A Regional Overview of East Asia
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There are six countries in this region:
China
Japan
North Korea
South Korea
Mongolia
Taiwan
Physical Features:
Feature 1
Taklimakan Desert
The Taklimakan Desert's location is 38'53'28" N and 82'10'40"E. It is the world's 17th largest desert. The Kunlun Mountains border the desert to the south, the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan to the west and north. The desert is located in Central Asia in China. It covers an area of 100,000 square miles and is 620 miles long and 250 miles wide. A cross desert highway was constructed that links the cities of Hotan and Luntai. This desert has expanded due to desertification. Its sands have covered neighboring farms and villages. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 2010)
Feature 2
Huang He River
The Huang He is the world's sixth longest river at 3,395 miles. Its source is the Kunlun Mountains, in Western China. Its mouth is the Gulf of Bohai. The river is more commonly known as the Yellow River. The color of its silts that are carried in its flow are yellow, hence its name. The earliest civilizations of China settled on its banks. The river has flooded so often it has also been called the River of Sorrow. Its orientation is 34'59'19"N and 97'30'43"E. (Social Studies, 2009)
Feature 3
Lesser Khingan Range
The Lesser Khingan Range is locared in China's Heilungkiang Khingan Range and is connected by the I-lo-hu-li Mountains, which run northwest-southeast for 375 miles. The mountains range then turns toward the east and north-east entering Russia. The mountain range's orientation is 48'47'30"N and 127'12'30"E. The range is rich in timber. Larch and birch in the north and a mix of broad-leafed and coniferous forests in the south. Forestry is the main economic base, and in the southern part of the range a number of railways have been constructed to transport lumber. The southern end of the range is marked by the great fault line of the Sungari River Valley. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 1995)
Feature 4
Loess Plateau
The Loess Plateau is located at 36'53'N and 108'43'E. It covers more than 36,000 square miles in the upper and middle reaches of China's Huang He River. Loess is named for the silt sediment that has been deposited by wind storms. Loess is a highly erosion prone soil. Wind and water erode this soil so easily that this region has become known as the "most highly erodible soil on earth". The plateau has a semi-arid climate. It receives heavy monsoon rains in the summer. The Loess Plateau is highly fertile and supports agriculture.
Feature 5
Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is the longest dam in the world. It is 600 feet high and 1.4 miles long. The dam is the largest engineering project in history and is designed to improve navigation and generate electricity. The dam is situated near Xiling Gorge, the easternmost of the Three Gorges on the middle reaches the Chang Jiang. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Climate:
There are two contrasting climatic zones in this region-the wet east, which experiences monsoons, and the dry interior. Monsoon is the seasonal reversal of wind that flows from the Eurasian continent to the surrounding oceans during winter months and inland oceans during the summer. Arid and semiarid climates are experienced in the central part of the region north of the Himalayan Mountain Range. The coldest climate is also experienced in the Himalayas. Temperate climates spread throughout China and Japan. Tropical humid climates exist near the coasts of the South China Sea. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Population Patterns:
East Asia is the most populated region in the world. The most densely populated areas are on the Eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean. China has more than one-fifth of the world's population withmore than 1.3 billion people. In China people are concentrated in the eastern third portion of the country because of difficult terrain throughout the rest of the land. In Japan, settlement stretches from Tokyo to Yokohama. This urbanized region is one of the most extensive and holds over half of Japan's population. Population control in this region of the world is enforced. China has a one child per couple policy and because of its restrictions Japan's population will not double for more than 700 years.
Resources:
Resource 1
Silk
Silk is a major industry in many parts of South and Southeast Asia. Silk fiber is made by caterpillars of the Bombyx moth family, also known as silkworms. These caterpillars produce a strong, fine, continuous fiber. They form a cocoon and these cocoons are plunged into hot water to kill the insects inside. The cocoons are then carefully dried and unwound so that the fiber can be used to weave the silk cloth. Silk cloth has always been an important trade item in China's history. China used to trade the silk cloth with Central Asia and Europe. Though many synthetic fabrics now dominate the cloth industry, silk is still important to China's commerce. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resource 2
Agriculture
Agriculture is relied on heavily in this region of the world. With such dense populations it is a huge influence in the economy and livelihoods of millions of people. Rice is cultivated in many areas of this region using wet rice cultivation. In this growing process the roots of the plants are submerged in water early in the growing season. The rice yields are abundant and this work is done by both men and women. Other agriculture grown in this region is wheat, corn and the raising of animals including poultry, pigs and silkworms. Herders raise cattle, sheep, horses and yaks in the mountain pastures.
The fishing industry is relied upon heavily in this region. With so many coastal fishing villages it is a huge industry that millions of people rely on for their livelihoods. The country of Japan especially supports many of its citizens with this line of work. The diet of the Japanese people incorporates more fish than animal meats. This is because of the low cost of fish in comparison to animal meat. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Role of Gender:
Women in different areas of this region are respected at different levels. Due to China's one child per couple policy girls are often aborted so that a male can be produced to be an heir and carry on the family name. Is a girl is born there is a high death rate as they are given less of the family's resources. In Mongolia women are almost equal counterparts to men helping make decisions for the household. Many families within this region have many generations living within the same household. There is a respect for the elders in the cultures of this region. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religions:
Religion 1
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion practiced heavily in this region. Many Tibetans practice Buddhism. Buddhism encourages female independence. The men of Tibet live short-term monastic lifestyles so Tibetan Buddhist women have become very self sufficient in this country. Buddhism is a belief system that began about 2600 years ago as a reinterpretation of Hinduism. Buddhism originated in India and spread easterward throughout Asia. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religion 2
Hinduism
Hinduism is a complex belief system with a broad range of beliefs and practices. There is a highly localized folk belief system that varies depending on the area. Vedas are the Hindu scriptures. The teachings of the Vedas are that all gods are manifestation of ultimate divinity. Hindus have a strong belief in reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that any living thing that desires illusory pleasures and pains of life will be reborn after it dies. Hinduism also practices a reverence for cows. Cows are sacred to the Hindu's and therefore they do not consume any of their meat or milk. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Environmental Issues:
Issue 1-Air Pollution
Industrial pollution in China is growing at an average rate of 18 percent annually. Coal is the top pollutant in China contributing to 65 percent of the region's energy needs. China's coal production accounts for 40 percent of the world's consumption. Coal is the top reason for poor air quality in China cause respiratory ailments in the people. Japan experienced a horrific tsunami in March 2011 which lead to some damage at their nuclear power sites. Radiation leaked and has contaminated the air and drinking water. At this point we do not know the extent of the damage this will create and how it will affect the lives of the Japanese people and possibly of people in surrounding countries. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Issue 2-Water Pollution
China has extensive water problems-this costs the US $4 billion a year because of the health problems connected with it. One-third of China's population does not have safe drinking water. The fertilizers used make up a large percentage of this pollution. Efforts to improve environmental issues in this region are being implemented at national and local levels. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Agriculture:
This region has implemented the Responsibility System. This system returned agricultural decision making to the household unit though it must meet approval of local law authority. Agricultural products of this region include rice cultivation, vegetables, fruits and farm animals. The country of China relies on food security. Food security is China's ability to supply sufficient basic food to all people over a long period of time. Other agricultural staples of this region include: cotton, wheat, millet, tea and sugar cane. Because of the rapid growth in China's rural development many of the people rely on the agriculutral business for their livelihoods. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Country of Focus:
Japan
Japan consists of four main islands and hundreds of smaller islands surrounding. Only 18 percent of its land can be cultivated because of the many mountainous areas on the islands. Japan has a population of more than 128 million people. The largest and most densely populated island of Japan is Honshu. It has the most forests and mountains. The three other main islands of Japan are Kyushu, Hakkooida, and Shikoku. Japan has one of the largest ratios of people to farmland. More than 7000 people depend on one square mile of farmland in this country. Agriculture is therefore one of the major ways of life for many of the people in this country. The produce in Japan is some of the most expensive in the world. The government places high tariffs on agriculture. Another major source of the economy is the fishing industry. There are more than 4000 coastal villages in this country where fishing is the main source of revenue. Japan has the longest life expentancy of any country in the world. This is due to their low-fat, high-proteins diets and the excellent medical care provided. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resources:
Pulsipher, A. & Pulsipher, L. (2008) World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives (4th Edition) New York: W.H. Freeman Company
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (2010) Taklamakan Desert. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/taklamakandesert
Social Studies. (2009) The Huang He River. Retrieved from: http://www.socialstudies.com/articles/geography/huangheriver.htm
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (1995) Lesser Khingan Range. Retrieved from: http://www.uv.es/EBRIT/micro_346_12.html
Photos: Creative Commons. (2011) Retrieved from: http://www.weebly.com/
China
Japan
North Korea
South Korea
Mongolia
Taiwan
Physical Features:
Feature 1
Taklimakan Desert
The Taklimakan Desert's location is 38'53'28" N and 82'10'40"E. It is the world's 17th largest desert. The Kunlun Mountains border the desert to the south, the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan to the west and north. The desert is located in Central Asia in China. It covers an area of 100,000 square miles and is 620 miles long and 250 miles wide. A cross desert highway was constructed that links the cities of Hotan and Luntai. This desert has expanded due to desertification. Its sands have covered neighboring farms and villages. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 2010)
Feature 2
Huang He River
The Huang He is the world's sixth longest river at 3,395 miles. Its source is the Kunlun Mountains, in Western China. Its mouth is the Gulf of Bohai. The river is more commonly known as the Yellow River. The color of its silts that are carried in its flow are yellow, hence its name. The earliest civilizations of China settled on its banks. The river has flooded so often it has also been called the River of Sorrow. Its orientation is 34'59'19"N and 97'30'43"E. (Social Studies, 2009)
Feature 3
Lesser Khingan Range
The Lesser Khingan Range is locared in China's Heilungkiang Khingan Range and is connected by the I-lo-hu-li Mountains, which run northwest-southeast for 375 miles. The mountains range then turns toward the east and north-east entering Russia. The mountain range's orientation is 48'47'30"N and 127'12'30"E. The range is rich in timber. Larch and birch in the north and a mix of broad-leafed and coniferous forests in the south. Forestry is the main economic base, and in the southern part of the range a number of railways have been constructed to transport lumber. The southern end of the range is marked by the great fault line of the Sungari River Valley. (Encyclopedia of Britannica, 1995)
Feature 4
Loess Plateau
The Loess Plateau is located at 36'53'N and 108'43'E. It covers more than 36,000 square miles in the upper and middle reaches of China's Huang He River. Loess is named for the silt sediment that has been deposited by wind storms. Loess is a highly erosion prone soil. Wind and water erode this soil so easily that this region has become known as the "most highly erodible soil on earth". The plateau has a semi-arid climate. It receives heavy monsoon rains in the summer. The Loess Plateau is highly fertile and supports agriculture.
Feature 5
Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is the longest dam in the world. It is 600 feet high and 1.4 miles long. The dam is the largest engineering project in history and is designed to improve navigation and generate electricity. The dam is situated near Xiling Gorge, the easternmost of the Three Gorges on the middle reaches the Chang Jiang. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Climate:
There are two contrasting climatic zones in this region-the wet east, which experiences monsoons, and the dry interior. Monsoon is the seasonal reversal of wind that flows from the Eurasian continent to the surrounding oceans during winter months and inland oceans during the summer. Arid and semiarid climates are experienced in the central part of the region north of the Himalayan Mountain Range. The coldest climate is also experienced in the Himalayas. Temperate climates spread throughout China and Japan. Tropical humid climates exist near the coasts of the South China Sea. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Population Patterns:
East Asia is the most populated region in the world. The most densely populated areas are on the Eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean. China has more than one-fifth of the world's population withmore than 1.3 billion people. In China people are concentrated in the eastern third portion of the country because of difficult terrain throughout the rest of the land. In Japan, settlement stretches from Tokyo to Yokohama. This urbanized region is one of the most extensive and holds over half of Japan's population. Population control in this region of the world is enforced. China has a one child per couple policy and because of its restrictions Japan's population will not double for more than 700 years.
Resources:
Resource 1
Silk
Silk is a major industry in many parts of South and Southeast Asia. Silk fiber is made by caterpillars of the Bombyx moth family, also known as silkworms. These caterpillars produce a strong, fine, continuous fiber. They form a cocoon and these cocoons are plunged into hot water to kill the insects inside. The cocoons are then carefully dried and unwound so that the fiber can be used to weave the silk cloth. Silk cloth has always been an important trade item in China's history. China used to trade the silk cloth with Central Asia and Europe. Though many synthetic fabrics now dominate the cloth industry, silk is still important to China's commerce. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resource 2
Agriculture
Agriculture is relied on heavily in this region of the world. With such dense populations it is a huge influence in the economy and livelihoods of millions of people. Rice is cultivated in many areas of this region using wet rice cultivation. In this growing process the roots of the plants are submerged in water early in the growing season. The rice yields are abundant and this work is done by both men and women. Other agriculture grown in this region is wheat, corn and the raising of animals including poultry, pigs and silkworms. Herders raise cattle, sheep, horses and yaks in the mountain pastures.
The fishing industry is relied upon heavily in this region. With so many coastal fishing villages it is a huge industry that millions of people rely on for their livelihoods. The country of Japan especially supports many of its citizens with this line of work. The diet of the Japanese people incorporates more fish than animal meats. This is because of the low cost of fish in comparison to animal meat. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Role of Gender:
Women in different areas of this region are respected at different levels. Due to China's one child per couple policy girls are often aborted so that a male can be produced to be an heir and carry on the family name. Is a girl is born there is a high death rate as they are given less of the family's resources. In Mongolia women are almost equal counterparts to men helping make decisions for the household. Many families within this region have many generations living within the same household. There is a respect for the elders in the cultures of this region. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religions:
Religion 1
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion practiced heavily in this region. Many Tibetans practice Buddhism. Buddhism encourages female independence. The men of Tibet live short-term monastic lifestyles so Tibetan Buddhist women have become very self sufficient in this country. Buddhism is a belief system that began about 2600 years ago as a reinterpretation of Hinduism. Buddhism originated in India and spread easterward throughout Asia. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Religion 2
Hinduism
Hinduism is a complex belief system with a broad range of beliefs and practices. There is a highly localized folk belief system that varies depending on the area. Vedas are the Hindu scriptures. The teachings of the Vedas are that all gods are manifestation of ultimate divinity. Hindus have a strong belief in reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that any living thing that desires illusory pleasures and pains of life will be reborn after it dies. Hinduism also practices a reverence for cows. Cows are sacred to the Hindu's and therefore they do not consume any of their meat or milk. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Environmental Issues:
Issue 1-Air Pollution
Industrial pollution in China is growing at an average rate of 18 percent annually. Coal is the top pollutant in China contributing to 65 percent of the region's energy needs. China's coal production accounts for 40 percent of the world's consumption. Coal is the top reason for poor air quality in China cause respiratory ailments in the people. Japan experienced a horrific tsunami in March 2011 which lead to some damage at their nuclear power sites. Radiation leaked and has contaminated the air and drinking water. At this point we do not know the extent of the damage this will create and how it will affect the lives of the Japanese people and possibly of people in surrounding countries. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Issue 2-Water Pollution
China has extensive water problems-this costs the US $4 billion a year because of the health problems connected with it. One-third of China's population does not have safe drinking water. The fertilizers used make up a large percentage of this pollution. Efforts to improve environmental issues in this region are being implemented at national and local levels. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Agriculture:
This region has implemented the Responsibility System. This system returned agricultural decision making to the household unit though it must meet approval of local law authority. Agricultural products of this region include rice cultivation, vegetables, fruits and farm animals. The country of China relies on food security. Food security is China's ability to supply sufficient basic food to all people over a long period of time. Other agricultural staples of this region include: cotton, wheat, millet, tea and sugar cane. Because of the rapid growth in China's rural development many of the people rely on the agriculutral business for their livelihoods. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Country of Focus:
Japan
Japan consists of four main islands and hundreds of smaller islands surrounding. Only 18 percent of its land can be cultivated because of the many mountainous areas on the islands. Japan has a population of more than 128 million people. The largest and most densely populated island of Japan is Honshu. It has the most forests and mountains. The three other main islands of Japan are Kyushu, Hakkooida, and Shikoku. Japan has one of the largest ratios of people to farmland. More than 7000 people depend on one square mile of farmland in this country. Agriculture is therefore one of the major ways of life for many of the people in this country. The produce in Japan is some of the most expensive in the world. The government places high tariffs on agriculture. Another major source of the economy is the fishing industry. There are more than 4000 coastal villages in this country where fishing is the main source of revenue. Japan has the longest life expentancy of any country in the world. This is due to their low-fat, high-proteins diets and the excellent medical care provided. (Pulsipher & Pulsipher, 2008)
Resources:
Pulsipher, A. & Pulsipher, L. (2008) World Regional Geography: Global Patterns, Local Lives (4th Edition) New York: W.H. Freeman Company
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (2010) Taklamakan Desert. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/taklamakandesert
Social Studies. (2009) The Huang He River. Retrieved from: http://www.socialstudies.com/articles/geography/huangheriver.htm
Encyclopedia of Britannica. (1995) Lesser Khingan Range. Retrieved from: http://www.uv.es/EBRIT/micro_346_12.html
Photos: Creative Commons. (2011) Retrieved from: http://www.weebly.com/