Chapter 27Physical Geography of East AsiaA Rugged TerrainObjective: Analyze the key features of East Asia’s physical geography, climate, vegetation, & human-environment interaction

Chapter 27 Section 1Landforms & ResourcesVocabulary: 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 2Climate & VegetationVocabulary: 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 3Human-Environment InteractionVocabulary: 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