Physical Geography of South Asia

Landforms and Mountains South Asia is a region that includes 7 countries: 1) India 2) Pakistan 3) Bangladesh 4) Bhutan 5) Nepal 6) Sri Lanka 7) Maldives South Asia is sometimes called a sub-continent, a large land mass that is smaller than a continent. It is often referred to as the Indian Sub-Continent. Millions of years ago, the land that is now South Asia was actually part of East Africa. About 50 million years ago, it split off and drifted northward. It collided with Central Asia. The gradual collision of these two tectonic plates forced the land upward into the enormous mountain range of the Himalayas.

Rivers Three great rivers of South Asia are the Indus, Ganges, and the Brahmaputra. The Ganges and Brahmaputra eventually meet to form one huge river delta leading to the Bay of Bengal. These rivers play a key role in supporting life in South Asia. Their waters provide crucial irrigation for agricultural lands. They also carry rich soil, called alluvial soil, on their journey down from the mountains. When the rivers overflow their banks, they deposit this soil on alluvial plains, lands that are rich farmlands.

Ganges River The Ganges is the most well-known of all South Asian rivers. This area is home to nearly 350 million people. The Ganges is extremely important for the livelihood of the Indian people. It provided water for drinking, farming, and transportation. Just as important, though, is the spiritual significance of the river.

Ganges River (Cont.) The Ganges is known in India as Gangamai, which means “Mother Ganges.” According to Hindu beliefs, the Ganges is a sacred river that brings life to its people. The Hindus worship the river as a goddess, and they believe its waters have healing powers.

Trouble in the Ganges Unfortunately for the people of India, the Ganges is in trouble. After centuries of intense human use, it has become one of the most polluted rivers in the world! Millions of gallons of raw sewage and industrial waste flow into the river every day. The bodies of dead animals float over the water, even human corpses are thrown into the river. Thousands of people who bathe in the river or drink the water become ill with stomach or intestinal diseases.

Indo-Gangetic Plain The Indo-Gangetic Plain, lies between the Deccan Plateau and the Northern mountain ranges. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is one of the most fertile farming regions in the world! It is also the most heavily populated part of South Asia. Many of the sub-continent’s largest cities are located there.

Islands Sri Lanka is a large, tear- shaped island country. It is a lush tropical land of great natural beauty. The Maldives comprise an archipelago, or a group of islands, of more than 1,200 small islands

Monsoons South Asia is greatly affected by monsoons, or seasonal winds. Each year from October through February, dry winds blow across South Asia. Each year from June through September, moist winds blow across South Asia. This rainfall is crucial to life in South Asia, yet, the monsoons can cause severe problems. The most extreme weather pattern of South Asia is the cyclone, a violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain. Cyclones are similar to hurricanes in North America.

Monsoons and Cyclones