South Asia
Land, Economy, and People
Physical Geography of S. Asia
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Himalayas to the north.
Western Ghats in west India.
Eastern Ghats in East India
Deccan Plateau in central India.
Desert/Semi-Desert in Pakistan.
Bodies of Water
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Indus River in Pakistan
Ganges River in India
Arabian Sea to the West
Indian Ocean to the south
Bay of Bengal to the east
Map of South Asia
Himalayas
South Asia’s climates
• In the west there are deserts and semideserts.
• In the north it is a highland climate.
• In the south it is a tropical wet or tropical
savanna climate.
• In the north below the Himalayas it is
humid subtropical.
Monsoons
Monsoon pictures
http://images.google.com/imgres?im
gurl=http://img.timeinc.net/time/photo
essays/2007/india_monsoon
Effects on Climate
• Monsoons: Wet monsoons bring warm
winds and rain during the summer months,
and dry monsoons bring cool, dry air in the
winter months.
• Elevation: The Himalayas form cold
climates.
• Latitude: South Asia is close to the tropic
of cancer and the equator.
Natural Resources
• 70% of India’s people are farmers.
• They produce cash crops such as: tea,
cotton, coffee, and sugarcane in India.
Mostly along the Ganges River and coast.
• Because there is little oil, India relies on
hydroelectric power.
• Pakistan does farming along the Indus
River.
• Iron ore and coal are the main mineral
resources.
People
• India is one of the most densely populated
countries in the world. They have a
population of about 1 billion.
• Most people in South Asia live in coastal
areas and in the north along the Indus or
Ganges Rivers.
• Bangladesh is one of the most crowded
countries in the world.
People
• Most people in India follow the religion of
Hinduism.
• Most people in Pakistan follow the religion
of Islam.
• Most people in Bhutan and Sri Lanka
follow the religion of Buddhism.
Conflict
• India and Pakistan have been in conflict
since the early 1900’s.
• They have conflict over religion and land.
• They have been fighting over who controls
Kashmir, which is on the northwestern
border of India.
• Nuclear weapons have been developed.
Language
• Most people speak Hindi in India.
• There are 15 recognized languages in
India.
• Many people speak English.
South Asia
India
Pakistan
• India is growing fast. By 2050,
India is expected to have the
highest population.
• 72% of the people live in rural
areas.
• ¼ of India’s people live in
poverty. India’s middle class is
growing.
• India’s economy is growing by
developing their industries
such as computer software,
textiles, and electrical
equipment.
• Pakistan’s economy is based
on agriculture.
• Most farm along the Indus
River.
• Pakistan has a dry climate, so
drought can be a problem.
• Farmers must irrigate water
from the Indus River.
• Most factories are located
along the Indus River so they
can use hydroelectric power.
• Many dams generate
hydroelectric power.
South Asia
India
• Kashmir has caused major
conflicts between India and
Pakistan.
• Both India and Pakistan have
tested nuclear weapons
causing fighting.
• Health care and education has
improved in India.
• Life expectancy and the
literacy rate are improving in
India.
• India is a developing country.
Pakistan
• Most factories produce
textiles, chemicals, or
steel mills.
• Pakistan is famous for its
carpets and rugs.
• Pakistan is a developing
country.