Notes in Civics 7

A. Physical Features and Natural Resources of East Asia

China - known as “Eighteen Provinces or the Middle Kingdom”, wide

range climate covered with varied vegetation, vital producer and distributor
of in-demand natural resources

Taiwan – known to be Formosa, province of China, mountainous and

splits the island into two from N to S, produces most sought-after fruits in
Asia despite of not having so much deposits of natural resources

Japan - made up of four largest islands, vital resources are titanium and
sheet mica, used in production of electronic and electrical equipments

South Korea – south of the 38th parallel zone or DMZ, has mineral
reserves important for industrialization; substantial deposit of REM or rare
earth metals vital for manufacturing high-tech products

Mongolia –includes Asia’s largest freshwater lake (Lake Khovsgol),

untapped mineral resources of copper, gold, uranium, coal, iron, ores, and
more.

B. Implications of the Physical Features and Natural Resources of East Asia

 Huang Ho and Yangtze rivers give life and fertility to great

plains of China essential for rice production.
 wheat fields and raising of goats, pigs, sheep at the steppes
(Asia’s grassland)
 Taiwan exports fruits such as lychees, apples, guava, and
bananas; also the world leader in aquaculture with modernized
fishing fleets to harness sea resources
 Japan - rice production, increased arable lands through
chemical fertilizer, generation of potatoes, barley, beans, and
peas and cattle-raising
 South Korea rice, barley, wheat, soybeans, tobacco and
potato growing with extensive use of fertilizer
  North Korea - increased mechanization through organized
cooperatives raised agricultural output of the country
 Mongolia – winter and climate makes herding difficult

C. Physical Features and Natural Resources of South Asia

India – watered by three river systems: Indus, Ganges, and

Brahmaputra making fertile plain for farming; enormous supply of
iron, coal, and hydroelectric power

Pakistan – lowland watered by Indus river which support farmlands;

natural resources of natural gas, oil, low graded coal, iron ore,
copper, limestone and salt, rich agricultural products like sugarcane,
egg, fruits and vegetables, milk, cotton, wheat and mutton. Punjab
is known as the richest plain of this country which means “five rivers”

Bangladesh – blessed with mangrove forest, rich in fruit trees, Bay

Bengal rich in oil and it rich in fauna; jute is known as the “Golden
Fiber of Bangladesh”

Nepal – where world’s highest peak is found; deciduous forest

where wild games and herbs of medicinal value are found;
Kathmandu Valley one of the most cultivated areas

Sri Lanka – rice and tea composed most of the food; also fruits and
vegetables, cocoa, cinnamon, Citronella spices, and nuts; valuable
timber and fuel

Maldives – an archipelago; rich water resources and remarkably

beautiful with 1, 190 coral islands; fishing and tourism industry

Bhutan –centered in agriculture; abundant natural resources; offers

various species of mammals, birds, and medicinal plants

Afghanistan – landlocked country of nomadic herdsmen and

farmers; consist gold, iron, copper, cobalt, and lithium which is an
 important component of laptops, staples, and other modern
equipment

D. Physical Features and Natural Resources of Southeast Asia

Cambodia – mineral resources like gold, silver, iron ore and more;
home of distinctive flora and fauna species, Tonle Sap one of the
richest freshwater lake in the world

Laos - largely mountainous, alluvial plains, and terraces irrigated by

Mekong River; crops production like tobacco, cotton, and other
tropical fruits; mineral resources like copper, tin, and coal

Vietnam – coastal harbors ideal for fishing grounds; large deposit of

anthracite, antimony and other mineral deposits

Thailand – vast plain and forest lands; Gulf of Siam primary source
of fish

Myanmar – Irrawaddy River irrigate the fertile deltaic plains;

abundant forest resources

Malaysia – leading producer of tin; largest exporter of water

resources; rubber is the most vital product; where Taman Negara
forest, the oldest forest is found

Singapore – crossroad of Asian sea routes; one of the finest

harbour in the world

Brunei Darussalam – often called as “puni” or “poli” which means

oil-rich kingdom; also rich in natural gas

Indonesia – wide variety of coral reefs, fishes, and world renowned

oyster; oil and petroleum are most important industry also minerals
like bauxite, nickel, iodine, and coal
 Philippines - Bananas and pineapple are commercially imported;
home of various and unique mammals and wild birds; mineral
resources are gold, copper, zinc, chromite and others

East Timor – deposits of gold, copper, iron, oil, and natural gas;
hosts unique plants and animal species

E. Physical Features and Natural Resources of West Asia

Saudi Arabia – dominantly barren vegetation; plains usually made

of sand and gravel with few lakes and streams, Rub al-Khali hottest
and driest place in the world; owns 1/5 of the world’s oil reserve
making it one of the richest nations; limited water supply

Yemen – most active shipping lane in the world; home of variety

endemic plants used for medicinal purposes like Dragon Blood tree
used for colic and dyeing treatment

Oman – “The Guardian of the Gulf” oldest and easternmost of Arab

world; formerly known as Muscat; coastal plains with several wadis
and oases

United Arab Emirates – “Trucial States” comprised of seven

sheikdoms, seven states Abu Dhabi – largest, Dubai – most
prosperous, Sharjah – seat of international airport, Ajmam,
al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and rasal-Khaimah

Qatar – has Khoral Aclaid – an inland sea, Halul – island used for oil-
processing storage and export terminal of the country

Bahrain – means “Two Seas” ; natural and luster pearls; first oil
state in Persian Gulf; has large fish stocks

Kuwait – rich in oil; access point for trade

 Iraq - large arid limestones steppes; major producer of oil;
produces building materials, soap, beverages and cotton

Iran - formerly known as Persia; one of the most mountainous

countries of the world

Israel - sufficient supply of crops for domestic consumption;

imports of petroleum and coal; therapeutic water of Dead Sea with
eight times higher salt level which cannot support life

Jordan – official name is Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; desert

plateau with luxurious vegetation and wildlife

Lebanon – known as the Land of Cedars, source of wood for

shipbuilders of Phoenicia before; enough crops for consumption

Turkey – ample wood for timber export; yields crops essential for
export and local consumption

Armenia – landlocked; high elevation of mountains and plateaus;

network of 300 small rivers; rich in forest woods

Azerbaijan - rich in mineral resources; major source of natural gas

and oil; millions of livestock; gifted in topography

F. Asia’s Human Resources

 Population - all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country;

also used to refer human race
 Overpopulation – exists if the number of organisms exceed the
carrying capacity of its habitat
 Population Growth – refers to the changes in population over a
certain period of time.
 Population Explosion – sudden growth in population
  Population Density – number of people living in a particular area per
sq. meter km.
 population growth = birth rate – death rate (difference between birth
and death rate)
 birth rate – number of birth each year for every 1000 people
 death rate – number of death for every 1000 people in a given year
 Fertility rate – average number a woman can bear within the span of
her lifetime
 Dependency ratio – includes percentage of the age group below 15
years old and those above 60
 Migration rate – number of people transferred place to live in a given
period of time
 Mortality rate – number of occurrence of death in particular place in
an interval of time
 Literacy rate – average number of people in a country who knows
how to read and write
 Labor Force – the actual number of people available for work or are
potential work force
 Standard Living – the possession of necessities and luxuries that
make life easier
 Gender Imbalance – decline in the number of female of population in
China
 Life expectancy – age until a person is expected

Factors Affecting Population Growth

 Decline in Death Rate

 Incline in Birth Rate
 Migration
 Lack of Education

Factors Affecting Population Density

 Geographical Factors
 Economic Factors