Physical Geography of South Asia

Physical Geography of South Asia

Landforms and Resources • Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain peak (29,035). Mount Everest and other peaks of the Himalaya Mountains have been a lure to mountain climbers around the world

Himalaya Mountains

Indian Subcontinent • Includes seven countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives • South Asia is sometimes called a subcontinent (a large land mass that is smaller than a continent) • South Asia is ½ the size of the United States. It has more than one billion inhabitants – 1/5 world’s population • Natural borders separate South Asia from rest of continent Asia – Himalayas to north, Arabian Sea to the west and Bay of Bengal to the east.

Mountains and Plateaus • Northern Mountains • The collision between two tectonic plates forced the land upward into mountain ranges (page 551) • Himalayas-2 dozen peaks rising to 24,000 feet above, stretches for 1500 miles • Contains Mt. Everest (29,035) • Nestled high up in the mountains are two remote landlocked kingdoms Nepal and Bhutan. • Hindu Kush • Mountains lie at the west end of the Himalayans • Form a rugged barrier between Pakistan and Afghanistan to the north • Bloody battles have been fought over land routes through mountains including Khyber Pass • 2nd highest mountain peak is K2.

Mountains and Plateaus • Southern Plateaus • Deccan Plateau covers much of southern India. • Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats flank plateau, separating it from coast • These mountains block most moist winds and keep rain away causing the Deccan Plateau to be arid (dry)

Rivers, Deltas, and Plains • Indo-Gangetic Plain lies between Deccan Plateau and northern mountain ranges

Great Rivers • All these river originate from the melted snow of the Himalayas • IndusRiver • flows through Pakistan to Arabian Sea • GangesRiver • Flow through India and empties into the Bay of Bengal • BrahmaputraRiver • Flows through India and Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal

Fertile Plains • The Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers support life in South Asia • Provide irrigation • In the spring they flood and carry rich soil, called alluvial soil • When the rivers overflow their banks, they deposit soil on alluvial plains • The Indo-Gangetic plain is one of most fertile farming areas in world and most populated • Area contains 3/5 of India’s population • The capital city of New Delhi and Kolkata are located here.

Offshore Islands • Sri Lanka- called the “Tear drop” of India • Sri Lanka is a large tear-shaped • Lush tropical land of great natural beauty • In center of islands are tall rugged mountains that reach 8000 feet • Circling island is a coastal plains that includes long, palm-fringed beaches • Maldives • The Maldives are an archipelago – island group • Made up of 1,200 small islands • The islands are the low lying tops of submerged volcanoes. This is called an atoll

Natural Resources • Water and soil • South Asia relies heavily on its soil and water resources to provide food through farming and fishing • Must feed a large population (1 billion) • Many fish are found in South Asia in rivers including Mackerel, Sardines, Carp and Catfish • Boats travel the rivers and coastlines carrying goods and people form town to town • Governments are also trying to harness hydroelectric power

Forests • Rain forests in India Produce hardwoods like sal and teak along with bamboo and sandalwood • In the mountains of Nepal and Bhutan they have pine and fir trees. • Deforestation is a big problem, it causes soil erosion, flooding, landslides and loss of wildlife

Minerals • India is 4th in the world in coal production and has enough petroleum to supply half its oil needs • Also have natural gas • Uranium deposits for nuclear energy • Large iron-ore deposits • Manganese, gypsum, chromium, bauxite, and copper • India supplies most of world’s mica which is a key component in electrical equipment • India and Sri Lanka both have substantial gemstone deposits (diamonds, sapphires, and rubies)

Climate zones • Highland climate • Himalayas and other northern mountains • snow there year around • Lower elevations including lush foothills and valleys of Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India are much warmer • Humid Subtropical • Indo Gangetic Plain • Semiarid climate • region of high temperatures is found at the western end of the Plain and in parts of the Deccan Plateau • Desert • Thar desert • Driest part of the area. Average 10 inches of rain per year • Tropical Wet climate • Is found along western and eastern coasts of India and Bangladesh, temperature high and rainfall heavy

Monsoons • Monsoons • seasonal winds that affect entire region • October through February dry winds blow across south Asia from Northeast • June through September, the winds blow in from the Southwest, bringing moist ocean air • Monsoons are highly unpredictable • Some areas get too little rain, some too much • Sometimes beneficial, sometimes difficult

Cyclones • Extreme weather pattern in Asia is a cyclone. • Violent storm with fierce winds and heavy rain. • Destructive in Bangladesh

Vegetation • Most forestedareas lie in tropical wet zone with teak, ebony, bamboo trees • In highland zone, there are forests of pine, fir, and other evergreens • River valleys have forests of sal, oak, chestnut • Only 1/5 of India’s original forests remains because of deforestation. • In semiarid areas- desert shrubs and grasses • In tropical wet and dry of northern Sri Lanka – grasses and trees

Human- Environment Interaction • Hinduism • religion of most Indians • Ganges River • is a holy, sacred river to the Hindu • they wade in the river to wash away their sins.

A Sacred River • Ganges River • Provides water for drinking, farming and transportation • Ganges is known in India as Gangamai which means river brings life • Hindu’s worship the river as a goddess and they believe the river has healing powers • Pilgrims come from are over the world to drink and bathe in water • At Varansi, thousands gather everyday. When the sun rises, Hindus enter water for purification and prayer. They float baskets of flowers and burning candles

Polluted River • After centuries of intense human use, it has become one of the most polluted in the world • Millions of gallons of raw sewage and industrial waste flow into the river everyday • Dead animal and even human bodies are thrown into the river. • Water is poisoned with toxic chemicals and deadly bacteria • Hepatitis, typhoid, or cholera • Since 1986, the Indian government has tried to restore the health of river • Plans for sewage treatment plants • Tougher regulations on industrial polluters

Controlling the Feni River • The Feni River is a very important river in Bangladesh. • The Feni floods yearly • Flooding is caused by Monsoon rains • Storm surges • Sea water surges up the river and onto coastal plains • Villages and fields are flooded

Building a Dam • In 1980s, engineers in Bangladesh proposed building an earthen dam, but mouth is 1 mile wide and it would be expensive • Using people power • Country has large population available for construction work • Project hired Dutch engineers to help • Project emphasized the use of cheap materials and low-tech procedures • Laid down Bamboo and reeds weighted with boulders, covered with clay- filled bags • After 6 months they completed the dam • 3 months later a cyclone hit the dam and it held back the storm surge

Human Geography of South Asia

India

Invasions, Empires and Independence • India is an ancient land. • Culture and history date back 4000 years • The first civilization in India was in the Indus valley

Early History • Aryans (1500 BC) • a light-skinned people, crossed the mountains of the Hindu Kush and spread across northern India • Aryans established small kingdoms on Ganges Plain, pushed darker-skinned Dravidians toward the south • Persians and Greeks • Invaded and occupied the Indus Valley • Mauryan Empire (250 BC) • Beginning in 321 BC, Mauryn empire arose in lower Ganges- Great Mauryn leader, Asoka helped spread Buddhism throughout Asia • Gupta Empire (400 AD) • ruled northern India • Mughal Empire (1500 AD) • Invaders from Central Asia and Southwest Asia began entering India • Muslims conquered Indus

Europeans Arrived • In the 1500s, European traders came to India, looking for spices, cloth, and other goods not available in Europe • The British established the British East Indian Company. • Through East India Company, British gained control of trade in 1757. In 1857, British put down revolt to establish direct rule for 90 years- called raj • Mohandas Gandhi began nonviolent resistance and eventually Britain granted its independence in 1947. • Independence brought division in India • Pakistan and Bangladesh left India and formed their own countries based on Muslim rule. • There is violence still today between Muslims and Hindu

Governing the World’s largest democracy • India is a democracy. • Largest democracy in the world (over 1 billion people) • India’s democracy reflects aspects of American and British system • It is a federal government • Shares power between states and federal government • Parliamentary democracy • Prime minister elected from the legislative branch. • India has to manage relations between Muslims and other minorities

Economic Challenges • India has one of the world’s largest economies, but per capita income is low. • ½ of India’s population live in poverty. • Dependence on Farming • 2/3 of population depend on small farms and struggle to survive (subsistence farming) • One solution would be to redistribute land from rich land owners to poor farmers. This is called land reform • Green Revolution- more technology advanced farming techniques • Growing Industry • India is big producer of textiles, iron, steel, chemicals, machinery and food products • Mumbai (Bombay) – India’s leading commercial center. Many computer software companies are located there

Life in Modern India • Daily Life • Arranged marriages • Large families • Often generations of family live under one roof • Divorce is rare, marriages are male-dominated • Vegetarian • Enjoy music, sports and movies Bollywood

Education • Since the 1950’s India has placed education as a high priority. • More people are finding work in factories and offices so there is a growing need for more education • Most middle-class children attend school • Literacy is rising

Indian Culture • Many languages • 18 major language groups are recognized in constitution, Hindi is official language • English spoken especially among government workers and businesses • More than 1000 languages and dialects spoken

Hinduism • Hindus make up 80% of population • Polytheistic • Believe in Reincarnation • They believe in Karma • According to Hindus, everyone is born into a particular moral caste with a specific duty or dharma and can move into different caste by reincarnation • The Caste System is a Aryan system of social classes

Sikhism • Sikhism • 5th largest religion in world • Mostly practiced in northern India • Monotheistic • Believe in faith and justice

Sikhism • Kesh • Cannot cut hair • Kara • Bracelet to remind them to do good deeds • Kanga • Small comb to remind them of cleanliness • Kuchara • Cloth that signify chastity • Kirpan • Small knife to remind them to stand up to justice

Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan • Home to the ancient Indus valley civilization • well-planned cities which had brick buildings • It fell to Aryans in 1500 BC • Later it became part of the Mauryan, Gupta, Nughal and British Empires

Partition and War • After independence from Britain • Two countries were created, Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India • This separation caused conflict • 1 million died • Civil War then broke out between East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan won its independence from West Pakistan. India helped them. East Pakistan became Bangladesh (page574)

Military Rule • Short periods of elected governments interrupted long periods of military rule for Pakistan and Bangladesh • Political corruption was throughout government • Pakistan has fought several wars over Kashmir (disputed land) with India (page 574)

Struggling Economies • Bangladesh • 8th most populated country in the world. • Pakistan • 9thmost populated country in the world • Per capita income is low/High poverty rate • Subsistence Farming • People struggle to grow enough crops to feed families (subsistence agriculture) • People don’t use modern farm techniques and instead rely on less-productive, traditional ways • In irrigated part of Indus valley in Pakistan, farmers grow enough cotton and rice to export • In Bangladesh, rice is main crop, also jute (plant used for rope, carpets, and industrial-quality sacks). They also fish.

Small Industries • Neither Pakistan or Bangladesh is highly industrial – lack capital and resources • Growing textile industry • Microcredit – small loans available for entrepreneurs. These have helped small businesses grow

One religion, many people • Islamic culture • Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are Muslim • Mosques can be found here • Citizens celebrate Ramadan • Both countries were key part of the Muslim Mughal that ruled the Indian subcontinent. • Pakistan is stricter on imposing Islamic law on its citizens – prevents women from having contact with men who aren’t relatives, they must also wear veils in public

Ethnic Diversity • Pakistan has 5 main ethnic groups with own language, (Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans, Muhjirs, and Balochs) and they have own regional origins except Muhajirs who migrated to India after partition • Urdu, language of Muhajirs used as official language • People of Bangladesh are mostly Bengalis • Bengalese speak Sanskrit- ancient Indo-Aryan language

Modern Life and Culture • Arranged marriages are common, families are large, most people live in small villages • Homes made of sun-baked mud, bamboo, or wood • Cricket is a popular sport • Love of poetry- poetry is special interest in Pakistan and Bangladesh • Mushairas – poetry readings • Rabindranath Tagore- most popular poet in Bangladesh, won Nobel Peace Prize • Music and dance – folk music of various types are popular in cities and rural areas • Qawwali- form of devotional singing

Nepal and Bhutan • Mountain Kingdoms- located in Himalayas, strong religious traditions • Geographic Isolation • Mountainous landscape, isolated two countries throughout histories • Landlocked (no access to the sea)and terrain made it hard to conquer • China controlled and Britain influenced them, but most of the time the countries stayed independent and isolated

Evolving Monarchies • For much of their history Nepal and Bhutan were split into small ruling states • Hindu kings ruled Nepal, Buddhist priests controlled Bhutan • Unified kingdoms emerged in both countries led by hereditary monarchs • Today they are constitutional monarchies- rulers powers are limited by a constitution

Developing Economies • Limited Resources • Poor countries based on agriculture • Because region is mountainous, not much land for cultivation so they create terraces on mountain sides • Also have livestock like cattle, sheep, and yaks • Also timber industry- although leads to deforestation

Increasing Tourism • Fastest growing industries in Nepal • Tourists come to visit valley of Kathmandu (capital of Nepal) and to climb Himalayas • Hotels and restaurants have popped up • Tourism has damaged the environment • Bhutan regulates industry by limiting visitors and keeping parts of country off limits

Rich Cultural Traditions • Nepal • majority of people are Indo-Nepalese Hindus • speak Nepali- version of Sanskrit • Sherpas • Ethnic group from the high Himalayas • Serve as mountain guides in the Everest region • Bhutan • Main ethnic group is the Bhote • live in two-story houses that they live on the top and have livestock on the bottom • Bhutan also has a sizable Nepalese minority • Bhutan government has tried to get them to assimilate but has not been successful

Religious customs • Religion is a powerful force in Nepal and Bhutan • Nepal are mostly Hindu • Bhutan are mostly Buddhist • In Bhutan they use Mandalas- geometric designs that are symbols of universe and aid in meditation • Many monasteries are located in both Nepal and Bhutan

Sri Lanka and the Maldives • Settlement of Sri Lanka • Sinhalesi – came from the Indian subcontinent around the year 600 BC • Tamils- Another group from southern Indian settled Sri Lanka around the year 400 AD. • Europeans began to colonize Sri Lanka in 16th century, Sri Lanka eventually got its independence from the British in 1948 • After independence, tensions grew between Sinhalese and Tamil, 1980s - civil war broke out • Main religion is Buddhism

Physical Geography of South Asia