EAST ASIA
East Asia is determined by the contrast between the mountains, highlands (Tibet) and desert basins (Gobi, Tarim, Qaidam, Djungary) of Central Asia on the one hand and the fertile and densely populated great plain. The river deltas of the great rivers, especially the Mekong, are comparable to the Great Plain as favored areas. The densely populated Red Basin occupies a special position within the mountain ranges.
The mountains of East Asia become lower towards the coast, but still reach significant heights (Annam, Wuyi Shan). The Korean peninsula and the main island of Taiwan have a decidedly mountainous character.
The also mountainous interior of Japan is largely covered by forests, only the valley floors of some river valleys are used for agriculture. There are only a few coastal plains – such as around Tokyo – and a relatively narrow coastal fringe, which limits the settlement area and also competes strongly with agricultural land use. A particular problem in Japan is the risk of earthquakes. The active tectonics can also be seen in the number of volcanoes. For more information about the continent of Asia, please check estatelearning.com.
