Name: Date: Class: Introductory Notes: South Asia, Physical Geography Quick write: What, if anything, is wrong with this map? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ __ South Asia is often referred to as a subcontinent________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ The subcontinent, South Asia is comprised of six countries. Country • _____________ • _____________ • _____________ • _____________ • _____________ • _____________ • _____________
Land Area (in square miles) 297,637 52,818 18,147 24,996 51,703 1,147,949 268,601
Predict and place: use the symbol for mountains to denote where you think the Himalayas may be. Place the country names on the map according to land size. X
X
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The region was formed when the ___________________________________. This collision formed the Himalaya__________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________.
Big shift: Terra Petitus Caelum
According to the map, which is the most common use for the land in the region? Write a complete sentence: ____________________________________________________ Seeing a BIG picture
SOUTHERN PLATEAUS:
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What could be the result of the Ghats Mountain ranges on the climate of the Deccan Plateau?
The collision of tectonic plates that pushed up the Himalayas also created several smaller mountain ranges in central India, including the Vindhya (VIHN•dyuh) Range. To the south lies the Deccan Plateau. This large tableland tilts east, toward the Bay of Bengal, and covers much of southern India. Two mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, flank the plateau, separating it from the coast. These mountains also block most moist winds and keep rain from reaching the interior. Rivers, Deltas, and Plains The Northern Indian Plain lies between the Deccan Plateau and the northern mountain ranges. This large lowland region stretches across northern India and into Bangladesh. It is formed by three great river systems: the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra.
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Rivers, Deltas, and Plains The Northern Indian Plain, or IndoGangetic Plain, lies between the Deccan Plateau and the northern mountain ranges. This large lowland region stretches across northern India and into Bangladesh. It is formed by three great river systems: the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra. GREAT RIVERS The three great rivers of South Asia have their origins among the snowcapped peaks of the high Himalayas. The Indus flows west and then south through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. The Ganges drops down from the central Himalayas and flows eastward across northern India. The Brahmaputra winds its way east, then west and south through Bangladesh. The Ganges and Brahmaputra eventually meet to form one huge river delta before entering the Bay of Bengal. FERTILE PLAINS These rivers play a key role in supporting life in South Asia. Their waters provide crucial irrigation for agricultural lands. They also carry rich soil, called alluvial soil, on their journey down from the mountains. When the rivers overflow their banks, they deposit this soil on alluvial plains, lands that are rich farmlands. As a result, the IndoGangetic Plain is one of the most fertile farming regions in the world.
(Map is skewed to show rivers)
* What region of the subcontinent would the Indo Gangetic plain be located? Explain your answer with evidence from the text. _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________
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The IndoGangetic Plain is also the most heavily populated part of South Asia. In fact, the area contains about threefifths of India’s population. Many of the subcontinent’s largest cities are located there. To the west, in the area between the Indus and Ganges rivers, the plain becomes drier and requires more irrigation. To the south lies one of the world’s most arid regions—the Thar, or Great Indian Desert.
What city is, perhaps, the most heavily populated?
*Where might the Thar desert be located and why? Also, what population trends may support this thinking? Use an excerpt from the text to support your reasoning. ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________
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Organizing for effort: cite the text to Climate
Location
Population
(specific or general)
( relative or absolute)
(aaprox. or exact)
Countries
Thar Desert Himalayas Indo-Gangetic Plain Ghats mountains
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Considering the text and the maps, write a two paragraph summary of the South Asian Subcontinent. Use the graphic organizer you completed to help organize your information. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ___ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ __________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ___ _____________________________________________________________________________ _
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