this tell us which land is receiving the most movement and nearest the newest land creations?

H IMALAYAN M TS. Theory of Continental Drift Idea that 60 million years ago the Indian subcontinent was part of the same large landmass as Africa. The subcontinent broke away, collided with southern edge of Asia. The force of this collision thrust up new mountain ranges, the Himalaya Ranges spread more than 1,000 miles across the N. edge of the peninsula and are hundreds of miles wide.

H IMALAYAN M TS. Mount Everest The world’s HIGHEST peak. Rises to 29,035 feet above Sea Level

O THER L ANDFORMS Northern Landforms Himilaya+Karakoram Mts. +Hindu Kush Mts. make up the high wall of mountains between the Indian Subcontinent and the rest of Asia. Khyber Pass: Narrow crossing place between Afghanistan and Pakistan Ganges Plain: wide, fertile plain; 1/10 th of the world’s people live in this crowded Northern area. Central Landforms Vindhya Range—result of the collision; divides India between N & S regions; Physical division has led to a cultural division…differences in architecture, food, religion, etc. Southern Landforms Deccan Plateau: part of the old landmass that broke away; is 100s of millions of years old; rich, black soil.

M AJOR R IVER S YSTEMS Rivers are key to life in S. Asia Three major rivers—have sources high in the Himilaya Indus River Brahmaputra River Ganges River All three river systems carry fertile soil from mountain slopes onto their floodplains as the rivers swell with seasonal rains.

I NDUS & B RAHMAPUTRA R IVERS Indus River Flows mainly through Pakistan Empties into the Arabian Sea Serves as an important transportation route Historically speaking, the Indus River Valley was known as the cradle of ancient India (along the likes of Mesopotamia & Egypt) Brahmaputra River Flows East through Himalaya, then West into India & Bangladesh Joins the Ganges River, then empties into the Bay of Bengal Major inland waterway AND provides Bangladesh with 50% of its power through hydroelectricity

G ANGES R IVER Ganges River Flows east from the Himalaya It is the MOST important river of South Asia Fed by water from snowcapped peaks Summer Monsoon Period: heavy rains can cause devastating floods along the Ganges Named after Hindu goddess, Ganga Ganges water is REVERED (respected, admired) by Hindus, who consider its water to be SACRED Ganges river flows through the Ganges Plain Ganges Plain India’s most agriculturally productive area Crops: Rice, Sesame, Sugarcane, Jute, and Bean Most densely populated World’s LONGEST alluvial plain (am area of fertile soil deposited by river flood waters)

N ATURAL R ESOURCES Water Provide S. Asia with alluvial soil, drinking water, transportation, fish for local use & export, and hydroelectric power. Water resource management challenges S. Asia because rivers cross national boundaries. Energy Has some petroleum reserves; overall though, depends on imported oil; Most S. Asia depend on energy from hydroelectricity, fuel wood, and coal. Minerals Various minerals: iron ore, mica, gypsum, copper, etc. Sri Lanka is world’s largest producer of graphite (“lead” in pencils) Timber Timber is extremely important to S. Asia. Dangers: overcutting, massive soil erosion, fragile environments

In Bhutan, 90% of the workforce makes its living in agriculture and forestry.