1. South Asia Physical Geography

2. South Asia Landforms
Mountains separate South Asia from the rest of Asia forming a subcontinent
The Vindhya and Satpura Ranges divide India’s Northern and Southern regions

3. South Asia Landforms Mountain Ranges
Himalaya- 1,500 miles long. Includes the world highest mountains (Mount Everest (Nepal) & Kanchenjunga). Bhutan and Nepal are found in this range
Karakoram- connects with the Himalaya in NW South Asia, which in turn connects to the Hindu Kush
Hindu Kush- runs through Pakistan into Afghanistan. includes several, wide, very high mountain passes

4. South Asia Landforms Indo-Gangetic Plain
Lies at the foot of the Himalaya
World longest alluvial plain (area of fertile soil deposited by river floodwaters)

5. South Asia Landforms
The Himalaya, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush form a mountainous barrier between the subcontinent and the rest of Asia. Invaders, however, used crossing places, such as the Khyber Pass, to enter the region.

6. South Asia Water Systems
Ganges-
4,000 sq. miles
Tributary for Nepal’s rivers
Indus- flow through Pakistan and empties into the Arabian Sea
Brahmaputra- forms a broad delta and empties into the Bay of Bengal

7. South Asia Climate
Highlands Climate is found in the mountainous northern region
The western parts of South Asia, like Pakistan, experience Dry desert and steppe climates
The mountainous Northern region has a highland climate.
The Eastern Part of the Region experiences a tropical savanna climate, with wet and dry seasons and a humid subtropical climate

8. South Asia Water Systems
Indian Ocean majorly impacts climate in Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka
Submerged volcanic cones form many islands in the region including Maldives

9. South Asia Natural Disasters
Cyclones- a storm with heavy rain and high winds that blows in a circular pattern around a low pressure area
Tsunamis- huge seas wave caused by an underground earthquake
Monsoon (seasonal wind that brings warm, moist air from the oceans in the summer and cool air from inland in the winter)

10. South Asia Natural Resources
India- iron, copper, gold, timber. Petroleum is the most valuable
Pakistan & Bangladesh- rice, copper, sugar cane, fish
Maldives & Sri Lanka- eco tourism
Nepal & Bhutan- coal, iron, timber, hydroelectric power

11. South Asia HEI
High population is a threat to eco systems. Air and water pollution are a major issue
No access to sanitation facilities make clean water hard to come by
Natural disasters plague the area