WORLD MAP

EQUATOR
Countries That Lie on the Equator
13 Countries That Lie on the Equator
Of the 13 countries that lie on the equator, seven are in Africa—the most of any
continent—and South America is home to three of the nations. The remaining
countries are island nations in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

11 of these countries are in direct contact with the equator. The landmasses of
Maldives and Kiribati, however, do not touch the equator itself. Instead, the equator
passes through water belonging to these islands.

TROPIC OF CANCER
Moving east of the Prime Meridian, the Tropic of Cancer passes
through the following Countries:

 Algeria
 Niger
 Libya
 Egypt
 Saudi Arabia
 UAE (Abu Dhabi)
 Oman
 India
 Bangladesh
 Myanmar
 China
 Taiwan
 Mexico
 Bahamas
 Western Sahara (area claimed by Morocco; Sahrawi Arab Democratic
Republic)
 Mauritania
 Mali
The Tropic of Cancer passes through the following Oceans and
Seas:

 Red Sea
 Indian Ocean
 Taiwan Strait
 Pacific Ocean
 Philippine Sea
 Gulf of California
 Gulf of Mexico
 Atlantic Ocean

TROPIC OF CAPRICORN:
It passes through these countries or overseas
territories:
 Chile
 Argentina
 Paraguay
 Brazil
 Namibia
 Botswana
 South Africa
 Mozambique
 Madagascar
 Australia
 French Polynesia

ARCTIC CIRCLE
Questions:

Which place is very close to Arctic circle?

Water bodies touches to Arctic circle.

Places north or south of Arctic circle.

The Arctic Circle is one of the two polar circles and the most northerly of the
five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth.
It marks the northernmost point at which the centre of the noon sun is just
visible on the December solstice and the southernmost point at which the
centre of the midnight sun is just visible on the June solstice.
The region north of this circle is known as the Arctic, and the zone just to the
south is called the Northern Temperate Zone.
As seen from the Arctic, the Sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours
at least once per year (and therefore visible at midnight) and below the
horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year (and therefore not
visible at noon).
The Arctic Circle is currently drifting northwards at a speed of about 15 m
(49 ft) per year.

The Arctic Circle passes through the Arctic Ocean, the Scandinavian
Peninsula, North Asia, Northern America, and Greenland.

The land within the Arctic Circle is divided among eight countries: Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada (Yukon, Northwest
Territories, and Nunavut), Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland (where it passes
through the small offshore island of Grímsey).

The climate inside the Arctic Circle is generally cold, but the coastal areas of
Norway have a generally mild climate as a result of the Gulf Stream, which
makes the ports of northern Norway and northwest Russia ice-free all year
long. In the interior, summers can be quite warm, while winters are extremely
cold. For example, summer temperatures in Norilsk, Russia will sometimes
reach as high as 30 °C (86 °F), while the winter temperatures frequently fall
below −50 °C (−58 °F).

ASIA POLITICAL MAP

It is located primarily in the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres.

The Equator, Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle passes through it.

It is separated from Africa by the Red Sea and Suez Canal.

It is separated from North America by Berling Strait.

Arabian Peninsula is the largest Peninsula in the World.

The deepest trench of the world: Mariana Trench lies in the Pacific
Ocean near Philippines.

Pamir Plateau is known as 'Roof of the World' situated in the Central

Asia.

The Five Regions Of Asia

1. Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan)

Central Asia is west of China, south of Russia, and north of

Afghanistan. The western border of this region runs along the
Caspian Sea. Central Asia is politically divided into five countries:
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Given that the name of each of these countries ends in "-stan,"
Central Asia is sometimes informally referred to as "The Stans."

Central Asia played an important role in the transportation of goods

between China and Europe during the Silk Road trading era.

2. East Asia (China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea,

Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau)

East Asia is located east of Central Asia, with its eastern border
running along the East China Sea. East Asia is politically divided into
eight countries and regions: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South
Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. This region covers a
total area of 4,571,092 square miles and has a population size of
more than 1.641 billion, which represents 22% of the global
population and 38% of Asia's total population. Many residents of
East Asia are concentrated in major metropolitan areas such as
Beijing and Tokyo.

The geography of East Asia is varied depending on the zone. The

inner continental area experiences a temperate climate, while
Mongolia is covered by the arid Gobi desert. China, the largest
country in the region, is home to both mountains and plateaus, while
Japan is characterized by thousands of islands and coastlines. Today,
East Asia is believed to have some of the most advanced
technologies in the world, which fosters economic development.
 3. South Asia (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives)

South Asia has a peninsula-like shape that is bordered by three

bodies of water: the Indian Ocean to the south, the Bay of Bengal to
the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The region includes Indian
subcontinent and surrounding countries. South Asia is politically
divided into eight autonomous countries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. The
region covers a total area of roughly two million square miles and has
a population size of more than 1.74 billion, which is nearly a quarter of
the global population. Additionally, South Asia has the distinction of
being the most densely populated area in the world.
 4. Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Lester,
Vietnam, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands)

Southeast Asia is located north of Australia, south of East Asia, west

of the Pacific Ocean, and east of the Bay of Bengal. It encompasses
several island and archipelago nations that stretch between the
northern and southern hemispheres, making it the only Asian region
located on both sides of the equator. Southeast Asia is politically
divided into 15 countries and territories: Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands.
Southeast Asia covers a total area of 1,735,121 square miles and has
a population size of more than 641 million individuals. The
geography of Southeast Asia is characterized by a large number of
archipelagos. The Indonesian Archipelago is the biggest in the world
and is home to the largest number of active volcanoes in the world.
The region's importance in global trade began during the spice trade,
which started before European exploration. Today, the economy of
Southeast Asia is rapidly developing. Indonesia is considered the
largest economy in the region and is East Asia's only member of the
G20.

5. Western Asia (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey,

Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq,
Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
West Asia is located in the area between Central Asia and Africa,
south of Eastern Europe. The majority of the region is often referred
to as the Middle East, although it geographically excludes the
mainland of Egypt (which is culturally considered a Middle Eastern
country). West Asia is politically divided into 19 states: Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel,
Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. It also includes the Sinai
Peninsula of Egypt. The region covers a total area of around 2.415
million square miles and has a population size of 313.428 million.
A large area of the region is covered by an arid desert environment.
However, West Asia does have several points of access to large
bodies of water, including the Black Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea,
Red Sea, Caspian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea.

IMPORTANT ORGANISATION IN ASIA

ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (more commonly known as

ASEAN) is an intergovernmental organization aimed primarily at promoting
economic growth and regional stability among its members.
There are currently 10 member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.

SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the

regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states
in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the
world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion)of the
global economy, as of 2015.
SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.Its secretariat is based
in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic
and regional integration. It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in
2006.SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United
Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities,
including the European Union.
BIMSTEC

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and

Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation of
seven nations of South Asia and South East Asia, housing 1.5 billion
people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion
(2018).

Major Strait: Malacca Strait, Palk Strait, Sunda Strait, Bering Strait,
Bonne-Fasio Strait, Bosporous Strait, Hormuz Strait, Makkassar Strait,
Tsungaru Strait and Formosa Strait.
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION
The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and security organization
comprising of eight member states, namely, China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan; India and Pakistan
joined SCO as full members on 09 June 2017 at a Summit in Astana,
Kazakhstan. Apart from the member nations, Iran, Afghanistan,
Belarus and Mongolia are observer states.

The SCO is emerging as one of the world's most powerful and

influential organizations, which represents around 42% of the
world’s population, covering 60% of the Eurasian landmass and 20%
of the global GDP.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is being seen as a means by
the Eurasian bloc to establish "balance of power" through the
expansion of this regional organizations in a West-dominated world
order. This "alliance of Asia", is often being dubbed as the counter
for NATO.
Mekong–Ganga Cooperation
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries – India
and five ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport
and communications. It was launched in 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR. Both the
Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational rivers, and the MGC initiative aims to
facilitate closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river
basins. The MGC is also indicative of the cultural and commercial linkages
among the member countries of the MGC down the centuries.

TAPI NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline is a
1,814km trans-country natural gas pipeline running across four
countries.

Also known as the Peace Pipeline and Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline, the

TAPI pipeline will begin in Turkmenistan and traverse Afghanistan to
enter Pakistan and India.

Designed to serve for 30 years, the pipeline is expected to

commence operations in 2020. It is expected to transport 33 billion
cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas a year.

Vladivostok-Chennai Maritime Corridor

The Vladivostok-Chennai Maritime Corridor (VCMC) has the
potential to not only reset the trade route for India and Russia
through Northeast Asia, but also aggravate China’s security
concerns in the South China Sea and its grander aspirations with
the Maritime Silk Route. Being both a member of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) constructed by Russia and China
and part of the larger Indo-Pacific narrative with the U.S. and
Japan, India seems to be continuing its traditional policy of
balancing the influence of various powers involved in its strategic
interests.

Bonne Fasio Strait

Bosporous Strait

Hormuz strait
Makkassar Strait

Tsungaru Strait
Formosa Strait.
Asia is the largest of the world's continents, it constitutes nearly one-third
of Earth's landmass and is lying entirely north of the equator except for some
Southeast Asian islands. Asia is connected to Africa by the Isthmus
of Suez (Egypt) and borders Europe (which is part of the same landmass) along
the Ural Mountains and across the Caspian Sea.

Highest Point: Sagarmatha (Chomolungma; known as Mount Everest) 8,848m

(29,028 ft) Nepal.
Largest Lake: Caspian Sea (salt lake) 371 000 km² (143 250 sq mi),
Ozero Baykal, Lake Baikal 31 500 km² in Siberia is the world's largest
freshwater lake by volume.
Longest River: Yangtze (Yangzi Jiang, or Chang Jiang (simplified Chinese: China,
6,380 km (3,964 mi).

What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in

Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
1.Shanghai

2.Bangkok

3.Jakarta

4.Osaka

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

A. 4-2-1-3

B. 3-2-1-4

C. 3-4-1-2

D. 4-3-2-1
ASIA PHYSICAL MAP
The Rub’ al Khali desert, considered the world’s largest sand sea, covers an area larger than
France across Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It holds roughly
half as much sand as Africa’s Sahara desert, even though it is 15 times smaller in size. The
desert is known as the Empty Quarter because it is virtually inhospitable to humans except
for Bedouin tribes that live on its edges.
Central Asia is dominated by a steppe landscape, a large area of flat, unforested grassland.
Mongolia can be divided into different steppe zones: the mountain forest steppe, the arid
steppe, and the desert steppe. These zones transition from the country’s mountainous
region in the north to the Gobi Desert on the southern border with China.
Lake Baikal, located in southern Russia, is the deepest lake in the world,
reaching a depth of 1,620 meters (5,315 feet). The lake contains 20 percent of
the world’s unfrozen freshwater, making it the largest reservoir on Earth. It is
also the world’s oldest lake, at 25 million years old.

Important mountains of Asia

1. Hindukush Mountain Range:

2. Elbruz Mountain
3. Sulaiman Range
4. Kirthar Range
5. Makran Range
6. Zagros
 7. Pontic Mountain range
8. Taurus Mountain Range

Major Rivers:
Ob River, Irtysh River, Yenisey River, the Angara River, Lena
River, Yana River, Indigirka River, Kolyma Rivers, Anadyr River, Amur
River, Huang He (Yellow River) River, Yangtze (Chang) River, Xi River,
Red River, Mekong River, Chao Phraya River, Salween River,
Irrawaddy River, Brahmaputra River, Ganges (Ganga) River, Godavari
River, Krishna River, Indus River, Kura River, Aras River, Amu Darya
(ancient Oxus River), Syr Darya (ancient Jaxartes River), Ili (Yili), Tarim
River, Helmand River, and Harirud River.

Ob River:

Source: Atlas mountain

 Outflow: Gulf of Ob
Tributaries : Irtysh, Tobolsk

Yangtse Kiang

 It is the longest river of Asia.

 It flows through Szechuan basin.
 Shangai and Wuhan, are the important cities of China lying
along the river.
Source:
Tibetan Plateau
 Outflow: East China Sea

Amu Darya and Syr Darya

The principal rivers of Central Asia flow in to the Aral Sea through the
semi and depression.

Tigris and Eupharates

 These two rivers dominate Iraq and flow south-eastwards across
the country then drain into the Persian Gulf via a combined estuary.
 They meet at Shatt-al-Arab in Iraq.

Si Kiang River:
More than half of the total silk production in China comes from the Yangtse
Kiang and Si Kiang deltas.

Mekong
 It flows through China, Thailand-Laos border, Cambodia and Vietnam over
4,160 km to South China Sea.
 Longest river in South East Asia.
 In Laos, the Mekong forms the western boundary with Thailand.
 Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minch cities are situated on the bank of river.
 Mekong valley of south Vietnam is devoted to rice cultivation.
 Delta: Arcuate, is (characterised by funnel shaped distributaries, stabled by
growth of mangrove vegetation) lying in Vietnam.

Outflow: South China Sea

 Salween River

 It flows through China & Shan Plateau (Myanmar) over 2,090 km.
 Longest river of Myanmar.