Physical South Asia

What makes South Asia a subcontinent (physically)?

• Presence of the Pacific Plate
• Absence of any mountain ranges
• Location near the Arctic Circle
• Presence of the Indian Plate separated by the Himalayan mountain range

What 3 bodies of water border the subcontinent?

• Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea

• Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean
• Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea

• Aral Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Bengal

What two plates created the Himalayas?

• Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate
• Pacific Plate and African Plate
• North American Plate and South American Plate
• Antarctic Plate and Australian Plate

Characteristics of Hindu Kush

• Natural barrier

• Flat terrain

• Moderate peaks

• Prone to earthquakes

• Narrow passes

What does this describe?

Recorded use as far as Alexander the Great

Many Afghan wars were fought there

Used by NATO forces during wars, Taliban attempts to blow up passes/bridges

What does this describe?

caused by previous convergence of plates->not as tall as Himalaya

Divides India into N & S regions (in Central India)

What does this describe?

Eroded Mts.

Triangle of rugged "hills"

One formed from supercontinent and is a biodiversity hotspot

What does this describe?

once covered in lava (eruptions occurred 65 million yrs ago)->

now has rich black soil but the W.G. prevents rain from reaching (very arid)

What does this describe?

S. for Deccan Plateau

recieves rain instead-> lush and green

lots of spices, plantations, rain forests

What are the 3 main rivers in South Asia?

• Mississippi, Colorado, Yukon
• Danube, Rhine, Seine
• Amazon, Nile, Congo
• Yangtze, Mekong, Yellow River
• Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra