Chapter 27
Physical Geography of East Asia
A Rugged Terrain
Objective: Analyze the key
features of East Asia’s
physical geography, climate,
vegetation, & humanenvironment interaction
Chapter 27 Section 1
Landforms & Resources
Vocabulary: Kunlun Mountains,
Qinling Shandi Mountains, Huang
He, Chang Jiang, & Xi Jiang
Objective: Identify important
peninsulas & islands in East Asia.
Landforms: Mountains & Plateaus
• China, Japan, Mongolia,
Taiwan, North Korea, & South
Korea are countries in the
region of East Asia
• High mountains in the region
limited contract between
people living in China & in
other parts of Asia
• These mountains include the
Kunlun & Qinling Shandi
Mountains
• East Asia also consists of a few flat
surfaces
Peninsula & Islands
• China has a coastline
that has allowed several
major port cities to
develop
• The Korean Peninsula as two
independent nations (North
& South Korea)
• Smaller nations of East Asia
are located on islands &
peninsulas (Examples:
Japan & Taiwan)
River Systems
• The 3 major river systems in
China are the Huang He
(Yellow River), Chang Jiang
(Yangtze River), & Xi Jiang
(West River)
• Huang He – also known as the
Yellow River, located in northern
China, 3000 miles long emptying
into the Yellow Sea
• Chang Jiang – also known as
Yangtze River, 3900 miles long
emptying into the East China Sea
• Xi Jiang – also known as the
West River, flows south
connecting with the Pearl River
Resources of East Asia
• Natural & mineral
resources are unevenly
distributed throughout East
Asia
• Forests are abundant in East
Asia
• China as large quantities of
coal, iron ore, & natural gas
• Japan has reserves of lead,
silver, & coal
• Water is used for
hydroelectric power &
means of transportation
• People in East Asia also look to
the sea for food
Chapter 27 Section 2
Climate & Vegetation
Vocabulary: Typhoon, Taklimakan
Desert, & Gobi Desert
Objective: Describe the climate
zones of East Asia.
High & Mid-Latitude Climate Zones
• Highland climates are
found mostly in western
China
• Few people live in the
subarctic & highland
regions in East Asia
• Mid-latitude climates
are more
comfortable to live in
because of the
moderate climate
Dry & Tropical Zones
• Dry zones are not well suited to
agriculture but mostly consist of
nomads
• The Gobi Desert is located in
northern China & is a prime
area for finding dinosaur
fossils
• Tropical climate in East Asia is
fairly small
• Typhoon: tropical storm,
like a hurricane, that occurs
in the western Pacific
Chapter 27 Section 3
Human-Environment Interaction
Vocabulary: Three Gorges Dam,
PCBs, & Landfill
Objective: Describe China’s Three
Gorges Dam project.
The Three Gorges Dam
• Three Gorges Dam along the
Chang Jiang will control
flooding & generate power
• At least 1000 towns & villages will
disappear under the waters of the
reservoir
• Positives: control flooding,
generate electrical power, & easier
to reach interior of East Asia
• Negatives: millions of people
displaced, costly to construct,
& will destroy habitat of
endangered animals
Use of Space in Urban Japan
• 60% of Japanese
people live on only 3%
of the land
• Pollution is a serious
issues in the major cities
of Japan, including Tokyo
• Japanese utilize the space
they live in by living in
small spaces & most
people live in apartments