Georgia's Exploring Our World: Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern and Eastern Asia © 2012

Chapter 7: Physical Geography of Southern and Eastern Asia

Chapter Overviews

More than 3 billion people, roughly one-half the world's population, live in the region of Southern and Eastern Asia. It is one of the most densely populated areas of the world. The vast region extends from the mountains of inland China to the Pacific shores of Japan. Tectonic plate movements have created mountains and caused powerful earthquakes in parts of Southern and Eastern Asia. Volcanic activity millions of years ago formed a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean. East Asia's only lowland areas are the North China Plain and the Manchurian Plain. Southeast Asia is south of China and has many peninsulas and thousands of islands. The mainland is crossed by cordilleras, between which are fertile river plains. Three huge mountain systems—the Hindu Kush, the Karakoram, and the Himalaya—form the northern boundary of the Indian subcontinent, separating it from the rest of Asia.

Seas and rivers play an important role in agriculture and trade in the region. The region is surrounded by oceans and seas that have served as trade routes and have provided fish for food. The most important rivers in Eastern Asia flow through China from the Plateau of Tibet to the Pacific Ocean. The Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) provide transportation routes and fertile land for agriculture. Southeast Asia's rivers are located on the mainland. Most flow south toward the Gulf of Thailand, an arm of the South China Sea. Southern Asia's rivers begin in the Himalaya. The Indus flows to the Arabian Sea. The Ganges and the Brahmaputra flow east to the Bay of Bengal, combining to form the world's largest delta.

An abundant supply of energy resources is found in the region. China, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia have large oil deposits. China, North Korea, India, and Vietnam, among other countries, also mine coal. Several countries use hydroelectric power to meet their energy needs. The region also has a wealth of minerals, and some countries have timber.

Southern and Eastern Asia's high population density has created environmental challenges. During the long dry seasons, the region suffers water shortages. Its growing population demands freshwater, which is in short supply, and the increase in water pollution threatens the region's important rivers. Sewage, factory runoff, and waste products pollute the water the Ganges brings to urban areas. Another problem is that the region's rain forests are being cut down for building materials and fuel. The deforestation leads to erosion and flooding. Air pollution is also a challenge in parts of Asia. The high concentration of people means more automobiles and more exhaust fumes. Many people develop breathing problems as a result of burning the fuels to heat their homes and cook. Over the Indian Ocean, a cloud of chemicals has formed that may ultimately change the climate.

Southern Asia's climate is marked by contrasts—heavy rainfall during some parts of the year, extreme dryness in others. Monsoons bring needed rain to many areas. Wind patterns also greatly influence the climates in Eastern Asia. Three different air masses bring cold, dry air; cool, dry air; and warm, moist air to the region. In winter, cold winds sweep down from Siberia to the northern parts of Mongolia and northern China. In summer, the southern part of Eastern Asia receives warm Pacific air and monsoon rains. Ocean currents affect the climate, particularly for the islands of the region. In Southern Asia, high temperatures and monsoons bring beneficial effects and natural disasters. Monsoons can help crops grow, but also bring the threat of flooding, especially on the Ganges Plain. Cyclones threaten the region with their high winds and heavy rains. Cyclones and typhoons can also cause deadly tidal waves along heavily populated coastal areas.

China, Mongolia, the Koreas, and Japan generally have dry and middle latitude climates like those in the United States. The rest of the region has mostly tropical climates. Highland climates are found along Southern Asia's northern edge.