EAST ASIAN GEOGRAPHYEAST ASIAN GEOGRAPHY

IntroductionIntroduction– East Asia is the most populous region in the world East Asia is the most populous region in the world – China is the most populous country, and the oldest China is the most populous country, and the oldest

continuous national culturecontinuous national culture– Eastern China is undergoing rapid economic Eastern China is undergoing rapid economic

developmentdevelopment– China and Japan have been rivals from time to timeChina and Japan have been rivals from time to time– East Asia has experienced colonization, and has seen East Asia has experienced colonization, and has seen

both internal and international conflictboth internal and international conflict– Japan is extremely wealthy, but poverty may be Japan is extremely wealthy, but poverty may be

found in parts of the regionfound in parts of the region– East Asia is one of the core areas of the world East Asia is one of the core areas of the world

economy and an emerging center of political powereconomy and an emerging center of political power

East Asian East Asian PhysicalPhysicalFeaturesFeatures

Globalization & Diversity: Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, WyckoffRowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff 44

PHYSIOGRAPHYPHYSIOGRAPHY

East Asia’s Physical GeographyEast Asia’s Physical GeographyLarge area gives it large regional climatic variabilityLarge area gives it large regional climatic variabilitySimilar latitude extent to U.S.Similar latitude extent to U.S.Climate of southern China like Florida; climate of northern Climate of southern China like Florida; climate of northern

China like CanadaChina like Canada– Japan’s Physical EnvironmentJapan’s Physical Environment

Subtropical in the south and nearly subarctic in the north - Subtropical in the south and nearly subarctic in the north - Climatic variations in the east and west Climatic variations in the east and west

85% of the country is mountainous85% of the country is mountainous– Japan’s forests come from favorable climate, history Japan’s forests come from favorable climate, history

of forest conservationof forest conservationLimited alluvial plains used for intensive agricultureLimited alluvial plains used for intensive agriculture

– Kanto Plain, Kansai Basin, and Nobi BasinKanto Plain, Kansai Basin, and Nobi Basin

East Asia’s Physical Geography (cont.)East Asia’s Physical Geography (cont.)– Taiwan’s EnvironmentTaiwan’s Environment

Central and eastern regions are rugged and mountainous; Central and eastern regions are rugged and mountainous; west is dominated by an alluvial plain; mild winter climate; west is dominated by an alluvial plain; mild winter climate; still has extensive forestsstill has extensive forests

– Chinese EnvironmentsChinese EnvironmentsSouthern China: rugged mountains and hills interspersed Southern China: rugged mountains and hills interspersed

with lowland basinswith lowland basinsNorthern China: Gobi Desert, North China Plain, Loess Northern China: Gobi Desert, North China Plain, Loess

PlateauPlateau

– Korean LandscapesKorean LandscapesMountainous country with scattered alluvial basinsMountainous country with scattered alluvial basinsSouth Korea has better farmlands than North KoreaSouth Korea has better farmlands than North Korea

#1. East Asia features #1. East Asia features many islands & many islands &

archipelagosarchipelagosJapan is an archipelagoJapan is an archipelago

Chain of islandsChain of islands

Over 3000 tiny islandsOver 3000 tiny islands

#2#2The Ring of The Ring of FireFire is a is a

narrow band of narrow band of volcanoes that volcanoes that

nearly nearly encircles the encircles the Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean. 75% of world’s 75% of world’s

active active volcanoes are volcanoes are

here. here.

Mt. FujiMt. Fuji

Jan. 1995 earthquakeJan. 1995 earthquake

Tsunami of 2011Tsunami of 2011

#3#3 China is home to 3 of China is home to 3 of

the world’s largest cold the world’s largest cold deserts.deserts.– Gobi (largest desert in Gobi (largest desert in

Asia)Asia)– Taklimakan (the sea of Taklimakan (the sea of

death) death) – Chang Tang Chang Tang

(plateau of Tibet)(plateau of Tibet)

#4#4

Three major rivers are a lifeline to Three major rivers are a lifeline to AsiaAsia– Yangtze (longest)Yangtze (longest)– Huang He (Yellow)Huang He (Yellow)– Mekong Mekong

Greatly influence the way people live Greatly influence the way people live in Asiain Asia

Chinese civilization began on the Chinese civilization began on the Yellow RiverYellow River

Loess – fertile Loess – fertile topsoil spread by topsoil spread by wind; largely wind; largely agricultural agricultural societysociety

#5. China’s civilizationdeveloped over a long period in considerable isolation, protectedby physiographicbarriers and by sheer distance from other cultures.

The The Himalayas Himalayas in the in the SouthSouth

The Takla The Takla Makan& Makan& Gobi Gobi deserts to deserts to West & West & North North

#6: Mountains & Plateaus are #6: Mountains & Plateaus are major feature of topographymajor feature of topography

Himalayas & Tibetan PlateauHimalayas & Tibetan Plateau

4/54/5thth of Japan is mountainous terrain, of Japan is mountainous terrain, thus not a lot of arable land.thus not a lot of arable land.

Korea also features many Korea also features many mountainous areas.mountainous areas.

Tibetan PlateauTibetan Plateau . . All told, some two billion people in more than a dozen countries—All told, some two billion people in more than a dozen countries—

nearly a third of the world's population—depend on rivers fed by nearly a third of the world's population—depend on rivers fed by the snow and ice of the plateau region.the snow and ice of the plateau region.

7. China’s enormouspopulation is stronglyconcentrated in thecountry’s eastern regions. Western areas remain comparatively empty and unproductive.

In JapanIn Japan

Most of the population lives Most of the population lives in coastal plains and/or river in coastal plains and/or river valleys.valleys.

Kanto Plain very crowdedKanto Plain very crowded

20,000 ppl. Per sq. mile20,000 ppl. Per sq. mile

Subway pushers in TokyoSubway pushers in Tokyo

#8: “The Land of Rice & Fish”#8: “The Land of Rice & Fish” Rice is a staple Rice is a staple 90% of this crop is grown in East 90% of this crop is grown in East

Asia & consumed there.Asia & consumed there. The majority of people in E. Asia eat The majority of people in E. Asia eat

rice 2 or 3 times a day.rice 2 or 3 times a day. North of the Yangtze River, the North of the Yangtze River, the

climate is more suited for wheat climate is more suited for wheat growinggrowing

The close access to water=diet of The close access to water=diet of fish. fish.

#9: Natural Resources vary #9: Natural Resources vary greatly according to regiongreatly according to region

China: very rich in China: very rich in natural resourcesnatural resources– Oil, coal, iron, etc.Oil, coal, iron, etc.

Japan is limited in Japan is limited in natural resources & natural resources & is dependent on is dependent on other nationsother nations

#10: Much #10: Much of of

Southeast Southeast Asia is Asia is

covered by covered by rainforestrainforest

What kind of What kind of effects would effects would

this have?this have?

TheThe Great WallGreat WallSeveral walls were Several walls were built over a long periodbuilt over a long periodProtection from Mongol Protection from Mongol horsemen from the north horsemen from the north – communication system– communication systemMonumental Monumental engineering feat – they engineering feat – they claim it can be seen claim it can be seen from orbit in spacefrom orbit in space

Northern China: The Great WallNorthern China: The Great Wall

Environmental Geography: Resource Environmental Geography: Resource Pressures in a Crowded LandPressures in a Crowded Land

Flooding, Dam-Building, and Related Issues Flooding, Dam-Building, and Related Issues – China’s Yangtze River is an important resource (3China’s Yangtze River is an important resource (3 rdrd

largest volume)largest volume)– The Three Gorges ControversyThe Three Gorges Controversy

Chinese government wants to dam the Yangtze Chinese government wants to dam the Yangtze (Chang Jiang) River with the largest hydroelectric (Chang Jiang) River with the largest hydroelectric dam in the worlddam in the world

–Purpose: control floods & generate electricityPurpose: control floods & generate electricity–Problems: Will jeopardize animal species, Problems: Will jeopardize animal species,

flood a major scenic attraction, and displace flood a major scenic attraction, and displace up to 2 million peopleup to 2 million people

Three Gorges Three Gorges Dam Under Dam Under ConstructionConstruction