East Asia: Physical Geography

1. East Asia: Physical Geography

2. Landmass • Landmass • China makes up about ________ of the landmass of East Asia • ________________ is the second largest nation in East Asia covering about 13% of the landmass • Other countries in East Asia include: • Japan • Taiwan • North Korea • South Korea

4. Peninsulas, Islands, and Seas • South China Sea • Carries _____________ of the world’s shipping traffic • Korean Peninsula • Contains North and South Korea • Consists mainly of ____________ and ______________ • Japan • An _________________, or chain of islands, makes up the country of Japan • Most of Japan’s major cities are located on the largest island called Honshu

5. Political Issues - South China Sea • http://www.voanews.com/content/us-pushes-for-greater-transparency-in-south-china-sea-claims/1852273.html

6. The Ring of Fire • An arc of islands east of China marks where the Pacific, Philippine, and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. • These island are part of the ___________________, a circle of volcanoes bordering the Pacific Ocean. • Japan and Taiwan were created by volcanic eruptions in the Ring of Fire • Japan • Nearly _________active volcanoes • Numerous ________________- a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. • Experience over a 1,000 small earthquakes a year • ________________ can crash into Japan when an earthquake occurs at sea

7. The Ring of Fire • http://www.glencoe.com/video_library/index_with_mods.php?PROGRAM=9780078745768&VIDEO=-1&CHAPTER=25

8. A Birth of an Island • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/volcano-raises-new-island-off-the-coast-of-japan-8954725.html

9. East Asian Mountains • The _______________ Mountains separate China from South Asia. • Mount Everest spans the border between China and Nepal • Mount _____________ rises 12,388 feet and is a dramatic, cone-shaped dormant volcano rising above the central plains of Japan’s Honshu Island

11. Mount Fuji – A Goddess • http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/mt-fuji

12. China’s Plateaus, Basins, and Deserts • The Plateau of Tibet • _____________ plateau region in East Asia • Its average elevation is 15,000 feet • Tarim Basin • Lies between the Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan • Made up of deserts and salt marches • Gobi Desert • Produces frequent ________________that plague Mongolia and north central China

13. Conservationism – The Tibetan Plateau • http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20130703/103240.shtml

14. China’s Rivers • Yellow River • Called “Huang He” (HWAHNG HUH) in china • Carries tons yellowish-brown topsoil, called ____________. • This nutrient rich soil, make the areas surrounding the river extremely futile • This makes the North China Plain a major wheat-farming area • Yangtze (YANG-SEE) River • Called “Chang Jiang” in China • Asia’s longest river (3,965 miles) • An important transport route • Provides water for a large number of China’s farms • (Three Gorges Dam) • XI (SHEE) River • Southern Asia’s most important river • Near the ports of Guangzhou and Macau, the soil deposits from the river for a huge, fertile delta.

15. Three Gorges Dam • Completed in July 2012 • Worlds largest hydropower project • The dam, which first went into operation in 2003 at a cost of $22.5 billion, has a combined generating capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts (22,500 megawatts), the equivalent of fifteen nuclear reactors. • Dailymail.co.uk • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2178951/Three-Gorges-Worlds-powerful-dam-opens-China-gushing-water-generates-power-15-nuclear-reactors.html • http://geography.howstuffworks.com/7143-china-three-gorges-dam-video.htm

17. Natural Resources • China • Iron ore • Tin • Tungsten • Gold • Oil • Deposits lie in the South China Sea, and in the Taklimakan Desert • Coal • Mined in northeastern China • North Korea • Iron ore • Tungsten • Contains much of the worlds precious “____________________” • Minerals used for making electronics such as smartphones and HDTVs • South Korea • Graphite • Taiwan • Very limited • Only a small amount of coal

18. Agriculture • China • Only 10% of China’s land is suitable for farming • Still China is the world’s leading producer of rice • South Korea • Nearly 25% of land suitable for farming • Produces mainly rice and barley • Mongolia • Only 1% of land is suitable for farming • Japan • Very limited farmland, and poor soil • Taiwan • 25% of land suitable for farming • Produces mainly rice • Also has valuable forest land • Cedar, hemlock, and oak trees • Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China • World biggest _________________________________industry