We present to your attention a video lesson on the topic "Southeast Asia". The video tutorial allows you to get interesting and detailed information about the countries of Southeast Asia. From the lesson you will learn about the composition of Southeast Asia, the characteristics of the countries of the region, their geographical location, population. The lesson focuses on the newly industrialized countries of Asia.
Theme: Overseas Asia
Lesson: Southeast Asia
1. Southeast Asia: composition
Rice. 1. Southeast Asia on the map
Southeast Asia- a cultural-geographical region covering the continental and insular territories between China, India and Australia.
1. Vietnam.
2. Cambodia.
4. Myanmar.
5. Thailand.
6. Brunei.
7. East Timor.
8. Philippines.
9. Malaysia.
10. Indonesia.
2. Southeast Asia: general characteristics
Southeast Asia is perhaps the most interesting, contrasting region unlike other parts of the planet.
Southeast Asia is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans and their parts. Almost all countries have access to the sea.
The climate is monsoonal, subequatorial, equatorial. The region is characterized by rainy seasons and typhoons.
The total population of the region is approximately 600 million people. (8% of the world's population). More than 200 peoples live in Southeast Asia.
Countries in Southeast Asia with the largest population:
1. Indonesia (240 million people).
2. Philippines (104 million people).
3. Vietnam (90 million people).
The peoples of Southeast Asia are diverse. You can mainly meet Malays, Lao, Thais, Vietnamese, Semangs, Burmese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Javanese, Chinese, as well as many other, less numerous peoples.
The main religion of Southeast Asia is Islam, with about 240 million followers. Buddhism is practiced in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Singapore and Vietnam. Confucianism is also found in Singapore and Vietnam. And in some territories you can meet Protestants and Catholics (Philippines, East Timor).
The maximum average population density is 7200 people. per sq. km in Singapore. In the cities of the region, the population density can reach 20,000 people. per sq. km! The largest cities in terms of population in the region include: Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila.
The culture of Southeast Asia is mainly a mixture of Indian and Chinese. And in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese cultures also influence. All these regions had, first of all, an impact on the culture of food. In all countries it is customary to eat with chopsticks, the cult of tea is widespread, which can be found in any corner of the region.
The administrative-territorial structure and form of government of the countries of Southeast Asia are diverse. Countries with a monarchical form of government include: Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei. Myanmar and Malaysia have a federal structure.
In most countries, the mining industry, various branches of engineering, agriculture, animal husbandry, textile production, and tourism are widespread.
The countries of the region carry out regional cooperation through Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political, economic and cultural regional intergovernmental organization of countries located in Southeast Asia.
Rice. 2. ASEAN Flag
3. Newly industrialized countries
In terms of GDP, Indonesia is the leader in the region ($1,200 billion). In terms of per capita GDP, Singapore ($52,000) and Brunei ($47,000) are in the lead.
Newly industrialized countries (NIEs):
2. Malaysia.
3. Thailand.
4. Philippines.
5. Indonesia.
4. Characteristics of the newly industrialized countries
Singapore is the only economically developed state in the region.
Rice. 3. Singapore
Geologically, the countries of Southeast Asia are located in one of the most volcanic regions of the planet. But this is compensated by the tropical climate, diverse nature, which captures with its diversity and the number of exotic plants and animals.
The bowels of the territory have been poorly explored, but the explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There is very little bituminous coal in the region, only in the north of Vietnam there are insignificant reserves of it. In the shelf zone of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, oil and gas are produced. Asia's largest metal "Tin Belt" stretches across the region. Mesozoic deposits determined the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin (in Indonesia - 1.5 million tons, in Malaysia and Thailand - 1.1 million tons each), tungsten (reserves in Thailand - 23 thousand tons, Malaysia - 20 thousand tons). The region is rich in copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, gold, cobalt, the Philippines - in copper and gold. Non-metallic minerals are represented by potash salt (Thailand, Laos), apatite (Vietnam), precious stones (sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.
Agro-climatic and soil resources: a warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for a relatively high efficiency of agriculture, 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year.
Water resources are actively used for land irrigation in all countries. Moisture deficiency in the dry season requires considerable expenditures for the construction of irrigation facilities. Water mountain arteries of the Indochina peninsula (Irrawaddy, Menam, Mekong) and numerous mountain rivers of the islands are able to provide electricity needs.
The forest resources are exceptionally rich. The region is located in the Southern Forest Belt, forests cover 42% of its territory.
The fish resources of the coastal zone of the seas and inland waters are of considerable importance in every country: fish and other marine products are widely used in the diet of the population. On some islands of the Malay Archipelago, pearls and mother-of-pearl shells are mined.
Rice. 4. Selling pearls in Manila
Currently, the countries of Southeast Asia are rapidly developing, occupying high positions in the modern world. New industrial countries are developing especially rapidly, where much attention is paid to the education of the population, the development of the economy, competition, and new industries. In terms of HDI, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia rank high in the world. An important feature of the newly industrialized countries is the openness of their economy, the development of high-precision industries, the service sector, tourism activities, the export of goods and services, the attraction of foreign capital, and large investments in their own economy.
Rice. 5. The capital of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Homework
1. What are the features of the geographical location of Southeast Asia?
2. Tell us about the features of the economy of the countries of Southeast Asia.
Bibliography
Main
1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 classes: Textbook for educational institutions / A. P. Kuznetsov, E. V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.
2. Economic and social geography of the world: Proc. for 10 cells. educational institutions / V. P. Maksakovskiy. - 13th ed. - M .: Education, JSC "Moscow textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.
3. Atlas with a set of contour maps for grade 10. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.
Additional
1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A. T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.
2. Berzin E. O. Southeast Asia in the 13th-16th centuries. - M., 1982.
3. Shpazhnikov S. A. Religion of the countries of Southeast Asia. - M., 1980.
Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections
1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.
Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination
1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E. M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.
2. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.
3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. E. M. Ambartsumova, S. E. Dyukova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.
4. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.
5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Examination 2011. - M .: MTSNMO, 2011. - 72 p.
6. USE 2010. Geography. Collection of assignments / Yu. A. Solovieva. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.
7. Tests in geography: Grade 10: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovsky “Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E. V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.
8. The most complete edition of typical variants of real USE assignments: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.
9. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.
10. Geography. Answers on questions. Oral exam, theory and practice / V. P. Bondarev. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2003. - 160 p.
11. Unified State Examination 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks / O. V. Chicherina, Yu. A. Solovieva. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.
Materials on the Internet
1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements.
2. Federal portal Russian Education.
3. Age. yandex. ru.
4. Cool abstract. com.
5. Countries of the world.
7. General characteristics of the economy
During the postwar period, the role of the countries of Southeast Asia in the world, especially in the Pacific region, has been steadily increasing. This is due to the favorable geographical and military-strategic position of the countries, rich natural resources, dynamic political and economic development.
In terms of socio-economic development, the region is heterogeneous. After World War II, its countries split into 2 groups: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia focused on the Soviet command-administrative model of development, and the ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei) - market. All the countries of Southeast Asia started from the same level, but the ASEAN countries achieved in the second half of the 20th century. tangible economic results, which had a positive impact on the social parameters of the life of their population. From the second half of the 1980s, the former socialist states of Southeast Asia began the transition to the market, but even now they remain the least developed countries in the world. At the beginning of the 1990s, the UN classified them as countries with low per capita incomes (less than $500). Malaysia and Thailand belong to the group of newly industrialized countries (NIEs) of the "second wave", while Indonesia and the Philippines belong to the NIEs of the "third wave" (with an average per capita income of $500 to $3,000). Singapore and Brunei are countries with a high level of this indicator (over $3,000).
They achieved such results of economic development due to various factors. For example, Brunei is a leading oil exporter, deriving over 84% of the profits from oil exports. Singapore (NIS "first wave") is a powerful regional and international center for trade, marketing, services and development of the latest technologies, the most important transport and communication hub of Southeast Asia. Singapore is one of the financial centers of the world, the turnover of the Singapore currency exchange is almost 160 billion dollars annually. According to this indicator, it is second only to London, New York and Tokyo. The volume of annual operations on the Singapore Stock Exchange is $23 billion. By the number of well-known banks (141, including 128 foreign ones), Singapore ranks third in the world after London and New York, and according to forecasts, its role will increase.
In terms of economic development, Southeast Asia belongs to the most dynamic regions. The rates of economic growth of the countries in the post-war period were among the highest in the world. At the end of the 90s of the XX century. Singapore (14% per year), Thailand (12.6%), Vietnam (10.3%), Malaysia (8.5%) had the highest production growth rates. The total GNP of the countries of the region reached $2,000 billion (2000). Now the region's share in the global total product is approximately 1.4%, and in the total product of developing countries - 7.7%.
The ASEAN countries are mainly oriented towards the Japanese development model with its increased attention to the achievements of the scientific and technological revolution. So, since the beginning of the 80s, they have been renovating equipment that is used for research and development work in industry. At the same time, the taxation of investments in scientific research in this area has been halved. As a result, Singapore, for example, has one of the highest rates of robots in industrial production.
The countries of the region have a strong export base, almost all of them are well endowed with natural resources, which are one of the important conditions for their economic development. That is why they are the largest (and sometimes monopoly) exporters of certain goods. For example, the ASEAN zone provides almost 80% of the world's production of natural rubber, 60-70% of tin and copra, over 50% of coconuts, a third of palm oil and rice. The reserves of oil, copper, tungsten, chromium, bauxite, valuable wood are large.
Over the past decades, the NIS of Southeast Asia have achieved notable success in industrial development. However, in terms of natural, scientific and technical potential and many economic indicators, they differ from each other.
In general, the countries of the region achieved economic growth due to a combination of such factors: export-industrial development strategy; attraction of foreign capital; state regulation; creation of viable economic entities - national corporations.
The region is one of the leaders in the world in terms of investment (39.5 billion dollars in the late 90s of the XX century). The areas of manufacturing industry and infrastructure are the most attractive for foreign capital. The most active here are Japanese and American companies that locate enterprises in areas of cheap labor, where they import semi-finished products and carry out the final refinement of their products. Significant investments are made in the food industry, the metalworking industry, the production of electronics and toys, chemical fibers, and plywood.
Notable among investors are Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The relatively high proportion of these states in the total volume of foreign investment in the countries of Southeast Asia is associated with the activities of the Chinese business community. Indonesia ($23.7 billion), Malaysia ($4.4 billion), Singapore ($3 billion), and the Philippines ($2.5 billion) are leading in the use of investments. The largest investors in the region are Hong Kong ($6.9 billion) and Japan ($5.2 billion).
In most countries of the region, powerful financial and industrial monopoly groups have developed, whose activities, as a rule, are connected with the interests of foreign capital. The leading representatives of the sphere of big business and finance are the monopolistic associations Ailla and Soriano in the Philippines, Waringin in Indonesia, the Kuokiv family conglomerate in Malaysia, the Bangkok Bank group in Thailand and others.
TNCs played a decisive role in shaping the industrial and export specialization of the region's countries. The creation of the export potential of NIS was due to the active transfer of labor-, energy- and material-intensive, environmentally hazardous industries to them, as well as the manufacture of mass consumer products using outdated technologies that are no longer used in industrialized countries.
TNCs began their penetration into the economy of the NIS of Southeast Asia from the areas of light industry, where you can quickly get a return due to the high rate of capital turnover. Therefore, now textile, clothing, footwear are the most developed areas of the manufacturing industry. The strongest positions in them are held by Japanese and American TNCs. For example, in Malaysia, 15 Japanese textile TNCs control 80% of the region's production. Among them are "Torey", "Toyobo", "Unitika", "Kanebo", etc.
In the 1970s, the NIS of the region began to master the technologies for the production of electronic and electrical products. Now a developed export-industrial base has been created here for the production of consumer electronics components, telecommunications equipment. Among market economies, Malaysia is the third producer of semiconductors, Thailand is an important center for the production of integrated circuits. But these areas are dominated by TNCs from the United States and Japan, which formed them in the region: IWM, General Electric, ITT, Hulett Packard, Toshiba, Akai, Sony, Sharp. Western European TNCs are also widely represented in Southeast Asia: Robert Bosch, Philips, Ericsson, Olivetti, etc. Foreign capital, mainly Japanese, also actively participates in the creation of automobile enterprises.
Another is the path of development of the former socialist countries - Vietnam and Laos, eventually - and Cambodia, which for a long time were isolated from regional economic processes. Their economic policy was dominated by protectionism, a negative attitude towards foreign investment and management experience. And economic interaction with the countries of the former socialist camp contributed to the formation of an extensive model of state socialism of the 40-60s of the XX century, increasing the gap in socio-economic development with their neighbors.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, countries chose the Chinese version of economic renewal, which provides for radical reforms to preserve the political mechanism. Nevertheless, modern concepts of their socio-economic development also take into account the experience of the newly industrialized countries of Asia, especially South Korea.
Economic reforms in Vietnam and Laos have generally produced positive results. This is especially true of Vietnam, where in a short time it was possible to reduce the inflation rate from 1000% in the late 80s of the XX century. up to 4% - in 2009. The production of food crops increased more rapidly (in 1985 - 18 million tons, in 2005 - 21 million tons). Vietnam is the 3rd largest rice exporter in the world.
In the last years of the XX century. some Asian countries, including Southeast, suffered an economic and monetary crisis. But in 2000-2001. thanks to the growth of external demand and domestic consumption, they managed to restore the trend of economic growth. The recovery of the region's economy took place due to the concentration of efforts on the export of products, especially electronic ones. For example, in Malaysia, only in the first five months of 2000, exports of products increased by 19.2%, and Thailand - by 24.3%. Thanks to a positive balance in foreign trade, the balance of payments continues to improve in many countries. The inflation rate in them is almost 2%, and in 2008 it was maximum in Laos (33%), minimum - in Brunei (1%). The average unemployment rate is 8.5%, in NIK - 3-4%, in post-socialist countries - 5-20%.
Recently, banks in some countries have eliminated losses, have become profitable, and are constantly expanding lending volumes. However, the socio-economic development of many countries continues to be affected by political instability, armed conflicts and mass unrest, especially in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
In MGPP, the region is represented by extractive industries, primarily oil and tin mining.
The cultivation of hevea and the production of natural rubber are well developed. The region is one of the world's leading rice and coconut growing regions. The most important area of specialization is the harvesting and export of tropical wood. The presence in Singapore of one of the largest ports in the world and a large airport provides it with the status of an important transport and intermediary center of the region. Some countries, especially Thailand, Singapore, have a fairly strong position in the tourism business.
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Introduction.
The tropical forests of Malaysia, preserved in the same form as 150 million years ago, the impenetrable jungles of Kalimantan and Sumatra, where wild rhinos and tigers are still found, and great apes - orangutans jump along the branches, the Indonesian island of Bali, where they rest against the sky cloud-covered peaks of volcanoes, long sandy beaches washed by the gentle ocean, and rice paddies descending in terraces shimmer with thousands of shades of green - it seems that it was here that the gardens of Eden were located, from which our distant ancestors came out.
Southeast Asia has long attracted Europeans, and not only with the desire to visit an earthly paradise. Spices were brought from the Moluccas to Europe along the Great Silk Road, which were valued more than gold in the Middle Ages. Many famous navigators sought to open a direct road here to get rich: the discoverer of America Christopher Columbus, the first world traveler Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama. It was the Portuguese who first managed to create their trade missions and colonies, later the Dutch and the British joined them, and, dividing Southeast Asia among themselves, they jealously ensured that competitors did not penetrate here.
Southeast Asia is the "bridge" between Eurasia and Australia. It is located at the intersection of major sea routes. The location of the countries of the region on islands and peninsulas on both sides of the equator determines the uniqueness of the economic activity of the population.
The island world of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines), as well as the Malay Peninsula (Malaya), which is geographically and historically and culturally close to it, is a special part of the Southeast Asian region, in many respects different from the continental one.
Finally, and it is important to take into account, it was the island subregion, with its subtropical and tropical products, especially spices, so desired by Europeans, that turned out to be one of the first objects of the colonial aspirations of early European capitalism. This island world was, if you like, that very dream, a convenient way to which they so sought to find and in search of which enterprising Europeans made their most famous geographical discoveries, including the discovery of America. And it is far from accidental that for many centuries these lands were called the Dutch Indies, just as the modern name of Indonesia is not accidental in this regard.
Southeast Asia is distinguished by a more complex tectonic structure, the predominance of mountainous and plateau relief, increased and more uniform moisture, dense erosional and tectonic dissection, more stable flow, antiquity of flora and fauna with a high degree of endemism, richness and diversity of forest landscapes, as well as more low degree of economic development of the territory and, consequently, changes in primary landscapes.
The purpose of this work was to study and familiarize with the region - Southeast Asia, namely: the formation of the territory, relief, minerals, hydroclimatic resources, flora and fauna of the area, i.e. its complete physical and geographical characteristics.
And the main task of the work is an extensive disclosure of the features of this subregion in its individual components.
Ch. 1. History of formation, geological and tectonic structure of the territory and minerals.
Southeast Asia consists of the Indochina Peninsula, Bengal, Bhutan, South China and the Malay Archipelago.
On the territory of the region, the Chinese platform is spread, which has been preserved in the form of separate massifs - the Sinobirman and Indosinian, probably representing a single whole in the Precambrian, distinguished by the greatest mobility throughout their development. An important role in the formation of the structural plan of these massifs was played by intense folded dislocations of the Mesozoic, which led to the emergence of specific linear epiplatform fold-block structures. They are distributed mainly where a thick sedimentary cover was covered by tectonic movements, and are similar in morphological features to the linear folds of geosynclinal regions. Faults are numerous in places where the strike of these structures changes.
The Mesozoic structures of Southeast Asia border the ancient platform massifs - the Sinobirman and Indosinian - and stretch to the southeastern regions of Indochina. The structures of the eastern margins of Indochina are based on eugeosynclinal complexes. They are distinguished by the predominance of narrow linear folded elements, a clear alternation of large synclinoria and anticlinoria, and a wide development of faults. The Mesozoites of Indonesia and southern Tibet were formed on the Lower and Middle Paleozoic miogeosynclinal and sometimes platform structures. They are characterized by gentle, often irregularly shaped folds of large radius and numerous ruptures. The tectonic movements of the Mesozoic were accompanied by volcanism and powerful outpourings of lavas.
In Southeast Asia, as in South Asia, there were no significant changes in the paleoclimatic situation in the Pleistocene compared to the Paleogene and Neogene; the climate remained hot and humid. There is a wide development of the fluvial type of morphosculpture and a significant correspondence between ancient and modern fluvial forms. Under the conditions of a hot and humid climate, the processes of biogeochemical weathering proceeded intensively, and lateritic crusts were formed.
The countries of Southeast Asia occupy leading positions in the world in terms of reserves of many types of minerals: oil, coal, tin, iron ore, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, etc. The geography of mineral resources is very uneven and reveals a close relationship with morphostructural regions.
The Mesozoic belt of low mountains and medium-altitude mountains is rich in minerals. Here, in a powerful belt stretching through South China, Burma, Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's reserves of tin and tungsten are concentrated. Rich deluvial and proluvial placers containing high concentrations of tin are associated with the destruction of vein deposits. Alluvial placers are large in size, the accumulation of which refers mainly to the Middle Pleistocene. In this part of Asia there are also deposits of silver-lead-zinc and cobalt ores. Coal deposits are confined to the platform geosynclinal structures of the Indochina Peninsula. Large deposits of oil, copper, Oligocene sedimentary, and lateritic deposits of iron ores, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, diamonds, gold, cassiterite, wolframite, zircon, and monazite are associated with the Cenozoic era of ore formation in Southeast Asia. Brown coals (lignites) occur in the marginal troughs.
The Indochinese Peninsula is one of the richest metallogenic provinces in overseas Asia. Exceptional diverse endogenous ore formations are associated with Mesozoic folding. A significant part of the world's tin and tungsten deposits is concentrated in a powerful belt of primary, deluvial and proluvial placer deposits in Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia. The largest deposits of silver-zinc-lead and cobalt ores in Asia are located on the Shan-Yunnan Highlands, placer and native gold, sapphires and rubies are mined. Deposits of Mesozoic bituminous coals of the DRV are confined to platform structures. The Irrawaddy piedmont trough contains oil deposits.
The Malay Archipelago is rich in minerals. There is a lot of oil in the bowels of the shelf seas. On the islands of Bank, Belitung (Billitung), Sinkep, Seram, in primary deposits and alluvial deposits, there are the richest deposits of tin and tungsten in the world. Sedimentary and lateritic bauxite deposits are abundant, and gold is found everywhere. The Philippine Islands are rich in nickel, copper and chromite deposits.
the islands of Indochina - and the island - the Malay Archipelago. In terms of its natural conditions, the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula is also close to the latter in terms of its natural conditions, located, like most of the Malay Archipelago, in the equatorial belt.
Indochina. A peninsula in southeast Asia with an area of \u200b\u200babout 2 million km², washed from the west by the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca, in the south and east by the Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea and its bays of Siam and Bakbo (Tonkin). The northern border of the peninsula is conditionally drawn from the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers to the delta of the Hongha river. The southern tip of Indochina south of the isthmus of Kra forms an elongated peninsula of Malacca.
The northern part of the peninsula is occupied by medium-altitude, closely pressed to each other ridges of meridional and submeridional strike, between which there are vast peneplanated highlands. To the south, the height of the surface decreases, the mountains fan out. Between them there are longitudinal tectonic valleys, intermountain basins, and structural plateaus. In the north of Burma, on the border with China, there is the highest massif Khakaborazi (5881 m.).
In the west of the peninsula, the Rakhine (Arakan) mountains rise with the Victoria massif, 3053 m, Leta and the Patkai ridge. This mountain system is a complexly constructed anticlinorium. In the formation of the relief of the northern part of the mountains, glacial processes played an important role, as indicated by smoothed flat peaks, trough-shaped valleys, cirques, etc. The folded and blocky-folded ridges of the Rackheim system are characterized by steep slopes, deep and -accumulative landforms.
Further to the east, in a wide alpine intermountain trough, there is a hilly accumulative-denudation plain of the Irrawaddy. In its southern part there is a low Pegu ridge - an example of the latest folding, characterized by increased seismicity. Its highest point is Mount Popa (1518 m) - an extinct volcano. The southern part of the plain is a vast alluvial, in some places swampy lowland, formed as a result of the confluence of the Irrawaddy deltas and the Seatown flowing east. A steep ledge, in some places completely undisturbed by erosion, to the east of the Ayeyarwaddy and Sitaun plains rises the Shan Highlands. Its western part is a Paleogene peneplain, divided into separate blocks and having the character of a stepped plateau. The eastern part is a folded-block highland with massive hard-to-reach ridges, deeply dissected by tectonic and erosional valleys. In the northeast, it almost imperceptibly passes into the Yunnan Highlands, mainly located in the PRC. In the east of this highland, Mount Fansipan, 3143 m, reaches its highest height in Vietnam (the Hoangmenglon ridge), 3143 m. To the east is the Bakbo plain, along which the Hongha (Red) River flows. The highlands of Indochina are characterized by karst processes widely developed in Permian-Carboniferous limestones, sinkhole-karst and residual-karst landforms and tropical karst (stone pillars, stone forest, etc.). From the south, parallel chains of the Tanintai ranges adjoin the Shan Highlands. Their axial parts, composed of granite intrusions, have rounded tops and steep slopes with young erosion incisions. The spurs of these mountains, facing the coast of the Andaman Sea, form many of the islands of the Myei (Mergui) archipelago. The eastern edge of the peninsula is occupied by the massive asymmetrical Truong Son (Annam) mountains. Their eastern slope drops rather steeply to a narrow strip of coastal lowland, the western slope passes into low hills and undulating plateaus adjacent to the alluvial lowland of the Mekong.
In its northern part there is a vast sandstone plateau Korat, bounded from the west and south by steep ledges. On its flat surface, dissected by the valleys of the Mekong and its tributaries, three levels of ancient Quaternary terraces stand out. The low plains of the Mekong and Menam end in deltas separated by the medium-altitude Kra-van (Kardamom) mountains. The deltas, especially the gigantic Mekong Delta, are the most densely populated and intensively developed. These are economically important regions of Indochina.
Malay archipelago. This is the largest cluster on Earth (about 10 thousand) of large and small islands with an area of more than 2 million km2: Large and Small Sunda, Moluccas, Philippine. They are located on both sides of the equator from 18 ° N. sh. to 11°S sh.
The Malay Archipelago is located within two developing geosynclinal zones of the Pacific belt. One of them runs in a huge arc through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the eastern tip of Seram Island, within the limits of the other, going from south to north, are the Philippine Islands. Deep-water trenches run along the outer edge of the island arcs, to which the maximum depths of the World Ocean are confined. The sharp differentiation of the relief and the huge amplitude of heights reflect the high dynamism of the earth's crust in this area. There is intense tectonic activity, frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Within this vast arc lies a relatively stable array of ancient structures from Indochina. The inland seas of the northern part of the archipelago lie within the continental platform. The lowering of the platform, which led to the disappearance of the land bridge between Asia and Australia, occurred already in historical time.
The folded arcs of the Malay Archipelago, which arose during the last stages of the Cenozoic folding, are composed of Mesozoic and Tertiary limestones, sandstones, and products of volcanic eruptions. Volcanic cones are planted on a folded base and on some islands stretch continuously, merging with their bases. In Java, for example, there are more than 130 volcanoes, of which about 30 are active. In the strait between Java and Sumatra, there is a volcano-island known for its destructive eruptions, Krakatoa. Some volcanoes operate continuously, throwing out ash, clouds of hot gases; numerous outlets of hot mineral waters. Accumulations of volcanic rocks form volcanic plateaus; the basins are also filled with products of volcanic eruptions. Along with the mainland and volcanic islands, the Malay Archipelago also has coral islands - barrier reefs and atolls. Most of them are in the east; in the west, coral islands are found in the central part of the shallow inland seas.
The relief of almost all the islands of the Malay Archipelago is represented by folded-block ridges, dissected by tectonic and erosional processes into separate massifs. Some of them are the bases of active and extinct volcanoes, the tops of which are the highest points of the islands. Along with the mountains on the large islands there are young lowlands - alluvial or composed of products of volcanic eruptions.
On Sumatra, the second largest island in the archipelago (435 thousand km2), the western outskirts are occupied by mountain ranges and plateaus. They consist of Paleozoic crystalline rocks, crumpled into folds in the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic and complicated by faults and faults at the end of the Neogene. A large role in the structure of the mountains of Sumatra is played by volcanic rocks that form vast plateaus. Active and extinct volcanoes rise in the southern part of Sumatra. The highest and most active among them is Kerinci (3800 m). In the west, the mountains are separated from the coast by swampy lowlands. To the west, at some distance from Sumatra, stretches a strip of the Mentawai Islands, accompanied by coral buildings. In the east, the mountains pass through a strip of hilly foothills into a huge alluvial lowland, almost completely swampy. This is the largest equatorial swamp in Southeast Asia, which has not yet been developed. In some places, the width of the swampy strip reaches 250 km. Because of it, the island is inaccessible from the east.
The narrow and long island of Java (126 thousand km2) is composed of young sedimentary rocks and products of volcanic eruptions. The mountains of Java consist of volcanic chains and free-standing volcanic cones, impaled on a folded base. Many volcanoes of Java and its neighboring small islands have gone down in history thanks to their powerful explosive eruptions. One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. happened in December 1931 "through the fault" of the volcano Merapi. In two weeks, the lava flow reached about 7 km in length and 180 m in width; its thickness was almost 30 m. Volcanic ash covered half of the island. More than 1300 people died.
In the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra, is the famous 800 m high volcanic island of Krakatoa. The largest eruption in 1883 was accompanied by an explosion that destroyed half of the island. The resulting wave killed tens of thousands of people in Sumatra and Java; the ash from this eruption remained in the Earth's atmosphere for several years. The eruptions of Krakatoa continue to this day.
Dozens of volcanoes still do not stop their activity, throwing out masses of loose products or spewing out flows of the main lava. Individual volcanoes emit clouds of hot dust or clouds of gases. Heavy poisonous gases accumulating at the bottom of some valleys make it impossible for organic life to exist there. In many areas, hot sulfurous springs come to the surface. The highest volcanoes in Java exceed 3000 m. These are Raung, Slamet, the highest peak of Semeru (3676 m), etc. Between the volcanoes there are depressions filled with eruptions. They are densely populated and cultivated and often bear the names of the cities located in them, for example, the Bandung Basin, etc.
In the north of Java, at the foot of the volcanic highlands, there is a hilly densely populated strip, where the major cities of Indonesia are located. On the swampy coastal lowland is Jakarta, crossed by numerous channels. The general features of the structure inherent in Java are preserved on the islands of Madura and Lesser Sunda.
A strongly dissected mountainous relief is also characteristic of the Moluccas. A relatively small part of their surface is occupied by low plains along the coasts and in the inner parts of the islands between mountain ranges. Extinct and active volcanoes are associated with recent faults. Sulawesi (170 thousand km2) differs from all other islands in its bizarre outlines, high average height and difficult accessibility from the sea. It is the most mountainous of all the islands of the Malay Archipelago. Its relief is determined by fault tectonics, in places faults are accompanied by volcanoes, but volcanism is much less common than on other islands of the archipelago. In the central part of the island there is a large tectonic depression, the bottom of which is occupied by Lake Poso.
The largest and most massive island of the Malay Archipelago is Kalimantan, one of the largest islands on Earth (734 thousand km2). A massive blocky upland crosses the island in the middle part from the northeast to the southwest. Its peak - Kinabalu (4101 m) - is the highest point of the entire archipelago. Extensive alluvial lowlands and hilly plateaus stretch along the coast, interrupted by mountain spurs and isolated massifs. There are no volcanoes in Kalimantan.
In general, the Malay Archipelago is characterized by mid-mountain (up to 3500-4000 m), strongly dissected alpine-type relief. The fold-block massifs of Kalimantan, composed of Paleozoic rocks with a large proportion of granites, are distinguished by slightly dissected rounded summit surfaces and steep slopes. The Philippine Islands are characterized by short ranges separated by intermountain troughs; numerous volcanoes. Lowlands occupy significant areas only on the largest islands - Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java. On the last two, they are located on the inner side facing the South China and Java Seas, and are, in essence, uplifted sections of their shelf.
Chapter 2 2.1. Climate.
The formation of the climate of Southeast Asia is determined by its geographical location, the compactness of the land and the predominance of mountainous and plateau terrain.
Over Southeast, as well as over South Asia, a summer monsoon circulation is established, and it is associated mainly with the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the formation of the South Asian (Punjab) thermal depression.
The equatorial regions of insular Asia are characterized by the predominance of equatorial air throughout the year and by intense convection. The variability of wind directions indicates an active exchange of air between the hemispheres. In the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITC), the air currents of the northern and southern hemispheres meet. The ETC differs sharply from extratropical fronts in that the convergent air masses differ only in humidity with no or very small horizontal temperature contrasts. IBD usually occurs in areas of the highest temperatures in the surface waters of the oceans and land. This is a fairly wide area where one or more convergence lines of the surface wind can be observed simultaneously. It moves between extreme seasons over long distances - in the north of the Indian Ocean and in southern Asia at 25-30 ° (against 10 ° in Africa). Since the meeting of the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres occurs in a fairly wide zone, with the smallest changes in pressure, pockets and bands of high and low pressure arise. This leads to the fact that continuous clouds are not formed in the ETC system, it has a cellular structure.
The equatorial regions are not areas of continuous low pressure. The alternation of small depressions and pressure ridges causes significant changes in the weather. In intensity, they are not comparable with cyclones and anticyclones of extratropical latitudes, but showers, thunderstorms, and squalls are associated with them. Tropical depressions can form in the area, which, if the conditions are right, turn into destructive tropical hurricanes.
In winter, the surface of Asia is noticeably colder than the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Over the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the pressure at this time is about 1012 hPa. In southern China, in the area of convergence of cold continental and warm sea air, cyclonic activity develops and it rains. To the south, over Hindustan and Indochina, the northeast air current prevails, carrying tropical air and being, in essence, a winter trade wind. The weather in this season has a stable anticyclonal character: clear, dry and warm.
The southeast of the Malay Archipelago in the summer is in the zone of development of the Australian (winter) anticyclone, accompanied by dry and hot weather. On average per year, the western slopes of the Rakhine (Arakan) and Tanentaunji mountains in Burma receive the most precipitation. In particular, the windward slopes of the islands of South and Southeast Asia receive 2000-4000 mm per year, and the Cherrapunji weather station (altitude 1300 m) on the Shillong Plateau - more than 12,000 mm. In Southeast Asia, up to 95% of the annual precipitation falls in summer. The exception is the equatorial region, where precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.
Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia is located in tropical, subtropical and equatorial latitudes, the sums of active temperatures reach up to 10,000 °. This makes it possible to grow a very wide range of agricultural crops and obtain two or three crops per year in areas with thermal resources above 4000°C. Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia, with the exception of the area of excessive moisture (the southern part of the Philippine, Greater Sunda Islands, Malaysia), is characterized by long periods of aridity with acute moisture deficiency and droughts, which are observed even in areas where 1000- 2000 mm of precipitation per year, artificial irrigation is very important and is used almost everywhere.
A number of regions of Southeast Asia are distinguished by an uncomfortable climate - in the tropics, with stable high temperatures and consistently high humidity, which have a debilitating effect on the body. Climatic zones are distinctly distributed here:
equatorial belt. The equatorial climate is typical for the south of Malacca, the Malay Archipelago, and the south of the Philippine Islands. It is characterized by high temperatures with slight fluctuations, the absence of a dry period, and abundant and uniform precipitation; excessive moisture throughout the year.
Subequatorial belt. The monsoon climate is characteristic of South and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by high temperatures (especially in spring) and sharp seasonality in precipitation. The dry seasons are winter and spring, the wet seasons are summer and autumn. In the barrier shadow and in the northwest of the belt, the dry season stretches for 8-10 months.
Tropical belt. The eastern oceanic sector (South China, the northern part of the Indochina peninsula) has a humid maritime monsoon climate. Temperatures everywhere, except for mountainous areas, are high throughout the year, heavy rainfall occurs in summer, and moisture is sufficient.
In contrast to Hindustan, where the winter monsoon is dry everywhere except in the extreme southeast, it brings a large amount of precipitation to some areas of southeast Asia: the east coast of the Philippine Islands, the northeast of the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, the islands of Java and Minor Sunda. Monsoon comes here from the ocean, saturated with moisture. In summer, Southeast Asia receives not only the Indian monsoon, but also the Malay monsoon (southeast winds from the Arafura Sea and the Banda Sea), as well as east and northeast air flows from the North Pacific Ocean, in which tropical cyclones can occur. In the summer of the northern hemisphere, the dry Australian monsoon comes to the Lesser Sunda Islands and the island of Java. In this regard, the eastern part of the peninsula is characterized by a sharp seasonality in precipitation (up to 80% in summer), while the western part has a somewhat more uniform annual distribution and a shift in the maximum precipitation to autumn and winter. The rainy season is characterized by tropical hurricanes that bring great destruction. The most humid are the mountain margins of the peninsula and the windward slopes of higher mountains and uplands (from 5000 to 2000 mm/year). The least precipitation falls on the internal plains and plateaus - 500-700 mm. The southern part of the Malacca Peninsula is located in the equatorial belt and is characterized by a relatively even course of temperature and precipitation.
Most of the Malay Archipelago has an equatorial climate. East Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands lie in the subequatorial zone of the southern hemisphere, the Philippine - in the subequatorial zone of the northern hemisphere and have a monsoon climate. The equatorial climate is characterized by high and even temperatures - their monthly amplitude does not exceed 1.5-2°. Soil temperatures are even more constant, their fluctuations do not go beyond a few tenths of a degree. The annual amount of precipitation is 2000-4000 mm with average monthly norms of at least 100 mm. Humidification everywhere excessive. At the boundaries of the equatorial climate region, there is a tendency to increase summer and weaken winter precipitation.
The seasonality of humidification is much more pronounced in the zone of action of the Malay and Australian monsoons and less - Pacific (in the Philippine Islands). The most arid parts of the archipelago are the eastern ones, which are affected by the Australian monsoon.
ialny district of the Russian Federation, 800 km east of Moscow. Due to historical, geographical, natural conditions and other important factors, the Republic of Tatarstan has developed as the largest scientific, educational and industrial center, which has received recognition not only in Russia, but throughout the world. 1. The geological structure of the region The Republic of Tatarstan is one of the most important ...
Isthmus of Panama Geographical position. This part of Central America includes a strip of land between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west. The northern geographic boundary of Central America is the tectonic valley of the Balsas River, the southern one runs from the Gulf of Darien to the Pacific Ocean where North America joins South America (see map of physical ...
Southeast Asia (SEA) is one of the largest physical, geographical, ethnocultural and economic regions of the world, including the Indochina Peninsula, the islands of the Malay Archipelago and the western half of the island of New Guinea. The total area of the region is about 4.5 million square meters. km (3% of land), the population is about 500 million people. The 10 states located here differ greatly in size of territory, population, type and level of socio-economic development.
The geographical position of Southeast Asia between the basins of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, in the zone of influence of the great civilizations of India and China, has played an important role throughout its history. In the era of the development of navigation in the Indian Ocean and the Great Geographical Discoveries, Southeast Asia became an important link in world trade and navigation.
Despite the huge size and territorial fragmentation, the nature of the countries of the region bears features of similarity, which are due to the position in the hot climatic zone, monsoon circulation, similar geological structure and surface structure, as well as the coastal position of all countries except Laos.
In Southeast Asia, two large natural subregions are clearly distinguished: peninsular and insular (the Malay Peninsula is usually included in it). The surface of the Indochina peninsula is a combination of mountain ranges that fan out from the Tibetan-Himalayan mountainous country and the river valleys in between. The valleys of such large rivers as the Ayeyarwaddy, Chao Phraya, Mekong, Hongha in the middle and lower reaches are expanding,
forming vast plains (Irrawaddy, Chao Phraya, Cambodian). The fertile alluvial soils of the plains make them the main breadbaskets of Indochina. Rivers also serve as important transport arteries.
The climate of the subregion is subequatorial, characterized by high year-round temperatures, the presence of wet and dry periods, which determines the traditional agricultural cycle. The natural vegetation of the peninsular part of Southeast Asia is dominated by mixed evergreen and deciduous forests, which are better preserved in the mountains, the main and most valuable species in them is teak.
The island sub-region includes the world's largest Malay archipelago (area - more than 2 million square kilometers - the Greater Sunda, Lesser Sunda, Moluccas and Philippine Islands), the Malay Peninsula and the western half of the island of New Guinea. It lies in the equatorial climate zone and is characterized by uniform precipitation throughout the year. The structure of the surface combines both mountainous and flat areas (about 50 to 50), but at the same time there are no large lowlands, as in Indochina. Plain areas stretch mainly along the coast and, as a rule, are swampy. Mountain slopes with fertile volcanic soils are mainly cultivated. Once they were covered with forests, but as a result of centuries of use, typical anthropogenic landscapes have formed on them - fields located along the slope in terraces. A significant part of the surface of the islands is still covered with evergreen forests. The most valuable species growing in them are iron, black, red rosewood trees with hard water-repellent wood, as well as camphor, sandalwood, cinchona and other trees containing valuable essential oils and resins.
Devastating tropical hurricanes - typhoons - often pass through various parts of Southeast Asia, the Philippine Islands are especially often and severely affected by them.
Southeast Asia has a variety of minerals, some of them holding important positions in the world. Among them are tin, antimony, nickel, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, mercury, titanium, iron and gold ores. The natural wealth of the region includes oil and natural gas, most of them are in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei.
Southeast Asia (SEA) is a vast region of the world, where 11 sovereign states are located with an area of about 4.5 km2. It is, as it were, sandwiched between two ancient centers of civilization, demographic (and now economic!) giants - China and India. This circumstance somehow affected the processes of settlement, economic development, and the formation of the ethnic, religious and cultural image of the region.
By the way, the expression “between two giants” in the title is in essence a reflection of the toponym “Indochi-tai”. The region under consideration was destined to remain aloof from early civilizations, but later it was gradually drawn into their orbit. Migration routes from China and culture routes from India ran through Indochina.
Of course, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries are not Indo-China, but classic Southeast Asia (Figure 6.1). However, even in these countries, the cultural and economic influence of China and India is very tangible.
Geographical location and natural conditions
The region includes two parts: continental(Indochina peninsula) and island-smooth(numerous islands of the Malay Archipelago). Southeast Asia seems to "sew" the mainland of Eurasia and Australia and is the border of the basins of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The most important sea and air communications pass through the countries of the region. Strait of Malacca in terms of importance for maritime navigation, it is comparable to Gibraltar, the Suez and Panama Canals.
The key geographical position at the crossroads of the most important sea routes, a variety of natural resources, a fertile climate - all this attracted Europeans here like a magnet during the colonial period. (Only Thailand remained formally independent as a buffer zone between British India and French Indochina.)
Current geographic location countries of Southeast Asia are made up of the following factors:
The position between the world economic and political centers — Western Europe, the USA, Japan, which determine the global development strategy and the main regional political trends;
The position between India and China, the world's largest states in terms of population, major economic and influential political powers;
The position between two oceans (Pacific and Indian), which makes it possible to control the strategically important straits connecting them - Malacca and Sunda.
The Strait of Malacca is located between the Peninsula of Malacca and about. Sumatra, his
length 937 km, minimum width about 15 km, fairway depth from 12 to
1514 m. A particularly intensive movement of ships and
ships.
The Sunda Strait is located between the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia, its length is 130 km, the minimum width is 26 km, and the depth in the fairway is 28 m.
The peninsular part of Southeast Asia is dominated by mountain ranges that fan out across its territory, separated from each other by river valleys. The mountains are higher in the north and west than in the south and east. The mountains divide the mainland region of the region into several separate parts, land communications between which are difficult. All the islands of the Malay Archipelago also have a mountainous character. There are many volcanoes here, a number of which are active. (More than 80% of all recorded tsunamis are formed in the Pacific Ocean, including in Southeast Asia. The explanation for this is simple - out of 400 volcanoes active on Earth, 330 are located in the Pacific Ocean basin. More than 80% of all earthquakes are also observed there .)
Only in the east of Sumatra and along the banks of Kalimanta-na are there relatively extensive low-lying spaces. Due to the abundance of heat and moisture, Southeast Asia as a whole is distinguished by the diversity and richness of the flora and fauna, soil fertility.
The climate of this region is hot, subequatorial and equatorial, with a total precipitation of up to 3,000 mm per year. Tropical cyclones are frequent guests here - typhoons, possessing great destructive power, not to mention the increased seismic danger that awaits the population of most countries. Although most of Southeast Asia is covered with humid tropical evergreen forests (hence the second place in the world after Brazil in terms of tropical timber reserves), savannahs dominate in inner Indochina. The river network is dense, rivers (Me-Kong, Salween, Irrawaddy etc.) - full-flowing.
Tsunami(from Japanese hieroglyphs - “go 7”, which means harbor, And "us"— a big wave) called giant waves that arise on the surface of the ocean as a result of underwater earthquakes or eruptions of underwater and island volcanoes. In rare cases, a tsunami can also be caused by a fall into the World Ocean and space objects - meteorites, asteroids, etc. And although, fortunately, no historical evidence of such events has been recorded, scientists believe that the probability of such an event is not so small (according to some estimates, up to 1%). According to calculations, the fall of a relatively small asteroid 300-600 m into the ocean will generate a tsunami, far exceeding all hitherto known.
* The most famous and devastating in its consequences was the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano on about. Rakata in the Sunda Strait in 1883. As a result of its explosion, giant waves (up to 30 m high) formed on the sea, which rushed to the shores of Sumatra and Java, washing away everything in their path. Then up to 40 thousand people died and luxurious tropical vegetation disappeared everywhere. These waves circled the entire globe, reached Europe and caused floods in many places. Volcanic ash from Krakatoa was raised to a height of several tens of kilometers and also spread throughout the planet.
The strength (or magnitude) of the earthquake in Southeast Asia that caused the 2004 tsunami was about 9 on the Richter scale, which happens relatively rarely. A powerful break in the earth's crust, the total length of which was about 1300 km, occurred at the junction between three tectonic plates - the Indian and Australian (“big shimi”) and the Burmese microplate. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the open sea, near Indonesia. The earthquake caused a sharp deformation of the ocean floor, as a result of which huge energy was released, equivalent to 200 million tons of trinitrotoluene (which is 4 times more powerful than the hydrogen bomb tested in the USSR).
A wave hump formed above the epicenter of the earthquake, which provoked the most powerful wave crests that reached Africa. The province of Aceh in Indonesia suffered more than others, where the wave reached 15–20 m and went 10–15 km deep into the island. Great destruction was caused by the elements on the southern coast of the Bay of Bengal, the east coast of Sri Lanka, a number of islands of Thailand (including the popular tourist island of Phuket), and many small islands in the Indian Ocean simply went under water for a while.
This natural disaster not only resulted in the death of about 300 thousand people, but also destroyed entire nationalities. So, most likely, the nationality is completely destroyed ongy, lived in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and numbered only 100 people before the tsunami.
The significance of Southeast Asia is also determined by the presence here of large stocks of the most important species raw materials And fuel. The region is especially rich in non-ferrous metal ores: tin (in terms of its reserves, the region surpasses all countries of the world), nickel, copper, and molybdenum. Large reserves of iron and manganese ores, chromites. There are significant deposits of oil and natural gas, there is brown coal, uranium. Natural wealth is valuable tree species of tropical and equatorial forests. On the whole, Southeast Asia is a hard-to-replace world source of many strategic resources.
Within the region, representatives of natural geography usually distinguish the following physical and geographical areas:
1) peninsula Indochina, forming the southeastern periphery of the mainland (Southeast Asia) and dissecting the basins of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. There are no latitudinal orographic barriers here, therefore, in the north of Indochina,
there is a “breathing” of continental air masses. The main mass of moisture is brought by the southwestern equatorial monsoons;
2) Malay Archipelago, associated with Indonesia and including the islands of Greater and Lesser Sunda, Moluccas and about. Ceram. The region is distinguished by its colossal natural specificity. Its equatorial and insular position determines
the dominance within its limits of equatorial and marine tropical air, uniformity of temperatures, constantly high humidity and an abundance of precipitation. Kingdom of tropical rainforests;
3) Philippine Islands, sometimes included in the Malay Archipelago, but physically and geographically representing an independent region. It is located in the belt of subequatorial and partially equatorial climate with abundant rainfall.
Population
The peoples of Southeast Asia are characterized by a combination of Mongoloid and Australoid features (on this basis, they are sometimes referred to as South Asian minor race). The ethnic composition is extremely diverse - about 500 indigenous peoples, many people from China (huaqiao), but few Europeans.
In the most populous country in the region, Indonesia (slightly less than 50% of the population of Southeast Asia), Malay Peoples, in Thailand - Thai etc. For example, 75% of the total population of Thailand is formed by the Thai people (or Siamese) and the Lao people (Thai live mainly in the southern half of the state, Lao - in the northern and northeastern, including the highlands); in Malaysia, Malays and Chinese make up almost equal parts of the local population, the remaining 10-11% are Indians; the bulk of the population of Singapore are Chinese (up to 80%).
Residents profess Islam, Buddhism, Christianity (Philippines), Hinduism, and most Chinese - Confucianism and Taoism. The highest population density is observed in regions with fertile and irrigated lands, as well as in port centers.
Political history of the region
The region of Southeast Asia (SEA) includes the Indochinese and Malay Peninsulas, as well as the Malay Archipelago, the largest archipelago in the world*. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar are located on the Indochinese Peninsula. Malacca is occupied by Malaysia and Singapore. Indonesia, Brunei, East Timor and the Philippines are located on the Malay Archipelago (Table 6.1).
In the past, Southeast Asia was called the Back or Far Indies, as well as Indo-China. The last name reflects not so much the natural resemblance of this part of the continent in the west to India, and in the east to China, as transitional ethnocultural state of the region. The earliest was the Indian penetration into Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, the Indian "civilizers" did not colonize the region. They brought here their learned language (Sanskrit), writing and literature, methods of political and social life (elements of the caste system), techniques of their art. Under Indian influence, various states of Southeast Asia were formed.
* The Malay Archipelago accounts for more than a third of the total area of all the islands of the globe. Some of the islands of the archipelago (for example, Su-matra) are larger than many European states. In total, more than three states such as France can fit within the archipelago. There is reason to believe that in remote geological epochs, the Malay Archipelago was a wide isthmus connecting Asia with Australia. Gradually, it turned into remote groups of islands, which, in the expression E. Reclus, are like piles of a collapsed bridge.
The formation of the political map of the region took place in difficult historical conditions. The first colonizers who invaded Southeast Asia were immigrants from Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The first country enslaved by Europeans was Indonesia, which became the Dutch colony "Netherlands Indies" at the beginning of the 17th century. The activities of the colonialists at that time abounded with "unsurpassed pictures of betrayal, bribery, murder and meanness" *. Later, the British, French, and Americans invaded the region.
Formally, Thailand was not among the colonies, retaining the status of an independent state due to the confrontation between Great Britain and France (and with the support of Russia). During the Second World War, all Southeast Asian countries were occupied by Japan.
After the war, the states of the region achieved sovereignty. In 1984, the British protectorate of Brunei gained independence, in 2002 East Timor was proclaimed independent, becoming the 192nd sovereign state in the world.
The political situation in the region is largely determined by the diversity of the national, religious and social composition of the population. A characteristic feature of Southeast Asia is the presence in it of a multimillion-strong group of people of Chinese nationality (the so-called huaqiao).
The main social support of modern state regimes in the countries of Southeast Asia is the growing national bourgeoisie. The domestic and foreign policy of states, as a rule, is aimed at creating favorable conditions for accelerated capitalist modernization. The process of political and economic integration is actively taking place in the region. At the same time, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the most mature grouping of this nature among the peripheral countries.
The peculiarity of countries
It is usually said about the countries of Southeast Asia that epochs and styles are mixed here, Europe, America and Asia meet here, luxury and poverty coexist. At the same time, each country in the region has its own unique characteristics. So, modern industrial Thailand (the old name Siam - hence: Siamese twins, Siamese cats, etc.) with its 27 thousand Buddhist temples, with the fantastic buildings of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and countless "spirit houses" ( amazing monuments of "small architecture") is not at all like the largest country in the region under consideration - Indonesia, where there are no pagodas, since the population professes Islam.
Lagging behind in its development, agrarian Laos bears little resemblance to Singapore - the "economic tiger", an oasis of economic well-being and prosperity, one of the world's largest financial centers; and the predominantly Christian country of the Philippines, striving to develop knowledge-intensive industries, is strikingly different from Laos, a state of Buddhist culture, where agriculture completely determines its economic “face”. The Sultanate of Brunei, which has become "rich" on petrodollars, is somewhat "private".
Historical and geographical circumstances had a significant impact on the current development of the states of the region. So, the geographical position of Singapore was one of the most important factors of its advanced, in comparison with neighboring territories, development. Since ancient times, Singapore has acquired the reputation of a major trade and distribution center in southern Asia, serving the foreign trade relations of India and China, European countries and Indonesia. Initially, Singapore served as a transshipment point, and then, with the expansion of world trade, the creation of a plantation (in particular, rubber) economy and the development of the tin industry in Malaya, Indonesia and other countries of Southeast Asia, Singapore became a major world market for tin and rubber .
For a very long time, the countries of Southeast Asia existed in the consciousness of the Soviet people as a kind of stronghold of social backwardness. However, at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. some of them (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore) have become so-called new industrial countries ("Asian tigers" or "little dragons"). At the same time, 80% of the exports of the mentioned countries are products of the manufacturing industry (offshore drilling platforms, video recorders, air conditioners, electronic components, magnetic disks, toys, etc.).
The rapid rise of these countries is the result of choosing the right long-term economic strategy, the ability to absorb scientific and technological achievements and create their own areas of excellence in the main areas of international exchange. We should also not forget about the cheapness of local labor and the performing discipline and diligence inherent in the population of the East. In recent years, the countries of the region have been increasing oil production (Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia). The most economically backward are Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
The historical attraction of Thailand (Siam) to the commonwealth with Russia has old roots. Eshe at the end of the 19th century. King Rama IV of Siam visited Russia and skillfully used its influence in Europe to get rid of colonial enslavement by powerful France and England. In recognition of Russia's merits to his homeland, the king introduced a Russian uniform in his army (the full dress uniform - a white tunic with aiguillettes - is Russian to this day). The music for the royal anthem was written by the Russian composer P.A. Shurovsky.
The basis of agriculture in the countries of Southeast Asia is subtropical agriculture, which is completely dominated by rice(in the Philippines up to 90% of all cultivated land, in Indonesia - more than half). The region has long been famous for growing spices (red and black pepper, ginger, vanilla, cloves). Natural rubber is produced (Malaysia, thanks to plantations hevea), coconut oil, copra and abaca or manila hemp (Philippines), tea, coffee, cinchona bark (Indonesia), etc. The weak level of development of animal husbandry is partly offset by river and sea fisheries.
A significant part of the best land and irrigation systems belongs to large owners (often foreigners). Modern agricultural technology and scientific methods of farming are used only on large plantations. Despite the fact that the agricultural sector employs the bulk of the economically active population, there is a shortage of food in many countries of the region.
A fast growing industry is industry. The development of minerals stands out: tin (almost 60% of global production), tungsten, chromium, nickel, and copper. A prominent place is given to oil production *. Developed is the processing of valuable wood. Other industries are being created.
Russia and countries of Southeast Asia
The dynamism of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, which includes a huge triangle - from the Russian Far East and Korea in the northeast to Australia in the south and Pakistan in the west, is well known. We are talking about the real socio-economic progress of a whole group of once backward states that have achieved tremendous success thanks to a carefully thought-out economic strategy and internal discipline. Many of them are clothed in a single fabric of economic, humanitarian and other ties.
