East AsiaEast AsiaUnit 9Unit 9

Physical GeographyPhysical GeographyEast AsiaEast Asia

Land and SeaLand and SeaChina covers about China covers about

80% of East Asia’s 80% of East Asia’s land area and has land area and has the world’s largest the world’s largest population.population.

The rest of East Asia The rest of East Asia is shared by Japan, is shared by Japan, Taiwan, North and Taiwan, North and South Korea, and South Korea, and Mongolia.Mongolia.

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Land and SeaLand and SeaPeninsulas, Islands, Peninsulas, Islands,

and Seasand SeasAlong the coast of East Along the coast of East

Asia, many peninsulas and Asia, many peninsulas and islands dot the islands dot the westernmost Pacific Ocean. westernmost Pacific Ocean. The South China Sea, The South China Sea, stretching from Taiwan to stretching from Taiwan to the Philippines and the the Philippines and the peninsula of Southeast peninsula of Southeast Asia, carries 1/3 of the Asia, carries 1/3 of the world’s shipping traffic.world’s shipping traffic.

The Ring of FireThe Ring of FireThe islands of Japan and The islands of Japan and

Taiwan are part of the Ring Taiwan are part of the Ring of Fire, a circle of volcanoes of Fire, a circle of volcanoes bordering the Pacific Ocean. bordering the Pacific Ocean. Plate movements cause Plate movements cause frequent, violent frequent, violent earthquakes and volcanic earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.eruptions.

Japan is vulnerable to Japan is vulnerable to tsunamis generated by tsunamis generated by underwater earthquakes.underwater earthquakes.

Land and SeaLand and Sea

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Mountains, Highlands Mountains, Highlands and Lowlandsand LowlandsMountain ranges and highlands Mountain ranges and highlands

mark inland regions of East mark inland regions of East Asia. Lowlands stretch through Asia. Lowlands stretch through eastern and coastal areas.eastern and coastal areas.

East Asian Mountains East Asian Mountains – from – from the area of high peaks known the area of high peaks known as the Pamirs, the Kunlun Shan as the Pamirs, the Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan ranges extend and Tian Shan ranges extend across western China. The across western China. The Himalaya, the world’s highest Himalaya, the world’s highest mountains, separate China mountains, separate China from South Asia.from South Asia.

Mountains, Highlands, Mountains, Highlands, and Lowlandsand Lowlands

Japan and Taiwan Japan and Taiwan have mountainous have mountainous interiors surrounded interiors surrounded by coastal plains. by coastal plains. Mount Fuji is a Mount Fuji is a dramatic peak dramatic peak rising above the rising above the central plains of central plains of Honshu, Japan’s Honshu, Japan’s biggest island.biggest island.

Mountains, Highlands, Mountains, Highlands, and Lowlandsand Lowlands

China’s Plateaus, Basins, and DesertsChina’s Plateaus, Basins, and Deserts The Plateau of Tibet in southwest China is The Plateau of Tibet in southwest China is

East Asia’s highest plateau region with an East Asia’s highest plateau region with an elevation of about 15,000 feet.elevation of about 15,000 feet.

The Mongolian Plateau consists mainly of The Mongolian Plateau consists mainly of grassy pastures ideal for grazing.grassy pastures ideal for grazing.

Broad, flat highlands include the Tarim Broad, flat highlands include the Tarim Basin between China’s far inland mountain Basin between China’s far inland mountain ranges; the Takimakan Desert to its west; ranges; the Takimakan Desert to its west; and the Gobi, a desert area located in the and the Gobi, a desert area located in the north.north.

The Sichuan Basin, a huge, fertile area The Sichuan Basin, a huge, fertile area between the Plateau of Tibet and the North between the Plateau of Tibet and the North China Plain, is one of China’s most China Plain, is one of China’s most important agricultural areas. It has a mild important agricultural areas. It has a mild climate and a long growing season.climate and a long growing season.

River SystemsRiver Systems China’s major rivers originate high China’s major rivers originate high

in the Plateau of Tibet and flow in the Plateau of Tibet and flow eastward to the Pacific Ocean. The eastward to the Pacific Ocean. The Yellow River, or Huang He, get its Yellow River, or Huang He, get its name from the tons of yellowish name from the tons of yellowish topsoil blown by winds from the topsoil blown by winds from the western deserts.western deserts.

Carried eastward and deposited by Carried eastward and deposited by the river, this rich soil makes the the river, this rich soil makes the North China Plain an agriculturally North China Plain an agriculturally productive area. Throughout productive area. Throughout history, flood waters have also history, flood waters have also killed hundreds of thousands of killed hundreds of thousands of people.people.

River SystemsRiver Systems Central China’s Yangtze, or Central China’s Yangtze, or

Chang Jiang, is Asia’s longest Chang Jiang, is Asia’s longest river at 3,965 miles. It flows river at 3,965 miles. It flows through gorges and plains and through gorges and plains and empties into the ocean at empties into the ocean at Shanghai.Shanghai.

The Xi, or West, River is southern The Xi, or West, River is southern China’s most important river. It China’s most important river. It flows into the South China Swa, flows into the South China Swa, where it has created a huge, where it has created a huge, fertile delta. The Grand Canal – fertile delta. The Grand Canal – the world’s longest artificial the world’s longest artificial waterway – connects Hangzhou waterway – connects Hangzhou in the south to Beijing in the in the south to Beijing in the north.north.

River SystemsRiver SystemsRivers in Japan and Rivers in Japan and

KoreaKorea

Japan and Korea have Japan and Korea have short, swiftly flowing short, swiftly flowing rivers with spectacular rivers with spectacular waterfalls. These rivers waterfalls. These rivers provide hydroelectric provide hydroelectric power. North Korea’s power. North Korea’s Amnok, or Yalu, River Amnok, or Yalu, River forms its border with forms its border with China.China.

The Power of Wind The Power of Wind and Waterand Water

The Chinese concept The Chinese concept of feng shui guides of feng shui guides architects, architects, contractors, and contractors, and decorators to design decorators to design and build structures and build structures that harmonize with that harmonize with surrounding surrounding landforms.landforms.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

China’s large land area China’s large land area contains the greatest share contains the greatest share and widest range of mineral and widest range of mineral resources, including iron resources, including iron ore, tungsten, tin, and gold. ore, tungsten, tin, and gold.

The Taklimakan Desert has The Taklimakan Desert has large oil deposits. large oil deposits.

Northeastern China and the Northeastern China and the Korean peninsula have an Korean peninsula have an abundance of coal.abundance of coal.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Only 10% of China’s land is Only 10% of China’s land is

suitable for farming, but China is suitable for farming, but China is nonetheless the world’s leading nonetheless the world’s leading producer of rice. producer of rice.

South Korea’s prime farmland South Korea’s prime farmland produces two crops a year of rice produces two crops a year of rice and barley. and barley.

Mongolia and Japan have very Mongolia and Japan have very limited farmland and poor soil. limited farmland and poor soil.

In Taiwan, about ¼ of the land is In Taiwan, about ¼ of the land is farmable. Taiwan’s most farmable. Taiwan’s most important resources are its important resources are its hardwood forests.hardwood forests.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Japan, South Korea, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Taiwan, and coastal China coastal China support the world’s support the world’s busiest deep-sea busiest deep-sea fishing industries. fishing industries. Seafood farming Seafood farming also has become a also has become a major industry in major industry in East Asia.East Asia.

MonsoonsMonsoons Monsoon winds bring Monsoon winds bring

seasonal weather patterns seasonal weather patterns to East Asia.to East Asia.

Summer monsoons blow Summer monsoons blow from southeast to from southeast to northwest, causing soaking northwest, causing soaking rains from April to October.rains from April to October.

Winter monsoons blow in Winter monsoons blow in the opposite direction, the opposite direction, bringing icy winds from bringing icy winds from November to March. November to March.

Farmers depend on the Farmers depend on the summer monsoon rains for summer monsoon rains for their crops.their crops.

Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents The warm Japan Current flows The warm Japan Current flows

northward toward southern Japan, northward toward southern Japan, bringing moisture and warm bringing moisture and warm temperatures. temperatures.

The cold Kuril current flows southwest The cold Kuril current flows southwest from the Bering Sea, brining cold from the Bering Sea, brining cold winds and lower temperatures to winds and lower temperatures to Japan’s northern islands.Japan’s northern islands.

The interaction of ocean currents and The interaction of ocean currents and monsoon winds can give rise to monsoon winds can give rise to violent typhoons.violent typhoons.

Typhoons form in the Pacific Ocean Typhoons form in the Pacific Ocean and blow across coastal East Asia. and blow across coastal East Asia. They tend to be most severe between They tend to be most severe between late August and Octover.late August and Octover.