1. South Asian Geography

2. 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. 3 Major Landforms Mountains Indo-Gangetic Plain The Deccan Plateau
Hindu-Kush
Himalayas
Indo-Gangetic Plain
The Deccan Plateau

4. Mountains

5. 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

6. Mount Everest
The world’s tallest mountain peak

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. Rivers

13. 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”

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Monsoons

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

20. 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

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