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DESCRIPTIVE NAMES OF ASIAN COUNTRIES

Armenia Historical Landmark of Turkish Assault

Azerbaijan Dreamland of Brave Fighters
Georgia Wealthiest per capita Republic of former USSR
Kazakhstan Land of a Promising Oil Industry
Kyrgyzstan North Asia’s Mountainous Country
Mongolia Land of the Horsemen
Russia World’s Largest Country
Russian Siberia Land Where the Sun Never Rises
Tajikistan Rebel State of the Former Soviet Union
Turkmenistan Land of the Turkish Farmers
Uzbekistan Center of Ancient Silk Roads

Afghanistan Highways of the Ancient Invaders

Bahrain Land of Two Seas
Cyprus Fertile Island of the Mediterranean Sea
Iran Land of the Great Persian Empire
Iraq Land of the Famous Twin Rivers
Israel Birthplace of Judaism and Christianity
Jordan Birthplace of Judaism and Christianity
Kuwait Landmark of the Historical Desert Storm
Lebanon Harbinger of an Ancient Civilization
Oman Tiny Kingdoms of Powerful Monarchs
Qatar Land of the Seven Sheikdoms
Saudi Arabia Birthplace of Islam
Syria Land of Saladin
Turkey Land of the Ottoman Turks
United Arab Emirates Seat of the Seven Sheikdoms
Yemen Land of Sheba

Bangladesh Land of the Bengalis

Bhutan Land of the Thunder Dragons
India Birthplace of Buddhism and Hinduism
Nepal Land of the Great Himalayan Range
Pakistan Land born out of India
Sri Lanka Land of Jewels
Maldives Tiny Island of South Asia

Brunei Richest Nation in Southeast Asia

Cambodia Land of the Khmers
Indonesia World’s Largest Archipelago
Laos Land of a Million Elephants
Malaysia Land of the Indigenous Malays
Myanmar Land of the Golden Pagodas
Philippines Pearl of the Orient Seas
Singapore Land of the Shipbuilders
Thailand Land of the Free
Vietnam Tiny Dragon of Southeast Asia

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China Red Dragon of Asia
Japan Land of the Rising Sun
South Korea The Rising Industrialized Country of East Asia
North Korea East Asia’s Red Dragon
Taiwan Nation Struggling for its Own Identity
Hong Kong World Trading Center

THE GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA

Geography: The Basis of the Region

We use the concept of region to help link and understand the characteristics of the world. Region
refers to the union of places according to government, climate, culture, and history.

Owing to the vastness of Asia, the countries of the continent are group according to their shared
culture, history, politics, and environment. The table below lists the countries belonging to each region.

REGION COUNTRIES
East Asia China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan

South Asia Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh
Southeast Asia Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and Laos

Southwest Asia Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iran, and
Afghanistan
Central Asia Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan

East Asia China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan

East Asia has the distinction of being the most populated

area in the world. Japan, one of the world’s most developed
economies also belongs to this region.
China is the largest country in East Asia in terms of land
area and population. Japan is on the eastern side of this region
while Taiwan is on the southeast part. Hong Kong and Macau,
two former colonies, are now under the control of the People’s
Republic of China. In addition, the Korean peninsula is divided
into two countries: North and South Korea. Though Mongolia was
once a satellite of the former USSR, its culture finds more affinity
with the rest of East Asia.
1. Location

East Asia borders Russia on the north and south, the desert of Central Asia, Japan and Taiwan as well as
the islands of the Pacific on the south.

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2. Climate and Weather

Generally, the monsoon climate prevails in East Asia. It is the result of monsoon winds that change
directions twice a year. In winter, the wind blows from the cold central part of the region to the seas. During
summer, the wind changes direction from sea to land bringing rains.
Owing to its huge size, the region has varied weather conditions. South China, Hong Kong, Macau,
Taiwan is warm because they are located in the low latitude area. A big part of the region is in the middle
latitude.
3. Natural Resources

East Asia occupies a large part of Asia with China accounting for over 20 percent of the continental’s
total land area. The other countries of the region (Japan and the two Koreas) only make up a very small
portion (about 5 percent) of East Asia.
The mountains of East Asia are massive. Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It is covered
with snow all year, making the tasks of climbing and exploring it extremely difficult. The Himalayas Mountain
range borders East Asia and India. In the middle of the range are cliffs, while Tibet lies between the mountain
ranges of the Himalayas and Kunlun.
Between these mountains are valleys and plateaus. The mountains obstruct the glow of wind and rains
resulting in drought in the valleys and plains. The area lacks water to the detriment of its agriculture. Animal
grazing is the main livelihood here. China, however, has fertile land and abundant irrigation. Its rivers enrich
the soil and boosts agricultural development.
In the islands and peninsulas of East Asia, agriculture, fishing, and industry are the main livelihood.
4. Human Resources

As mentioned earlier, China is the most populated country in the world. It has more than 1.2 billion
people, most of whom live in the eastern section of the region where major rivers flow. However, a vast
portion of China remains uninhabited.
There is not much difference in the ethnic characteristics of East Asians because most of them come
from China. The Chinese diaspora carried its own religion, traditions, technology, and culture into many parts
of Asia.
On the other hand, Japan has the most progressive economy in Asia at the present time. The economic
boom it currently enjoys is the result of the country’s national unity and determination.

South Asia Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh
South Asia is a region with diverse ethnic groupings despite its
very compact geography. It is also
known as the Indian subcontinent.
Experts refer to it as a crossroads.
The Himalayas is a natural shield
against conquerors, resulting in
the progress of commerce and
economic activities in this region.

1. Location
Triangular in shape, the South Asian peninsula borders the Indian
Ocean in the south and the Himalayas in the North. Historic India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are found in the
west; Bangladesh in the east; Nepal and Bhutan in the north; and Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the south.

2. Climate and Weather

A large part of South Asia suffers from drought while its middle part is wet. The rivers, therefore, are
very important in irrigating the land. The south has mostly tropical weather and people depend on the
monsoon to bring rains.

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3. Natural Resources
The Himalayas and Hindu Kush are the mountain ranges in the northern part of South Asia. They serve
as shields against conquerors although there are platforms connecting them for trade with the rest of the
region.
On the southern side of the mountains are wide valleys irrigated by water flowing from the rivers of
the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. These rivers flow toward Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. In these parts
live five out of nine persons in South Asia.
The plains of Decca are another important section of the region. It is rich in minerals such as iron,
limestone, and manganese. Sri Lanka is also rich in natural resources.
4. Human Resources
India, the largest country in South Asia, is the second most populous country in the world. Most of its
people live in valleys and coasts.
The region is known as a melting pot of different cultures, which has unfortunately brought about
destruction and animosities.
Most of the areas of South Asia experienced colonial rule and subsequently transitioned to semi-
democratic forms of governments; however, many people in the region are still in the grips of poverty.

Southeast Asia Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Brunei, Singapore, and Laos

Southeast Asia is another melting pot of varied races,

cultures, and religions. The important gateways of India to China
and Europe to the Pacific Ocean can be found here.
Consequently, Indian, Chinese, Arabian, and European heritage
are prevalent in this region, making it a colorful showcase of
cultural panorama.
1. Location
The wide expanse of Southeast Asia is located south of China and
Japan. India borders it on the northwest and the Pacific Ocean on
the east.
2. Climate and Weather
The climate of Southeast Asia is similar to the rest of the other Asian regions. Being in the tropical
zone, Southeast Asia has equal dry and wet seasons throughout the year. There is no desert in this region.
3. Natural Resources
Southeast Asia is divided into two parts: the continental and the insular. The continental portion is
composed of mountain ranges and rivers located in the southern and southeastern parts of Tibet and include
Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The latter has bountiful rivers inhabited by many
societies. On the edge of the plains are mountains without communities.
COUNTRIES MAJOR RIVERS
Myanmar Irrawaddy
Thailand Chao Phraya
Laos Mekong
Cambodia Mekong
South Vietnam Mekong
North Vietnam Red River
The rivers flow from the mountains to the seas enriching the agricultural lands in the coastal areas.
Insular Southeast Asia included the Malayan Peninsula and the islands of Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines. These islands appear like a chain in the Pacific Ocean.
According to experts, this region has the greatest number of islands in the whole world. Indonesia alone has
13,000 islands while the Philippines has over seven thousand. Most of these islands are mountainous.

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 Southeast Asia has the biggest rainforest providing livelihood, medicines, and other items. Southeast
Asian countries continue to develop their natural resources and industries. Indonesia takes the lead as a
petroleum producing country while Malaysia is known for its tin industry. Other countries use modern
technology to develop their agriculture industry. Agricultural products in the region include banana, coconut,
sugar cane, tea, palm oil, and rubber.
4. Human Resources
Southeast Asia is smaller in population than South or East Asia numbering around 440 million people.
Population density is uneven in many parts of Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, half of the country’s population
lives in Java.
In addition, the region is a meeting point of mixed cultures, ethnicity, and religions.

Southwest Asia Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United
Arab Emirates, Iran, and Afghanistan
Southwest Asia is bordered by Iran in the North and Iraq, Syria,
Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia in the south. The
desert serves as the meeting point of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The region is host to three important religions of the world: Islam,
Judaism, and Christianity. Islam is the most dominant religion in this
area.
1. Location
Southwest Asia lies between the continental part of Asia and the
northern part of Africa. Despite its extremely warm weather and the
desert, there are oases that provide some cooling effect on the
region.
2. Climate and Weather
Because the wind blows from the land to the ocean, extreme warm weather prevails in the region. The
region lies between 20o and 30o North latitude and is referred to as the dry band. It is the hottest place in the
world as equatorial winds seldom blow towards 20 o North latitude. In general, while the coastal areas
experience rain, it becomes hotter and drier as one moves towards the desert areas.
3. Natural Resources
Water is important to Southwest Asia and countries in the region innovate and use technologies to
make ocean water potable, Afghanistan is the only country far from the ocean.
The region has the most extensive oil fields in the world. In derives considerable earnings from the oil
trade, which supports its economies and provides a source of livelihood.
According to geologists, mountains are very important sources of water for valleys and deserts making
animal grazing possible despite the warm weather.
4. Human Resources
The Arabs constitute the largest ethnic group in Southwest Asia with Arabic as the most widely used
language in the region. Though not all of the people in Southwest Asia are Arabs, most are Muslims. Overall,
however, Arabic culture has made important contributions to world cultures.
A majority of the inhabitants of the region are Muslims while the Jews are concentrated in Israel. Both
the Muslims and the Jews are not on good terms with one another. At the present time. the conflict between
Palestinian Muslims and Israeli Jews continue to escalate in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza strip. The rift
between the two groups is a complex issue, which has resulted in much violence and numerous deaths on
both sides.
Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq, gave birth to the oldest civilization in the world. Like other
civilizations in East and South Asia, flourished between the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers that flow from Iraq to
Jordan and Israel.
Half of the region’s almost 100 million population lives in Iran and Turkey.

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Central Asia Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,
and Tajikistan

Central Asia is perceived as non-Asian as its people and culture

have greater affinity with Europe. The Russian empire controlled
the region from the 17th to the 19th century until it was made part
of the Soviet Union under a communist government.

1. Location
The Ural Mountain divides Europe and Asia. Like China in East
Asia, Russia is the most expansive country in Central Asia. The
Bering Strait borders is near North America (Alaska).

2. Climate and Weather

Because of its distance to the equator, the region is colder than other places in Asia. Since it is also far
from the oceans, the area has long winter seasons and only occasional rains.
3. Natural Resources
The region sits on a very wide and barren area which is largely uninhabited like Siberia. Vegetation is
rare and can only be found in higher elevations that have suitable irrigation.
Aside from oil, kerosene, iron, tin, copper, gold, and diamond, half of the total coal deposit of the
world can be found here. Mining and logging are the primary industries of Central Asia. Despite its major
potential, the region’s climate poses, a big problem to its inhabitants.

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