Continent of Asia

Asia is the largest continent among the seven continent of the world. There are 48 countries in Asia. It has the highest point on Earth, which is the Mount Everest (8,848m) and the lowest point, the Dead Sea (400 m below sea level). It is the most mountainous continent in the World. Ten of the World's highest peaks are found in Asia. The Plateau of Tibet, known as the 'Roof of the world" is the highest and largest plateau in the world. Most people of Asia are Chinese, Japanese, Indian, or Arab. The main religions include Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Jainism, Christianity, and Shintoism. The largest cities of Asia are Tokyo, Seoul, Jakarta, Dehli, Mumbai, Manila, and Shanghai. Verkhoyansk, which is in Russia, is the coldest place in the World with a winter temperature of - 70o C. Cherepunji, India has the world's highest rainfall. The land of Asia is divided into six regions. These six regions are North Asia, Central Asia, Southwest Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in Asia.

Boundry of Asia

Asia is surrounded by three oceans on three sides- the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Indian ocean in the south and the Pacific ocean in the east. Asia and Europe are separated by the Ural Mountains and the Ural river. The continent of Europe lies to the west of Asia. The connection of Asia with Africa is broken only by the Suez Canal between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.The Suez Canel separates it from Africa and the Bering Strait from North America.

Location

Asia is located between 10oS to 80o N Latitudes and between 25oE to 170oW Longitudes. It is located in the east of Europe, north of the Indian Ocean. It is bordered on the east by the Pacific Ocean and on the north by the Arctic Ocean.

Facts About Asia

Area	44,387,000 sq km
Seas	Sea of Japan, Bering StraitRed Sea, Gulf of Oman,Persian Gulf, Bay of Bengal, China Sea, Yellow sea
Lakes	Lake Balkhash, Caspian sea, Aral sea, Lake Sea
Islands	Taiwan, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, New Kurile, Honshu, Srilanka, Hokkaido, New Gunea, Cyprus
Mountains	Pamir, knot, Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindukush, Elbruz, Sulaiman, Urals, Kunlun, Tien shah, Atai
Plateaus	, Plateau of Iran, Anatolia Plateau, Plateau of Tibet, Plateau of Arabia, Plateau of Mongolia, Plateau of Yunnan, Deccan Plateau.
Deserts	Arabian Desert, Gobi Desert, Thar Desert
Rivers	Indus, Euphrates, Hwang Ho, Yangtse, Sikiang, Amur, Lena, Yenisei, Ob, Irrawadi, Salween, Mekong, Tigris.
Important Cities	Manila, Guangzhou, Hongkomg, Shanghai, TokyoAden, New Delhi, Colombo, Yangoon, Kolkatta, Karachi, Kaula Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore.

Physical  Division

• The Northern Lowlands:The Norther Lowlands lies in the northern part of Asia. It extends all long the Siberian Plains
• The Central Mountains and Plateaus:The Central Mountains and Plateaus lies in the central part of Asia. It also comprises of mountain ranges and plateau. The highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau, and the highest mountain range lies in this area. Similarly, the Himalayan Range also lies here.
• The Southern Plateaus:The Southern Plateaus comprises of three main plateaus in the southern part of the continent, namely, the plateaus of Arabia, the Deccan plateaus of India and the plateaus of Yunnan and Indo-China.
• The Great River Plain:It refers the fertile formed by Tigris, Euphrates, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Menam, Yangtse and Hwang Ho rivers.
• The Island Chain:It is formed by the Japanese Island, the island of Philippines and Indonesia, etc.

Climate

• Equatorial Climate:It is hot and wet in the Southern part of Asia which is close to the equator. The Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia experience such climate.
• Monsoon Climate:Monsoon Climate shows that it is hot and wet in summers and cold and dry in winters. The Countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and China have such type of monsoon climate. Similarly, most part of South and South-East has such type of climate.
• Desert Climate:The Desert climate lies in the central part and the western parts of Asia. It is dry in all seasons. There is a desert climate. The desert of Arabia, Thar in india, the Gobi and Shamo of Central Asia lies in the Desert climate.
• Mediterranean Climate:It is hot and dry summers and warm-wet winters in this Mediterranean Climate. The Countries like Syria and Turkey experience such type of Climate.
• Arctic or Tundra Climate:This Climate is characterized in the extreme north of the continent. It is extremely cold throughout the year.

Natural VegetaiIon

The Climate of Asia differs from place to place. As we know that the Natural Vegetation of Asia depends on upon the climate. There are different types of natural vegetation in different parts of Asia.

• The coniferous evergreen forests are found in the Northern parts of Siberia. It is called Taiga.
• The extreme north of Asia has a cold climate as the land remains covered with snow. It has very little vegetation.
• The central and western part of Asia is the Arabian, Thar and Gobi desert region of Asia. Here, the only plants and cactus grow there.
•  In the middle of the Central Asia Continent, the rainfall is not enough to support the growth of trees. It is also called Steppes.
• The Southeast and South-Asia have the hot climate with rainfall in summer. It is also called Monsoon region. These regions have mostly deciduous forests.
• The South part of the Asia have hot and wet climate all through the year. It is also known as the islands of Asia. These regions have thick evergreen forests.