South Asia

== Geography ==
{{further|Geography of India|Geography of Pakistan|Geography of Afghanistan|Geography of Bangladesh|Geography of Bhutan|Geography of Sri Lanka|Geography of Nepal|Geography of the Maldives}}

According to Saul Cohen, early colonial era strategists treated South Asia with East Asia, but in reality, the South Asia region excluding Afghanistan is a distinct [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] region separated from other nearby geostrategic realms, one that is geographically diverse.<ref>Saul Bernard Cohen, ''Geopolitics of the world system'', pages 304–305, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003, {{ISBN|0-8476-9907-2}}</ref> The region is home to a variety of geographical features, such as [[glacier]]s, [[rainforest]]s, [[valley]]s, [[desert]]s, and [[grassland]]s that are typical of much larger continents. It is surrounded by three water bodies{{snd}}the [[Bay of Bengal]], the Indian Ocean and the [[Arabian Sea]]{{snd}}and has acutely varied climate zones. The tip of the Indian Peninsula had the highest quality pearls.<ref>{{cite book |last=Xinru |first=Liu |title=The Silk Road in World History |url=https://archive.org/details/silkroadinworldh0000liux |url-access=registration |year=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=40}}</ref>

===Indian Plate===
{{main|Indian Plate}}

Most of this region is resting on the [[Indian Plate]], the northerly portion of the [[Indo-Australian Plate]], separated from the rest of the [[Eurasian Plate]]. The Indian Plate includes most of South Asia, forming a land mass which extends from the [[Himalayas]] into a portion of the basin under the Indian Ocean, including parts of [[Southwest China|South China]] and Eastern [[Indonesia]], as well as [[Kunlun Mountains|Kunlun]] and [[Karakoram]] ranges,<ref>Sinvhal, ''Understanding Earthquake Disasters'', page 52, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-07-014456-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=M. Ravi |last2=Bhatia |first2=S. C. |title=A new seismic hazard map for the Indian plate region under the global seismic hazard assessment programme |journal=Current Science |date=1999 |volume=77 |issue=3 |page=447 |jstor=24102967}}</ref> and extending up to but not including [[Ladakh]], [[Kohistan District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa|Kohistan]], the [[Hindu Kush]] range, and [[Balochistan]].<ref>M. Asif Khan, ''Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis and the Western Himalaya'', page 375, Geological Society of London, 2000, {{ISBN|978-1-86239-061-4}}</ref><ref>Srikrishna Prapnnachari, ''Concepts in Frame Design'', page 152, Srikrishna Prapnnachari, {{ISBN|978-99929-52-21-4}}</ref><ref>A. M. Celâl Şengör, ''Tectonic evolution of the Tethyan Region'', Springer, 1989, {{ISBN|978-0-7923-0067-0}}</ref> It may be noted that [[Geophysics|geophysically]] the [[Yarlung Tsangpo River]] in Tibet is situated at the outside the border of the regional structure, while the [[Pamir Mountains]] in Tajikistan are situated inside that border.<ref>Valentin Semenovich Burtman & Peter Hale Molnar, ''Geological and Geophysical Evidence for Deep Subduction of Continental Crust Beneath the Pamir'', page 10, Geological Society of America, 1993, {{ISBN|0-8137-2281-0}}</ref>

The [[Indian subcontinent]] formerly formed part of the [[supercontinent]] [[Gondwana]], before rifting away during the [[Cretaceous]] period and colliding with the Eurasian Plate about 50–55&nbsp;million years ago and giving birth to the [[Himalayan range]] and the [[Tibetan plateau]]. It is the [[peninsula]]r region south of the [[Himalaya]]s and [[Kuen Lun]] mountain ranges and east of the [[Indus River]] and the [[Iranian Plateau]], extending southward into the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea (to the southwest) and the Bay of Bengal (to the southeast).

===Climate===
[[File:South Asia map of Köppen climate classification.svg|thumb|upright=1.75|right|South Asia's [[Köppen climate classification]] map<ref name="Peel">
{{cite journal |author1=Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. |year=2007 |title=Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html |issn=1027-5606 |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210144308/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html |archive-date=10 February 2017 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203170339/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf |date=3 February 2012 }})''
</ref> is based on native vegetation, temperature, precipitation and their seasonality.
{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
{{legend|#0000FE|<small>[[tropical rainforest climate|(Af) '''Tropical rainforest''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#0077FF|<small>[[tropical monsoon climate|(Am) '''Tropical monsoon''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#46A9FA|<small>[[tropical savanna climate|(Aw) '''Tropical savanna''', wet & dry]]</small>}}
{{legend|#FE0000|<small>[[hot desert climate|(BWh) '''Hot desert''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#FE9695|<small>[[cold desert climate|(BWk) '''Cold desert''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#F5A301|<small>[[hot semi-arid climate|(BSh) '''Hot semi arid''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#FFDB63|<small>[[cold semi-arid climate|(BSk) '''Cold semi arid''']]</small>}}
{{legend|#FFFF00|<small>[[hot-summer Mediterranean climate|(Csa) '''Mediterranean''', dry, hot summer]]</small>}}
{{legend|#C6FF4E|<small>[[humid subtropical climate|(Cfa) '''Subtropical''', humid]]</small>}}
{{legend|#96FF96|<small>[[humid subtropical climate|(Cwa) '''Subtropical''', humid summer, dry winter]]</small>}}
{{legend|#63C764|<small>[[subtropical highland climate|(Cwb) '''Subtropical highland''', dry winter]]</small>}}
{{legend|#FF00FE|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dsa) '''Continental''', hot summer]]</small>}}
{{legend|#C600C7|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dsb) '''Continental''', warm summer]]</small>}}
{{legend|#5A77DB|<small>[[humid continental climate|(Dwb) '''Continental''', dry winter]]</small>}}
{{legend|#4C51B5|<small>[[subarctic climate|(Dwc) '''Continental Subarctic''', dry winter]]</small>}}
}}]]

The climate of this vast region varies considerably from area to area from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. The variety is influenced by not only the altitude but also by factors such as proximity to the seacoast and the seasonal impact of the [[monsoon]]s. Southern parts are mostly hot in summers and receive rain during monsoon periods. The northern belt of [[Indo-Gangetic plain]]s also is hot in summer, but cooler in winter. The mountainous north is colder and receives snowfall at higher altitudes of Himalayan ranges.

As the [[Himalayas]] block the north-Asian bitter cold winds, the temperatures are considerably moderate in the plains down below. For the most part, the climate of the region is called the monsoon climate, which keeps the region humid during summer and dry during winter, and favours the cultivation of [[jute]], tea, rice, and various vegetables in this region.

South Asia is largely divided into four broad climate zones:<ref name=olive1>John E. Olive, ''The Encyclopedia of World Climatology'', page 115-117, Springer, 2005, {{ISBN|978-1-4020-3264-6}}</ref>
* The northern Indian edge and northern Pakistani uplands have a dry subtropical [[continental climate]]
* The far south of India and southwest Sri Lanka have an [[equatorial climate]]
* Most of the peninsula has a tropical climate with variations:
** Hot [[Subtropics|subtropical]] climate in northwest India
** Cool winter hot [[tropical climate]] in Bangladesh
** Tropical [[semi-arid climate]] in the center
* The Himalayas and most of the [[Hindu Kush]] have an [[Alpine climate]]

Maximum relative humidity of over 80% has been recorded in [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]] and Sri Lanka, while the area adjustment to Pakistan and western India records lower than 20%–30%.<ref name=olive1/> Climate of South Asia is largely characterized by monsoons. South Asia depends critically on monsoon rainfall.{{sfn|Mitra|Kumar|Kumar|Abrol|2002|p=83}} Two monsoon systems exist in the region:{{sfn|Mitra|Kumar|Kumar|Abrol|2002|p=76}}
* The summer monsoon: Wind blows from the southwest to most parts of the region. It accounts for 70%–90% of the annual precipitation.
* The winter monsoon: Wind blows from the northeast. Dominant in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The warmest period of the year precedes the monsoon season (March to mid June). In the summer the low pressures are centered over the [[Indus-Gangetic Plain]] and high wind from the Indian Ocean blows towards the center. The monsoons are the second coolest season of the year because of high humidity and cloud covering. But, at the beginning of June, the jetstreams vanish above the [[Tibetan Plateau]], low pressure over the [[Indus Valley]] deepens and the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] (ITCZ) moves in. The change is violent. Moderately vigorous monsoon depressions form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall from June to September.<ref name=olive1/>

[[Climate change in South Asia]] is causing a range of challenges including [[sea level rise]], cyclonic activity, and changes in [[ambient temperature]] and precipitation patterns.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kreft|first1=Sönke|url=https://germanwatch.org/en/download/16411.pdf|title=Global Climate Risk Index 2017|last2=David Eckstein|first2=David|last3=Melchior|first3=Inga|date=November 2016|publisher=Germanwatch e.V.|isbn=978-3-943704-49-5|location=Bonn|access-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925181000/https://germanwatch.org/en/download/16411.pdf|archive-date=25 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Regions ===
{{Main category|Regions of South Asia}}{{further|Northern South Asia|Eastern South Asia|East India|Central India|South India|West India|Northwestern South Asia|}}

=== Land and water area ===
{{See also|Exclusive economic zone|Indian Ocean}}
This list includes [[dependent territories]] within their [[List of sovereign states|sovereign states]] (including uninhabited territories), but does not include claims on [[Antarctica]].  EEZ+TIA is exclusive economic zone (EEZ) plus [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|total internal area]] (TIA) which includes land and internal waters.
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!Country!!Area in km<sup>2</sup>!!EEZ!!Shelf!!EEZ+TIA
|-
| align="left" |{{AFG}}||652,864||0||0||652,864
|-
| align="left" |{{BAN}}||148,460||86,392||66,438||230,390
|-
| align="left" |{{BHU}}||38,394||0||0||38,394
|-
| align="left" |{{IND}}||3,287,263||2,305,143||402,996||5,592,406
|-
| align="left" |{{NEP}}||147,181||0||0||147,181
|-
| align="left" |{{MDV}}||298||923,322||34,538||923,622
|-
| align="left" |{{PAK}}||881,913||290,000||51,383||1,117,911
|-
| align="left" |{{SRI}}||65,610||532,619||32,453||598,229
|-
!'''Total'''||'''5,221,093'''||'''4,137,476'''||'''587,808'''||'''9,300,997'''
|}