Page 80 - Key to Social Studies 5

The Geography of Asia

Asia is divided into cultural and geographical regions, including West Asia, which is a part of the Middle

East, where we nd countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, and

Lebanon. The Caucasus, which is a mountainous region, lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

It includes Armenia, Georgia, and parts of Russia. The huge continent also includes Central Asia, East

Asia, Southwest Asia, and South Asia, which is also called the Indian subcontinent.

Across this immense, or huge, area, the geography of Asia has many di erent landforms and water

bodies, including deserts, lakes, mountains, and rivers.

Deserts

Many deserts stretch through the Asian

continent, such as the Karakum,

Taklamakan, and Thar Deserts. The Arabian

Desert, the largest desert in Asia, occupies

most of the Arabian Peninsula. The Gobi

Desert, the second largest desert in Asia,

receives very little rainfall because the

Himalaya Mountains block rains from

reaching it.

Bedouins and camels in sand dunes
Lake Baikal, Olkhon Island

Lakes

Many important lakes exist in Asia, including the

Caspian Sea, the largest lake in the world, which is

located on the border between Asia and Europe.

Lake Baikal is known as the oldest freshwater lake,

and the Aral Sea is slowly disappearing and is mostly

polluted because of the use of fertilizers, or

chemicals used to make soil more fertile.
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