About Asia Physical Map
This Asia physical map shows the countries of Asia and the major physical features of the continent. Physical and political information are both included on this map. Russia, China, India, and Mongolia as well as Saudi Arabia are marked on this map of Asia.
The relief of countries and territories is highlighted using colour on the map, with low-lying areas shown in green, plains and plateau shown in yellow/light brown and mountainous relief shown in dark brown/white. The West Siberian Plain is clearly visible in the north of Russia, extending down to the Caspian Sea. To the east is the much higher Central Siberian Plateau. The map’s northern boundary is the Arctic Ocean, including seas such as the Kara Sea and Laptev Sea.
Central Asia on the physical map of Asia is highlighted with the major mountain ranges of the Altai Mountains, the Tian Shan and other peaks. The central Asian desert and the Tarim Basin are also labeled.
Plateau of Tibet: The Tibetan Plateau, also known as the ‘Roof of the Earth’, is the largest highland region. The southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau is bounded by the Himalayas with their very high peaks; Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, is situated on the border with Nepal, and thus on the boundary between the Asian part of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
This descriptive Asia physical map of the Indian subcontinent highlights the geographical features of the region. The map shows the northern plains as well as the Deccan Plateau, and also focuses on the two major mountain ranges of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. The map also depicts the two major seas surrounding the subcontinent: the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Western world includes mostly dry areas of the world like Thar Desert, rest of Arabian Desert etc. Eastern part of world features large plain of Manchuria & several seas like Yellow Sea, East China Sea & Sea of Japan. Japan, Philippines and Indonesia are also highlighted on this physical map of Asia.
Southeast Asia include details of all the many islands and coastlines and show the various seas including the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea.
This Asia physical Map is a detailed and accurate map that includes all international boundaries as well as physical characteristics such as mountains, plateaus, plains, desert regions, rivers, and ocean components. The map is useful for getting a better understanding of the geographical aspects of Asia.
Physical Geography of Asia
Asia is the world’s largest continent, covering an area of 44.58 million square kilometers (17.2 million square miles). The area of Asia exceeds 30% of the area of Earth and it spans from the Arctic to the Equator and from the Mediterranean Sea to the limits of Pacific Ocean. On the physical and political map of Asia you can find information about all the mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers and also data about all countries in Asia and their borders. Asia is the most geographically diverse continent and it offers varied landscapes and very contrasitic environment. There are mountains and valleys, vast deserts, scattered islands, plains and so many rivers that flow through Asia.
Major Landforms and Elevation Patterns
Asia’s physical features are depicted on the map with different shades of colour showing varying elevations. Large lowland areas, such as the world’s largest flat surface, the West Siberian Plain (green), are in stark contrast to the high ground of the Central Siberian Plateau (to the east of the plain). To the southeast of the Siberian plain lies a formidable tangle of major mountain systems, including the immense ranges of the Altai Mountains, the Tian Shan and others.
Using a map of Asia it is possible to gain a good understanding of the size of the Plateau of Tibet. Commonly known as the ‘Roof of the World’ the average elevation of the plateau is over 4,500 m above sea-level. The southern face of the plateau is dominated by the world’s highest mountain range the Himalayas (including Mount Everest 8,848.86 m above sea-level, the highest point on the planet). At the other extreme are Asia’s low-lying plains and associated coastal regions where large numbers of agricultural users are found.
Plains, Deserts, and Plateaus
The plains of the world are mainly located in northern and eastern Asia. The West Siberian Plain is the worlds largest plain, followed by the many plains of northern India (notably the Indo-Gangetic Plain) and eastern China (notably the North China Plain and the Yangtze Plain). Central and East Asia are generally dry with arid desert regions such as the Gobi Desert which runs across northern Mongolia and northern China, and the Thar Desert which divides northern India and Pakistan. Both of these desert regions have very low rainfall and very large variations in temperature.
In addition to the large lowland areas and mountain systems of the Asian continent, there are also high plateaus. The Deccan Plateau, of extreme size, is one of the largest volcanic plateaus in the world and is located in southern India. To the west of the Indian subcontinent is the Arabian Peninsula, which is composed of a high desert plateau.
Rivers and Inland Water Systems
In addition to showing the physical features of Asia, the map also depicts the major rivers which outline the continent’s geography and sustain its huge population. The Ganga, Indus, Yangtze and Yellow rivers are the longest rivers in Asia. Most of the major rivers of Asia originate from two of the world’s largest highland regions — the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau — and traverse plains and deltas to create some of the most fertile agricultural land in Asia.
We include all major rivers as well as other freshwater features, such as the now greatly reduced Aral Sea, and Asia’s largest and deepest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal with a maximum depth of 1,642 m (5,429 ft). It plays a vital role in the ecosystems, agriculture and many of Asia’s largest cities.
Coastal Features and Surrounding Water Bodies
Asia is almost surrounded by major oceans and seas. To the north of the map is the Arctic Ocean, to the south the Indian Ocean including the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The Pacific Ocean borders Asia to the east, including the East China Sea, Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.
The map includes the thousands of islands found around the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines, two countries in constant motion as their tectonic plates slowly move towards each other. The rugged coastlines and ocean boundaries have a profound effect on trade, climate and ecology locally.
Mountains and Tectonic Activity
Continental boundaries, major mountain ranges, and selected oceanic ridges are illustrated on the map. Many of the world’s major mountain ranges are depicted in Asia, including the Himalayas which extend across southern Tibet and Nepal. To the west the Zagros Mountains of Iran and Turkey are shown, while in eastern Russia and China several major mountain ranges are highlighted including the Baikal and Nan Mountains. Many of these mountain ranges are still rising as a result of tectonic collision, none more so than the Himalayas where the slowly moving Indian plate is headlong into the much slower moving Eurasian plate.
Several Eastern Asian countries, such as Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, surround the Pacific Ocean, while other countries of Eastern, South Asia and the Russian Far East make up the continent’s other border. Eastern Asia’s border with the rest of Asia thus falls in the Pacific Ring of Fire, as does much of Australia and Oceania, and this region of tectonic activity includes many volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.