China's landscape

The Himalayas

Uplift 40-50 M y/ago due to tectonic collision of Indian subcontinent with Asian continent = created mountain ranges and rivers (west to east) + N-S traffic more difficult => natural interaction zones

Major rivers of China

Yellow river: 5400km, picks up and deposits loess, prone to flooding -< change courses over time+changed coastline (brought loess to “create” more land)

Yangzi river: longuest in China, 6300km, fertile plains (rice)

Xi river: most southern river

Mountains

Qinling (watershed between yellow and Yangzi + separates N-S), TaiHang, Yan, Nanling

Climatic belts

Monsoons = humid summer

Nothern = forest, steppe and desert: limited agri bc of short growing season and little precipitation

Yellow river bassin: moderate rain, pretty short growing season→ millet + soy

Yangzi: fertile, much rain → rice

Southern subtropical region: relative late start to agriculture