1. Features of South, S.E. and Central Asia

3. Himalayas  “him” [snow]  “alaya” [home]  Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet. It is the highest mt. peak in the world.

4. The Himalayas

5. The Himalayan Mountains The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world. There are certain small groups of people who live here despite the challenges. The best known are the Sherpa who engage in trade, herding livestock, and some agriculture. People that live in the mountains are isolated and cannot travel easily.

6. Gobi Desert Much of the Gobi Desert is made up of rock rather than sand. Few people live here because of the extreme conditions. People that do live in a desert are nomads, which are people that move from place to place, herding for survival.

7. The Taklimakan Desert The Taklimakan Desert is also very harsh with extreme cold at night and hot during the summer time. There is very little water making survival very difficult for people.

8. Mekong River The Mekong River is one of the longest rivers in Southern and Eastern Asia. 2,700 m long. It supplies farmers with the water they need to grow crops. In some areas the people have harnessed the river’s power to produce electricity.

9. “Mata Ganga” (Mother Ganges)

10. The Ganges River The Ganges begins in the Himalayas. It contains many types of fish that people depend on. The Hindu people believe the river is sacred and use the river for bathing rituals and also burial.

11. The Ganges River Monsoons can bring floods to the area around the Ganges River. These floods kill thousands and spread disease throughout cities of India. The people live along the Ganges and use this river to irrigate crops like cotton, oilseeds, and sugarcane. The people that live along the Ganges and other rivers, use the river for travel in these rural areas.

12. The Indus River The Indus River winds through Pakistan and is the key water supply to the people who live there. Many of Pakistan’s major cities are built along the Indus River. The people use the river for irrigation and as a fresh water supply. Many industries also depend on the Indus for survival.

13. The Yangtze River The Yangtze River is China’s longest river. 3500 miles In and around the river are many resources such as minerals, oil, gas, copper and iron. The Yangtze also provides a way to travel, irrigation and nutrients to the Chinese farmers; as well as fish for the people to eat. China’s Rivers

14. The Huang He River (Yellow River) The Huang River is the second longest river in China. It gets its nickname “The Yellow River” because of the color of the silt along its shores. The Yellow River often overflows causing deadly and destructive flooding.

15. Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean makes up about one- fifth of all ocean water in the world. For centuries travelers, naval fleets, and traders have relied on the Indian Ocean to connect Asia to Europe and Africa.

16. Climate Regions of South Asia

17. Monsoon Flooding Monsoon winds bring the necessary rains for agriculture but also can cause major flooding and destruction for the people of Asia.

18. Global Areas of Malaria

19. Yellow Sea The Yellow Sea also gets its name from the yellow silt coming from the Yellow River. The Yellow Sea serves as an important trade route and is home to a number of important sea ports. During the winter months winds carry cold dry polar air over the warm waters of the sea, causing snow to fall on the west coast of Japan.

20. South China Sea The South China Sea provides seafood for many people in East Asia. The Chinese people rely on the resources from the South China Sea which are an important part of their economy. Monsoons blow across the sea which provide rains for agriculture. This large body of water also plays an important role in travel and trade.