Geography
Climate
Northeast:
Central
- The summers are very hot and dry.
- Winters are freezing cold (can drop to -20 degress C)
- Substantial rainfall/precipitation
- Semi-tropical summers and cool winters
Central
- Continuous rainfall
- Hot summers and cold winters
- Likely to be damaged/ negatively influenced by flooding
People
Lifestyle:
Transportation
- Families are the basic unit of society with each person being only one part of that unit.
- The blood relationship between a father and his son is the most important element of society.
- Modern families include 2 generations living together, but the old idea of 4 generations all living under one roof still remains.
- About 50% of the population live in urban areas and cities.
- Most of China's population is located in the region between Shanghai and Beijing.
Transportation
- Public Buses
- Taxis
- Bicycles
- Trains
- Modern and developed cities have subways.
- 45% of China's workers are in the service industry.
- 45% work in manufacturing
- 10% are agricultural workers
Natural Disasters
Floods:
- Most floods happen because of the rivers.
- Makes soil fertile and easy for growing crops.
- China is located between the 2 largest seismic belts (Pacific seismic belt and the Indian seismic belt)
- Squeezed by the Pacific plate, the Indian plate, and the Philippine plate, the seismic zones are well developed in the area.
- Since the 20th century, more than 800 earthquakes of more than a magnitude of 6 have happened in China alone.
- 33 million crops lost each year due to droughts
- Causes major crop problems
- The 2010-2012 drought was the worst drought China has experienced in over 60 years.
- southeast monsoons from the western Pacific Ocean blow onto mainland
- southwest monsoons from the Indian Ocean blow onto mainland
- main cause of rainfall
- Makes soil fertile and good for agriculture
- In October the summer monsoons retreat from China.
- Northwest area is a non-monsoon region.
Natural Resources
Coal
Natural Gas
- China is the largest consumer of coal in the world
- Ranked 3rd in the world for coal reserves
- Most coal reserves located in north and northwest China
Natural Gas
- Gas production, consumption, and imports have grown dramatically in the past few years
- 6th largest gas producer in the world
- Chinese authorities see natural gas as less-polluting alternative to coal
Physical Geography
Location
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Mountain Ranges:
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Rivers:
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