East Asia. Mongolia, China, Taiwan, the Koreas, and Japan

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Ashlee Holland
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1 East Asia Mongolia, China, Taiwan, the Koreas, and Japan

2 Major Geographic Characteristics of East Asia East Asia is the most populous region in the world China is the most populous country, and the oldest continuous national culture One of the world s earliest culture hearths Population concentrations in the East, situated in river basins East Asia is an emerging center of political power Experienced colonization, and internal and international conflict China and Japan have been rivals from time to time Mountains are important in Asia because they influence: Population patterns Movement of people and goods Climate

The Ring of Fire An arc where the Pacific, Philippine, and Eurasian tectonic plates meet Circle of volcanoes bordering the Pacific Ocean Plate movement generates violent earthquakes and volcanic

3 The Ring of Fire An arc where the Pacific, Philippine, and Eurasian tectonic plates meet Circle of volcanoes bordering the Pacific Ocean Plate movement generates violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions Tsunamis = undersea earthquakes that cause huge tidal waves that get higher as it approaches the coast Known Hazards in the area Earthquakes, Typhoons, Floods Volcanic Activity (Japan) Drought

4 Monsoons = the movement of two large air masses that meet and causes prevailing winds and seasonal weather patterns a. Economy depends on the monsoons b. Qin Lin Mountains weakens effect of the monsoons c. Summer (April - October) i. Blows Southeast to Northeast ii. Brings heat and humidity, intense downpours d. Winter (November - March) i. Cold, arctic air dust clouds from Gobi and snow in Japan and Korean Peninsula ii. Blows Northwest to Southeast

7 Climate and Vegetation of Asia

8 1) Asia has varied climate regions a) North and West = dry highlands and grasslands b) South and East = humid, temperate forest 2) Shaped by latitude and physical landscape a) Zones of Latitude - Part of Asia is in the low latitude and part of the mid latitude b) Elevation - Mountainous regions in Asia have colder climates c) Topography - Mountains block rainfall causing deserts on one side

9 1) Mid-latitude a) Southeastern Quarter i) Taiwan, the Koreas, parts of China and Japan ii) Humid and subtropical warm hot summers, heavy rains from Pacific monsoons b) Northeastern Quarter i) Northern Korea and Japan ii) Cooler, humid continental climate summer warm and winters cold and snowy

10 1) Deserts and Steppe Climates a) Moisture blocked by mountain - rain shadow i) Extreme temperatures b) Gobi and Taklimakan Deserts i) Often cold and windy c) Grasses and sparse trees natural vegetation

11 1) Highland Climate a) Changes with elevation b) Plateau of Tibet cold (higher elevation c) Small alpine meadows lower mountain slopes d) Above timberlane mosses and colorful lichens

12 Natural Resources Major natural resources of East Asia Petroleum, coal, natural gas, and iron ore Unevenly distributed China has widest range of minerals 10% of China agriculturally viable vs 25% of South Korea agriculturally viable Coal found in NE China, Korean peninsula and Mongolia South China Sea and Taklimakan Desert = largest oils deposits North and South Korea have plentiful gold and silver reserves Natural forests Bamboo in the warmer areas (food source for the Giant Panda and Red Panda) Mulberry trees home to silk worms and used for tea production

13 China

14 China s Plateaus, Basins and Deserts Plateau of Tibet (Plateau of Xizang) Southwest, highest Mongolian Plateau North, grassy pastures Tarim Basin Flat wasteland = deserts and salt marshes Between Kunlun and Tian Shan Mts. Taklimakan Desert West of Tarim Dry and sandy Sichuan Basin Between the Plateau of Tibet and North China Plain Mild climate and long growing season Important agricultural area

Gobi Desert 1. Largest desert in Asia 1.1. Covers more than 5,000 miles from northwest China into Mongolia 2. Located in northeast - southern Mongolia to North/Central China 3.

15 Gobi Desert 1. Largest desert in Asia 1.1. Covers more than 5,000 miles from northwest China into Mongolia 2. Located in northeast - southern Mongolia to North/Central China 3. Extreme climate = difficult to survive 3.1. Frequent dust storms 3.2. During winter months, temperatures can drop to -40 F 3.3. During summer months, temperatures can reach 122 F

16 Chinese Mountain Ranges Pamirs Western China Includes the Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan Mountains (Shan is Chinese for mountains) Altay Northern China Border between China and Mongolia Changhai Located in Manchuria Extends to Korean Peninsula

17 Kunlun Shan Located in Western China The source of both the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers Bends to become Qin Ling Mountains Crosses Central China (west to east)

20 Major Rivers China s river systems provide crop irrigation, hydroelectric power, and transportation Amur River Starts in the Great Khingan Mountains in Northern China Empties into the Sea of Japan Border between China and Russia. Yellow River Huang He = China s Sorrow, Northern China Yellow loess = yellowish-brown topsoil blown by wind from western deserts Yangtze River Chang Jiang, Central China Asia s longest river (major transportation) Spectacular gorges Three Gorges Dam West River XiJiang River, Southern China Key river system Guangzhou and Macau ports, huge fertile delta

23 Japan

24 Archipelago = island chain 4 Main mountainous islands (1000s of smaller) Honshu - largest island (central) Hokkaido = North Kyushu and Shikoku = South Ocean Currents shapes Japan s climate Japan or Kuroshio Current warm water, flows northward on the South/SE coast Kuril or Oyashio Current flows SW from Bering Sea, harsh cold winters Typhoons = violent storms

25 Mount Fujiyama Mount Fuji Cone shaped volcano (dormant) Central Plains - Honshu Island Important spiritual symbol

26 The Koreas

28 The Korean Peninsula Mountains and coastal plain Southeast of the Manchurian Plain Separates the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea Han River South Korea Flows through Seoul Amnok (Yalu) River North Korea Flows west and creates border with China

South, Southeast, and East Asia. Physical Geography

South, Southeast, and East Asia Physical Geography Mountains v Mountains are important in Asia because they influence: A. Population patterns B. Movement of people and goods C. Climate Mountains v The