East Asia Physical PPT Notes Warm-Up In 2011, a tsunami (tidal wave) suddenly hit Japan with deadly force. Which of the following physical processes contributed to this occurrence? ocean currents tectonic forces Gravity In what ways do disasters in other parts of the world, affect us in the United States. East Asia Physical Geography

Physical Geography of East Asia

Where is East Asia?

Mountains Altai Mts. The tallest mountains in the world are found in this region!!! ALTAI MOUNTAINS HIMALAYAS KUNLUN MOUNTAINS TIAN SHAN MOUNTAINS MT. EVEREST What could have caused such a rugged terrain? Tectonic collisions Limit the movement of people Increase their isolation

Plateaus Mongolian Plateau Plateau of Tibet These regions tend to have low population, and cold and dry climates. They are the source of extremely cold weather for neighboring regions.

Deserts Gobi Desert 500,000 Sq Miles Larger than Texas and California Combined! Extremes of temperature ranging from –40°C (–40°F) in winter to +50°C (122°F) in summer Taklamakan (Taklimakan) Desert in Western China Used for nuclear testing Some oil and natural gas resources

Great Wall of China Roughly 5500 miles long. Multiple walls built over many centuries Not physically connected along entire length. Built to keep out/deter invaders from north.

Peninsulas & Islands In East Asia, these are both often tectonically active, with many volcanos and earthquakes. Important Peninsulas: Korean Peninsula – N and S. Korea Important Islands: Japanese Archipelago Taiwan – Independent from China East Asian Islands developed into trading economies Why?

River Systems East Asia has several major rivers, most in China Huang He (Yellow) Named for the yellow silt which colors the water Silt forms soil called “Loess”, rich and fertile Millions have died from flooding over the centuries. Xi Jiang (West/Pearl) Southernmost of the three Feeds into estuary at Hong Kong Chang Jiang (Yangtze) 3,900 miles – Longest in Asia Major Trade route since ancient times Now dammed by the “Three Gorges Dam”, one of largest constructs in the world.

Resources of East Asia Land and Forests Limited land for Agriculture Most Agriculture is in River Basins in the East All countries have supplies of timber Japan buys timber from other countries Mineral and Energy Lots of coal China’s resources have allowed it remain isolated & self sufficient Japan must trade for what it needs. Water Resources Major rivers provide irrigation, transportation, and hydroelectric power Japan has developed a large fishing industry.

Summary Question How might China’s three large river systems have affected the development of agriculture and trade in the area? Think about: The obstacles that mountains and deserts present to agriculture The network of travel and communication offered by a river system

3 Gorges Dam Movie Based on what you have seen…Do the positive effects of the Dam outweigh the negatives? Explain in 5-6 sentences.