Water resources of southwest Asia. Natural conditions and resources of foreign Asia. Forms of government and structure of foreign Asian countries

Foreign Asia is the largest region in the world in terms of population and area, and has retained its primacy since the ancient times of the birth of the first civilizations. Total area of ​​the territory Overseas Asia reaches 27.5 million km2. The region includes 40 sovereign states, many of which belong to the group of developing countries.

All countries of Foreign Asia are quite large in area, two of them, China and India, have the status of giant countries. The borders that separate the states of Foreign Asia are established according to natural and historical boundaries.

The political structure of states is very diverse: in Japan, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia, Jordan there are constitutional monarchies, in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman absolute monarchical regimes have been preserved, all other states have a republican form of government.

Natural conditions and resources

Foreign Asia has a fairly uniform tectonic structure and topography. The region has the largest range of altitudes on the planet: mountain ensembles are combined with vast plains. The territory of Asia is located on the Precambrian platform, some areas on the Cenozoic folding.

Due to this geographical location, the states of Foreign Asia have many natural mineral resources. Rich reserves of coal, manganese and iron ores and other minerals are concentrated within the Hindustan and Chinese platforms.

The main wealth of the region is the gas and oil basins, which are located in most states of South-West Asia. The agroclimatic characteristics of Asia hinder the development of agricultural economic activity.

Population

The population of Foreign Asia is more than 3 billion people. Many states are experiencing a process of so-called “demographic explosion”. Public policy many countries are aimed at reducing the birth rate, in China and Japan large families forced to pay special taxes.

The ethnic composition of Foreign Asia is diverse: representatives of more than 1 thousand ethnic groups and nationalities live here, the most numerous peoples being the Chinese, Bengalis, Hindustanis and Japanese. Only Iran and Afghanistan are among the mononational countries.

The peoples of Asia belong to 15 language families; such linguistic diversity is not found in any region of the world. Foreign Asia is the cradle of all world religions; Christianity, Islam and Buddhism were born here. Shintoism, Confucianism and Taoism also occupy a leading place in the region.

Economy of Foreign Asia

In the last decade, the role of the countries of Foreign Asia in the world economy has increased significantly. The level of economic development here is more contrasting than in any other region of the world. Absolute leadership in industrial development belongs to Japan.

This is the only state in Foreign Asia that is part of the G7. Other industrialized countries include China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. The economy of the Gulf states is focused primarily on the oil industry.

Mining and metallurgy are well developed in Mongolia, Jordan, Vietnam and Afghanistan. In most countries, the main share of EAN is engaged in agricultural production. The most popular plant crops are rice, tea, wheat and millet.

Asia is the world's largest part of the world and occupies about 30% of the Earth's land area. In addition, it is the leader in population (approximately 60% of the total population of the planet).

Asia's share of the global market has increased significantly over the past half century. Today, some Asian countries are leading producers in agriculture, forestry, fish farming, industry and mining. This production has affected the economic growth of certain countries, and at the same time, has led to a number of negative consequences for the environment.

Read also:

Water resources

Fresh water

Lake Baikal, located in southern Russia, is the deepest lake in the world, reaching a depth of 1,620 meters. The lake contains 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water, making it the largest reservoir on Earth. It is also the oldest lake in the world, dating back over 25 million years.

The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world (after the Amazon in South America and Nile in Africa). Reaching 6,300 km in length, the Yangtze moves east from the glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau and flows into the East China Sea. The Yangtze is considered the lifeblood of China. The river covers 1/5 of the country's territory and is home to one third of the country's population, and also contributes significantly to the growth of the Chinese economy.

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers rise in the mountains of eastern Turkey and flow through Syria and Iraq before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The land between the two rivers, known as Mesopotamia, was the center of the earliest civilizations, including Sumer and Akkad. Today, the Tigris and Euphrates river system is under threat due to increasing agricultural and industrial use. This pressure has caused desertification and increased salt levels in the soil, and has caused severe damage to local watersheds.

Salty water

The Persian Gulf has an area of ​​more than 239 thousand km². It borders Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq. The Persian Gulf experiences high rates of evaporation, making the water shallow and the water very salty. The seabed of the Persian Gulf contains approximately 50% of the world's oil reserves. Countries bordering the Gulf have been involved in a number of disputes over the extraction of this valuable resource.

The Sea of ​​Okhotsk covers 1.6 million km² and is located between the Russian mainland and Kamchatka. Typically, the sea is covered with ice between October and March. Large areas of ice make movement by sea almost impossible.

The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world, covering almost 2.2 million km². It borders Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Burma. Many large rivers, including the Ganges and Brahmaputra, flow into this gulf.

Forest resources

The forest cover of Asia is about 20%. The largest number of forests, relative to the area of ​​the country, is concentrated in: Laos (71.6%), Japan (67.0%), Bhutan (64.5%), South Korea(64.0%), Myanmar (63.6%) and North Korea(63.3%). Forest cover of less than 1% is found in the following countries: Yemen (0.9%), Bahrain (0.7%), Kuwait (0.3%), Afghanistan (0.3%), Qatar (0%).

Forestry is an important sector of the Asian economy, but has negative consequences in some countries. More than half of the territory of China, Indonesia and Malaysia is covered by forest resources. China is considered a major exporter of wood products and ranks first in the world in the production of panels, paper and wooden furniture. Indonesia and Malaysia are the main producers of tropical wood products. Tropical woods such as teak are mainly used to make high-quality furniture and flooring.

Over the past 10 years, forest cover in Asia has increased by 30 million hectares. This is due to the artificial creation of forests, which makes it possible to obtain higher yields and use them in industry. It is believed that by 2020, Asia's forestry industry will account for about 45% of production. In addition, artificial plantations are extremely important from an environmental point of view, since natural forest resources are being depleted every year in huge quantities.

Asia's rapid population growth has created increased demand for forest products, and lenient legislation has led to illegal logging and smuggling flourishing. Especially, the damage is noticeable in South-East Asia, where highly valuable tree species grow. Therefore, Asian countries have some of the worst deforestation rates in the world.

Land resources

The total land area of ​​Asia is 44,580,000 km², and the area of ​​land resources used in national economy- 30,972,803 km². Agricultural lands occupy 52.2% (of which: arable land - 15.8%, perennial plantings - 2.2%, pastures and meadows - 34.2), forest lands - 18%, surface water- 2.9%, and other lands - 26.9%.

Five countries Central Asia(Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) are the most agricultural states in this part of Asia. Arable land that is suitable for growing crops accounts for about 20% of the total agricultural land area. More than 80% of arable land in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is irrigated, but in Kazakhstan only 7%.

In Northern Asia (which largely consists of the Asian part of Russia), arable land accounts for 60-80% of agricultural land area.

In South Asia, largest territories arable land is concentrated in India and Bangladesh - more than 30%.

In the countries of the Middle East, namely Iran and Iraq, arable land accounts for less than 20%, and in other countries - no more than 10%.

Arable lands in East Asian countries, including China, South Korea and Japan, occupy no more than 20% of agricultural land. land, in the DPRK - less than 30% and Mongolia no more than 10%.

In Southeast Asia, arable land occupies no more than 30% of agricultural land.

Mineral resources

Coal

Asia is home to a huge amount of coal, accounting for almost 3/5 of the world's reserves, but it is unevenly distributed. The largest deposits are located in Siberia, countries Central Asia, India and especially in China; Indonesia, Japan and North Korea have smaller coal reserves.

Oil and natural gas

At least 2/3 of the world's known oil reserves and natural gas are located in Asia; the number of deposits may increase as Siberia, the Caspian Basin and the seas of Southeast Asia are still being explored. Many islands bordering Southeast Asia have geological formations that are favorable for gas and oil deposits. The largest oil reserves are found in Western Asia (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates). The remaining countries in Southwest Asia have limited oil reserves, and the Indian subcontinent has small oil fields.

Uranium ore

The richest deposits uranium ores are located in Kyrgyzstan, between the Osh region and the Tuya Muyun mountain range. China and India have their own reserves. Chinese uranium deposits are believed to be located in the Xinjiang region and Hunan province.

Iron

Many regions of Asia have iron ore deposits, but not every country has its own domestic reserves. South Korea, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and several smaller countries in Southwest Asia have small iron ore reserves. Japan has fewer reserves of this mineral resource than the iron and steel industry requires, so the country is heavily dependent on imports. Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan have good reserves of relatively low-grade iron ore, and Vietnam and Turkey have good ore in significant quantities. Indonesia and India have large reserves of high-quality iron, which are distributed wisely.

Although China was previously considered poor in iron ore, huge deposits of this mineral of various grades have been discovered in the country. China is currently one of the world's largest producers of iron ore.

Smaller deposits were located in several places in Eastern Siberia. In Central Asia, the main deposits are located in Eastern Kazakhstan.

Nickel

Nickel reserves in Asia are not significant. There are small reserves in Norilsk and north-central Siberia; Indonesia, China and the Philippines also have nickel reserves.

Chromium

Chromium deposits are concentrated in Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan and the Philippines, as well as in northwestern Kazakhstan.

Manganese

There are large reserves of manganese in Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Siberia and India; Chinese deposits are also significant.

Tungsten

Southern China has exceptionally large tungsten deposits. Tungsten deposits in Central Asia are as significant as molybdenum.

Copper

Asia is not rich in copper. In Central Asia, the main reserves are located southeast of Tashkent (Uzbekistan); from Zhezkazgan to the west of Karaganda; and from Kungrad to Lake Balkhash (Kazakhstan). In Siberia, deposits are mainly concentrated in Kuzbass. The Philippines has limited copper reserves.

Tin

Significant tin deposits extend from southwestern China to the Malay Peninsula. Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Yunnan in China also have tin deposits. Siberia has significant deposits in Transbaikalia, as well as in Sikhote-Alin in the Far East.

Lead and zinc

The largest reserves of lead and zinc are located in Kuzbass, Central and Eastern Kazakhstan. China also has rich deposits of zinc and lead, and North Korea has significant lead deposits.

Bauxite

Asia has huge reserves of bauxite. The largest deposits are located in Kazakhstan and the Sayans. There are also large deposits in India, Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia and China.

Precious metals

Many Asian countries have mined gold from alluvial deposits in past centuries, and some continue to do so today. Small amounts of gold ore are found in Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia, as well as along the upper Yangtze River. Previously, India had large deposits of gold, but now many of them have been exhausted. North and South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines have significant reserves of ore gold. Siberian gold reserves are currently significant.

Non-metallic minerals

Asbestos reserves are found in abundance in China, South Korea, and also on the eastern slope of the Middle Urals. Mica is found in large quantities in Eastern Siberia and India. Asia has huge reserves of rock salt. There are significant deposits of sulfur and gypsum in Central and Western Asia. Japan has large deposits of sulfur. There are phosphate deposits in Kazakhstan. Diamonds are formed in the central and eastern parts of Siberia, and in India. India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Cambodia have deposits of rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones.

Biological resources

Crop and livestock production

Northern and central Asia is subject to cold and dry arctic winds, especially the Siberian region of Russia. Hardy grains such as barley, buckwheat, millet, oats and wheat are grown in the central and southern regions of this zone, where persistent frost restricts plant growth. Livestock farming is also very important in this zone. In Mongolia, for example, 75% of agricultural land is dedicated to raising livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, etc.).

Southwest Asia has a dry, hot climate that extends from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia through China, Pakistan, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. There are very few areas in this zone with sufficient moisture and rainfall to produce a good harvest. Cereals such as barley and corn are the main crops grown in some countries. The lack of pasture and land suitable for grain means that heat-tolerant vegetables and fruits are most widely grown in this area. Figs, apricots, olives, onions, grapes, cherries are the most important fruits and vegetables of the region.

The area to the southeast is highly susceptible to the summer monsoons. As a result, many areas of Southeast Asia are among the wettest places on Earth, receiving more than 254 centimeters of rainfall each year. High temperatures and heavy rainfall are ideal conditions for growing rice and tropical fruits. Rice is considered one of the most important agricultural products of Asia and the main source of nutrition for the entire continent (one Asian resident accounts for 79 kg of rice per year). As a result, most rice in Asia remains regional and international trade is quite low.

In Southeast Asia, tropical fruits such as mangoes, papaya and pineapples are grown on a large scale. India produces the largest number of mangoes in the world, while Thailand and the Philippines are famous for their pineapples.

Fish farming

Asia is the most important fisheries and aquaculture region in the world. Aquaculture is the raising of fish and other aquatic animals under controlled conditions. In 2008, approximately 50% of the world's fish caught in Asia's marine industrial areas. Six of the world's top 10 fish producers are in Asia, namely: China, Indonesia, Japan, India, Myanmar (Burma) and the Philippines.

Seafood is an extremely important food source for many Asian people. A recent study by the National Geographic Society found that China and Japan are the leading consumers of seafood (approximately 765 million tons per year).

Flora

Asia has the richest vegetable world from all parts of the world. As it makes up most of the largest continent, Eurasia, it is not surprising that some 100,000 diverse plant species are found within its various natural zones, which range from tropical to arctic.

Asian plants, which include ferns, gymnosperms and flowering vascular plants, make up about 40% of Earth's plant species. Endemic flora species consist of more than 40 families and 1,500 genera.

Asia is divided into five main regions based on flora species diversity: Southeast Asian moist evergreen forests, East Asian mixed forests, rain forests South Asia, deserts and steppes of Central and Western Asia, taiga and tundra in North Asia.

Fauna

Asia is the most densely populated part of the world, which is also one of the most biologically diverse places. They live here like unique species wild animals and the most common on the planet. Asian countries have become home to many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, etc. However, some of these species are thriving, while others face serious threats that could wipe out their populations. Animals such as the giant panda and orangutans are the first to disappear from Asia.

An important cause of extinction of wild animals is human activity and extremely high population densities in certain areas.

Author Mary-Kate Olsen asked a question in the section Climate, Weather, Time Zones

natural conditions and resources of southeast asia. Help! answer tomorrow and got the best answer

Answer from Helga[guru]
South East Asia consists of the Indochina Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago. On an area of ​​about 4 million km2 there are the states of Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, South Vietnam (divided along the 17th parallel), the Federation of Malaya, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as the possessions of Great Britain (Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei, North. Borneo) and Portugal (on the island of Timor) with a total population of over 175 million people (Vietnamese, Burmese, Thai, Indonesians, Malays and other nationalities). The bioclimatic components of the landscapes of Southeast Asia have much in common with Hindustan, which simplifies the task of characterizing them. The same trade wind-monsoon circulation, a slightly longer wet period, which, under the conditions of the equatorial circulation over Indonesia, extends throughout the year. Due to the significant dismemberment of the territory, the northeast trade wind (winter monsoon) is wetter than in India. Therefore, the contrasts in moisture between the summer and winter seasons in Southeast Asia are less sharp, although here the southwest monsoon brings more precipitation. West Side Southeast Asia is more humidified than eastern Asia. In morphostructural terms, Southeast Asia is much more complex than Hindustan. It is characterized by extreme dismemberment of the relief created by the Hercynian, Yanshan and Alpine folds. The alternation of ridges and depressions closely pressed to each other creates a diversity of landscapes: the windward slopes are densely forested, the depressions are occupied by savannas. Mountainous terrain makes it difficult to manifest latitudinal zonality and emphasizes altitudinal zone, which is better expressed on the outer steeper slopes. Since only a few massifs exceed 3000 m, high mountain belts (nival and alpine meadows) are practically absent. The natural division of Southeast Asia into two natural countries - continental and island - is intensifying geographical location archipelago (with the exception of the northern part of the Philippines), as well as the south of the Malay Peninsula in the equatorial zone, while the rest of the territory lies in the subequatorial zone. In terms of landscape, the south of Malacca gravitates more towards the archipelago than towards Indochina. Southwest Asia unites the Arabian Peninsula, the Mesopotamian Plain and a narrow belt of the Syrian-Palestinian mountains along the Mediterranean coast. The south of the peninsula is dominated by tropical landscapes, and the north by subtropical deserts and semi-deserts. Only on the windward slopes of the mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, under the influence of humid Mediterranean air, as well as in the mountains of Yemen and Oman in the southwest and southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, do sparse forests grow, heavily cut down where they are still preserved.
More details here link
On the Pacific coast of Southeast Asia there are numerous large deposits of tin ores, forming the “tin belt”. This belt passes through the territories of China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Southeast Asia has significant reserves of chrome, nickel, copper ores, as well as bauxite.
Resources inland waters are largest in South and Southeast Asia in areas with equatorial and subequatorial climates. About 75% of the world's irrigated land is located in Asia.
In the countries of South and Southeast Asia there is no water shortage, but irrigation is necessary, since the main agricultural crop here is rice - an extremely moisture-loving plant
The area of ​​forests is especially large in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the countries of Indochina. However, for the large and rapidly growing population of this region, more and more land needs to be devoted to Agriculture. This is only possible through deforestation. Therefore, the existence of Southeast Asian forests is under threat.

Answer from Little man[guru]
Southeast Asia in the most precise terms includes the mainland - the Indochina Peninsula and the island part - the Indonesian (formerly called Sunda) and Philippine archipelago. The north of Indochina is located in a monsoon tropical climate with forests that are intensively cut down, the center is in a subequatorial, more humid climate. The extreme south of Indochina - the Malacca Peninsula and both archipelagos are located in the eternally humid equatorial belt with thick forests, especially on the island of Kalimantan in Indonesia. There are very few forests left on the most densely populated islands of the archipelagos - Java in Indonesia and Luzon in the Philippines.
Powerful agricultural region, large-scale cultivation of rice, coconut palm, sugar cane, peanuts, cocoa, tea, coffee, rubber.
Of the mineral resources, the South China Tin Belt ends here, the largest deposits on the islands and seabed Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand. The Western Pacific copper-gold nickel belt ends on the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines. Vietnam is rich in bauxite. Large oil and gas deposits lie on the seabed.

The diversity of rocks and minerals in Asia is due to the specific tectonic structure of the continent of this part of the world. There are mountain ranges, highlands and plains. It also includes peninsulas and island archipelagos. Here, a conditional division into three regions is accepted: Western, South and Southeast Asia in geographical, economic and cultural terms. Also, according to this principle, the main provinces, basins and mineral deposits can be zoned.

Metal fossils

The most abundant group of Asian resources are metals. Iron ores are common here, mined in Northeast China and the Hindustan Peninsula. There are deposits of non-ferrous metals on the east coast.

The largest deposits of these ores are located in Siberia and Caucasus mountains. Western Asia has reserves of metals such as uranium and iron, titanium and magnetites, tungsten and zinc, manganese and chromium ores, bauxite and copper ore, cobalt and molybdenum, and polymetallic ores. In South Asia, deposits of iron ores (hematite, quartzite, magnetite), chromium and titanium, tin and mercury, beryllium and nickel ores are widespread. In Southeast Asia, practically the same ore deposits are represented, just in different combinations. Among the rare metals, it is worth noting cesium, lithium, niobium, tantalum and niobate-rare earth ores. Their deposits are in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.

Non-metallic fossils

The main resource of the non-metallic group of minerals is salt. It is primarily mined in the Dead Sea. In Asia, construction minerals are mined (clay, dolomite, shell rock, limestone, sand, marble). Raw materials for the mining and chemical industry are sulfates, pyrites, halites, fluorites, barites, sulfur, and phosphorites. Magnesites, gypsum, muscovites, alunites, kaolin, corundum, diatomite, and graphite are used in industry.

A large list of precious and semi-precious stones mined in Asia:

• turquoise;
• rubies;
• emeralds;
• crystal;
• agates;
• tourmalines;
• sapphires;
• onyx;
• aquamarines;
• diamonds;
• Moonstone;
• amethysts;
• grenades.

Fossil fuels

Among all parts of the world, Asia has the largest reserves of energy resources. More than 50% of the world's oil potential is located in Asia, where there are two largest oil and gas basins (in Western Siberia and the Persian Gulf region). A promising destination in the Bay of Bengal and the Malay Archipelago. The largest coal basins in Asia are located in Hindustan, Siberia, in the area of ​​the Chinese platform.

1. General characteristics, brief history of foreign Asia

Foreign Asia is the largest region in the world in terms of population (more than 4 billion people) and the second (after Africa) in area, and it has maintained this primacy, essentially, throughout the entire existence of human civilization. The area of ​​foreign Asia is 27 million square meters. km, it includes more than 40 sovereign states. Many of them are among the oldest in the world. Foreign Asia is one of the centers of the origin of humanity, the birthplace of agriculture, artificial irrigation, cities, many cultural values ​​and scientific achievements. The region mainly consists of developing countries.

2. Diversity of foreign Asian countries by area

The region includes countries of different sizes: two of them are considered giant countries (China, India), some are very large (Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Indonesia), the rest are mainly classified as fairly large countries. The boundaries between them follow well-defined natural boundaries.

Features of the EGP of Asian countries:

1. Neighborhood position.
2. Coastal location.
3. The deep situation of some countries.

The first two features have a beneficial effect on their economy, while the third complicates external economic relations.

3. Diversity of foreign Asian countries by population

Largest countries in Asia by population (2012)
(according to CIA)

4. Diversity of foreign Asian countries by geographic location

Asian countries by geographic location:

1. Coastal (India, Pakistan, Iran, Israel, etc.).
2. Island (Bahrain, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, etc.).
3. Archipelagos (Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Maldives).
4. Inland (Laos, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, etc.).
5. Peninsular (Republic of Korea, Qatar, Oman, etc.).

5. Diversity of foreign Asian countries by level of development

The political structure of the countries is very diverse.
Monarchies of foreign Asia (according to wikipedia.org):

	Saudi Arabia

• All other countries are republics.
• Developed countries of Asia: Japan, Israel, Republic of Korea, Singapore.
• All other countries in the region are developing.
• Least developed countries in Asia: Afghanistan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, Laos, etc.
• The largest GDP volumes are in China, Japan, and India; on a per capita basis, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait have the largest GDP volumes.

6. Forms of government and structure of foreign Asian countries

By the nature of the administrative-territorial structure, most Asian countries have a unitary structure. The following countries have a federal administrative-territorial structure: India, Malaysia, Pakistan, UAE, Nepal, Iraq.

7. Regions of foreign Asia

Regions of Asia:

1. Southwestern.
2. South.
3. South-Eastern.
4. Eastern.
5. Central.

Natural resources of foreign Asia

1. Introduction

The provision of foreign Asia with resources is determined, first of all, by the diversity of the relief, location, nature and climate.

The region is extremely homogeneous in terms of tectonic structure and relief: within its boundaries there is the greatest amplitude of heights on earth (more than 9000 m), both ancient Precambrian platforms and areas of young Cenozoic folding, grandiose mountainous countries and vast plains are located here. As a result, the mineral resources of foreign Asia are very diverse.

2. Mineral resources of foreign Asia

The main basins of coal, iron and manganese ores, and non-metallic minerals are concentrated within the Chinese and Hindustan platforms. Within the Alpine-Himalayan and Pacific fold belts, ores predominate, including along the coast Pacific Ocean there is a copper belt. But the main wealth of the region, which also determines its role in the international geographical division of labor, is oil and gas. Oil and gas reserves have been explored in most countries of South-West Asia (Mesopotamian trough earth's crust). The main deposits are located in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and the UAE. In addition, large oil and gas fields have been explored in the countries of the Malay Archipelago. Indonesia and Malaysia especially stand out in terms of reserves. The countries of Central Asia are also rich in oil and gas (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan).

The largest reserves of salts are in the Dead Sea. The Iranian Plateau has large reserves of sulfur and non-ferrous metals. In general, Asia is one of the main regions of the world in terms of mineral reserves.

Countries with the largest reserves and diversity of minerals:

1. China.
2. India.
3. Indonesia.
4. Iran.
5. Kazakhstan.
6. Türkiye.
7. Saudi Arabia.

3. Land and agroclimatic resources of foreign Asia

The agroclimatic resources of Asia are heterogeneous. Vast tracts of mountainous countries, deserts and semi-deserts are little suitable for economic activity, with the exception of animal husbandry; The supply of arable land is small and continues to decline (as the population grows and soil erosion increases). But on the plains of the east and south quite favorable conditions for agriculture. Asia contains 70% of the world's irrigated land.

4. Water resources (moisture resources), agroclimatic resources

Largest reserves water resources possessed by the countries of East and Southeast Asia, as well as some regions of South Asia. At the same time, water resources are sorely lacking in the Gulf countries.

According to general indicators, China, India, and Indonesia are best provided with soil resources.
The largest reserves of forest resources: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, India.

Population of Overseas Asia

The population of Asia exceeds 4 billion people. Many countries in the region are at the stage of a “demographic explosion”.

2. Fertility and mortality (population reproduction)

All countries in the region, with the exception of Japan and some countries in transition, belong to the traditional type of population reproduction. Moreover, many of them are in a state of population explosion. Some countries are fighting this phenomenon by pursuing demographic policies (India, China), but most countries do not pursue such policies; rapid population growth and rejuvenation continue. At the current rate of population growth, countries in foreign Asia are experiencing food, social and other difficulties. Among Asian subregions, East Asia is the furthest away from the peak of its population explosion. Currently, the highest rates of population growth are characteristic of the countries of South-West Asia. For example, in Yemen there is an average of almost 5 children per woman.

3. National composition

The ethnic composition of the Asian population is also extremely complex: more than 1 thousand peoples live here - from small ethnic groups numbering several hundred people to the largest peoples in the world.

The largest nations of foreign Asia in terms of population (more than 100 million people):

1. Chinese.
2. Hindustani.
3. Bengalis.
4. Japanese.

The peoples of foreign Asia belong to approximately 15 language families. There is no such linguistic diversity in any other large region planets.
The largest language families foreign Asia by population:

1. Sino-Tibetan.
2. Indo-European.
3. Austronesian.
4. Dravidian.
5. Austroasiatic.

The most ethnolinguistically complex countries are: India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia. India and Indonesia are considered the most multinational countries in the world. In East and South-West Asia, with the exception of Iran and Afghanistan, a more homogeneous national composition is characteristic. The complex composition of the population in many parts of the region leads to acute ethnic conflicts.

4. Religious composition

• Foreign Asia is the birthplace of all major religions; all three world religions originated here: Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.
• Christianity: Philippines, Georgia, Armenia, a significant proportion of Christians in Kazakhstan, Japan, Lebanon.
• Buddhism: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bhutan, Mongolia.
• Islam: Southwest Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh.
• Among other national religions, it is necessary to note Confucianism (China), Taoism, Shintoism. In many countries, interethnic contradictions are based precisely on religious grounds.

Presentation for the lesson:

!? Exercise.

1. Russian border.
2. Subregions of Foreign Asia.
3. Republics and monarchies.