South Asia Physical

1. South AsiaSouth Asia
Physical LandscapePhysical Landscape

4. South AsiaSouth Asia
Geography has helped Geography has helped
South Asia develop South Asia develop
separately from the rest separately from the rest
of the worldof the world
The Himalayan and Hindu The Himalayan and Hindu
Kush mountains form Kush mountains form
barriers to the northbarriers to the north
The Arabian Sea, Bay of The Arabian Sea, Bay of
Bengal, and the Indian Bengal, and the Indian
Ocean surround South Asia Ocean surround South Asia
on 3 sides.on 3 sides.

5. South AsiaSouth Asia
““The Indian Subcontinent”The Indian Subcontinent”
–Another name for South AsiaAnother name for South Asia
–SubcontinentSubcontinent: a large : a large
landmass that is smaller landmass that is smaller
than a continentthan a continent

6. Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
There are 3 major There are 3 major
regions:regions:
1.1.Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains
2.2.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
3.3.Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau

7. Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
1.1.Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains
–The HimalayasThe Himalayas
–The Hindu KushThe Hindu Kush
Northern
Plains
Deccan
Plateau

8. 1.1.Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains
–The HimalayasThe Himalayas
Create a wall that separates the Indian Create a wall that separates the Indian
Subcontinent from the rest of AsiaSubcontinent from the rest of Asia
Contains some of the world’s tallest mountainsContains some of the world’s tallest mountains
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
Mount EverestMount Everest

9. Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
1.1.Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains
–The Hindu KushThe Hindu Kush
Very high and rugged mountainsVery high and rugged mountains
Many of S. Asia’s major river systems begin hereMany of S. Asia’s major river systems begin here

10. 1.1.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
–From Pakistan to From Pakistan to
BangladeshBangladesh
–Densely populatedDensely populated
–Two major rivers flow Two major rivers flow
through the Northern through the Northern
PlainsPlains
1.1.Indus RiverIndus River
2.2.Ganges RiverGanges River
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
Northern
Plains
Deccan
Plateau

11. 1.1.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
–Indus RiverIndus River
The major river of PakistanThe major river of Pakistan
Many Pakistanis live near the riverMany Pakistanis live near the river
““Indus” means “river”Indus” means “river”
–Source of the name Source of the name
““India”India”
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia

12. Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
1.1.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
–Ganges RiverGanges River
Flows across India Flows across India
into Bangladeshinto Bangladesh
It is the most holy It is the most holy
river in South Asiariver in South Asia
““Known as Known as Ganga MaGanga Ma—Mother Ganges—the river —Mother Ganges—the river
is revered as a goddess whose purity cleanses is revered as a goddess whose purity cleanses
the sins of the faithful and aids the dead on their the sins of the faithful and aids the dead on their
path toward heaven. According to Hindu path toward heaven. According to Hindu
mythology, the Ganges was once a river of mythology, the Ganges was once a river of
heaven that flowed across the sky. Long ago, heaven that flowed across the sky. Long ago,
she agreed to fall to earth to aid a king named she agreed to fall to earth to aid a king named
Bhagiratha, whose ancestors had been burned Bhagiratha, whose ancestors had been burned
to ash by the angry gaze of an ascetic they had to ash by the angry gaze of an ascetic they had
disturbed during meditation. Only the purifying disturbed during meditation. Only the purifying
waters of Ganges, flowing over their ashes, waters of Ganges, flowing over their ashes,
could free them from the earth and raise them could free them from the earth and raise them
up to live in peace in heaven.”up to live in peace in heaven.”

13. 1.1.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
–Ganges RiverGanges River
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia

14. 1.1.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
–Thar DesertThar Desert
Covers and area Covers and area
the size of Colorado the size of Colorado
(100,000)(100,000)
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia

15. 1.1.Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau
–A region of high, flat land A region of high, flat land
with many riverswith many rivers
–Millions of tiny farms Millions of tiny farms
dot the landscapedot the landscape
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia
Northern
Plains
Deccan
Plateau

16. 1.1.Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau
–The Eastern and Western GhatsThe Eastern and Western Ghats
Low-lying mountain rangesLow-lying mountain ranges
““ghats” = passesghats” = passes
Major Regions of South AsiaMajor Regions of South Asia

17. Resources and ClimateResources and Climate
Natural ResourcesNatural Resources
–Water (for irrigation)Water (for irrigation)
–Mineral resources: iron ore, copper, coalMineral resources: iron ore, copper, coal
–Nuclear powerNuclear power
Governments have supported its use over oilGovernments have supported its use over oil

18. ClimateClimate
–Climate and vegetation vary greatlyClimate and vegetation vary greatly
In areas of heavy rainfall, tropical rainforests In areas of heavy rainfall, tropical rainforests
flourishflourish
Where there is little rain, there are desertsWhere there is little rain, there are deserts
–MonsoonsMonsoons: seasonal winds that control the : seasonal winds that control the
lives of farmers in South Asialives of farmers in South Asia
Resources and ClimateResources and Climate

19. Rain shadowRain shadow
–Mountains can create a Mountains can create a rain shadowrain shadow
Resources and ClimateResources and Climate
Wet, windward Dry, leeward

20. ReviewReview
Geography has separated South AsiaGeography has separated South Asia
Indian Indian SubcontinentSubcontinent
Three Major Regions of South AsiaThree Major Regions of South Asia
1.1.Northern MountainsNorthern Mountains
2.2.Northern PlainsNorthern Plains
3.3.Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau
Identifying on a map…Identifying on a map…

21. HimalayasHimalayas
Hindu KushHindu Kush
Indus RiverIndus River
Ganges RiverGanges River
Thar DesertThar Desert
Eastern GhatsEastern Ghats
Western GhatsWestern Ghats

22. ResourcesResources
–Water, mineral resourcesWater, mineral resources
–Nuclear powerNuclear power
ClimateClimate
–VariedVaried
–Rain ShadowsRain Shadows
ReviewReview