East Asia: From Mountains to Plains - Physical Geography Guide

1. Splash Screen

2. Introduction Section 1:The Land Section 2:Climate and Vegetation Visual Summary Chapter Menu

3. East Asia is a region of contrasts —from towering mountains in the west to fertile plains in the east, from subarctic forests in the north to tropical rain forests in the south. A study of the physical geography of East Asia will explain how geographic factors, such as latitude, and certain physical processes, such as shifting tectonic plates, have shaped and continue to shape the landforms, climates, and vegetation of this region. Chapter Intro 1

4. Section 1:The Land Physical processes shape Earth’s surface.East Asia’s location at the meeting point of multiple tectonic plates leaves the region vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean flooding. Chapter Intro 2

5. Section 2: Climate and Vegetation The physical environment affects people and their activities.Latitude, physical features, and seasonal wind patterns shape East Asia’s climates and affect how people live in diverse landscapes. Chapter Intro 3

6. Chapter Preview-End

7. The Land East Asia’s location at the meeting point of tectonic plates leaves the region vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean flooding. Section 1-GTR

8. The Land • tsunami • loess • archipelago • layer • range • dramatic Section 1-GTR

9. The Land A. Korean Peninsula B. South China Sea C. Pamirs D. Himalaya E. Plateau of Tibet F. Northeast Plain G. North China Plain J. Huang He (Yellow River) H. Taklimakan Desert K. Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) I. Gobi L. Xi Section 1-GTR

10. A B C D The Land Why is Japan vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean flooding? A.Numerous cyclones B.Tectonic plate activity C. Many islands and seas Section 1

11. Landforms Tectonic plate movements along the Ring of Fire leave East Asia vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and ocean flooding. • The Ring of Fire—zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions bordering the Pacific Ocean East Asia: Earthquakes Section 1

12. Landforms (cont.) • Peninsulas, Islands, and Seas: • The Korean Peninsula • Sea of Japan • Yellow Sea • East China Sea and South China Sea • Sea of Okhotsk • Philippine Sea • Archipelago of Japan Section 1

13. Landforms (cont.) • Mountains, Highlands, and Lowlands: • Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan • Altay Shan • Himalaya • Qinling Shandi • Changbai Shan Section 1

14. Landforms (cont.) • Mount Fuji • Plateau of Tibet • Mongolian Plateau • Northeast Plain • North China Plain • Tarim Basin • Taklimakan Desert • Gobi The Gobi Section 1

15. A B C D Which mountain is an important spiritual symbol to Japan’s people? A.Altay Shan B.Mount Fuji C.Changbai Shan D.Tian Shan Section 1

16. Water Systems Landforms and physical processes have shaped East Asia’s rivers, which provide transportation, water, and rich mineral deposits for fertile soils. • China’s rivers: • Huang He • Chang Jiang—Asia’s longest river Section 1

17. Water Systems (cont.) • Xi • China’s Grand Canal Section 1

18. Water Systems (cont.) • Japan and Korea—short and swift rivers: • Shinano • Tone • Han • Yalu Section 1

19. A B C D Which river is the most important in southern China? A.Huang He B.Chang Jiang C.Xi D.Grand Canal Section 1

20. Natural Resources Mineral resources are abundant in East Asia, but they are unevenly distributed. • China contains the greatest share and widest range of minerals. • China is the world’s leading producer of rice. Section 1

21. Natural Resources (cont.) • Seafood farming has become a major industry in several countries. Agricultural Income as a Percentage of GDP Section 1

22. A B C D How much of South Korea’s land is suitable for farming? A.10% B.20% C.25% D.40% Section 1

23. Section 1-End

24. Climate Regions Latitude, physical features, and seasonal wind patterns shape East Asia’s climates and affect how people live in diverse landscapes. Section 2-GTR

25. Climate Regions • monsoon • typhoon • Japan Current • significant • interaction • variation Section 2-GTR

26. Climate Regions A. Taiwan B. Hainan Section 2-GTR

27. A B C D Climate Regions Which type of vegetation covers most of East Asia? A.Tropical rain forest B.Temperature grassland C.Mixed forest D.Desert scrub and desert waste Section 2

28. Climate Regions East Asia’s natural vegetation tends to parallel the region’s climate zones, which are influenced by latitude and physical features. • Midlatitude climates: • Humid subtropical • Humid continental East Asia: Climate Section 2

29. Climate Regions (cont.) • Important plants: • Bamboo • Mulberry tree • Tea bush East Asia: Natural Vegetation Section 2

30. Climate Regions (cont.) • Dry climates: • Desert—Gobi and Taklimakan • Steppe Section 2

31. Climate Regions (cont.) • Tropical climates: • Tropical wet—Hainan • Tropical dry Section 2

32. A B C D Most of Mongolia consists of which type of climate? A.Humid continental B.Steppe C.Tropical wet D.Desert Section 2

33. Seasonal Weather Patterns Prevailing winds and ocean currents influence East Asia’s climates. • Influences on the climate: • Monsoons • Ocean currents—Japan Current, Kuril Current • Warm, humid air over the tropical ocean results in typhoons. Section 2

34. A B Which ocean current is warm? A.Japan Current B.Kuril Current Section 2

35. Section 2-End

36. A. Mountains • Mountain ranges fan out from Pamirs, including Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan. • Altay Shan form a natural border between China and Mongolia. • Himalaya, the world’s highest mountains, separate China from South Asia. VS 1

37. B. Deserts • Taklimakan Desert lies in far western China; has large oil deposits • Gobi is located in southern Mongolia and north-central China. VS 2

38. C. Korean Peninsula • Juts southeast from China’s Northeast Plain • Separates the Sea of Japan from the Yellow Sea; characterized by midlatitude climates • Home to North Korea and South Korea VS 3

39. D. Plateaus and Plains • Plateau of Tibet in southwest China; East Asia’s highest plateau region; headwaters of China’s major rivers • North China Plain is an important agricultural area between Huang He and Chang Jiang. VS 4

40. E. Japanese Archipelago • Four large, mountainous islands and thousands of smaller ones • Created by tectonic activity; Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano on island of Honshu. VS 5

41. F. Huang He • Also known as Yellow River; located in northern China • Carries tons of loess blown by winds from the western deserts • Makes North China Plain a major wheat and soybean farming area VS 6

42. G. Ring of Fire • Pacific, Philippine, and Eurasian tectonic plates meet in this region. • Volcanoes bordering Pacific Ocean • Most mountainous islands in the region created through tectonic activity. • Underwater earthquakes generate tsunamis VS 7

43. H. Chang Jiang • Also known as Yangtze River; located in central China • Asia’s longest river; meets Pacific at Shanghai • Important transportation route; Three Gorges Dam constructed VS 8

44. I. Xi • Also known as West River; southern China’s most important river system • Soil deposits near Guangzhou and Macau form fertile delta. VS 9

45. VS-End

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50. Figure 5