Facts about Asia

Geography

        Facts about Asia

  • The word “Asia” is used as a female name that means “sunrise.” Because sun rises from east of Asia.
  • The Demonym name is Asian
  • Asia is largest and first most populous continent in the world.
  • The Equator, Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle passes through this continent.
  • The continent is primarily located in the eastern and northern hemisphere.
  • Asia shares its continental landmass with Europe that is known as Eurasia and Continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Africa.
  • Total area covered by this continent is 44,579,000 square km which is about 30% of earth’s total land area and 8.7 % of total earth’s surface area.
  • The continent has the longest coastline of 62,800 km.
  • Asia is divided into 49 countries : Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,  Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen and 5 of them Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey are transcontinental countries lying partly in  Europe
  • Russia is lying partly in Europe.
  • Because of its large size and population, this continent is home to majority of the human population.
  • Population density of this continent is about 100 per kilometre square.
  • In terms of its location in the world, Pacific Ocean is located on the east, Indian Ocean in the south and Arctic Ocean in the north.
  • It is separated from North America by Bering Strait.
  • Suez Canal is an artificial sea level waterway in Egypt defines the border between Africa and Asia. It is constructed by Suez Canal company between 1859-1869 and officially opened on 17th November 1868
  • The Indian Ocean fronts most of Asia’s southern borders along with Bays, Gulfs, and Seas and chains of inhabited and habited islands.
  • The Arctic Ocean and some seas front the northern border.
  • Ural Mountain and Ural River lies to the south of Caucasus Mountain and black sea and Caspian Sea separates it from Europe.
  • The main east –west trading route in Asian hinterlands is Silk Road. It is a network of trade routes that connects different parts of Asia with Africa and Europe.
  • Climate in this continent ranges from arctic and sub-arctic in Siberian to tropical in southern India and south-east Asia.
  • Most active tropical cyclone activity lies in north-east of Philippines and Japan countries
  • Pamir Plateau is known as Roof of the world situated in the Central Asia.
  • Gobi desert covers Northern and North Eastern China and Southern Mongolia with total area of 1,295,000 km square. This desert is the fifth largest desert in the world.
  • Arabian Desert in Western Asia stretches from Yemen to the Persian Gulf, Oman to Jordan and Iraq with an area of 2,330,000 square km. This is the fifth largest desert in the world and largest in Asia.
  • Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) longest river in the continent and third longest river in the world. It rises at Jari Hill in Tanggula Mountain (Tibetan Plateau) and flows 6,300 km long to the east of China Sea.
  • The Himalayan Range in lies between Nepal and China border is the longest and oldest mountain range in the world.
  • Mount Everest is the highest peak in Asia with elevation of 8,848 meter above sea level.
  • The deepest trench of the world Mariana Trench is located in the Pacific Ocean near Philippines.
  • China is the country with most land borders.
  • Sri Lanka in South is the major island located in Indian Ocean.
  • China’s Tibetan plateau is the highest plateau with average height of 4500 m and covered area 2.3 million km square located in Sichuan, Qinghai of China.
  • Sunderban Delta is the largest delta formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers in Bangladesh and India with covers area of 75,000 km square.
  • Russia’s Lake Baikal in north of Mongolian border cover surface area of 31,500 km square is the largest lake of Asia.
  • Urmia in Iran with cover area of 5,200 km square is the major lake in Asia.
  • Lhagba Pool in Himalaya- Tibet- China is the highest altitude lake located 6,368 meter above sea level.
  • Venquan near Jinghai and Tibet is the highest city in Asia.
  • Rogun in Tajikistan is the highest dam in Asia.
  • The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam on Yangtze River in town of Sandouping in Yiling district, Yichang Hubei province, central China is the world’s largest power station lays in Asia.
  • Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest and earliest man made canal in Beijing. It was first constructed in 5th century.
  • Tarsiers are the rare species that can only be found in the south east part of Asia mainly in Borneo.
  •  Yangtze River Dolphin is also known as Baiji or “Goddess of the Yangtze” is a critically endangered species.
  • Red Panda are like Giant Panda found in Nepal, Northern Myanmar, and central China mountains.
  • Saola are also known as Asian Unicorn found in Laos and Vietnam.
  • Saiga Antelope are found the central Asia.
  • Sun Bear are found in the tropical forest of South-East Asia.
  • Pangolin is an endangered mammal found in Asia and Africa.
  • Dugong known as the “angle of the sea” is gentle marine giant found in Indian Ocean.
  • Rusty- spotted cat is the world’s smallest cat lives in the forest of Sri Lanka.
  • Clouded Leopard lives in the Himalayan foothills of South-East Asia and China.
  • Largest Lake in Asia is Caspian Sea with covered area of 371,000 km square.
  • Smallest country of Asia by land area and population is the Republic of Maldives.
  • Biggest country in Asia by land area is China with covered area of 9.597 million km square.