South Asia consists of 7 countries located on the Indian subcontinent, which is a large landmass that rests on its own tectonic plate. The region has diverse landforms including mountains, rivers, deserts, and plateaus. The northern border is defined by three mountain systems - the Hindu Kush, Himalaya, and Karakoram ranges. The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world and have kept South Asia isolated. South of the mountains are wide fertile plains watered by major rivers like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. The southern region contains mountain chains and plateaus like the Deccan Plateau, as well as deserts like the Thar.

1. GEOGRAPHY

2. Physical Features South Asia consists of 7 countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka The landforms include, mountains, rivers, deserts, fertile plains, and plateaus South Asia is located on a subcontinent – a large landmass that rests on its own tectonic plate yet is smaller than a continent

3. Physical Features Scientists believe that over 60 million years ago the South Asian subcontinent was a part of Africa It broke away, and began to drift north until it “hit” Asia When the tectonic plates collided, mountains were formed South Asia is divided into three regions: Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, & Southern Region

4. Physical REgions

5. Northern Mountains Three mountain systems create the northern border of the Indian subcontinent : Hindu Kush, Himalaya, and Karakoram The Himalaya Mountains are the highest mountain system in the world and effectively kept South Asia isolated from the East Asia People from Central Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan) were able to enter South Asia via the Khyber Pass of the Hindu Kush Mountains

6. Mt. Everest Karakoran Mts . Hindu Kush Khyber Pass Northern Mountains ▲ ▲ Himalayas

7. Hindu Kush

8. The Khyber Pass Kyber Pass

9. “ him” [snow] “ aalaya” [home] Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet. It is the highest mt. peak in the world. The Himalayas

10. Northern Plain Wide fertile plains lie south of the mountains and are fed by three rivers The Indus River begins in the Himalayas and flows southwest through Pakistan into the Arabian Sea The Ganges River begins in the Himalayas and flows southeast through Bangladesh and eventually connects with the Brahmaputra River The Ganges Plain has India’s richest soil and is home to about 40% of India’s population

11. Indus R. Ganges R. Brahmaputra R. Arabian Sea Indian Ocean Bay of Bengal Northern Plain Rivers

12. Southern Region At the base of the sub-continent are two mountain chains – the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats Between the mountains is a highland area known as the Deccan Plateau The Western Ghats block seasonal rains and area is extremely dry South of the Deccan Plateau is the Karnataka Plateau – this area receives seasonal rains and has fertile soil

13. Deserts / Plateaus Thar Desert Deccan Plateau Tibetan Plateau Deserts & Plateaus

14. The Deccan Plateau 31,800 square miles in size. Elevation range: 2,000 – 8,000 feet high. From the Sanskrit word, “dakshina” [“the south”].

15. The Tibetan Plateau The “Roof of the World.” average elevation is 16,400 feet.

16. The Thar Desert The Great Indian Desert 200 - 1500 feet in elevation. up to 127ºF in July.

17. Climate Much of the subcontinent has 3 seasons: dry, wet, and cool – the seasons are influenced by the rainfall Dry season – the land heats up, ground becomes hard, vegetation shrivels (M, A, M) Wet season – (monsoon season) southwest wind brings heavy rain (J, J, A) One of the wettest places on earth is Cherrapunji with 450 in. a year Cool season – winds reverse blow from the northeast cooling the land down (S – F)

18. Climate Regions of South Asia