Chapter 26: Physical Geography of East Asia

East Asia: the LandRing of Fire

China makes up 80% of East Asia. Mongolia 13%. Japan, Taiwan, North and South Korea. Arc of islands that marks the meeting place of the Pacific, Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates. Japan has about 50 active volcanoes. 1,000 small earthquakes a year.

Peninsulas, Seas, and IslandsKorean Peninsula juts southeast out from China’s Northeast Plain., separating Sea of Japan from the Yellow Sea. Tectonic activity is cause of many of the seas and islands. Japan is 4 main islands and hundreds of smaller islands. Honshu is central and largest. Hokkaido to north, and Kyushu and Shikoku to the south.

East Asia: The Land

Mountains, Highlands and LowlandsPamirs- area of high peaks and valleys. Mountain ranges fan out from here. Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan. Altay Shan form boundary between Mongolia and China. Kunlun Shan bends to become Qinling Shandi. Changbai Shan of Manchuria extend into Korean to become Northern Mountains. Mount Fuji- 12,388 ft. Plateau of Tibet is highest plateau region. Average 15,000 ft. Gobi desert- less than 3 inches of rain a year.

East Asia: The LandChina’s Rivers

Huang He (Yellow River) is major river system in China. Carries loess which gives it its color. North China Plan a major wheat and soy bean farming area. Chinas Sorrow- often floods its banks, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)- longest river. 3,965 miles. Major transportation route. Xi (West River)- southern China. Huge fertile delta. China’s Grand Canal- longest artificial waterway. 1,085 mile route.

Rivers in Japan and KoreaShort and swift. Waterfalls. Hydroelectric power. Many diverted for irrigation.

East Asia: The LandNatural Resources

Unevenly distributed. China has greatest share and range of minerals- iron ore, tin, tungsten, and gold. Oil deposits in South China Sea and Taklimakan. Coal deposits in northeastern China. Productive farmlands also uneven. Southern China’s rice bowl- two harvests a year. Leading producer of rice. 25% of land suitable for farming in South Korea produces two crops a year. Japan not good for farming. Taiwan and Mongolia are not good for farming either. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China have world’s biggest deep sea fishing industries.

East Asia: Climate and Vegetation

Mid latitude Humid continental- northeastern East Asia. Northern parts of Korea and Japan. Southeastern part has a humid subtropical climate. Bamboo is abundant in warm areas.

Desert and SteppeInland China and Mongolia. Gobi and Talkimakan are cold and windy. Gobi temps average 73°F in summer and 0°F in winter.

HighlandChanges with elevation. Plateau of Tibet average temps only hit 58°F.

East Asia: Climate and VegetationTropical Wet Climates

Hainan- island. Very rainy summer and year round warm temperatures. Rain forests

Seasonal Weather PatternsInteraction of prevailing winds and ocean currents. Air mass above Asian continent meets air mass above Pacific Ocean in East Asia. Results in monsoons. Summer winds are hot with lots of humidity off Pacific Ocean. April to October rains. Gets 80% of annual rain. November to March is cold, arctic air. Rely on monsoon rains for their crops. Ocean currents influence climate. Japan Current- warm water. Adds warm moisture to winter monsoon. Kuril Current- harsh cold winters to Japan. Warm humid air gives rise to typhoons.