Class 8 Geography
Lesson – ASIA: Location, Pol. and Physical Features
1. Asia is often described as the continent of contrast. Give two reasons.
Asia is often described as the continent of contrast because –
a. Both the highest peak (Mt. Everest) and the lowest point on the surface of the earth (Dead Sea) are
situated in Asia.
b. It has the most densely populated region, the India-Gangetic plain having population density of
1000 per Sq. Km and has one of the least densely populated regions in the world, Mangolia having
population density of 2 per Sq. Km
2. Asia is almost situated entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Give reason.
The mainland of Asia extends from latitudes 77° 43' N to 1° 16' N and hence it is considered in the Northern
Hemisphere.
3. Asia is almost situated entirely in the Eastern Hemisphere. Give reason.
The mainland of Asia stretches from Cape Baba in the Mediterranean shore of Turkey at 26° 4' E to Cape
Dezhnyov in Russia at 169° 40' W.
4. Name three important latitudes that pass-through Asia
The Equator, the Tropics of Cancer and the Artic Circle.
5. Who are Aisa’s Neighbours?
North – Artic Ocean; South – Indian Ocean; East – Pacific Ocean; West – Urals, Caspian, Black and Red Sea.
6. How many countries are there in Asia?
There are 48 countries as per UN and three dependencies – Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macau.
7. Division of Asia based on Cultural and Geographical features.
South Asia – India & Pak East Asia – China & Japan Southeast – Thailand, Singapore
North Asia – Siberia of Russia West Asia – UAE & Qatar Central Asia – Uzbek and Kyrgyz
8. Physical Division of Asia
a. The Northern Lowlands: Consists of two subdivisions, the Siberian Plain and the Turan Plain
i. The Siberian Plain characteristics and features are as below
Largest continuous plain in the world
Roughly triangular in shape
Boundaries: East – Bering Strait; West – Ural Mountains, South – Central Mountains.
ii. The Turan Plain characteristics and features are as below
An arid zone including two deserts – the Karakum and the Kyzylkum
It is drained by two rivers – the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya
b. The Central Mountain Mass
I. Made up of lofty young fold mountains
II. Consists of Intermontane Plateaus
c. The Plateaus of the South
I. Made up of old, hard metamorphic rocks
II. The plateaus jut into the sea forming peninsula – Arabian, Deccan, Indochina plateaus.
d. The River Valleys – Asia is home to world’s largest river valleys
I. Tigris and Euphrates formed the Mesopotamian plain
II. Indus and its five tributaries formed Indus Valley plain
III. Ganga and Brahmaputra formed Indio-Gangetic plain
e. The Island Groups
I. Lakshadweep and Andaman Island groups
II. Japanese Island groups.
9. The northern part of Siberian plains has vast swamps and marshes. Give reasons.
The Siberian plains have vast swamps and marshes because in spring when the snow melts on the central
mountains, the flow of the river increases but as their mouth remains blocked by the artic Icesheet resulting
in the reivers overflowing their banks forming swamps and marshes.
10. Why is the Plateau of Tibet known as “The Roof of the World”?
The Plateau of Tibet is known as “The Roof of the World” because at an elevation of over 5000 m, it is the
highest plateau in the world.
11. The Deccan plateau and the plateau of Indochina are highly dissected and rugged?
The Deccan and Indochina plateaus are highly dissected and rugged because over a period of time the
plateaus have been deeply eroded by rivers and streams.
12. With reference to the Northern Lowlands answer the following-
a. Name two rivers in each of these plains-
i. The Siberian Plain – Ob and Lena
ii. The Turan Plain- Syr Darya and Amu Darya
b. Which plain lies to the south of the Urals? Name two deserts found here.
The Turan plain lies to the south of Urals. The two deserts are: the Karakum and the Kyzylkum.
13. With reference to The Central Mountain Mass answer the following-
a. Define Knots. Name two knots found in this region.
The central point from where the mountain ranges radiate like the spokes of wheel is known as
“knots”. The two knots found in Central Mountain Mass are – the Pamir knot & the Armenian knot.
b. What are intermontane plateaus? Name two such plateaus found here.
The plateaus that lie between two mountain ranges is known as “Intermontane Plateau”. The two
such plateaus found in Central Mountain Mass are the Plateau of Tibet and the Plateau of Anatolia.
c. Name three mountains each radiating from the two knots named by you.
Pamir knot – Himalayas, Karakoram and Kunlun
Armenian knot – Elburz, Zagros and Pontic Mountains
14. With reference to The Plateaus of the South answer the following-
a. Name any three rivers flowing through-
Deccan Plateau – Krishna, Kaveri and Godavari
Plateau of Indochina – Mekong, Si Kiang, Irrawaddy
b. State one feature of the following-
Plateau of Arabia – Arabian desert lies in this plateau
Deccan Plateau – Lies between the Western and Eastern Ghats.
COUNTRY CAPITAL CITIES COUNTRY CAPITAL CITIES
Afghanistan Kabul Pakistan Islamabad
Bangladesh Dhaka Russia Moscow
Bhutan Thimphu South Korea Seoul
China Beijing Thailand Bangkok
India New Delhi Turkey Ankara
Japan Tokyo UAE Abu Dhabi
Nepal Kathmandu
Maldives Male
