Geography of Asia - Definition and Overview

Asia is usually regarded as the largest continent of Earth, comprising approximately 49 countries. It has an area, including islands, of roughly 49,694,700 km². Asia is joined to Africa by the Isthmus of Suez and to Europe by a long border generally following the Ural Mountains.

Main Geographical Features

The mean elevation of the continent is 950 m (3,117 ft.), the largest of any in the world. The plateau and mountainous areas broadly sweep SW-NW across Asia, climaxing in the high Tibetan Plateau, rising to the highest peaks in the world in the Himalaya. To the north west lie plains, while to the south lie the geologically distinct areas of the Arabian peninsula, Indian subcontinent and Malay peninsula. Large numbers of islands lie south east of the continent.

The following table gives the approximate altitudes of the chief mountains and lakes of the continent:

National Parks and Game Reserves

• List of National Parks in Asia

The Hydrographic Systems

Basins and rivers

Islands

Climate and Health

External links

• http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/asia.html