Chapter
14 Section 1
Objectives
In this section you will:
• Learn about the landforms of South Asia.
• Discover the most important factor that affects
climate in South Asia.
• Examine how people use the land and
resources of South Asia.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
Key Terms
• subcontinent (SUB kahn tih nunt) n. a large landmass
that is a major part of a continent
• alluvial (uh LOO vee ul) adj. made of soil deposited by
rivers
• cash crop (kash krahp) n. a crop that is raised or
gathered to be sold for money on the local or world
market
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
Scientists believe that all of Earth’s continents were once
joined, and the Indian subcontinent was attached to the
east coast of Africa.
They think that the Indian subcontinent broke from Africa
and slid slowly toward Asia about 200 million years ago.
South Asia: Physical Geography
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About 50 million years ago, the Indian subcontinent
collided with Asia, crumpling the land where they met and
forming the Himalaya Mountains.
The Himalayas form a barrier between South Asia and the
rest of Asia.
They stretch 1,550 miles from east to west and include
Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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Nations in South Asia include:
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• India
• The Maldives (islands)
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka (island)
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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South Asia is one of the most densely populated regions
in the world.
Most of the people live in areas that have abundant
rainfall, including coastal areas, northeastern India, and
Bangladesh.
About 70 percent of the population of South Asia live in
rural areas, especially fertile river valleys.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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South Asia: Physical
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
The Ganges and the Indus—the two major rivers in South
Asia—both begin in the Himalayas.
The Ganges flows across northern India and empties into
the Bay of Bengal, and the Indus flows west from the
Himalayas into Pakistan.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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Huge alluvial plains stretch from the mouth of the Indus
River to the mouth of the Ganges River.
The plains have fertile soil, so they are good for farming
and are heavily populated.
South of India’s plains lies the Deccan Plateau, which is
framed by two mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and
the Eastern Ghats.
South Asia: Physical Geography
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South Asia:
Climate and Region
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
Monsoons are the single most important factor affecting
the climate of South Asia.
During the summer, steady monsoon winds blow from the
southwest across the surface of the Arabian Sea and the
Indian Ocean.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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The winds pick up moisture and drop it as rain over the
hot western tip of India.
The rain cools the land, so when the next air mass blows
in, it travels further inland before dropping rain on the
land.
In this way, the monsoon rains work their way inland until
they finally reach the Himalayas.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
During the winter, the monsoons change direction, and the
winds blow from the frigid northeast.
The Himalayas block the cold air, so South Asia has dry,
mild winter weather.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
14 Section 1
Some countries in South Asia grow cash crops such as
tea, cotton, coffee, and sugar cane.
Cash crops bring in money, but countries must be careful
not to rely on them too much or their economies might
suffer if global prices drop.
South Asia: Physical Geography
Chapter
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India has a vast supply of minerals, including iron ore,
coal, copper, limestone, and bauxite.
India has only a small amount of oil, though, so it relies
heavily on hydroelectricity and nuclear power plants.
South Asia: Physical Geography