Ten Geographic Qualities F Summary- don’t write F 1. Sub-region of Asia - Indian Subcontinent F 2. Mostly Dry Flat Plateau Area

Ten Geographic Qualities F 3. Soon to be the largest population concentration in the world 1.3 Billion F 4. Center of Hindu Religious Concentration F 5. Hundreds of languages & ethnic groups

Ten Geographic Qualities F 6. Colonial Exploitation of this resource rich area F 7. Highest Mountains in the world F 8. Historically an Asian crossroads for trade

Ten Geographic Qualities F 9. Region is dominated by monsoon rains F 10. Culturally vibrant Hindus, Moslems, Jaines, Seiks

Relative Location of South Asia F Centrally located between Southwest Asia and Southeast Asia F South of China F North of the Indian Ocean F Along a water trade routes

I. Physical Geography (Notes) A. Plate Tectonics –Clashing or colliding plates of Eurasian and Indian plates –This collision created the Himalayan Mts.

Physical Geography F Indian Sub Continent Plateau - Deccan Plateau Deserts Thar Desert Pakistan Desert

Physical Geography of South Asia B. Mountains –Himalayan –Pamir Mts. –Karakorum Mts.

Physical Geography of South Asia C. Rivers –Indus River –Ganges River –Brahmaputra River D. Gulfs - –Arabian Gulf –Bay of Bengal

Physical Geography of South Asia E. Climates –Desert Climates dominate Pakistan and Afghanistan –Deccan Plateau of India is also very arid (hot/dry) –Northern Himalayan regions and coastal areas are very wet in the summers u tropical monsoon climate- seasonal wind that bring moisture

South Asia F Ten Geographic Qualities F Physical Geography F Cultural Geography F Regions & States

Cultural Geography of South Asia F INTERESTING FACTS- Don’t Write –India is the 1/3 the size of the United States with 5 times the population –Bangladesh has about half the population of the United States alone –South Asia is the fast growing of the large population concentrations and will soon surpass China as the largest

II. Cultural Geography of South Asia F A. Population –1.4 billion –concentrations on coasts & rivers –high overall population due to large base numbers & high growth rates –Large numbers in Pakistan & Bangladesh

Cultural Geography of South Asia B. Languages –Indo-European Language Family u Indic Branch –Dravidian Language Family u Hindi –English is the lingua Franca or the language of commerce

Cultural Geography of South Asia C. Religion –Islam in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh –Hindu in India & Nepal – Religious landscapes

Cultural Geography of South Asia F Religion – Religious landscapes

Cultural Geography of South Asia D. Agriculture –subsistence farming u intensive rice farming –nomadic herding u in dry areas

Amu Darya River & Irrigated Lands -

Cultural Geography of South Asia E. Economy –primarily industry –resource rich –trade –large labor population

South Asia F Ten Geographic Qualities F Physical Geography F Cultural Geography F Regions & States

C.J. Cox Instructor