Geography of South Asia. South Asia Includes the countries of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka Includes the countries of India,

Geography of South Geography of South AsiaAsia

South AsiaSouth Asia

Includes the countries of India, Includes the countries of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lankaand Sri Lanka

South Asia is considered to be a South Asia is considered to be a subcontinent. A subcontinent is a subcontinent. A subcontinent is a large landmass that is part of a large landmass that is part of a continent.continent.

India is the largest country and the India is the largest country and the second most populous country next to second most populous country next to China.China.

South AsiaSouth Asia

More about South AsiaMore about South Asia

The subcontinent is divided into 3 The subcontinent is divided into 3 main geographic regions: the main geographic regions: the Northern Mountain Rim, the Northern Northern Mountain Rim, the Northern Plains, and the Deccan Plateau.Plains, and the Deccan Plateau.

Each region has distinct landforms Each region has distinct landforms and climates that determine how the and climates that determine how the people live.people live.

The Northern Mountain RimThe Northern Mountain Rim Made up of several mountain rangesMade up of several mountain ranges The Himalayas and the Karakoram Range The Himalayas and the Karakoram Range

separate the subcontinent from the rest of separate the subcontinent from the rest of Asia.Asia.

The Khyber Pass allows passage between The Khyber Pass allows passage between Asia and the South Asian subcontinent.Asia and the South Asian subcontinent.

The Himalayas stretch 1,500 miles across The Himalayas stretch 1,500 miles across India and Nepal.India and Nepal.

Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world.Mt. Everest is the highest peak in the world. The terrain in this region is rough making it The terrain in this region is rough making it

difficult to farm, so few people live in this difficult to farm, so few people live in this region.region.

HimalayasHimalayas

The Northern PlainsThe Northern Plains Located between the Himalayas and Located between the Himalayas and

southern India, includes the Ganges and southern India, includes the Ganges and Indus River valleys.Indus River valleys.

Large deltas form where these 2 rivers Large deltas form where these 2 rivers empty into the sea. A delta is a triangular empty into the sea. A delta is a triangular deposit of soil at the mouth of a river.deposit of soil at the mouth of a river.

The Ganges river carries sediment which The Ganges river carries sediment which makes the soil good for farming. Because of makes the soil good for farming. Because of the farming, this area is densely populated.the farming, this area is densely populated.

In ancient times, the Indus River valley was In ancient times, the Indus River valley was fertile, but is now mostly desert and few fertile, but is now mostly desert and few people live in this region.people live in this region.

The Deccan PlateauThe Deccan Plateau

Makes up most of IndiaMakes up most of India The Eastern and Western Ghats The Eastern and Western Ghats

mountain ranges are found here.mountain ranges are found here. Along the coastal plains you can find Along the coastal plains you can find

fertile soil and water is plentiful.fertile soil and water is plentiful. Fewer people live on the Deccan Fewer people live on the Deccan

Plateau than in the Northern Plains.Plateau than in the Northern Plains.

Deccan PlateauDeccan Plateau

Island CountriesIsland Countries

The island countries are Sri Lanka The island countries are Sri Lanka and the Maldives.and the Maldives.

Sri Lanka is a mountainous island off Sri Lanka is a mountainous island off the coast of India.the coast of India.

The Maldives is a group of 1,200 low, The Maldives is a group of 1,200 low, flat coral islands. People live on only flat coral islands. People live on only about 300 of the islands though.about 300 of the islands though.

ArchipelegoArchipelego

MonsoonsMonsoons

South Asia has 3 seasons: cool, hot, and South Asia has 3 seasons: cool, hot, and rainyrainy

June through September marks the coming June through September marks the coming of the monsoon winds and the rainy of the monsoon winds and the rainy season.season.

Monsoons are seasonal winds that blows Monsoons are seasonal winds that blows over the northern part of the Indian over the northern part of the Indian Ocean.Ocean.

In South Asia, heavy monsoon rains fall In South Asia, heavy monsoon rains fall from June through October. from June through October.

Monsoon Weather patternMonsoon Weather pattern

What it’s really likeWhat it’s really like

More About MonsoonsMore About Monsoons School starts in India in June after the rains School starts in India in June after the rains

begin. They take their break in during the begin. They take their break in during the spring when it’s too hot to study.spring when it’s too hot to study.

Agriculture depends heavily on the Agriculture depends heavily on the monsoon season.monsoon season.

If the monsoon comes early, farmers don’t If the monsoon comes early, farmers don’t have time to plant their seeds, and if it have time to plant their seeds, and if it comes too late, the crops fail.comes too late, the crops fail.

Sometimes the rain is too much causing Sometimes the rain is too much causing flooding that ruins crops, damages flooding that ruins crops, damages property, and is dangerous to people.property, and is dangerous to people.