7th Grade

Geography of South and East Asia

SS7G11 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, distribution of natural resources, and population distribution on Southern and Eastern Asia. a. Describe the impact climate and location has on population distribution in Southern and Eastern Asia. b. Describe how the mountain, desert, and water features of Southern and Eastern Asia have affected the population in terms of where people live, the types of work they do, and how they travel.

Physical Features

Asia is the largest continent in the world. The Himalayas, the world's highest mountain system, are one of the significant physical features found in Asia.

Indian Ocean— The Indian Ocean is located to the east of Africa, south of Asia, and west of Australia.

Bay of Bengal— Part of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal is located between India and the Malay Peninsula.

South China Sea— The South China Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean. China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines border the South China Sea.

Yellow Sea— The Yellow Sea is located between China and the Korean Peninsula.

Yangtze River— (Chang Jiang) The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia. It flows through China to the East China Sea near Shanghai.

Yellow River— (Huang He) The Yellow River flows east through China to the Yellow Sea. This river has adapted the name “China’s Sorrow” due to its frequent flooding.

Sea of Japan— The Sea of Japan is part of the Pacific Ocean and separates Japan from mainland China.

Physical Features

Korean Peninsula— Bordered by the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, the Korean Peninsula is where North Korea and South Korea are located.

Himalayas— The Himalayas are the world's highest mountain range. Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain is in this mountain range.

Indus River— The Indus River flows from China through India and Pakistan before it reaches the Arabian Sea.

Mekong River— The Mekong River forms much of the border between Laos and Thailand. It also flows through Cambodia and Vietnam before flowing into the South China Sea.

Gobi Desert— The Gobi Desert is a large desert in Mongolia and northern China.

Taklimakan Desert— The Taklimakan Desert is a desert in western China.

Political Map of Asia

Eastern ChinaTwo great rivers of China: Huang He

(Yellow River)and the Yangtze (Chang Jiang)

transportationelectricityirrigationbathingdrinking for animals and peopleNortheast has a temperate climate

(summer, fall, spring, winter) and the southeast has a subtropical climate. (many rainforests)

Yangtze River

Huang He (Yellow River)

North China Plain- rich area for farming. Farmers grow wheat throughout this region.

Southeast China- farmers grow rice in this region

Rice Paddies- watery mud which rice grows in.

Most people who live in China live in the eastern part.

Western ChinaHimalayan Mountains,

Taklimakan Desert, Plateau of Tibet.

very dry, very cold, and very few people live in the Western part of China

most people are herders (raise animals for a living)

potential for many resources in western China

East Asia has a wide variety of resources but the problem is that many of the resources are underdeveloped:

1. located deep underground2. deep in the rainforests3. not enough money to get to them4. do not have the technology to get to

themMineral ResourcesIronGoldSilverCopper

Terracing- cutting steps into hills to help farmers have more land to grow crops.Terracing is important because it allows farmers to grow crops on land that would be unusable.

Subsistence Farming- people farm for a living and grow only enough food to feed themselvesThe importance of subsistence farming is that children have to work on the farms and do not go to school so when they grow up they are

farmers.Cash Crops- farming to sell for money

Natural DisastersNatural disasters are frequent in parts of Asia. A large earthquake caused major damage to Kobe, Japan in 1995. Plates in the Earth's crust rubbing together cause earthquakes. Earthquakes change physical geography, as well as human settlements.

Flooding has been a major concern in southern Asia, especially in India. One major cause of flooding is the monsoon season, a time that brings heavy wind and rains. People in India have controlled flooding by building dams in affected rivers. Dams help people control water produced by the monsoon season. This is an effective way of managing natural resources, improving the water supply to large regions of India.

In China, the government built the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in order to control flooding and to provide hydroelectric power. While providing some benefits, the dam has also caused unintended negative consequences. The Three Gorges Dam has altered the environment upstream by flooding populated areas and destroying the habitats of wildlife.

Asia faces the threat of tsunamis, which are tidal waves that occur after an earthquake takes place in the ocean. A devastating tsunami hit southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.

Chinese InfluenceChina has the

biggest influence on all the countries that surround it.ChopsticksReligionGovernmentWriting

India

Subcontinent- a landmass that is isolated from a continent by a natural barrier.

India is the only subcontinent in Asia.It is separated by the HimalayasIt is important because it isolates

India’s culture from the rest of Asia

Himalayas- “Roof of the World” tallest mountains in the world -Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the

world 29,028 ft. -They isolate India from the rest of Asia -Not many people live there -Farming and travel are very difficult - Most of the sources of the great

rivers of the Indian subcontinent start here

RiversRivers are very important to the people

of the Indian Subcontinent. transportation farming (irrigation and rich soil along the

rivers) drinking and cooking water for animals religion bathing and washingMain rivers are Ganges, Indus and the

Brahmaputra.

Ganges River (transportation)

Pollution in the Ganges

Ganges River (Spiritual Bath)

Three Indian Seasons 1. Hot, Dry season 2. Hot, Wet season 3. Mild, Dry season*Monsoons*- strong winds that can bring

heavy rains and storms.

Flooding caused by Monsoons

Monsoons cont. The importance of the monsoons is that

they are a mixed blessing. They bring much needed rain to India but sometimes bring too much rain causing floods.

Destroys homes Destroys crops Kills people and animals Causes millions of dollars in damage

Importance of waterPeople must collect and save water during

the rainy season.People must conserve water during the dry

season.All people must live near water. People

must have water in order to live and survive.

Most people are farmers and herders on the Indian Subcontinent.

Japan

Japan Geo FactsJapan is located in Eastern Asia between

the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan.Japan’s climate is similar to the climate in

the United States.Temperate Climate- 4 seasonsThe country is stretched out so the weather

is different from the northern islands to the southern islands

Archipelago Archipelago- a large

group of islands Japan is an archipelago.

There are thousands of islands that make up the country of Japan.

The 4 main islands are:

HonshuHokkaidoShikokuKyushu

Terracing (Farming technique)Terracing- carving steps into the hillsides so

that farmers can grow crops.It is important because Japan does not have a

lot of space to grow food.Japan has very few natural resources. It must

import resources in order to live and to make products.

Aquaculture- fish farming. It is important to Japan so that they can feed its people

Natural DisastersMt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. It is

also a volcano. It is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world.

Japan is at the risk of volcanic eruptions, typhoons, monsoons, and tsunamis.

Typhoon- what Japanese call a hurricaneTsunamis- a huge wave caused by earthquakes

and volcanoes

Natural Disaster cont.Monsoons- strong winds and storms that bring

heavy rainsThe importance of typhoons, tsunamis, and

monsoons is that it can flood major parts of Japan and cause lots of damage and destruction.

Ring of Fire- countries that border the Pacific Ocean that have many volcanoes.

Ring of Fire