The Physical and Human Landscape of the Asian Region

Regional identity

The Asian Region which occupies about 1/3 of the total land area of the world covers 43.6 million km square. This vast region contains a multitude of topographic features, climates, vegetations and a variety of human activities that are a response to these physical characteristics. The objective of this lesson is to explore in detail the nature of the physical and human environment in this region together with its components, characteristics and processes. Now let us see the location of the vast area covered by the Asian region in a world map.
The Asian Region is bordered by,
  • Arctic Ocean - on the North
  • Indian Ocean - on the South
  • Pacific Ocean - on the East and
  • The European Continent and Red Sea - on the West
According to the absolute location, it spreads up to 80º North latitude and 10º South latitude from the Equator. As per longitudinal location, it spreads between longitudes 25ºE and 180ºE.
According to the latitudinal and longitudinal locations it is evident that Asia spreads over the entire Eastern Hemisphere. Asia is separated from Europe by Ural mountains and from the African continent by the Red sea and Suez Canal.

The Asian Region which constitutes one of the oldest landmasses of the world, is also the largest continent. It has well marked physical and human characteristics distinguishing it from the other continents. Asia is the home to the world’s most ancient civilizations such as Euphrates, Tigris, Indus Valley and Hwang Ho. Similarly religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and other faiths such as Confucism and Shintoism arose here. Countries like Sri Lanka and India where excellent irrigation technologies of the ancient hydrological civilizations evolved are also situated in Asia.

Asian Region is the Eastern part of the large land mass called Eurasia to which Europe and Asia belong. Six zones can be identified within the region according to the terrain, climate and cultural features. These zones are,
  1. North Asia
  2. South Asia
  3. East Asia
  4. Central Asia
  5. South East Asia and
  6. Middle East or South West Asia.

North Asia

  • A vast plain.
  • Siberia and Tundra regions are situated
  • Main rivers are Ob, Yenisey, Lena and Amur.
  • There are Coniferous forests which are named as Taiga.
  • Timber industry and nomadic herding are found.
  • A sparsely populated zone.

East Asia

  • Main countries are Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China.
  • There are high plateaus and plains.
  • Yangtze, Si kiang and Hwang Ho are the main rivers.
  • Constitutes leading industrial countries where motor vehicles, ships, electronic equipment etc. are produced.
  • Paddy and maize cultivation are important agricultural activities
  • A densely populated zone.

South Asia

  • Includes India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.
  • Himalayan range, Sulaiman and Hindukush ridges, mountains like Pidurutalagala, Indus and Horton plains and plateaus like Deccan lie within the region.
  • Rivers such as Indus, Ganga, Narmada, Tapti, Brahmaputra, Mahaweli and Nilwala drain the region.
  • There are tropical forests.
  • Crops such as paddy, cotton, maize and tea as well as different types of industries are found here.
  • It is a densely populated zone.

South East Asia

  • Consists of countries such as 
    Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, 
    Cambodia, Vietnam and other 
    islands countries, e.g., Indonesia.
  • Mekong, Salween and Irrawaddy are 
    the main rivers.
  • There are tropical rain forests and 
    monsoon forests.
  • Paddy and shifting agriculture are 
    major cultivations.
  • Assembling industries and electronics 
    predominate.
  • A densely populated zone.

Central Asia

  • Contains plateaus of Tibet, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and the western part of China.
  • There are plains and high plateaus surrounded by mountains. 
  • Deserts such as Gobi and Takla-Makan are found.
  • Rivers like Tarim, Yangtze, Hwang Ho start here and there are also rivers which flow into the interior seas of Syr Darya and Amu Darya. 
  • Dry desert climate and steppes grasslands are found.
  • Nomadic herding is in evidence.

South West Asia 

  • Constitutes countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. 
  • Contains mountains and plateaus. The main mountains are the Zagros and Caucasus. Plateaus include the Arabian plateau, Iranian plateau and Anatolian plateau. 
  • Euphrates and Tigris rivers flow in to Persian Gulf. 
  • There are dry desert characteristics. 
  • Main source of income is crude oil. Fruits like dates and grapes are grown in oases.

The Physical Landscape of the Asian Region 

The Asian Region displays a diversity of physical features that cannot be found in other regions.  Let us find out about the physical landscape of this diverse region.

The Northern plain of the Asian Region is a well-marked topographic feature. As this area is snow-clad during most parts of the year, the flow of north flowing rivers are impeded resulting in marshy lands in some areas. This retards agricultural activities.

Because of the construction of the Great Siberian Railway, the surrounding
areas show some signs of development. On the whole, the region is very sparsely
populated. The climate is harsh and Eskimos living in the region show adaptations to
the harsh climate.

Another specific topographic feature in the Asian region is the ancient mountain ranges and plateaus. The mountain ranges which run to the East and West of the Pamir knot are known as the back bone of Asia. These mountains spread up to the Anatolian plateau in the West and to China and Indonesia in the East.

The specific features of the mountain areas in Asia;

  • Not suitable for human habitation due to the rough and 
    rugged relief.
  • Provide many river catchments.
  • Possess Alpine grasslands.
  • Not important for agricultural activities.
  • Provide homes for tribal people.
  • Important for recreational activities like skiing and 
    mountain climbing.
There are many plateaus and deserts surrounded by these mountains. The
deserts that consist of infertile grasslands and sand plains are unpopulated. But Iranian
and Deccan plateaus which enable dry grains to grow have moderate populations.

Most of these rivers are often subjected to floods. Therefore, valleys with fertile soils have been created. Agricultural lands and human lives are often destroyed due to floods. Presently, huge dams are built to control floods making these areas densely populated.
  • Paddy cultivation is spread in river valleys like Menam, Meekong, Salvin, Irrawaddy etc.
  • In addition to paddy, crops such as sugar cane, maize and barley are grown.
  • This is a densely populated region.

  • Therefore, cultivable land gets fragmented.

Climate of the Asian Region

Most features of the world climate are found spread over the Asian Region. The reason for this is the latitudinal extension of this region from the Equator to the Polar Regions. At one end people travel in sledges while at the other end they ride on camel back across deserts. However, climatic extremes do not prevail among the islands and the coastal areas.

Climatic conditions in the Asian region are shown on Simplified Map. As the Map shows, Monsoon Climate is specific to Southern and South-East Asian regions.
According to the map, following main climatic types are found in the Asian Region.
  1.  Tropical climate
  2. Dry climate
  3. Temperate climate
  4. Cold climate
  5. Tundra and mountain climate

Tropical climate

  • There are a few variations of this type (Hot wet climate, Monsoon climate, Tropical Desert climate etc.).
  • In the first two types of climate, high temperature and heavy rains persist throughout the year.
  • According to these variations, there are changes in temperature and rainfall.
  • Areas with Tropical Monsoon climate are suitable for agricultural activities.
  • Tropical Monsoon climate is found in South and South East parts of the Asian region. Suitability of the physical environment has made these areas very populous
    .

Dry climate

  • This is found in South West and Central Asia. 
  • The temperature in the South Western Asian region is very high.
  • Central Asian regions are very cold. 
    Therefore, these areas are sparsely populated.

  • Nomadic herding predominates among human activities. Dry grains such as maize and barley and fruits are grown in areas where there is a fair amount of rain. 

Temperate Climate 

  • There are many varieties. The main among these are the Mediterranean climate and the Temperate desert climate.
  • The main characteristic of the Mediterranean climate is wet winters and dry summers.
  • This climate is favourable for human habitation. In Asia, the region close to the Mediterranean Sea belongs to this climate.
  • These areas are noted for production and export of fruits such as grapes and apples.
  • Αreas with temperate desert climate are sparsely populated. People live in places where mineral resources such as iron ore, copper, silver etc.  are mined.

Cold  Climate

  • Found in North Asia, Siberia and North Japan.
  • Excessive cold makes these areas unsuitable for human habitation.
  • Timber industry is carried out in coniferous forests.

Tundra and Mountain Climate

  • This climate is found in higher mountain peaks and polar regions.
  • Area is covered with snow during most parts of the year.
  • There is no other vegetation cover except moss.
  • Not suitable for human habitation.

Cultural Heritage

Culture can be defined as a combination of elements such as language, clothing, food and drink, art and craft, literature, education, laws, norms and customs, and faiths of people living in a society. Culture is the force which provides the basis for all activities in society. There are many definitions of culture. A few selected definitions are given below. Read them and clearly understand what is really meant by culture.

“Culture is a complex whole which induces knowledge, beliefs, art, 
morals, laws, customs and other capabilities and habits acquired  
by man as a member of the society” 
                                                                                 E.B. Tylor 

“ What basically belongs to literature, history  and art is culture” 
                                                                            Lord Bertrand Russel 

“ The collective name which can be given 
to all the behavioural patterns which are symbolically 
owned by the society and acquired  from 
generation to generation is culture” 
                                                                            Charles .A. Elwood

Several factors affecting differences in culture

  • Geographical location
  • Nations
  • Languages
  • Religions
  • Ethnic groups
  • Livelihoods
  • Regional identity
  • Climate

Aspects common to all cultures

Language, clothing, faiths and beliefs, religion, methods of greeting, marriage, employment, arts and crafts, industries, habits and customs, traditions etc. 
Several factors affecting differences in culture.


According to the cultures of various ethnic groups such as Tamils,  Muslims, Sinhalese, Malays, etc. there are differences in clothing, food and religious practices. A country has different cultures, owing to the presence of people belonging to diverse ethnic groups and religions. A person living in a society has to maintain interrelationships with cultures that differ from his own. 

 World Heritage

Ancient objects specific to a particular culture but of universal value can be considered as world heritage. As you have already learnt in Grade 8, heritage can be of two types, namely, 
  • Tangible heritage – e.g. The Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Fortress of Sigiriya
  • Intangible heritage  - e.g., habits and customs, traditions, languages, dances, literature. 
Places of cultural heritage have been useful to man in various ways as sacred places, historical places, natural scenic places and places of strategic importance. The respective countries have been able to earn an income from tourists attracted to these places. Further, these cultural heritage sites have been instrumental in giving a special identity to the Asian Region.
Sigiriya fortress in Sri Lanka, which has become a world heritage.  This is an isolated hill carved by nature. Because of natural protection, it had subsequently been used as a fortress. It has turned out to be a world heritage because of its cultural significance. In the Asian Region there are many other places which  belong to world  heritage sites.


Steps taken to minimize challenges

It is not possible for any one Asian country to overcome these challenges single handedly. Therefore, countries have to be organized on a regional basis for this purpose. A number of organizations have been established in the Asian Region. Let us now consider what steps organizations such as SAARC, ASEAN, BIMSTEC and APEC have taken to minimize these problems.