Chapter 23: South Asia

The mountains of the Karakoram Range and the Himalaya separate the South Asian subcontinent from the rest of Asia. These mountains form the northern border of India, the world's most populous democracy. The climate of India is affected by the Himalaya and monsoons. Agriculture and industry are equally important economic activities. About 4,000 years ago one of the world's first civilizations developed along the Indus River. The religion of Hinduism developed in India and is still practiced by about 80 percent of India's people.

Once a single nation, Pakistan and Bangladesh today are separate Muslim countries that border India on the west and east. Pakistan claims the northern territory of Kashmir. This has led to conflict with India. Even though it has fertile soil and sufficient energy resources, Pakistan has a struggling economy. The Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers form a huge delta in Bangladesh. It is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world.

Nepal and Bhutan both lie in the Himalaya. Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain, is located in Nepal. The economies of Nepal and Bhutan are based largely on farming. Sri Lanka lies about 20 miles (32 km) off the southeast coast of India. Agriculture has long been important here, but there are many new and growing industries. The Maldives are a chain of about 1,200 islands to the south of India. Tourism is the largest industry.