South Asia - Chapter 23

Bay of Bengal

A Bay that the Ganges River flows into, North of the Indian Ocean, On the eastern side of India, South of Tibet, West of China

Gangetic Plain

A crowded fertile plains region in northern India traversed by the Ganges and the Indus rivers. One tenth of all the world's people live here.

Tsunami

A giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor.

Deccan Plateau

A high area of land at the center of the Indian subcontinent between the Eastern and Western Ghats with rich, black soil located between the Eastern and Western Ghats.

Subcontinent

A large landmass that is smaller than a continent

Hindu Kush Mountains

A mountain range that is a barrier between India and Afghanistan. Is one of the highest mountain ranges in the world, but not as tall as the Himalayas.

Kashmir

A region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent; India and Pakistan dispute control of it.

Indus River

A river in South Asia that flows from the Himalayas through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. Also serves as a transportation route. Historically, the Indus River Valley is known as the cradle of ancient India, one of the world's earliest civilizations.

Ganges River

A river of South Asia that flows east from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Drainage basin covers about 400,000 square miles. It is one of the world's most geographically and culturally important rivers. India's Hindus consider it sacred; named for Hindu goddess Ganga.

Bhutan

Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas' eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger's Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley.

Brahmaputra River

Flows through India and Bangladesh. Joins the Ganges River to form a delta. Empties into the Bay of Bengal. Major inland waterway. Also provides hydroelectric power.

Thar Desert

India's longest desert that runs along India/Pakistan border. Lies to the east of the Indus River

Pakistan

Majority muslim nation bordering India and Afghanistan. British Colonial history. Lots of instability and military rule. Urdu official language.

Western Ghats

Mountains in the East and west of the Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats serve as the principle water shed for all of India. Each June black, rain-heavy monsoon clouds sweeping from the Indian ocean are intercepted by the western summits and relieved of most of their burden

What makes S. Asia a region?

One of largest populations on Earth, a landscape with world's highest mountain ranges and some o the greatest river systems, birthplace of two world religions: Hinduism and Buddhism, Limited environmental resources, climate & location prone to natural disasters.

Vindhya Range

One of the two mountain ranges in central India that divides country into northern and southern regions with distinct cultures of people who live there. This one is north of the Narmada River.

Satpura Range

One of two ranges that divides India into northern and southern regions. This one is South of the Narmada River

How have S. Asia's landforms influenced where people live?

People live in the Gangetic Plain at the foot of the Himalaya mountains because of the fertile soil to grow food. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges have divided India into two separate cultures.

Nepal

Primarily Hindu nation located mainly in the Himalayas but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders China in the north and India in the south, east, and west. Site of Mount Everest, world's tallest mountain. Due to its isolation, this nation was never colonized by Europeans.

Bangladesh

Small country sharing borders with India and Myanmar. Muslim majority country. Bengali is official language. Covered by Bengal Delta.

India

This country's average population is about 7 times more than world average. Thar desert sparsely populated. Fertile Gangetic Plain and along monsoon watered coasts of the south. Most of the population is rural but recent migration to urban areas such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi for better jobs and higher wages. Most are Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and lesser is Sikhs, Jains or Christians. 400 languages spoken. History of British Colonialism. India is also diverse and densley populated and has democracy

What are the climate zones of S. Asia?

Tropical Wet, Tropical dry, Steppe, Desert, Humid Subtropical and Highlands

Himalaya Mountains

a mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet caused by the Indian Subcontinent colliding with Asia (tectonic plates. Force of this collision thrust up new mountain ranges.

Cyclones

a violent, rotating wind storm with heavy rains and high winds. A major natural hazard of S. Asia.

alluvial plain

an area of fertile soil deposited by river floodwaters. The Gangetic plain is the longest such plain in the world.

Sri Lanka

an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. Colonized by the Dutch and later the British. Current history marked by unrest between Buddhist Sinhalese majority and the Hindu tamils. In 2004, island hit by a deadly tsunami.

Maldives

chain of tiny coral atolls and volcanic outcroppings is the southernmost country in South Asia.

Monsoons

seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons. Hot season is from Late february to June. Wet season is from June or July to September. Cool season is from October to late February. 700 million farmers need these rains

Sundarbans

swampy area in southwest bangladesh and the northeastern coast of India with the world's largest protected mangrove forest.