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Physical Geography of South Asia

Physical Geography of South Asia. Landforms and Resources. Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain peak (29,035). Mount Everest and other peaks of the Himalaya Mountains have been a lure to mountain climbers around the world. Himalaya Mountains. Indian Subcontinent.

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Physical Geography of South Asia

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  1. Physical Geography of South Asia

  2. Landforms and Resources • Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain peak (29,035). Mount Everest and other peaks of the Himalaya Mountains have been a lure to mountain climbers around the world

  3. Himalaya Mountains

  4. Indian Subcontinent • Includes seven countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives • South Asia is sometimes called a subcontinent (a large land mass that is smaller than a continent) • South Asia is ½ the size of the United States. It has more than one billion inhabitants – 1/5 world’s population • Natural borders separate South Asia from rest of continent Asia – Himalayas to north, Arabian Sea to the west and Bay of Bengal to the east.

  5. Mountains and Plateaus • Northern Mountains • The collision between two tectonic plates forced the land upward into mountain ranges (page 551) • Himalayas-2 dozen peaks rising to 24,000 feet above, stretches for 1500 miles • Contains Mt. Everest (29,035) • Nestled high up in the mountains are two remote landlocked kingdoms Nepal and Bhutan. • Hindu Kush • Mountains lie at the west end of the Himalayans • Form a rugged barrier between Pakistan and Afghanistan to the north • Bloody battles have been fought over land routes through mountains including Khyber Pass • 2nd highest mountain peak is K2.

  6. Mountains and Plateaus • Southern Plateaus • Deccan Plateau covers much of southern India. • Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats flank plateau, separating it from coast • These mountains block most moist winds and keep rain away causing the Deccan Plateau to be arid (dry)

  7. Rivers, Deltas, and Plains • Indo-Gangetic Plain lies between Deccan Plateau and northern mountain ranges

  8. Great Rivers • All these river originate from the melted snow of the Himalayas • IndusRiver • flows through Pakistan to Arabian Sea • GangesRiver • Flow through India and empties into the Bay of Bengal • BrahmaputraRiver • Flows through India and Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal

  9. Fertile Plains • The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers support life in South Asia • Provide irrigation • In the spring they flood and carry rich soil, called alluvial soil • When the rivers overflow their banks, they deposit soil on alluvial plains • The Indo-Gangetic plain is one of most fertile farming areas in world and most populated • Area contains 3/5 of India’s population • The capital city of New Delhi and Kolkata are located here.

  10. Offshore Islands • Sri Lanka- called the “Tear drop” of India • Sri Lanka is a large tear-shaped • Lush tropical land of great natural beauty • In center of islands are tall rugged mountains that reach 8000 feet • Circling island is a coastal plains that includes long, palm-fringed beaches • Maldives • The Maldives are an archipelago – island group • Made up of 1,200 small islands • The islands are the low lying tops of submerged volcanoes. This is called an atoll

  11. Natural Resources • Water and soil • South Asia relies heavily on its soil and water resources to provide food through farming and fishing • Must feed a large population (1 billion) • Many fish are found in South Asia in rivers including Mackerel, Sardines, Carp and Catfish • Boats travel the rivers and coastlines carrying goods and people form town to town • Governments are also trying to harness hydroelectric power

  12. Forests • Rain forests in India Produce hardwoods like sal and teak along with bamboo and sandalwood • In the mountains of Nepal and Bhutan they have pine and fir trees. • Deforestation is a big problem, it causes soil erosion, flooding, landslides and loss of wildlife

  13. Minerals • India is 4th in the world in coal production and has enough petroleum to supply half its oil needs • Also have natural gas • Uranium deposits for nuclear energy • Large iron-ore deposits • Manganese, gypsum, chromium, bauxite, and copper • India supplies most of world’s mica which is a key component in electrical equipment • India and Sri Lanka both have substantial gemstone deposits (diamonds, sapphires, and rubies)

  14. Climate zones • Highland climate • Himalayas and other northern mountains • snow there year around • Lower elevations including lush foothills and valleys of Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India are much warmer • Humid Subtropical • Indo Gangetic Plain • Semiarid climate • region of high temperatures is found at the western end of the Plain and in parts of the Deccan Plateau • Desert • Thar desert • Driest part of the area. Average 10 inches of rain per year • Tropical Wet climate • Is found along western and eastern coasts of India and Bangladesh, temperature high and rainfall heavy

  15. Monsoons • Monsoons • seasonal winds that affect entire region • October through February dry winds blow across south Asia from Northeast • June through September, the winds blow in from the Southwest, bringing moist ocean air • Monsoons are highly unpredictable • Some areas get too little rain, some too much • Sometimes beneficial, sometimes difficult

  16. Cyclones • Extreme weather pattern in Asia is a cyclone. • Violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain. • Destructive in Bangladesh

  17. Vegetation • Most forestedareas lie in tropical wet zone with teak, ebony, bamboo trees • In highland zone, there are forests of pine, fir, and other evergreens • River valleys have forests of sal, oak, chestnut • Only 1/5 of India’s original forests remains because of deforestation. • In semiarid areas- desert shrubs and grasses • In tropical wet and dry of northern Sri Lanka – grasses and trees

  18. Human- Environment Interaction • Hinduism • religion of most Indians • Ganges River • is a holy, sacred river to the Hindu • they wade in the river to wash away their sins.

  19. A Sacred River • Ganges River • Provides water for drinking, farming and transportation • Ganges is known in India as Gangamai which means river brings life • Hindu’s worship the river as a goddess and they believe the river has healing powers • Pilgrims come from are over the world to drink and bathe in water • At Varansi, thousands gather everyday. When the sun rises, Hindus enter water for purification and prayer. They float baskets of flowers and burning candles

  20. Polluted River • After centuries of intense human use, it has become one of the most polluted in the world • Millions of gallons of raw sewage and industrial waste flow into the river everyday • Dead animal and even human bodies are thrown into the river. • Water is poisoned with toxic chemicals and deadly bacteria • Hepatitis, typhoid, or cholera • Since 1986, the Indian government has tried to restore the health of river • Plans for sewage treatment plants • Tougher regulations on industrial polluters

  21. Controlling the Feni River • The Feni River is a very important river in Bangladesh. • The Feni floods yearly • Flooding is caused by Monsoon rains • Storm surges • Sea water surges up the river and onto coastal plains • Villages and fields are flooded

  22. Building a Dam • In 1980s, engineers in Bangladesh proposed building an earthen dam, but mouth is 1 mile wide and it would be expensive • Using people power • Country has large population available for construction work • Project hired Dutch engineers to help • Project emphasized the use of cheap materials and low-tech procedures • Laid down Bamboo and reeds weighted with boulders, covered with clay- filled bags • After 6 months they completed the dam • 3 months later a cyclone hit the dam and it held back the storm surge

  23. Human Geography of South Asia

  24. India

  25. Invasions, Empires and Independence • India is an ancient land. • Culture and history date back 4000 years • The first civilization in India was in the Indus valley

  26. Early History • Aryans (1500 BC) • a light-skinned people, crossed the mountains of the Hindu Kush and spread across northern India • Aryans established small kingdoms on Ganges Plain, pushed darker-skinned Dravidians toward the south • Persians and Greeks • Invaded and occupied the Indus Valley • Mauryan Empire (250 BC) • Beginning in 321 BC, Mauryn empire arose in lower Ganges- Great Mauryn leader, Asoka helped spread Buddhism throughout Asia • Gupta Empire (400 AD) • ruled northern India • Mughal Empire (1500 AD) • Invaders from Central Asia and Southwest Asia began entering India • Muslims conquered Indus

  27. Europeans Arrived • In the 1500s, European traders came to India, looking for spices, cloth, and other goods not available in Europe • The British established the British East Indian Company. • Through East India Company, British gained control of trade in 1757. In 1857, British put down revolt to establish direct rule for 90 years- called raj • Mohandas Gandhi began nonviolent resistance and eventually Britain granted its independence in 1947. • Independence brought division in India • Pakistan and Bangladesh left India and formed their own countries based on Muslim rule. • There is violence still today between Muslims and Hindu

  28. Governing the World’s largest democracy • India is a democracy. • Largest democracy in the world (over 1 billion people) • India’s democracy reflects aspects of American and British system • It is a federal government • Shares power between states and federal government • Parliamentary democracy • Prime minister elected from the legislative branch. • India has to manage relations between Muslims and other minorities

  29. Economic Challenges • India has one of the world’s largest economies, but per capita income is low. • ½ of India’s population live in poverty. • Dependence on Farming • 2/3 of population depend on small farms and struggle to survive (subsistence farming) • One solution would be to redistribute land from rich land owners to poor farmers. This is called land reform • Green Revolution- more technology advanced farming techniques • Growing Industry • India is big producer of textiles, iron, steel, chemicals, machinery and food products • Mumbai (Bombay) – India’s leading commercial center. Many computer software companies are located there

  30. Life in Modern India • Daily Life • Arranged marriages • Large families • Often generations of family live under one roof • Divorce is rare, marriages are male-dominated • Vegetarian • Enjoy music, sports and movies Bollywood

  31. Education • Since the 1950’s India has placed education as a high priority. • More people are finding work in factories and offices so there is a growing need for more education • Most middle-class children attend school • Literacy is rising

  32. Indian Culture • Many languages • 18 major language groups are recognized in constitution, Hindi is official language • English spoken especially among government workers and businesses • More than 1000 languages and dialects spoken

  33. Hinduism • Hindus make up 80% of population • Polytheistic • Believe in Reincarnation • They believe in Karma • According to Hindus, everyone is born into a particular moral caste with a specific duty or dharma and can move into different caste by reincarnation • The Caste System is a Aryan system of social classes

  34. Sikhism • Sikhism • 5th largest religion in world • Mostly practiced in northern India • Monotheistic • Believe in faith and justice

  35. Sikhism • Kesh • Cannot cut hair • Kara • Bracelet to remind them to do good deeds • Kanga • Small comb to remind them of cleanliness • Kuchara • Cloth that signify chastity • Kirpan • Small knife to remind them to stand up to justice

  36. Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan • Home to the ancient Indus valley civilization • well-planned cities which had brick buildings • It fell to Aryans in 1500 BC • Later it became part of the Mauryan, Gupta, Nughal and British Empires

  37. Partition and War • After independence from Britain • Two countries were created, Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India • This separation caused conflict • 1 million died • Civil War then broke out between East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan won its independence from West Pakistan. India helped them. East Pakistan became Bangladesh (page574)

  38. Military Rule • Short periods of elected governments interrupted long periods of military rule for Pakistan and Bangladesh • Political corruption was throughout government • Pakistan has fought several wars over Kashmir (disputed land) with India (page 574)

  39. Struggling Economies • Bangladesh • 8th most populated country in the world. • Pakistan • 9thmost populated country in the world • Per capita income is low/High poverty rate • Subsistence Farming • People struggle to grow enough crops to feed families (subsistence agriculture) • People don’t use modern farm techniques and instead rely on less-productive, traditional ways • In irrigated part of Indus valley in Pakistan, farmers grow enough cotton and rice to export • In Bangladesh, rice is main crop, also jute (plant used for rope, carpets, and industrial-quality sacks). They also fish.

  40. Small Industries • Neither Pakistan or Bangladesh is highly industrial – lack capital and resources • Growing textile industry • Microcredit – small loans available for entrepreneurs. These have helped small businesses grow

  41. One religion, many people • Islamic culture • Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are Muslim • Mosques can be found here • Citizens celebrate Ramadan • Both countries were key part of the Muslim Mughal that ruled the Indian subcontinent. • Pakistan is stricter on imposing Islamic law on its citizens – prevents women from having contact with men who aren’t relatives, they must also wear veils in public

  42. Ethnic Diversity • Pakistan has 5 main ethnic groups with own language, (Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans, Muhjirs, and Balochs) and they have own regional origins except Muhajirs who migrated to India after partition • Urdu, language of Muhajirs used as official language • People of Bangladesh are mostly Bengalis • Bengalese speak Sanskrit- ancient Indo-Aryan language

  43. Modern Life and Culture • Arranged marriages are common, families are large, most people live in small villages • Homes made of sun-baked mud, bamboo, or wood • Cricket is a popular sport • Love of poetry- poetry is special interest in Pakistan and Bangladesh • Mushairas – poetry readings • Rabindranath Tagore- most popular poet in Bangladesh, won Nobel Peace Prize • Music and dance – folk music of various types are popular in cities and rural areas • Qawwali- form of devotional singing

  44. Nepal and Bhutan • Mountain Kingdoms- located in Himalayas, strong religious traditions • Geographic Isolation • Mountainous landscape, isolated two countries throughout histories • Landlocked (no access to the sea)and terrain made it hard to conquer • China controlled and Britain influenced them, but most of the time the countries stayed independent and isolated

  45. Evolving Monarchies • For much of their history Nepal and Bhutan were split into small ruling states • Hindu kings ruled Nepal, Buddhist priests controlled Bhutan • Unified kingdoms emerged in both countries led by hereditary monarchs • Today they are constitutional monarchies- rulers powers are limited by a constitution

  46. Developing Economies • Limited Resources • Poor countries based on agriculture • Because region is mountainous, not much land for cultivation so they create terraces on mountain sides • Also have livestock like cattle, sheep, and yaks • Also timber industry- although leads to deforestation

  47. Increasing Tourism • Fastest growing industries in Nepal • Tourists come to visit valley of Kathmandu (capital of Nepal) and to climb Himalayas • Hotels and restaurants have popped up • Tourism has damaged the environment • Bhutan regulates industry by limiting visitors and keeping parts of country off limits

  48. Rich Cultural Traditions • Nepal • majority of people are Indo-Nepalese Hindus • speak Nepali- version of Sanskrit • Sherpas • Ethnic group from the high Himalayas • Serve as mountain guides in the Everest region • Bhutan • Main ethnic group is the Bhote • live in two-story houses that they live on the top and have livestock on the bottom • Bhutan also has a sizable Nepalese minority • Bhutan government has tried to get them to assimilate but has not been successful

  49. Religious customs • Religion is a powerful force in Nepal and Bhutan • Nepal are mostly Hindu • Bhutan are mostly Buddhist • In Bhutan they use Mandalas- geometric designs that are symbols of universe and aid in meditation • Many monasteries are located in both Nepal and Bhutan

  50. Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Settlement of Sri Lanka • Sinhalesi – came from the Indian subcontinent around the year 600 BC • Tamils- Another group from southern Indian settled Sri Lanka around the year 400 AD. • Europeans began to colonize Sri Lanka in 16th century, Sri Lanka eventually got its independence from the British in 1948 • After independence, tensions grew between Sinhalese and Tamil, 1980s - civil war broke out • Main religion is Buddhism

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