Landforms and Physical Features of East Asia
East Asia has a wide range of landforms and physical features. For thousands of years, these have played an important role in shaping the lives of the people that have lived there. Today, many of these landforms serve as natural borders, impact trade routes, and have geopolitical implications.
Mountains and Plateaus
The Himalayan Mountain Range stretches across parts of China and into the South Asian nations of Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and India. The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, with peaks as high as 29,031 feet on Mount Everest. The Himalayas have served as a cultural divide due to their rugged terrain and high altitudes, and act as a barrier to migration. The glaciers in the Himalayas are a major source of freshwater in the region and feed major rivers like the Ganges, Indus, and Yangtze.
The Tibetan Plateau in Tibet is referred to as the “roof of the world” as it is the world’s highest and largest plateau. The Tibetan Plateau plays a major role in modulating the South Asian monsoon season, which is crucial for agricultural production in the region for crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane.
The Japanese Alps are located on Honshu Island in Japan and consist of three mountain ranges that stretch 200 miles. The Japanese Alps carry deep cultural and spiritual significance within Japanese history. They are often depicted in traditional Japanese art, literature, and poetry. Mount Tateyama in the Northern Alps, is known as one of the “Three Sacred Mountains of Japan,’ along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku.
River Systems
The Yangtze River stretches 3,900 miles from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, making it the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. The river's fertile floodplains supported early agriculture that led to the development of ancient civilizations in the region. It later helped to facilitate trade and transportation, which aided in the unification of China.
The Yellow River (Huang He) is known as the “Mother River of China” as it is considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. Archeological evidence shows settlements in the region over 4,000 years ago. The Yalu and Tumen Rivers form natural borders between China and North Korea.Â
Major Coastlines
The Yellow Sea coastline stretches along the eastern coast of China and the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. This region contains the major ports of Qingdao and Dalian in China, and Incheon in South Korea. This region is an important area for shipping and fishing for both countries.
The East China Sea coastline runs along the eastern coast of China and includes the major cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. The area has been a site of geopolitical tension between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands, with both countries claiming sovereignty over these islands because they are located near important shipping lanes and coveted natural resources.
The South China Sea coastline runs along the southern coast of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. The South China Sea is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. The shipping lanes are vital for facilitating the flow of goods, energy resources, and trade between East Asia and the rest of the world. China’s construction of artificial islands, military installations, and naval patrols in the area has led to disputes over access to international waters and airspace.Â
Deserts
The Gobi Desert is one of Asia's largest and spans across northwestern China and southern Mongolia, covering about 500,000 square miles. During the summer, temperatures often exceed 100° but drop below freezing in the winter.
The Gobi receives about eight inches of rain annually, causing its plant and animal species such as feather grass and the Bactrian camel, to adapt to drought-like conditions. Human settlement in the area is sparse and consists mostly of nomadic herders.
The Taklamakan Desert is known as one of the largest sand deserts in the world. Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwestern China, the desert spans 130,000 square miles. The Taklamakan is known for its large sand dunes which can reach over 650 feet high, as well as for containing gravel pits, salt marshes, and even the occasional oasis. Although human settlement is sparse in the Taklamakan, the Silk Road passed through the southern edge of the desert and once brought cultural exchange and economic prosperity to the region.
Man-made Features
Construction of the Great Wall of China began in early 7th century BCE, with the majority of it being built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). Including all of the walls' branches and sections, the wall stretches about 13,170 miles and runs predominantly across the northern border of China. The primary purpose of the wall was to defend China against invaders from the north.
The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest hydroelectric power dam standing 607 feet tall and stretches over 1.4 miles in length. Located on the Yangtze River in the Hubei Province, the construction of the dam includes 34 turbine generators and even a ship lift and series of locks to facilitate navigation on the Yangtze River.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) serves as the de facto border between North and South Korea following the 38th parallel north. It runs approximately 160 miles from the Yellow Sea in the west to the Sea of Japan in the east. The DMZ is 2.5 miles wide with a 1.2-mile-wide buffer zone on each side of the border. Due to the lack of actual human activity within the DMZ, the area has become an unintended wildlife sanctuary, home to endangered species such as the Amur leopard and Asiatic black bear.