Chapter 29
Southeast Asia
Chapter 29:1 Objectives
1. Describe how tectonic plates and activity from
volcanoes and earthquakes formed Southeast Asia.
2. Explain why the region’s waterways are
important to its people.
3. Summarize how rich natural resources affect
Southeast Asia’s economy.
Terms to Know
• cordilleras
• archipelago
• insular
• flora
• fauna
Building Geography Literacy
Although the
Philippines includes
over 7000 islands,
the archipelago’s
total area is only
115,831 square
miles, about the
size of Arizona.
The two large
islands of Luzon
and Mindanao
account for about
66% of the
country’s land area.
The islands that
make up the
Philippines together
have a coastline
that measures
22,554 miles.
I. Peninsulas & Islands
The collision of 3 tectonic
plates millions of years
ago produced the
peninsulas and islands of
Southeast Asia.
Straddling the Equator,
Southeast Asia has
mountainous terrain with
a predominately tropical
climate.
A. Mainland Southeast Asia
About ½ of Southeast
Asia’s 11 countries
are located on the
mainland.
Malaysia is both a
mainland and an
island country.
Laos is the only
landlocked country in
the region.
Mainland Nations
Malaysia
Laos
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Myanmar (Burma)
B. Island Southeast Asia
Island
nations are
Philippines,
Brunei,
Singapore,
East Timor,
Malaysia
Indonesia.
Indonesia
is the
largest
island
country.
It is made up of
more than 13,500
islands that span
3000 miles and
two oceans, the
Indian and the
Pacific.
Singapore
consists of
one large
island and
50 smaller
ones.
The Philippines is
made up of more
than 7000 islands
11 of which are
home to 95% of
the population.
Discussion Question
• Why do you think so many of the region’s
islands are not settled?
II. Physical Features
A. Mountains
Southeast
Asia’s many
mountains
create
geographical
and political
boundaries.
Some of
them are
active
volcanoes,
forming part
of the Ring of
Fire.
Over time,
mineral-rich
volcanic
material has
broken down
to provide
farmers with
rich, fertile
soil.
B. Volcanoes of Indonesia &
Philippines
Java, Indonesia,
one of the Ring of
Fire’s most active
areas.
Java is home to 17
of Indonesia’s 100
active volcanoes.
1883 eruption of
Krakatau was
catastrophic.
1991, Mt. Pinatubo,
Philippines,
erupted burying the
surrounding area
under a foot of
mineral-rich
volcanic ash.
Rivers
Southeast Asians rely
on waterways for
Transportation,
Communication,
Food.
Mekong floating village
Major Rivers are
Irrawaddy, Myanmar,
The Chao Phraya,
Thailand;
The Red River, Vietnam.
Mekong River, Vietnam &
Cambodia.
Discussion Question
• Compare and contrast the physical
features of these islands with those of
other islands you have studied, such as
Great Britain, various Mediterranean
islands, or Hawaii.
III. Natural Resources
A. Energy
Sources:
S.E. Asia has a
plentiful supply
of coal, oil and
natural gas.
Indonesia is a
leading
producer of oil
and a member
of OPEC.
Malaysia,
Vietnam, the
Philippines and
Brunei also
have fossil fuel
resources.
B. Minerals &
Gems
Indonesia
mines nickel
and iron.
Philippines
mines copper.
Malaysia
mines tin.
Sapphires,
rubies & pearls
in S.E. Asia.
Myanmar has
minerals and
gems.
C. Flora & Fauna
Thailand is a leading
exporter of orchids.
Malaysia has much
of the world’s rubber.
Indonesia supplies
plywood.
Elephants
Rhinoceroses
Tigers
Orangutans
Cambodia
Komodo dragon
Indonesian lizard
Bearded pig.
Fishing
2500 species
of fish
S.E. Asians eat 2x
as much fish as the
rest of the world.
Local fisherman
must now compete
with large fleets of
trawlers.
Fish farming is
important to local
economies.
Vietnam Market
Popular – snakehead fish
Discussion Question
• What are the major natural resources?
• Name the different ways that Southeast
Asian’s take care of their everyday needs?
Chapter 29:2 Objectives
• 1. Identify the weather pattern that
influences Southeast Asia’s climate.
• 2. List the region’s main climate types.
• 3. State the main type of natural
vegetation found in Southeast Asia.
Terms to Know
• endemic
• deciduous
Building Geography Literacy
Malaysia includes mainland and
island areas:
West Malaysia, on the southern
part of the Malay Peninsula;
East Malaysia on the northern
part of the island of Borneo.
Mainland & Island
Both areas
have
similar
natural
features:
Coastal
swamps or
mangrove
forests;
Lowland
rain
forests;
Interior
mountains.
I. Tropical Climate Regions
Southeast Asia’s
rain forests
depend on the
moisture brought
by the summer
monsoons blowing
in from the south
and west.
A. Tropical Rain Forest Climate
Most of
Southeast
Asia has a
tropical rain
forest climate.
Temperatures
average 79°F.
Humidity is
always high.
Rainfall is
between 79
and 188
inches.
The rain
forests feature
more than
14,500
species of
flowing plants.
Includes
peat
swamp
forests
Mangrove
swamp
forests
Evergreen
trees
B. Singapore
Once
entirely
covered by
dense rain
forest
Now
almost
entirely
urbanized
80% of the
trees
growing
there are
imported
Some from
Central and
South
America.
C. Tropical Savanna Climate
Treecovered
grasslands
Alternating
wet and dry
seasons
Parts of the
Indochina
Peninsula and the
islands of Indonesia
have a tropical
savanna climate
D. Humid Subtropical Climate
Part of
Thailand
Most of
Laos
Humid
subtropical
climate
With a cool
dry season
lasting from
November to
April.
Northern
Vietnam Myanmar
Discussion Question
• What geographical factor accounts for the
fairly constant year-round temperatures in
Southeast Asia?
• Answer: the region is near the Equator,
where there is little seasonal variation in
the amount of sunlight or day length.
II. Highlands Climate Region
Highlands climate
predominate in
mountainous areas of and
temperatures are cooler
Borneo
Myanmar
New Guinea
Discussion Question
• Why did Singapore replace much of its
original habitat?
End of Slide Show