Physical Geography of East Asia: A Rugged Terrain

1. Physical Geography of East Asia: A Rugged Terrain The mountainous landscape, open ocean, and harsh climate of East Asia isolate the region and present challenges for the people living there.

2. Physical Geography of East Asia: A Rugged Terrain SECTION 1 LandformsandResources ClimateandVegetation SECTION 2 Human-EnvironmentInteraction SECTION 3

3. Section-1 Landforms and Resources • East Asia has a huge mainland area that includes rugged terrain. • East Asia has a number of important islands off its eastern coast.

4. Section-1 Landforms and Resources Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus A Survey of the Region • East Asia stretches from western China to the east coast of Japan • − also includes Mongolia, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea • Landscape has high mountains, deserts, cold climate, Pacific waters • Rugged terrain created by tectonic plates colliding • − natural barriers limit human movement, increase isolation Continued…

5. Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus {continued} Mountain Ranges of the Region • High mountains limited China’s contact with rest of Asia • − world’s highest mountains located on western edge of region • KunlunMountains are located in west China • − source of Huang He (Yellow) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze) rivers • QinlingShandiMountains divide northern China from the south Continued…

6. Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus {continued} Plateaus and Plains • Mountainous area includes some sparsely populated basins, deserts • − includes Plateau of Tibet (Xizang Plateau) • − western China’s Tarim Pendi Basin and Taklimakan Desert • Gobi Desert stretches from northwest China into Mongolia • − covers 500,000 square miles • Mongolian Plateau is in northeastern China • Northern China includes Manchurian Plain, North China Plain

7. Peninsulas and Islands The Coast of China • Eastern coast of China has several peninsulas • − Shandong, Leizhou, and Macao Peninsulas • − Portugal owned Macao; returned it to Chinese control in 1999 • China’s long coastline has several major port cities like Shanghai • Korean Peninsula is on eastern border of China • − contains independent nations of North Korea and South Korea Continued…

8. Peninsulas and Islands {continued} The Islands of East Asia • East of China is continental shelf—the submerged border of continent • Isolation of shelf islands allows them to develop in peace, security • Chinese islands include Hainan and part of Hong Kong • − Hong Kong was Britain’s; returned to China’s control in 1997 • Japan is a small island nation with large economic power • Taiwan once belonged to mainland China, which still claims it today

9. River Systems The Huang He • HuangHe (Yellow River)—northern China river • − starts in Kunlun Mountains in west, winds east for 3,000 miles • − empties into Yellow Sea, named for yellow silt the river carries • The Chang Jiang • ChangJiang (Yangtze River)—longest river in Asia • − flows 3,900 miles from Xizang (Tibet) to East China Sea • − major trade route; floods often causing great damage Continued…

10. River Systems {continued} The Xi Jiang • XiJiang (West River) flows southeast through south China • − joins Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) to flow into South China Sea • − Xi Jiang, three other rivers form estuary between Hong Kong, Macao Other Rivers of the Region • Yalu Jiang river flows 500 miles along North Korea, China border • − Chinese troops cross it in 1950 • − attack UN forces, enter Korean War

11. Resources of East Asia • Uneven Distribution • China, Mongolia, North Korea have natural, mineral resources • Japan, South Korea, Taiwan have limited natural resources • Land and Forests • Limited farmland in sparsely populated, mountainous, western areas • Most Chinese are in fertile eastern river basins where rice is grown • Abundant forests in China, Japan, Taiwan, North and South Korea • − Japan reserves forests by buying timber from other regions Continued…

12. Resources of East Asia {continued} Mineral and Energy Resources • China has large petroleum, coal, natural gas reserves • − energy resources make China self-sufficient • China’s mineral resources include iron ore, tungsten, manganese • − also molybdenum, magnesite, lead, zinc, copper • North and South Korea have coal, tungsten, gold, silver reserves • Japan has lead, silver, coal, but must trade for most resources Continued…

13. Resources of East Asia {continued} Water Resources • China’s long river systems are important to its economy • − provide crop irrigation, hydroelectric power, transportation • − Three Gorges Dam on Chang Jiang will control floods, create power • − Huang He and Xi Jiang provide hydroelectric power, transportation • Sea is important food source for East Asia • − Japan has one of world’s largest fishing industries

14. Section-2 Climate and Vegetation • East Asia has a dry highland climate in the west. • The region has a humid climate in the east.

15. Section-2 Climate and Vegetation High Latitude Climate Zones Subarctic • Small subarctic zones on Mongolia’s and China’s Russian borders • Summers are cool or cold; winters are brutally cold; climate is dry • Vegetation is northern evergreen forest, mosses, lichens Highland • Western China’s highland zone temps vary with latitude, elevation • Vegetation also varies; forests, alpine tundra are typical • Tundras have no trees, frozen soil a few feet below surface • − only mosses, lichens, shrubs grow on tundras

16. Mid-Latitude Zones Humid Continental • Climate zone includes northeastern China, northern Japan • − also North Korea, northern South Korea • Forests are coniferous; temperate grasslands provide grazing • − agriculture has replaced many forests Humid Subtropical • Southeastern China, southern South Korea, south Japan, north Taiwan • Deciduous forests in north, coniferous in southern, sandy soil

17. Dry Zones Semiarid • Includes parts of Mongolian Plateau • Vegetation is mostly short grasses, food for grazing animals Desert • Most of region’s deserts are in west central mainland • TaklimakanDesert—in west China, between Tian Shan, Kunlun mountains • GobiDesert—in north China, southeast Mongolia • − prime area for dinosaur fossils

18. Tropical Zones Tropical Wet • Typhoon—tropical storm that occurs in western Pacific • Tropical climate zone in East Asia is small • − strip of land along China’s southeastern coast • − island of Hainan, southern tip of Taiwan • High temperatures, heavy rainfall, high humidity all year • Tropical rain forest has tall, dense forests of broadleaf trees

19. Section-3 Human-Environment Interaction • The Chinese are building the Three Gorges Dam to control flooding. • The Japanese have developed creative ways to use their limited amounts of land.

20. Section-3 Human-Environment Interaction The Three Gorges Dam An Engineering Feat • In 1993, China began construction of the ThreeGorgesDam • − being built on China’s Chang Jiang river • − should reduce flooding, generate power • China’s largest construction project will be world’s biggest dam • − will be 600 feet high, spanning a mile-wide valley • − will create 400-mile-long reservoir, covering 1,000 towns Continued…

21. The Three Gorges Dam {continued} Positive Effects • Government believes dam will control Chang Jiang flooding • − river irrigates half of China’s crops, drains one-fifth of land • Giant turbines should generate 10% of China’s electrical power • Will make it easier for ships to reach China’s interior through locks • − river carries more than half the goods moved on China’s waterways • − dam, locks will increase shipping capacity, decrease costs Continued…

22. The Three Gorges Dam {continued} Negative Effects • Most observers feel dam will also have negative effects • − negative environmental impact may outweigh any benefits • One to two million people will have to move • − hundreds of historical sites, scenic spots will be submerged • Dam could cost $75 billion rather than original $11 billion estimate • − costs scare away many potential investors Continued…

23. The Three Gorges Dam {continued} Negative Effects • In building dam, government has not protected the environment • New reservoir will flood land, reduce animal habitats • − submerged factories could leak chemicals into water • − region’s climate, temperature will be affected • − some species (alligator, river dolphin, others) may vanish • International groups slow to invest due to environmental concerns

24. Use of Space in Urban Japan Crowded Living and Working Spaces • 60% of 127 million people live on 3% of land along coastal plains • − 80% live in largest cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, • Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo • − 25 million in Tokyo, one of world’s largest cities • Cities poisoned with mercury, PCBs—factory pollutants—in 1950s, ’60s • − PCBs build up in animal tissue; cause disease, birth defects • − PCBs banned in 1977 Continued…

25. Use of Space in Urban Japan {continued} Adapting to Limited Space • Houses are small, sparsely furnished • Many in cities live in apartments • − family of four in a one-bedroom apartment is common • Some move to suburbs, but must commute several hours to work • Coastal cities reclaim land with landfill • − landfill is solid waste buried in layers of dirt • − Tokyo puts factories, refineries on landfill

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