Page 220 - 9 teachers social book 9 @ 2077 ctp_Neat

Lesson
6.10 The Physical Features of Asia

FACTS Asia is the largest continent with diverse climate,
to Understand soil, natural vegetation and resources. It is the
rd
common home for about 1/3 of the world population.

Asia is the largest continent of the world that lies entirely in the northern hemisphere
with the exception of some of the Islands of the East Indies. Asia extends from 10°S to
80°N up to the frozen shores of the Arctic Ocean. There are 50 independent countries
in Asia including the largest in size and the most populated country, China. It is
surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, in the north, the pacific and the Indian Ocean in
the east and in the south respectively. On the western side there are Ural Mountain,
Caucasus Mountain and the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and the Red Sea. Its area is
merged with Europe in Western side. So together it is called Eurasia. Asia has
rd
occupied 1/3 of land having area of 4,50,36,492 sq. km of the world. It is the most
populated continent of the world having about 59% of the total population living in
this continent. So, Asia is called the common home to all the living beings.

Physical Features

Asia has all forms of land features, climate, soil and natural vegetation. It has the
largest mountains, plains and plateaus in the world. Its features can be divided into
5 physical regions.

The Northern Mountains and Plateaus

The mountains in Asia are
the ancient rocks which are
formed about 300 million
years ago. How the mountains
here have eroded significantly
in millions of years. The
mountain ranges stretching
from the Mediterranean sea to
the Pacific Ocean. These major
mountain ranges are in Nepal,
India, China and Pakistan.
The ranges like Karakoram,
Hindukush, Suleiman, Elbrus,
etc. are the major mountain
ranges. Among the 14 highest
peaks of the world, there are 8 highest peaks along with Mt. Everest that lies in
Nepal. The Pamir mountain range in the central Asia is an earthquake prone zone.
The Great Himalayas and circumference of the Pacific Ocean come under it.
Dynamic Social Studies - Book IX 220