Asia is washed by the Arctic, Indian and Pacific oceans, as well as - in the west - by the inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean (Azov, Black, Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean). At the same time, there are vast areas of internal flow - the basins of the Caspian and Aral Seas, Lake Balkhash, etc. Lake Baikal in terms of the volume of fresh water it contains exceeds all lakes in the world; Baikal contains 20% of the world's fresh water reserves (excluding glaciers). The Dead Sea is the world's deepest tectonic basin (-405 meters below sea level). The coast of Asia as a whole is relatively weakly dissected; large peninsulas stand out - Asia Minor, Arabian, Hindustan, Korean, Kamchatka, Chukotka, Taimyr, etc. Near the coast of Asia there are large islands (Big Sunda, Novosibirsk, Sakhalin, Severnaya Zemlya, Taiwan, Philippine, Hainan, Sri Lanka, Japanese, etc.), occupying a total area of more than 2 million km².
At the base of Asia lie four huge platforms - the Arabian, Indian, Chinese and Siberian. Up to ¾ of the world's territory is occupied by mountains and plateaus, the highest of which are concentrated in Central and Central Asia. In general, Asia is a contrasting region in terms of absolute altitudes. On the one hand, the highest peak of the world is located here - Mount Chomolungma (8848 m), on the other hand, the deepest depressions - Lake Baikal with a depth of up to 1620 m and the Dead Sea, the level of which is 392 m below sea level. East Asia is an area of active volcanism .
Asia is rich in a variety of mineral resources (especially fuel and energy raw materials).
Almost all types of climate are represented in Asia - from arctic in the far north to equatorial in the southeast. In East, South and Southeast Asia the climate is monsoonal (within Asia there is the wettest place on Earth - the place of Cherrapunji in the Himalayas), while in Western Siberia it is continental, in Eastern Siberia and on Saryarka it is sharply continental, and on the plains Central, Central and Western Asia - semi-desert and desert climate of temperate and subtropical zones. Southwest Asia is tropical desert, the hottest within Asia.
The far north of Asia is occupied by tundras. To the south is the taiga. Western Asia is home to fertile black earth steppes. Most of Central Asia, from the Red Sea to Mongolia, is desert. The largest of them is the Gobi Desert. The Himalayas separate Central Asia from the tropics of South and Southeast Asia.
The Himalayas are the highest mountain system in the world. The rivers, in whose basins the Himalayas are located, carry silt to the fields of the south, forming fertile soils
Asia is that part of the world where countries are both similar to each other and completely different. It combines various cultural and religious movements, different natural and climatic conditions, the exoticism of the East, ancient traditions and a completely modern, European-like life.
Western Asia includes the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, the Caucasus Mountains and the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This region is full of attractions; the oldest states in the world were born here. Now there are resorts for every taste. Türkiye is the most popular due to its good climate, varied types of recreation, affordable prices and historical monuments. The Caucasus delights with its national color, excellent cuisine and ancient history. And the countries of the Arabian Peninsula will provide a luxurious holiday for the most demanding tastes.
The countries of South Asia are immediately associated with fairy tales of the Thousand and One Nights. Iran, Iraq, India and neighboring countries have a special flavor. India deserves special attention as the largest country in the region. In India, Europeans are treated well; magnificent architectural monuments from various eras have been preserved here; Indians celebrate folk festivals on a grand scale, and it is a pleasure to take part in them. Almost all Indians speak English. But there are also disadvantages: in big cities there are a huge number of slums, and therefore a lot of small scammers. Heat, insects, snakes are not the most pleasant additions to your vacation, although these inconveniences will not be a hindrance for tourists who are prepared in advance.
China, Japan, Mongolia and other countries are grouped by geographers into East Asia. It is difficult to describe the variety of attractions, but no one will refuse to see the birthplace of Genghis Khan, the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Army or the Cherry Blossom Festival. Lovers of philosophy and religion will find themselves visiting many temples, and maybe even get to the monasteries of Tibet. Nature has not deprived this part of Asia of landscapes - steppes, deserts, the roof of the world - the Himalayan mountains, great rivers - all this is worth the attention of travelers.
Southeast Asia is very popular among vacationers with its warm seas and wide beaches, an abundance of tropical flora and fauna, unusual architecture, and rich ancient culture. Tourists from all over the world are warmly welcomed here and vacationers return to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the island states again and again.
Asia is a contrast of exoticism and modern technology, the preservation of traditions and customs and the desire to keep up with the times. Tourists, coming on vacation to Asian countries, always make discoveries for themselves, because in such a vast territory there is sure to be an unexplored corner that seems like a real paradise.
Southeast Asia is a major global economic center, known to most for its popular tourist destinations. This vast region is very diverse in terms of ethnic composition, culture and religion. All this over time affected the general way of life and arouses great interest among tourists from all over the world.
The countries of Southeast Asia are a generalized definition that refers to a number of states concentrated south of China, east of India and north of Australia. Despite this, a map of Southeast Asia usually includes 11 states.
Since the middle of the last century and now, this part of the world has been actively developing and playing a huge role in the global economy. The population of Southeast Asia is about 600 million people, the most populous country is Indonesia, and the most populous island is Java.
The length of the region from north to south is 3.2 thousand kilometers, and from west to east - 5.6. The countries of Southeast Asia are the following:
Sometimes this list includes some other territories controlled by states that are part of Asia, but in general their location is not among the countries of the southeast. Most often these are islands and territories controlled by China, India, Australia and Oceania, these include:
- (China).
- (China).
- (Australia).
- (China).
- Nicobar Islands (India).
- islands (India).
- Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
According to various sources, about 40% of the world's population lives in the countries of Southeast Asia; many have united in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Thus, in 2019, almost half of the world’s GDP is produced here. The economic characteristics of recent years have been marked by high development in the region in many areas.
Tourism sector
The end of the war between the United States and Vietnam had a positive effect on the popularization of resorts in the late 60s. They are still actively developing today, especially since citizens of our country can go to most of these countries under a simplified visa regime, and many do not require a visa at all. The countries of Southeast Asia, due to their tropical climate, are suitable for beach holidays all year round.
Still, in certain parts of this giant peninsula the climate is different at different times of the year, so it would be useful to study the maps in advance. In the middle and second half of winter, it is better to go to India, to an island or to Vietnam, since at this time of year there is no constant rainfall inherent in a tropical climate. Other suitable destinations include Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
- southern China;
- Indonesia;
- Malaysia;
- Pacific Islands.
The most popular destinations among our tourists are Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Peoples and cultures
The racial and ethnic composition of Southeast Asia is very heterogeneous. This also applies to religion: the eastern part of the archipelago is mostly inhabited by followers of Buddhism, and there are also Confucians - due to the large number of Chinese immigrants from the southern provinces of the PRC, there are about 20 million of them here. These countries include Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and a number of other states. It is also not uncommon to meet Hindus and Christians. In the western part of Southeast Asia, Islam is predominantly practiced; this religion ranks first in terms of the number of followers.
The ethnic composition of the region is represented by the following peoples:
And in this list there is only a small part of all ethnic groups and subgroups; there are also representatives of the peoples of Europe. By and large, the culture of the southeast is a cross between Indian and Chinese cultures.
The Spaniards and Portuguese, who colonized the islands in these places, had a great influence on the population. Arab culture also played a huge role; about 240 million people profess Islam here. Over the centuries, common traditions have developed here; almost everywhere in all these countries, people eat using Chinese chopsticks and are very fond of tea.
Yet there are amazing cultural features that will interest any foreigner. One of the most superstitious peoples in the archipelago are the Vietnamese. For example, it is customary for them to hang mirrors on the outside of the entrance: if a dragon comes, it will immediately run away, afraid of its own reflection. There is also a bad omen to meet a woman in the morning when leaving the house. Or it is considered bad manners to lay out cutlery on a table for one person. It is also not customary to touch a person’s shoulder or head, as they believe that good spirits are nearby, and touching them can scare them away.
Demography
In the countries of Southeast Asia, the birth rate has decreased in recent years, however, this part of the world ranks second in terms of population reproduction.
The inhabitants here are distributed very heterogeneously, the most densely populated place is the island of Java: the density per 1 square kilometer is 930 people. All are settled on the Indochina Peninsula, which occupies the eastern part of Southeast Asia, and on the western Malay Archipelago, consisting of many large and small islands. The population preferably lives in the deltas of numerous rivers, the high mountain areas are less populated, and the forest areas are practically deserted.
The majority of all people live outside cities, the rest settle in developed centers, most often the capitals of states, the lion's share of the economy of which is replenished by the tourist flow.
Thus, almost all of these cities have a population of over 1 million, yet most of the population lives outside them and is engaged in agriculture.
Economy
Looking at the map, the countries of Southeast Asia can be roughly divided into 2 camps. The first includes the following:
- Laos;
- Cambodia;
- Vietnam.
In the post-war period, these countries chose the socialist path of development, when, in fact, territorial division began in order to strengthen national sovereignty. Back in the 1980s, these countries had practically no manufacturing industry; the local population was mainly engaged in agricultural work. According to UN statistics of those years, these states had a low level of development, with per capita income usually not exceeding $500 per year.
The second camp includes the following countries:
- Indonesia;
- Malaysia;
- Singapore;
- Philippines;
- Thailand;
- Brunei.
Countries from this list united into the Association of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) and followed the path of a market economy. As a result, the socialist camp achieved less success, although initially all these countries had almost equal chances. Income per person per year ranged from 500 to 3 thousand dollars.
The most developed countries in ASEAN today are Brunei and Singapore, with a per capita income of about 20 thousand dollars. Such indicators were achieved due to the fact that Singapore has a well-developed industry, and Brunei acts as an exporter of petroleum products. Several factors helped the developing ASEAN:
- Export.
- Industry.
- Foreign investments.
- Creating corporations with a flexible, viable system.
- Reforms.
ASEAN countries began to develop successfully due to the presence of a large amount of natural resources, and they are constantly exporting their goods. Also in the countries of Southeast Asia, components for various household appliances, electronics and other equipment are made. Thailand also exports cars.
In countries that followed the path of socialism, the restructuring of the system began to take place at the end of the 1980s and produced visible results in just a few years. Vietnam began refining oil, extracting natural gas, iron ore and more. Foreign capital poured into this country from Singapore and a number of European countries. Thailand invested in Laos, and at the end of the twentieth century both states were also able to join ASEAN.
The rapidly developing region occupies 30% of the entire earth's land, which is 43 million km². Extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, from the tropics to the North Pole. It has a very interesting history, rich past and unique traditions. More than half (60%) of the world's population lives here - 4 billion people! You can see what Asia looks like on the world map below.
All Asian countries on maps
Asia world map:
Political map of foreign Asia:
Physical map of Asia:
Countries and capitals of Asia:
List of Asian countries and their capitals
A map of Asia with countries gives a clear idea of their location. The list below is the capitals of Asian countries:
- Azerbaijan – Baku.
- Armenia – Yerevan.
- Afghanistan - Kabul.
- Bangladesh - Dhaka.
- Bahrain – Manama.
- Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan.
- Bhutan – Thimphu.
- East Timor - Dili.
- Vietnam – .
- Hong Kong - Hong Kong.
- Georgia - Tbilisi.
- Israel – .
- - Jakarta.
- Jordan - Amman.
- Iraq - Baghdad.
- Iran - Tehran.
- Yemen - Sana'a.
- Kazakhstan – Astana.
- Cambodia – Phnom Penh.
- Qatar - Doha.
- - Nicosia.
- Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek.
- China - Beijing.
- DPRK - Pyongyang.
- Kuwait - Kuwait City.
- Laos - Vientiane.
- Lebanon - Beirut.
- Malaysia – .
- - Male.
- Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar.
- Myanmar - Yangon.
- Nepal - Kathmandu.
- United Arab Emirates – .
- Oman – Muscat.
- Pakistan – Islamabad.
- Saudi Arabia - Riyadh.
- - Singapore.
- Syria - Damascus.
- Tajikistan – Dushanbe.
- Thailand – .
- Turkmenistan – Ashgabat.
- Türkiye - Ankara.
- - Tashkent.
- Philippines - Manila.
- - Columbo.
- - Seoul.
- - Tokyo.
In addition, there are partially recognized countries, for example, Taiwan, which separated from China with its capital Taipei.
Sights of the Asian region
The name is of Assyrian origin and means “sunrise” or “east”, which is not surprising. Part of the world is distinguished by rich terrain, mountains and peaks, including the highest peak in the world - Everest (Chomolungma), which is part of the Himalaya mountain system. All natural areas and landscapes are represented here; on its territory there is the deepest lake in the world -. Foreign Asian countries have been confidently leading in the number of tourists in recent years. Mysterious and incomprehensible to Europeans traditions, religious buildings, and the interweaving of ancient culture with the latest technologies attract inquisitive travelers. It is impossible to list all the iconic sights of this region; we can only try to highlight the most famous ones.
Taj Mahal (India, Agra)
A romantic monument, a symbol of eternal love and a magnificent structure in front of which people stand in stupor, the Taj Mahal Palace, included in the list of the seven new wonders of the world. The mosque was erected by Tamerlane's descendant Shah Jahan in memory of his deceased wife, who died in childbirth while giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj Mahal is recognized as the finest example of Mughal architecture, incorporating Arabic, Persian and Indian architectural styles. The walls of the structure are lined with translucent marble and inlaid with gems. Depending on the lighting, the stone changes color, becoming pink at dawn, silver at dusk, and dazzling white at noon.
Mount Fuji (Japan)
This is an iconic place for Buddhists who practice Shintaism. The height of Fuji is 3776 m; in fact, it is a sleeping volcano that should not wake up in the coming decades. It is recognized as the most beautiful in the world. There are tourist routes up the mountain that operate only in summer, since most of Fuji is covered with eternal snow. The mountain itself and the Fuji 5 Lakes area around it are part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
The largest architectural ensemble in the world stretches across Northern China for 8860 km (including branches). Construction of the Wall took place in the 3rd century BC. and had the goal of protecting the country from the Xiongnu conquerors. The construction project dragged on for a decade, about a million Chinese worked on it and thousands died from exhausting labor in inhumane conditions. All this served as a reason for the uprising and overthrow of the Qin dynasty. The wall fits extremely organically into the landscape; it follows all the curves of the spurs and depressions, encircling the mountain range.
Borobodur Temple (Indonesia, Java)
Among the rice plantations of the island rises an ancient gigantic structure in the form of a pyramid - the largest and most revered Buddhist temple in the world with a height of 34 m. Steps and terraces that encircle it lead up. From the point of view of Buddhism, Borobodur is nothing more than a model of the Universe. Its 8 tiers mark 8 steps to enlightenment: the first is the world of sensual pleasures, the next three are the world of yogic trance that has risen above base lust. Rising higher, the soul is cleansed of all vanity and gains immortality in the heavenly sphere. The top step personifies nirvana - a state of eternal bliss and peace.
Golden Buddha Stone (Myanmar)
The Buddhist shrine is located on Mount Chaittiyo (Mon State). You can shake it with your hands, but no forces can throw it off its pedestal; in 2500 years the elements have not brought down the stone. In fact, it is a granite block covered with gold leaf, and its top is crowned by a Buddhist temple. The mystery has still not been solved - who dragged him up the mountain, how, for what purpose and how he has been balancing on the edge for centuries. Buddhists themselves claim that the stone is held on the rock by the hair of Buddha, walled up in the temple.
Asia is a fertile land for creating new routes, learning about yourself and your purpose. You need to come here meaningfully, tuning into thoughtful contemplation. Perhaps you will discover a new side of yourself and find answers to many questions. When visiting Asian countries, you can create a list of attractions and shrines yourself.
Map of Asia from satellite. Explore satellite map of Asia online in real time. A detailed map of Asia was created based on high-resolution satellite images. As close as possible, the satellite map of Asia allows you to study in detail the streets, individual houses and attractions of Asia. The map of Asia from the satellite can easily be switched to regular map mode (diagram).
Asia- the largest part of the world. Together with Europe it forms. The Ural Mountains serve as a border, dividing the European and Asian parts of the continent. Asia is washed by three oceans at once - the Indian, Arctic and Pacific. In addition, this part of the world has access to numerous seas of the Atlantic basin.
Today there are 54 countries in Asia. Most of the world's population lives in this part of the world - 60%, and the most populous countries are Japan, China and India. However, there are also desert areas, especially in northeast Asia. Asia is very multinational in its composition, which also distinguishes it from other parts of the world. That is why Asia is often called the cradle of world civilization. Thanks to the originality and diversity of cultures, each of the Asian countries is unique and interesting in its own way. Each has its own customs and traditions.
Being an extended part of the world, Asia is characterized by a changeable and contrasting climate. The territory of Asia is crossed by climatic zones, ranging from equatorial to subarctic.
