Physical and Political Geography of Southern Asia January 26, 2009

Physical Geography Southern Asia consists of 7 countries – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives Southern Asia consists of 7 countries – Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives There are many different types of physical features in South Asia, including the largest mountain range in the world There are many different types of physical features in South Asia, including the largest mountain range in the world

Climate of South Asia With the variety of landforms, comes a variety of climate types With the variety of landforms, comes a variety of climate types The mountains have a highland climate The mountains have a highland climate Most of Pakistan has a desert (hot and dry) climate Most of Pakistan has a desert (hot and dry) climate India has many different climate types, including humid subtropical, steppe, tropical savanna, and humid tropical India has many different climate types, including humid subtropical, steppe, tropical savanna, and humid tropical

Major Landforms Rivers: Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus Rivers: Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus Mountain Ranges: Himalayas, Hindu Kush Mountain Ranges: Himalayas, Hindu Kush Mountains: Mt. Everest, K2 Mountains: Mt. Everest, K2 Deserts: Thar Desert Deserts: Thar Desert Grasslands: Indo-Gangetic Plain Grasslands: Indo-Gangetic Plain Plateau: Deccan Plateau Plateau: Deccan Plateau

Rivers Ganges River: In north India Ganges River: In north India Begins on the Chinese border and flows through the Indo-Gangetic Plain into the Bay of Bengal Begins on the Chinese border and flows through the Indo-Gangetic Plain into the Bay of Bengal Brahmaputra River: Runs through extreme east India and Bangladesh Brahmaputra River: Runs through extreme east India and Bangladesh Flows through east India and flows through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal Flows through east India and flows through Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal Indus River: flows through extreme north India, through Pakistan Indus River: flows through extreme north India, through Pakistan Flows through north India and Pakistan into the Arabian Sea Flows through north India and Pakistan into the Arabian Sea

Mountain Ranges Himalayas: Run along the border with China Himalayas: Run along the border with China The tallest mountains in the world The tallest mountains in the world Hindu Kush: in northern Pakistan Hindu Kush: in northern Pakistan

Mountains Mt. Everest: On the border between China and Nepal Mt. Everest: On the border between China and Nepal Part of the Himalayan Range Part of the Himalayan Range The tallest mountain in the world The tallest mountain in the world K2: On the border between China and Pakistan K2: On the border between China and Pakistan

Deserts Thar Desert: On India’s border with Pakistan Thar Desert: On India’s border with Pakistan Very hot and dry year-round Very hot and dry year-round

Grasslands Indo-Gangetic Plain: Lies mostly in north India, directly south of the Himalayas Indo-Gangetic Plain: Lies mostly in north India, directly south of the Himalayas About half of India’s population lives in the Plain About half of India’s population lives in the Plain

Plateau Deccan Plateau: lies in India, south of the Indo-Gangetic Plain Deccan Plateau: lies in India, south of the Indo-Gangetic Plain It consists of many hills and valley It consists of many hills and valley The edges of the plateau are separated from the Indian coastline by low mountain ranges called the Eastern and Western Ghats The edges of the plateau are separated from the Indian coastline by low mountain ranges called the Eastern and Western Ghats

Political Geography The largest country in South Asia is India The largest country in South Asia is India The region consists of 4 other mainland countries, 1 island, and an archipelago The region consists of 4 other mainland countries, 1 island, and an archipelago

India India is the largest country in South Asia India is the largest country in South Asia It is a peninsula (called the Deccan Peninsula), surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, the Indian Ocean on the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the east It is a peninsula (called the Deccan Peninsula), surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, the Indian Ocean on the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the east More than 1 billion people live in India More than 1 billion people live in India

Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh Pakistan lies on India’s western border Pakistan lies on India’s western border On the mainland of South Asia, with the southern border on the Arabian Sea On the mainland of South Asia, with the southern border on the Arabian Sea Nepal lies on India’s northern border Nepal lies on India’s northern border Totally landlocked between India and China Totally landlocked between India and China Bhutan lies on India’s northern border Bhutan lies on India’s northern border Totally landlocked between India and China Totally landlocked between India and China Bangladesh is surrounded by India, except for the southern border Bangladesh is surrounded by India, except for the southern border Surrounded by India on 3 sides Surrounded by India on 3 sides The southern part borders the Bay of Bengal The southern part borders the Bay of Bengal

Sri Lanka and Maldives Sri Lanka: an island off the southeastern coast of India Sri Lanka: an island off the southeastern coast of India Lies in the Indian Ocean Lies in the Indian Ocean Maldives: an archipelago off the southwestern coast of India Maldives: an archipelago off the southwestern coast of India Lies in the Indian Ocean Lies in the Indian Ocean Consists of about 1,200 tiny islands Consists of about 1,200 tiny islands Only about 200 of them are inhabited Only about 200 of them are inhabited

Your Assignment P. 305 #1 P. 305 #1 P. 318 #15, 30 P. 318 #15, 30 P. 323 #3, 4 P. 323 #3, 4 P. 336 #9, 10, 24 P. 336 #9, 10, 24