Asia is the world's largest part of the world and covers about 30% of the Earth's land area. In addition, it is the leader in terms of population (about 60% of the total population of the planet).
Asia's share of the world market has increased significantly over the past half century. Today, some Asian countries are leading producers in agriculture, forestry, fish farming, industry and mining. This production has affected the economic growth of certain countries, and at the same time, has led to a number of negative consequences for the environment.
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Water resources
Fresh water
Lake Baikal, located in the south of Russia, is the deepest lake in the world, reaching a depth of 1620 meters. The lake contains 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water, making it the largest reservoir on Earth. It is also the oldest lake in the world, over 25 million years old.
The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world (after the Amazon in South America and the Nile in Africa). Reaching 6,300 km in length, the Yangtze moves east from the glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau and flows into the East China Sea. The Yangtze is considered the lifeblood of China. The river occupies 1/5 of the country's territory and is home to one third of the country's population, and also greatly contributes to the growth of the Chinese economy.
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers rise in the mountains of eastern Turkey and flow through Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The land between two rivers, known as Mesopotamia, was the center of the earliest civilizations, including Sumer and Akkad. Today, the Tigris and Euphrates river system is under threat due to increased agricultural and industrial use. This pressure caused desertification and an increase in salts in the soil, and caused severe damage to local watersheds.
Salty water
The Persian Gulf has an area of more than 239 thousand km². It washes Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. The Persian Gulf is subject to high rates of evaporation, which makes the depth shallow and the water very salty. The seabed of the Persian Gulf contains approximately 50% of the world's oil reserves. The countries bordering the gulf have been involved in a number of disputes over the extraction of this valuable resource.
The Sea of Okhotsk covers 1.6 million km² and is located between the Russian mainland and Kamchatka. As a rule, during the period from October to March, the sea is covered with ice. Large areas of ice make movement by sea almost impossible.
The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, covering almost 2.2 million km². It washes Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Burma. Many major rivers, including the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, flow into this bay.
forest resources
The forest cover of Asia is about 20%. The largest number forests, relative to the area of the country is concentrated in: Laos (71.6%), Japan (67.0%), Bhutan (64.5%), South Korea (64.0%), Myanmar (63.6%) and North Korea (63.3%). Forest cover less than 1% is in the following countries: Yemen (0.9%), Bahrain (0.7%), Kuwait (0.3%), Afghanistan (0.3%), Qatar (0%).
Forestry is an important sector of the Asian economy, but in some countries it has negative consequences. More than half of the territory of China, Indonesia and Malaysia is covered by forest resources. China is considered a major exporter of wood products and ranks first in the world in the production of panels, paper and wooden furniture. Indonesia and Malaysia are the main producers of tropical timber products. Tropical trees such as teak are mainly used to make high quality furniture and flooring.
During the last 10 years, forest cover in Asia has increased by 30 million hectares. This is due to the artificial creation of forests, which makes it possible to obtain higher yields and use them in industry. It is believed that by 2020, the forest industry in Asia will produce about 45% of production. In addition, artificial plantations are extremely important from an environmental point of view, since natural forest resources are depleted every year in huge quantities.
Asia's rapid population growth has created an increased demand for forest products, and lenient legislation has led to illegal logging and smuggling flourishing. Especially, the damage is noticeable in Southeast Asia, where high-value tree species grow. Therefore, Asian countries have some of the worst deforestation rates in the world.
Land resources
The total land area of Asia is 44,580,000 km², and the area of land resources used in the national economy is 30,972,803 km². Agricultural land occupies 52.2% (of which: arable land - 15.8%, perennial plantations - 2.2%, pastures and meadows - 34.2), forest land - 18%, surface water - 2.9% , and other lands - 26.9%.
The five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) are the most agrarian states in this part of Asia. Arable land that is suitable for growing crops is about 20% of the total agricultural land. More than 80% of arable land in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is irrigated, while in Kazakhstan only 7%.
In Northern Asia (which mostly consists of the Asian part of Russia), arable land makes up 60-80% of the agricultural area.
In South Asia, the largest areas of arable land are concentrated in India and Bangladesh - more than 30%.
In the countries of the Middle East, namely in Iran and Iraq, arable land is less than 20%, and in other countries - no more than 10%.
The arable lands of East Asian countries, including China, South Korea, and Japan, occupy no more than 20% of agricultural land. land, in the DPRK - less than 30% and Mongolia no more than 10%.
In Southeast Asia, arable land occupies no more than 30% of the agricultural land.
Mineral resources
Coal
Asia has a huge amount of coal, which is almost 3/5 of the world's reserves, but they are unevenly distributed. The largest deposits are in Siberia, the countries of Central Asia, India, and especially in China; Indonesia, Japan and North Korea have smaller coal reserves.
Oil and natural gas
At least 2/3 of the world's known oil and natural gas reserves are in Asia; the number of deposits may increase as Siberia, the Caspian Basin and the seas of Southeast Asia are still being explored. Many of the islands bordering Southeast Asia have geological formations that are favorable for gas and oil deposits. The largest oil reserves are in Western Asia (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates). The rest of the countries in Southwest Asia have limited oil reserves, as well as small oil fields in the Indian subcontinent.
uranium ore
The richest deposits of uranium ores are located in Kyrgyzstan, between the Osh region and the Tuya Muyun mountain range. China and India have their own reserves. Chinese uranium deposits are believed to be in the Xinjiang region and Hunan province.
Iron
Many regions of Asia have iron ore deposits, but not every country has its own domestic reserves. South Korea, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and several smaller countries in Southwest Asia have small iron ore reserves. In Japan, there are fewer reserves of this mineral resource than it is required for the iron and steel industry, so the country is heavily dependent on imports. Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan have good reserves of relatively low-grade iron ore, while Vietnam and Turkey have good ore in significant quantities. Indonesia and India have large reserves of quality iron, which are wisely distributed.
Although China was previously considered poor in iron ore, huge deposits of this mineral of various grades were discovered in the country. China is currently one of the world's largest producers of iron ore.
Smaller deposits were located at several locations in Eastern Siberia. In Central Asia, the main deposits are located in East Kazakhstan.
Nickel
Nickel reserves in Asia are not significant. There are small reserves in Norilsk and north-central Siberia; Indonesia, China and the Philippines also have nickel reserves.
Chromium
Chromium deposits are concentrated in Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan and the Philippines, as well as in the north-west of Kazakhstan.
Manganese
There are large reserves of manganese in Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Siberia and India; Chinese deposits are also significant.
Tungsten
Southern China has exceptionally large deposits of tungsten. The deposits of tungsten in Central Asia are as significant as those of molybdenum.
Copper
Asia is not rich in copper. In Central Asia, the main reserves are located southeast of Tashkent (Uzbekistan); from Zhezkazgany to the west of Karaganda; and from Kungrad to Lake Balkhash (Kazakhstan). In Siberia, deposits are mainly concentrated in the Kuzbass. The Philippines has limited copper reserves.
Tin
Significant deposits of tin extend from southwestern China to the Malay Peninsula. Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Yunnan in China also have tin deposits. Siberia has significant deposits in Transbaikalia, as well as in the Sikhote-Alin in the Far East.
Lead and zinc
The largest reserves of lead and zinc are located in the Kuzbass, in Central and Eastern Kazakhstan. China also has rich deposits of zinc and lead, and North Korea has significant deposits of lead.
bauxites
Asia has huge reserves of bauxite. The largest deposits are located in Kazakhstan and the Sayans. There are also large deposits in India, Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia and China.
precious metals
Many Asian countries have mined gold from alluvial placers in past centuries, and some of them continue to do so today. There are small volumes of gold ore in Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia, as well as near the headwaters of the Yangtze River. Previously, India had large gold deposits, but now many of them have been exhausted. North and South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines have significant reserves of hard rock. Siberian gold reserves are currently significant.
Nonmetallic minerals
Stocks of asbestos are found in abundance in China, South Korea, and also on the eastern slope of the Middle Urals. Mica is found in large quantities in Eastern Siberia and India. Asia has huge reserves of rock salt. There are significant deposits of sulfur and gypsum in Central and Western Asia. Japan has large deposits of sulfur. There are deposits of phosphates in Kazakhstan. Diamonds are formed in the central and eastern parts of Siberia, and in India. India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cambodia have deposits of rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones.
biological resources
Crop and livestock
Northern and central parts of Asia are subject to cold and dry Arctic winds, especially in the Siberian region of Russia. Hardy grains such as barley, buckwheat, millet, oats and wheat are grown in the central and southern regions of this zone, where permanent frosts stifle plant growth. Animal husbandry is also very important in this zone. In Mongolia, for example, 75% of agricultural land is allocated to livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, etc.).
Southwest Asia is dominated by a dry and hot climate that stretches from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia through China, Pakistan, Iran, and into the Arabian Peninsula. There are very few areas in this zone with sufficient moisture and rainfall to produce a good harvest. Cereals such as barley and corn are the main crops grown in some countries. The lack of pastures and land suitable for cereals means that heat-resistant vegetables and fruits are most widely grown in this zone. Figs, apricots, olives, onions, grapes, cherries are the most important fruits and vegetables of the region.
The zone to the southeast is heavily affected by the summer monsoons. As a result, many parts of Southeast Asia are considered to be among the wettest places on earth, receiving more than 254 centimeters of rain each year. High temperatures and heavy rainfall are ideal conditions for growing rice and tropical fruits. Rice is considered one of the most important agricultural products of Asia and the main source of nutrition for the entire continent (79 kg of rice per inhabitant of Asia per year). As a result, most rice in Asia remains in the regions, and international trade is rather low.
In Southeast Asia, tropical fruits such as mango, papaya and pineapple are grown on a large scale. India produces the largest number of mangoes in the world, while Thailand and the Philippines are famous for pineapples.
Fish farming
Asia is the most important fisheries and aquaculture region in the world. Aquaculture is the rearing of fish and other aquatic animals under controlled conditions. In 2008, Asia's offshore industrial areas accounted for approximately 50% of the world's fish catch. Six of the world's top 10 fish producers are located in Asia, namely China, Indonesia, Japan, India, Myanmar (Burma) and the Philippines.
Seafood is an extremely important food source for many Asian peoples. A recent study by the National Geographic Society found that China and Japan are the top consumers of seafood (approximately 765 million tons per year).
Flora
Asia has the richest vegetable world from all parts of the world. Since it is a large part of the largest continent, Eurasia, it is not surprising that about 100,000 diverse plant species are found within its various natural zones, which range from tropical to arctic.
Asian plants, which include ferns, gymnosperms and flowering vascular plants, make up about 40% of the Earth's plant species. Endemic species of flora consist of more than 40 families and 1500 genera.
Asia is divided into five main regions based on the species diversity of the flora: the humid evergreen forests of Southeast Asia, the mixed forests of East Asia, the humid forests of South Asia, the deserts and steppes of Central and Western Asia, and the taiga and tundra of North Asia.
Fauna
Asia is the most populous part of the world and also one of the most biologically diverse places. It is home to both unique species of wild animals and the most common on the planet. Asian countries have become home to many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, etc. However, some of these species are thriving and others are facing serious threats that could wipe out their populations. Animals such as the giant panda and orangutans may be the first to disappear from Asia.
An important reason for the extinction of wild animals is human activity and the extremely high population density in certain areas.
1. What minerals are the countries of Central Asia rich in? Why?
The region has significant reserves of minerals, especially fuel and energy. Deposits of gas, oil, coal, ores of non-ferrous metals, especially copper and polymetallic ores, mercury, antimony, and gold are being developed, which have significantly intensified the development of industry. Mineral reserves of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay are of unique importance.
2. What are the features of the climate of the countries of Central Asia?
The highest degree of continental climate: annual temperature amplitudes can reach 90°C, low winter temperatures are especially characteristic. The features of continentality are most clearly manifested in numerous large and small basins, so characteristic of the relief of the region.
In winter, the Asian anticyclone is located over Central Asia, and in summer - an area of low atmospheric pressure with a predominance of air masses of oceanic origin depleted in moisture. The climate is sharply continental, dry, with significant seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations. Average temperatures in January on the plains are from -10 to -25 °С, in July from 20 to 25 °С (on the Tibetan Plateau about 10 °С). The annual amount of precipitation in the plains usually does not exceed 200 mm, and such areas as the Takla-Makan, Gobi, Tsaidam, Changtang plateau receive less than 50 mm, which is less evaporation. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in summer. In the mountain ranges, precipitation is 300-500 mm, and in the southeast, where the influence of the summer monsoon is felt, up to 1000 mm per year. Central Asia is characterized by strong winds and an abundance of sunny days (240-270 per year).
4. Make a forecast of the state of the Aral Sea in the future. Explain your conclusion.
Disappear. The influx of water is less than the evaporating amount.
5. What crops are grown in the countries of Central Asia?
Cotton, wheat, barley, millet, gourds, rice.
6. Make a presentation of one of the countries, discuss it in class at the lesson.
Kazakhstan is located in the heart of the Eurasian continent. Its territory is 2,724,900 sq. km (1,049,150 sq. miles). It is the second largest country in the CIS and the ninth largest country in the world. In terms of its territory, Kazakhstan is larger than the twelve countries of the European Union! Kazakhstan borders on China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia. The total length of the borders is 12187 km.
Kazakhstan stretches for more than 3,000 km (two time zones) from the lower reaches of the Volga in the west to the foothills of the Altai Mountains in the east, and for almost 2,000 km from the West Siberian Lowland in the north to the Kyzylkum Desert in the south.
The remoteness of the country from the oceans and the vastness of its territory determine the climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. The climate here is sharply continental with an average temperature between -19…-4 °C in January and between +19…+26 °C in July. Temperatures can drop to -45°C in winter and rise to +30°C in summer.
The video lesson is devoted to the topic "Natural resources of foreign Asia". From the lesson, you will learn about the natural resource potential of Foreign Asia, get acquainted with the main resources that are rich in various parts of Asia. The teacher will tell you about the Asian leading countries in terms of the provision of various types of resources.
Theme: Overseas Asia
Lesson: Natural resources of foreign Asia
The provision of foreign Asia with resources is determined, first of all, by the variety of relief, location, nature and climate.
The area is extremely homogeneous in terms of tectonic structure and topography: within its boundaries, the greatest amplitude of heights on earth (more than 9000 m) is noted, both ancient Precambrian platforms and areas of young Cenozoic folding, grandiose mountainous countries and vast plains are located here. As a result, the mineral resources of foreign Asia are very diverse.
The main pools of coal, iron and manganese ores, and non-metallic minerals are concentrated within the Chinese and Hindustan platforms. Within the Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific fold belts, ores predominate, including along the coast Pacific Ocean there is a copper belt. But the main wealth of the region, which also determines its role in the international geographical division of labor, is oil and gas. Oil and gas reserves have been explored in most countries of Southwest Asia (Mesopotamian trough earth's crust). The main deposits are located in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, large oil and gas fields have been explored in the countries of the Malay Archipelago. Indonesia and Malaysia stand out especially in terms of reserves. The countries of Central Asia are also rich in oil and gas (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan).
The largest salt reserves are in the Dead Sea. There are large reserves of sulfur and non-ferrous metals in the Iranian Highlands. In general, Asia is one of the main regions of the world in terms of mineral reserves.
Countries with the largest reserves and diversity of minerals:
3. Indonesia.
5. Kazakhstan.
6. Turkey.
7. Saudi Arabia.
The agro-climatic resources of Asia are heterogeneous. Vast massifs of mountainous countries, deserts and semi-deserts are hardly suitable for economic activity, with the exception of animal husbandry; the provision of arable land is low and continues to decline (as the population grows and soil erosion increases). But on the plains of the east and south, quite favorable conditions for agriculture are created. Asia contains 70% of the world's irrigated land.
The countries of East and Southeast Asia, as well as some regions of South Asia, have the largest reserves of water resources. At the same time, water resources are sorely lacking in the countries of the Persian Gulf.
Rice. 2. Desalination plant in Israel ()
In terms of general indicators, China, India, and Indonesia are provided with soil resources to the greatest extent.
The largest reserves of forest resources: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, India.
Rice. 3. Rainforests in Malaysia ()
Homework
Topic 7, Item 1
1. What are the features of accommodation mineral resources in overseas Asia?
2. Give examples of foreign Asian countries and their characteristic resources.
Bibliography
Main
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Additional
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Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections
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Materials on the Internet
1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ( ).
2. Federal portal Russian Education ().
Odessa-2007
central Asia
General information about the Central Asia region. Economic and geographical position
Central Asia was formed into an independent region in the 90s of the XX century. due to the collapse of the USSR. The region covers 6 countries (table) that have a common post-Soviet economic legacy, a similar political situation, which sometimes escalates to armed conflicts, and social problems.
Table 1
Central Asian countries
Conveniently economic and geographical position of the region. The countries of the region directly border the regions of Russia, Southwest and East Asia. Only a narrow strip of the territory of Afghanistan separates them from the largest countries of South Asia - India and Pakistan.
Central Asia is located at the crossroads of important trade routes of Eurasian significance. The territory has access to the endorheic Aral-Caspian basin. Nevertheless, the lack of access to the World Ocean in the countries of Central Asia worsens their transport and geographical position.
With the collapse of the USSR, the newly formed independent states of Central Asia became an arena for a clash of political and economic interests of the Muslim world (Turkey, Iran), on the one hand, the East Asian region (China, South Korea) on the other, Russia and the United States on the third. The continued coexistence of the countries of the region within former USSR determined many common features of their socio-economic development.
Natural conditions, resources and population
natural conditions. For the most part relatively unfavorable for the life of the population. In Central Asia, vast areas are occupied semi-deserts and deserts unsuitable for life and management.
The territory of the region is mostly elevated. Mountain ranges and plateaus occupy 3/4 her. The largest mountain areas are in the south of the region (Tien Shan, Pamir, Altai, plateau - Kazakh small hills). The highest massif of the region is Pamir- the highest point - peak Somoni (Communism) - 7495 m.
Characterized by high seismicity, which sometimes reaches 8-9 points.
Plains located mainly in river valleys. There are many depressions in the southern part, on the site of which large lakes sometimes form.
Climatic conditions diverse, due to latitudinal zonality. In the north of Kazakhstan, winter is very long, summer is relatively short. Precipitation falls mainly in summer (300-500 mm). In Central Asia, the temperatures of day and night, summer and winter, which are characteristic of the continental type of climate, are especially contrasting.
Rivers are important ways communications and water supply. Central Asia is rich in groundwater, a significant amount of which is spent on meeting the needs of the population and moistening pastures.
Separate regions of Central Asia have favorable agro-climatic conditions(especially for growing some subtropical crops: cotton, melons, fruit trees).
Natural resources. The wealth of the region is diverse mineral resources, are represented by oil (the Mangyshlak peninsula in Kazakhstan, the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea), gas (the Gazli field in Uzbekistan, the eastern regions of Turkmenistan).
The region is rich in ore minerals: iron ore (northwest Kazakhstan), manganese (Dzhezdi deposit in Kazakhstan), chromium (northwest Kazakhstan), copper (Dzhezkazgan and Balkhash deposits in Kazakhstan), gold (Kyrgyzstan), mercury (in Tien Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan).
Natural resources of the countries of the region
| KAZAKHSTAN | NAFTA, GAS, VUGILLA, ZALIZNA ORE, MID, POLYMETALS, BOXITY. CRIBLO. GOLD TA INSHE |
| TURKMENISTAN | NATURAL GAS |
| UZBEKISTAN | GAS, POLYMETALS, BOXITY |
| KYRGYZSTAN | VUGILL, MERCURY, ANTIMONY |
| TAJIKISTAN | VUGILL, POLYMETALS, BOXITY |
In Central Asia limited water supply led to the creation of a wide network of irrigation facilities, with the help of which the regulation of the runoff is carried out. For the purpose of irrigation, more than 30 large reservoirs (with a volume of over 100 million m 3 each) and many main irrigation canals have been built, including such as Chui, Northern and Big Fergana, Amu-Bukhara, Karshun, Gissar, etc. Unique Karakum Canal(1200 km long) was built in 1954 and passes through southern part Karakumov.
Population
demographic features. In Central Asia, traditionally, the natural increase in population is quite high. Women numerically predominate over men (respectively 51 and 49%).
Racial composition. A significant number of representatives live on the territory of Kazakhstan European race. Kazakhs and Kyrgyz represent South Siberian mixed racial group with pronounced Mongoloid features and weak elements of Caucasoid. Turkmens, partly Uzbeks and Tajiks, belong to Central Asian mixed racial group, in which the features of Mongoloidity against the background of the Caucasoid race are very weakly expressed.
Ethnic composition. Representatives of the following ethnic families live in the countries of the region:
Altai family:
- Turkic group (Kazakhs, Kirghiz, Turkmens, Uzbeks, Karakalpaks);
- Slavic group (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians - immigrants in Central and North Asia);
Iranian group(Tajiks);
German group (Germans of Central Asia and Kazakhstan);
Religious composition. Most residents of Central and Central Asia are Muslims - Sunnis. Orthodoxy is widespread among Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians. Protestants are German settlers in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
ASIA, the largest part of the world, located mainly in the Eastern Hemisphere (except for the Chukotka Peninsula) north of the equator; forms together with Europe the mainland Eurasia. From North America Africa separates the Bering Strait and is connected to Africa by the narrow Isthmus of Suez.
General information
Area approx. 43.4 million km 2. 4.299 billion people live in Azerbaijan. (2014, over 60% of the population the globe). In socio-economic terms, the Asian part of Russia includes the subjects of the federation that are part of the Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern federal districts.
Extreme points of A.: in the north - Cape Chelyuskin (77 ° 43´ N) on the Taimyr Peninsula, in the east - Cape Dezhnev (169 ° 40´ W) on the Chukotsky Peninsula, in the south - Cape Piai (1 °16´ N) on the Malay Peninsula, in the west - Cape Baba (26°10´ E) in Turkey (see Physical map). The physiographic border of Azerbaijan with Europe is taken as the main watershed of the Urals (or its eastern foot), the valley of the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Kuma-Manych depression, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait (sometimes the axial part of the Greater Caucasus), the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara , the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles.
The shores of A. are washed in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the east by the Pacific, in the south Indian Oceans and their marginal seas, in the west - inland seas Atlantic Ocean(Mediterranean, Aegean, Marble, Black). Vast inland regions that have no connection with the World Ocean are classified as drainless areas or areas of internal flow (basins of the Caspian and Aral Seas, lakes Balkhash, Lobnor, etc.). The shores are relatively poorly dissected. The largest peninsulas: Yamal, Taimyr, Chukotka, Kamchatka, Korean, Indochina, Malacca, Hindustan, Arabian, Asia Minor. The islands are occupied by St. 2 million km 2; among them are the largest: Severnaya Zemlya, Novosibirsk, Sakhalin, Japanese, Taiwan, Hainan, Philippine, Big Sunda, Sri Lanka . In A. are: the highest point on the globe - Mount Chomolungma (8848 m, according to other sources - 8850 m); the deepest depression is El Gor, in which the endorheic lake Dead Sea is located (430 m below sea level); the largest sea-lake is the Caspian Sea; the world's deepest Lake Baikal (20% of the world's fresh water reserves without glaciers), included in the World Heritage List; the wettest place on earth is the settlement of Cherrapunji on the Shillong Highlands in India (average over the observation period about 12,000 mm, max. - 22,900 mm of precipitation per year).
The following physical and geographical regions are distinguished: North Asia (all of Siberia and the Russian Far East), East Asia (China east of 110 ° E, the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese Islands), Southeast Asia (the Indochina Peninsula, the Malay Archipelago) , South Asia (Hindustan peninsula, Sri Lanka island), Western Asia (Caucasus and the Near Asian highlands), Southwest Asia (Levant and Arabian Peninsula), Central Asia (Mongolia, Western China, including Tibet) and Central Asia (Turan lowland , Pamir and Tien Shan).
Relief
Albania is characterized by a general uplift of the territory (three-fourths of the area), and the predominance of mountains and plateaus, with a small area of plains. An extended mountain belt is formed by mountains and highlands of the Alpine (Cenozoic) folding. Asia Minor (avg. height 800–1500 m), Armenian (c. 2000 m) and Iranian (500–2000 m) highlands are framed by folded-block and folded Pontic Mountains, Taurus, Zagros, Elburs, Kopetdag, Paropamiz, Hindu Kush. To the north of the Armenian Highlands rise the Greater Caucasus (up to 5642 m, Mount Elbrus) and the Lesser Caucasus. A large mountain junction is formed by the Pamir highlands (the highest point - 7495 m - Communism Peak, or Ismail Samani Peak) with the Fedchenko Glacier - the longest glacier in Asia (77 km, area about 700 km 2). The greatest mountain system in the world, the Himalayas, stretches for 2,500 km (average altitude is about 6,000 m, 11 peaks are higher than 8,000 m, including Chomolungma). The Karakoram reaches a significant height with Mount Chogori (height 8611 m) - the second peak in the world - and with the largest mountain glacier A. Siachen (length about 76 km, area 750 km 2). All high mountain systems - with peaks, narrow ridges and deep valleys - are covered with glaciers and snowfields. From east. the tip of the Himalayas, alpine folded structures continue in the Arakan-Yoma (Arakan) mountains and on the islands of the Malay and Philippine archipelagos, on the island of Taiwan, as well as in the northeast and east of the mainland: Koryak Highlands , median ridge on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the West Sakhalin and East Sakhalin Mountains on Sakhalin Island, on the Kuril and Japanese Islands. This is an area of development of young folded mountains with strong erosional dissection and intense manifestation of volcanism and active seismicity. The relief is characterized by great contrast: the amplitude of heights between the mountains of the islands and the deep-water depressions reaches 12 km. On the Kamchatka Peninsula there is the highest active volcano A. - Klyuchevskaya Sopka(4688 m).
The mountains of Central Africa and Central Africa are structures with a blocky and arched-blocky structure with a characteristic latitudinal-linear strike of the ridges. The highest and most extended systems are Tien Shan (height up to 7439 m) and Kunlun (height up to 7723 m), Nanshan (height up to 5808 m) and Altyntag (height up to 6161 m). In the middle mountains of the Tien Shan, leveling surfaces are widely developed, lying at an altitude of 3000–4000 m. One of the deepest intermountain depressions is Turfan depression(155 m below sea level). Extensive Tibetan Plateau(altitude up to 5000 m) in the central part is occupied by high hilly stratified and denudation plains with numerous lake basins and horst ranges. Intense denudation and insignificant runoff led to a smoothing of the height differences between flat-topped ridges and intermountain depressions. In Central Armenia, in the Gobi Desert (up to 1200 m), large areas are occupied by high denudation plains of folded-block structure with ridges, areas of low hills, and volcanic plateaus. The arched-block highlands of Beishan (height up to 2583 m) are bordered by gravelly foothills. For high Dzungarian plain and Basins of the Great Lakes table heights, rocky plains (hammads), hilly and ridge sands are characteristic. in relief Kazakh uplands noticeable low-mountain massifs (height up to 1565 m). In the northeast of China and in the north of the Korean Peninsula, there are the Great Khingan Mountains (height up to 2158 m), the Liaoxi Highlands (height up to 2050 m) and Manchurian-Korean mountains(height up to 2750 m). The revived mountains include Altai (height up to 4506 m), Mongolian Altai(height up to 4204 m), Sayan and Khangai (height up to 4021 m), etc.
A rather extended fold belt begins in northeastern Siberia, where Verkhoyansk Range(height up to 2283 m) and Chersky Ridge(altitude up to 3003 m), as well as Kolyma Highlands alternate with intermontane depressions and accumulative plains (Kolyma, Yano-Indigirskaya, etc.), and continue in the Far East with the Sikhote-Alin mountains (altitude up to 2090 m). East the periphery of the Tibetan Plateau stretch blocky-folded Sino-Tibetan mountains(height up to 7556 m). On the peninsulas of Indochina and Malacca, arched-block low and medium-altitude mountains are elongated meridionally. The platform regions of Azerbaijan are characterized by medium-altitude (up to 3,000 m) blocky and arched-blocky mountains with smoothed peaks and steep slopes: in the east, these are Taishan, North Korean mountains, Dobashan and Shanxi Highlands; on the Hindustan Peninsula - Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, Aravalli; on the Arabian Peninsula - Hijaz, to the north - the ranges of Jebel Ansaria, Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon.
South Asia
South Asia covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Most of the population of Hindustan belongs to the Indo-Afghan. variant of the Indo-Mediterranean race, among the untouchable castes, etc. aboriginal tribes (adivasi) dominated by the South Indian. race. Among the population of the Himalayan zone, the south is dominated. representatives of South Asia. Mongoloid race. To the most ancient ethnic The carriers of the Dravidian languages \u200b\u200b(Dravids), which are now spoken by large peoples of the south, ascend to the layer of the population of Hindustan. states of India (Kannara, Telugu, Tamils, Malayali), as well as many others. tribes of the south. and Center. Decana and bragui in southern Pakistan. In the 4th-3rd millennium BC. e. Tibeto-Burmese settled in the Himalayan zone. peoples, in Orissa and Bihar (from North Indochina) - Munda, in the 2nd millennium BC. e. speakers of the Indo-Aryan languages (Aryans), now dominant in the North, migrate from Front A. and Middle A. to India. and Center. Hindustan. The Burishi in the Khunzakh-Gilgit valley of the Karakoram speak an isolated language that, according to some scholars, is distantly related to the Caucasian languages. Main occupation - arable farming, irrigated and rainfed. They cultivate wheat and millet (in the north), rice (in the south), various legumes and oilseeds. Some peoples are engaged in semi-nomadic and transhumance (in the Himalayan zone) cattle breeding (buffaloes, sheep), hunting and gathering. Main food - cakes, cereals, cereal koloboks with spicy seasonings and sauces from legumes (Hindi dal), vegetables, less often meat or fish (curry). In the upper castes, the tendency towards vegetarianism is strong, only representatives of the lower castes eat beef and pork. Cow butter is used primarily in ritual food. A unique feature of the peoples of the South. A. is a comprehensive division of society into castes. The caste system is most developed among Hindus, representatives of other confessions - Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians - usually remember their caste origin and take it into account in everyday behavior; hunter-gatherer tribes with their tribal cults are outside the caste division, but their communities can turn into lower castes. Of great importance is the opposition of concepts: pakka (real, correct) and kachcha (unworthy, not prestigious). Pakka is a complete costume with all accessories, a brick or stone dwelling, food fried in oil; caccha - an incomplete and random set of clothes, a adobe or reed hut, raw or boiled food in water. Hinduism serves as the basis of the Hindu civilization with Sanskrit (in various local variants of graphics) as the main language. language of culture. Buddhism in its homeland, India, is now poorly represented. It dominates in Ladakh (East Kashmir), Nepal and Bhutan - in the northern, close to Tibetan form, and in Sri Lanka - in the south. form. Islam dominates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Traditional clothes in the north - dec. forms of caftans and narrow trousers, the rest of Hindustan is dominated by unsewn clothing - saris for women, loincloths (lungi, languti, dhoti) for men. Dwelling forms are extremely diverse depending on the climate and local traditions.
central Asia
Central Asia, separated from Hindustan by the Himalayas, includes the territories of Mongolia, North., North-West. and Zap. China (Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Tibet), inhabited by Mongols, Tibetans and partly Turks. peoples. Central Asian predominates. North Asian variant. race. to the Central Asian. Mongolian-speaking Buryats and Kalmyks, geographically remote from them, are close in culture to the peoples. Main occupation - nomadic cattle breeding (small and large horned cattle, yaks, camels, horses), in valleys and oases - arable farming (main arr. barley). Main food - meat (main arr. in winter) and dairy (summer) products (sour milk, including koumiss, fresh and dried cottage cheese, pressed foams, etc.), fried flour; in Tibet - cereals (Tibetan. Tszamba), which is seasoned with tea with the addition of milk, butter, melted fat, meat flour and salt. Main clothes - dressing gowns, right-sided, with an additional left floor, sheepskin coats, shoes - leather and felt boots. The dwelling is collapsible, covered with woolen cloth: among the Mongols and Turks (as in Central A. and Front A.) - a lattice yurt made of light felt, among the Tibetans (also among Iranian and Arab. nomads of Front A. and Afghanistan) - so-called. black tent or black tent made of coarse woolen fabric. Central Asian. civilization is based on northern, or Tibetan, Buddhism (Lamaism), which absorbed elements of the Himalayan-Tibet. shamanism, in Old Tibet. and old Mong. literature Actually shamanism is also widespread.
middle Asia
Central Asia in many relations occupies an intermediate position between the Center. and Southwest. A., includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Xinjiang (North-West China) and Afghanistan. The peoples of Central Armenia speak Iranian and, later, Turkic, which spread there. languages. Physical type is presented in the main. dec. combinations of Caucasoid Indo-Mediterranean and contact (Caucasoid-Mongoloid) South Siberian races. Thanks to the hot climate and full-flowing rivers fed by mountain glaciers, irrigated agriculture has been developing here since ancient times (5th millennium BC). In the steppe regions, nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding is traditionally more developed, in the foothills - pasture cattle breeding. Main food - cakes baked in an adobe oven with a domed vault - tandoor, plov, noodles, dumplings, sour milk (airan, katyk), cream (kaymak), cottage cheese (suzme, kurt); great importance, in contrast to the Central Asian. cuisine, have vegetables and fruits. Religion - Sunni Islam (in the Pamirs - Shiite Ismaili), combined with elements of shamanism, the further north, the more pronounced. In literature and art, the Middle Asian (Iranian, to a lesser extent Arabic) influence prevails. Dwelling so-called. Anterior Asian. type: adobe or adobe dwellings and households. buildings with a flat roof face the inside. courtyard, facing the street with a blank wall (Turk. duval). Nomads have felt yurts. Clothing - pants with a tunic-shaped shirt dress, sometimes with a dress or sleeveless jacket for women, a robe (other than in Central A., cut - without a collar and buttons) and a narrow jacket or sleeveless vest (turk. beshmet) for men. Men's hats - skullcaps and turbans, sheepskin hats. Married women had to completely hide their hair with towel headdresses (which, in particular, was dictated by the norms of Islam - see Hijab), sometimes - the whole figure (see Paranja), girls wore hats (skullcaps, etc.).
Southwestern (Anterior) Asia
Southwestern (Anterior) Asia includes Iran and Asian countries. Middle East. The peoples of Western Armenia speak Iranian (in the east), Semitic (in the southwest), and Turkic (in the northwest) languages. Representatives of the Near East predominate. and the Mediterranean variants of the Indo-Mediterranean Caucasian race. Perednyaya A. is one of the oldest centers of irrigated agriculture, horticulture, and viticulture; in the west, the date palm plays an important role; cattle breeding developed in the steppe and mountain regions. Main food - cakes, sour milk, meat fried on a spit (shish kebab) and in the form of minced meat, bean sauce, dried fruits and dishes based on them. Housing and clothing are close to Central Asian. Perednyaya A. is the birthplace of all Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam); now Islam predominates here, in the main. Sunnism, in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon - Shiism; from Zap. Iran to Syria and Lebanon also live representatives of dec. fractional denominations of Islam, Christians of different faiths, Judaists, Samaritans, Druzes, Yezidis, Zoroastrians, Mandaeans, etc. Under the influence of Islam, ornament and calligraphy were predominantly developed in art, depict. art developed under the influence of the Persian. traditions. The architecture is characterized by spindle-shaped columns, pointed domes, coffered and stalactite-honeycomb ceilings, covered terraces-aivans.
Caucasus
To the ancient ethnic carriers of the North Caucasian and Kartvelian languages ascend the formation of the Caucasus. Indo-European languages are spoken by Ossetians, Armenians, and others. In the 1st millennium, a Turkic-speaking population appeared here. South European Balkan-Caucasian and Indo-Mediterranean races predominate. Until the 11th–12th centuries South Caucasus (Transcaucasia) can be considered as sowing. the periphery of the Anterior A., and the flat and foothill regions of the North. Caucasus - like the south. steppe periphery Vost. Europe. The cultural unity of the Caucasus was formed during its unification in the 12th-13th centuries. Georgian kingdom. Main traditional occupation - arable farming archaic. appearance, often terraced (wheat, spelt, barley), transhumance (especially sheep), horticulture, viticulture and winemaking. The peoples of the North Caucasus since the 14th century. wine is displaced by light alcoholic beverages from grain (buza, beer). Settlements in the mountains ( auls) are very crowded, adapted for defense. Houses in the main from stone. In some places, tower houses and dugout dwellings with a hearth in the center and a light-smoke hole in the false-vaulted ceiling resting on four pillars near the hearth are preserved (Georgian darbazi, Armenian glkhatun, Azerbaijani karadam). In the steppe treeless regions, adobe and adobe dwellings and large settlements with a street layout are common, in wooded areas - trees. houses and scattered settlements. Men's costume took shape by the 17th-18th centuries; includes pants, a shirt, a tight jacket (arkhaluk, beshmet) and a fitted caftan made of cloth (cherkeska), a felt cape (burka), a sheepskin headdress (hat hat) or a towel type (bashlyk), shoes such as pistons (chuvyaki, chirki) or boots. Women's clothing - a tunic-shaped shirt-dress and trousers, a swinging fitted dress with a deep neckline. Of the world religions, Christianity was the first (since the 4th century) to spread (for the first time in the world it became the state religion in the Armenian kingdom in 301), from the beginning it was an Arab. conquests (7th century) - Islam. Pre-Islamic and pre-Christian cults, mythology, archaic are preserved. customs (blood feud, ritual feast, hospitality, etc.).