1. Geography and Religion of East Asia
7th Grade Social Studies
Region: East Asia
Emphasis: India, China, and Japan

2. Major Physical Features of the Indian Subcontinent
3 Major Regions of the Indian Subcontinent:
Northern Mountain Rim:
Features: Karakorem Range, Hindu Kush, and the Himalayas.
Mt. Everest- located in the Himalayas and tallest mountain in the world.
K2- Toughest mountain to climb.
Created when India crashed into Asia after breaking off of Africa.
Small population due to thin air, cold weather, and lack of resources.
Climate: Highlands

3. Major Physical Features of the Indian Subcontinent
Northern Plains
Features:
Ganges River surrouned by the fertile region of the Ganges Plains.
Indus River surrounded by Indus River Valley used for farming.
Dense Population due to fertile land and major water sources.
Climate: Tropical Savanna (Rainy and a Dry Season)

4. Major Physical Features of the Indian Subcontinent
Deccan Plateau
Features:
Eastern and Western Ghats along the coast divide the region between desert and fertile areas.
Thar Desert located in the center of Southern India.
Climates:
Humid Tropical
Desert
Steppe
Natural Resources:
Minerals and Farming
Population influenced by unreliable water and varying climates.

5. Major Physical Features of the Indian Subcontinent
Environmental Issues:
Pollution in the Ganges River due to growing population, industrial waste, and farm production run-off.
Air Pollution due to rapid population growth and development of industry. Improvements have been limited because restrictions cause decrease economic growth.
Brown Cloud Effect reduces rainfall and temperatures which changes the environment.
Many types of diseases are caused by the different types of pollution.

6. Major Physical Features of the Indian Subcontinent
Vocabulary:
Monsoon- Seasonal wind that bring heavy rains.
Influences farming and school.
Subcontinent- large land mass that is smaller than a continent.

7. Major Physical Features of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan
Himalayas-longest mountain chain in the world. Border between the Indian subcontinent and China. Mount Everest is located on the border of China and Nepal.
Plateau of Tibet- lies to the north of the Himalayas. Also called the “Roof of the World”. It is the highest and largest plateau in the world.
Taklimakan Desert- one of the world’s most dangerous deserts. Means- Enter and you will not come out.
Northern China Plain- fertile region and contains China’s largest population center.

8. Major Physical Features of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan
Gobi Desert-World’s coldest desert.

9. Major Physical Features of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan
Rivers:
Huang He (Yellow River)- also called China’s Sorrow.
Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)- Asia’s longest river and major transportation route

10. Major Physical Features of China, Mongolia, and Taiwan
Climates:
North and West- Desert, Steppe, and Highlands
South and East- Humid Subtropical
Natural Resources: Numerous resources but are leaders in coal, lead, tin, and tungsten (China).

11. Major Physical Features of Japan and the Koreas
4 major islands- Honshu (the largest and most populated)
75 Percent of the country is made up of mountains.
Japan’s tallest mountain and volcano is Mt. Fuji.
Japan’s Environmental Problems: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
North Korea’s Environmental Problems: Typhoons

12. Major Physical Features of Japan and the Koreas
Climates:
Northern Japan and North Korea- Humid Continental
Southern Japan and South Korea- Humid Subtropical
Resources:
North Korea- coal, iron, and other minerals
South Korea- hydroelectricity
Japan- Fishing

13. Major Physical Features of SE Asia.
Malay Peninsula
Indochina Peninsula
Malay Archipelago-20,000 islands
Part of the Ring of Fire- results in volcanic eruptions.
Mekong River- longest river of SE Asia and fertile region for farming.

14. Major Physical Features of SE Asia.
Climates are influenced by monsoons.
Mainland SE Asia- Tropical Savanna
Island SE Asia- Humid Tropical
Natural Resources:
Rice, Fishing, rubber trees, and many more.