Thursday, April 27, 17 Geography of Southeast Asia Objec-ve: Understand the geographical differences between the mainland region and the insular region of Southeast Asia. Do Now: What is the capital of Cambodia? What is the proper term for someone that is from Cambodia? Island gigantism-is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to its mainland relatives. Ecosystem- a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Landforms The 11 countries of Southeast Asia can be divided into two areas: the mainland in the west and the island archipelagoes in the east. The landmass of the island countries is actually larger than the region s mainland. Indonesia consists of more than 13,000 islands that span a distance of 1,000 miles from north to south and 3,000 miles from west to east- an area wider than the continental United States. Due to its position along the Pacific Ocean within the Ring of Fire, most of Southeast Asia is mountainous, has active volcanoes, and is prone to earthquakes.
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Landforms Pt. 2 One exception, however is the large island of Borneo. Borneo is often called a minicontinent because it is so stable. This stability makes Borneo s physical geography an exception to the pattern of the rest of the subregion. The rest of Indonesia, in contrast, has the largest concentration of active volcanoes in the world. Eruptions in Indonesia have changed world history. In 1815 Mount Tambora sent so much ash into the sky that the next year was dubbed the year without a summer because ash blocked so much solar energy. Crops failed and millions went hungry in places as far away as the United States, Europe, and northern Africa.
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Water Systems Southeast Asia s waterways make it one of the most accessible regions in the world. The river systems differentiate, or demonstrate how features differ from one area to another, the farming economies of the lowlands from the mountain communities. The Mekong River is the longest in the region and it flows through five countries. It flows south for some 2,600 miles across the mainland to the South China Sea. The Mekong form s Laos s border with Myanmar and part of its border with Thailand. The other four major rivers are shorter and are mostly confined within a single country.
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Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Climates, Biomes, and Resources The climate is tropical and subtropical and is based more on rainfall than temperature. Most of Southeast Asia, like many tropical oceanic regions, divide the year into just two seasons: the dry season and the rainy monsoon season. Some parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have a rainy season that lasts all year, however. They are surrounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans so that the winds bring rain no matter which way they are blowing.
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Climates, Biomes, and Resources Pt. 2 Temperature tend to vary by elevation. Air temperatures typically drop by about 0.9F for every 328 feet climbed. Southeast Asia has one of the few equatorial rain forests, and it exhibits exceptional biodiversity, or the diverse life forms in a habitat. The region is rich in minerals and oil.
Figure 2
Physical Geography of Southeast Asia Freaks of Nature The Komodo dragon, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar. A member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae, it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 meters or 10 feet. Their unusually large size has been attributed to island gigantism, since no other carnivorous animals fill the niche on the islands where they live. As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in which they live Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals.