Specific Learning Outcomes

The following are the specific learning outcomes expected to be realized by the learner after this
completion of this module:

1 Describe the geographical features of southeast asia in terms of it's climate, topography, soils and
forests.

2. Distinguish the differences between mainland region and the insular region.

3. Determine the impact of the environmental geography the countries that compromises southeast
Asia in relation to location and other geographical factors.

Geography of Southeast Asia

GEOGRAPHY

-The word" geography" comes from the Greek words geo meaning world and graphia meaning
description or study.

-in the literal sense of the word, geography describes the world.

-It is a branch of science that researches various aspects

There are two branches of geography that we need to consider in our study;

1. Physical Geography

- Geology. -meteorology

- hydrology - biology

2. Socio-economic Geology

- focus on the connection between the people and the world.

-Population. -Migration

-Urban -Economy
CLIMATE

Climate of Southeast Asia

The climate of Southeast Asia can be described as tropical, meaning the weather tends to be hot and
humid most of the year. The only countries in Southeast Asia that experience a sub-tropical climate are
myanmar, Laos mountainous regions, and northern vietnam ( which has a cold winter with snow)

TOPOGRAPHY

Topography of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia's landscape is characterized by the three intermingled physical elements: mountain
ranges, plains and plateaus, and water in the form of both shallow seas and extensive drainage.

C. Soils and forest

Southeast Asia, on balance, has a higher proportion of relatively fertile soils than most tropical regions,
and soil erosion is less severe than elsewhere. Much of the region, however, is covered by tropical soils
that generally are quite poor in nutrients.

Once the vegetation cover is removed, the supply of humus quickly disappears. In addition, the often
heavy rainfall leaches the soils of their soluble nutrients, hastens erosion, and damages the soil texture.

The leaching process in part results in laterites of reddish clay that contain hydroxides of iron and
alumina.

Laterite soils are common in parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam and also occur in the islands of
the Sunda Shelf, notably Borneo. The most fertile soils occur in regions of volcanic activity, where they
eject chemically alkaline or neutral. Such soils are found in parts of Sumatra and much of Java in
Indonesia. The alluvial soils of the river valleys also are highly fertile and are intensively cultivated.

Forests of Southeast Asia are known for their high biodiversity, arguably among the greatest in the
world. They have been the subject of much international attention over the past decades

Southeast Asia is home to nearly 15% of the world’s tropical forests. However, the region is also among
the world’s major deforestation hot spots, and ranks among the highest in terms of severe biodiversity
loss, mostly due to the conversion of intact forests into plantations, such as for palm oil.

Southeast Asia lost about 80 million hectare of forest between 2005 and 2015, and it is feared that such
deforestation could lead to over 40% of Southeast Asia's biodiversity vanishing by 2100. Human
activities such as logging and clear-cutting for food production, crops and agriculture are the main
drivers of this forest loss

D. Mainland and insular region

Southeast Asia can be divided into two geographic regions. The mainland portion, which is connected to
India and China, extends south into what has been called the Indochina Peninsula or Indochina, a name
given to the region by France.

The mainland region :

-Vietnam. -Laos

-Cambodia -Thailand

-Myanmar

The island or insular region:

-Malaysia. -Singapore

-Brunei -Indonesia

East Timor -Philippines

E. Present-Day Countries and Adjacent Region

1. Cambodia
Climate: Tropical wet and dry

Capital: Phnom penh

Low lying central plains of Mekong, which are surrounded by mountainous and highland region.

2. Thailand

Capital: Bangkok

Climate: Tropical wet and dry

Thailand presents a varied landscape of forested mountain, dry plateaus, fertile river plains and sandy
beaches

3.Brunei Darussalam

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Climate: Equatorial Climate

The terrain in Brunei is characterized by low-lying hills and flat coastal areas with elevation ranging from
sea level to approximately 1,850 meter above sea level.

4. Malaysia

Capital : ( Kuala Lumpur or KL )

The Geography of Malaysia includes both the physical and the human geography of Malaysia, a
Southeast Asian country made up of two major landmasses separated by water
Capital-Kuala Lumpur, officially the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur or as KL and known as largest city.
Climate- located near the equator Malaysia's climate is categorised as equatorial, being hot and humid
throughout the year.

Culture and Traditions of Malaysia- Malaysians place a huge emphasis on family and self respect.
Mainland and insular region-Malaysia is both mainland and insular with a western portion on the Malay
peninsula and an eastern part on the island of Borneo.

Topography of Malaysia- Four fifth of peninsula Malaysia is covered by rainforest and swamp. The
Northern Regions are divided by a series of mountain ranges that rise abruptly from the wide, flat
coastal plains.

5. Vietnam

Capital : ( Hanoi City )

Climate- has both tropical climate zone and a temperate climate zone with all of the country
experiencing the effects of the annual monsoon.

- located on the Eastern margin of the Indochinese peninsula and occupies about 331,211.6 square
kilometers of which about 25% was under cultivation in 1987. It borders the Gulf of tonkin, Gulf of
Thailand, and Pacific Ocean, along with China, Laos and Combodia.
Capital-Hanoi City is situated in Northern Vietnam on the western bank of the Red river,about 85
miles(140km) inland from south china sea.

Vietnam Topography is very diverse with mountains, hills, plain coasts and continental shelf. It's result of
tectonic process in a long time of millions of years in the past. The topography is lower from the
northwest to the southeast. Thus almost the rivers in Vietnam have the stream following that direction.

6. Singapore

Capital : ( Singapore City )

 - derived from the word "Simhapura" means Lion City.
Is a small City/State island located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, 85 miles north of equator.
Capital-Singapore City
Climate- is situated near the equator and has a typically tropical climate with abundant rainfall, high and
uniform temperatures, and high humidity all year round. Many of its climate variables, such as
temperature and relative humidity,do not show large month to month variation.
Language- has four official languages: English,Malay,Mandarin and Tamil and there's also Singlish an
informal, colloquial form of English that is used inSingapore linguists refer to it as singapore colloquial
English or Singapore english.

Topography of Singapore's main territory looks like adiamond-shaped island, although its territory
indudes sorrounding smaller island. The farthest outlying island isPedra Branea of Singapore's dozens of
smaller islandJurong Island,Pulau tekong, pulau ubin,and Sentosa are the larger ones most of Singapore
is no more than 15meters above sea level.

7. Philippines

Capital : ( Manila )

Climate- tropical and maritime

Philippines Geography- Outstanding physical features of the Philippines include the irregular
configuration of the archipelago, the coastline of some 22,550miles (36,290km) the great extent
ofmountainous county, the narrow and interrupted coastal plains,the generallh northward trend of the
river system, and the spectacular lakes
Capital: Manila Philippines but nearby Quezon City is the country's most-populous city. Both are part of
the National Capital Region( metro manila) located on Luzon, the largest island. The second largest
island of the Philippines is Minadanao in the southeast.

Language-Filipino is a language under the Austronesianlanguage family. It is the National language

(wikang pambansa) of the Philippines and one of the two official languages of the country with english.

Topography- it is adequate to point out its basic dual character passive and active. The former indicates
an awareness of common bond among people centred on a motherland; it may be categorised into
religious, literacy, educational, symbolic and economic nationalism.
Insular region of the Philippines is situated in the western Pacific Ocean.