1. 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

2. Physical Geography of East Asia

3. Where is East Asia?

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

9. 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?

10. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.