A characteristic trend in Southeast countries is. Southeast Asia General characteristics of the economy of Southeast Asia. Countries of Southeast Asia: list and capitals
![A characteristic trend in Southeast countries is. Southeast Asia General characteristics of the economy of Southeast Asia. Countries of Southeast Asia: list and capitals](https://i2.wp.com/kazedu.kz/images/referats/a30/92672/2.png)
Introduction.
The tropical forests of Malaysia, preserved in the same form as 150 million years ago, the impenetrable jungles of Kalimantan and Sumatra, where wild rhinoceroses and tigers are still found, and great apes - orangutans - jump on the branches, the Indonesian island of Bali, where they reach the sky the peaks of volcanoes are shrouded in clouds, long sandy beaches are washed by a gentle ocean, and the terraced rice paddies shimmer with thousands of shades of green - it seems that this is where the Gardens of Eden were located, from which our distant ancestors emerged.
Southeast Asia has long attracted Europeans, and not only with the desire to visit an earthly paradise. Spices, which were valued more than gold in the Middle Ages, were brought from the Moluccas to Europe along the Great Silk Road. Many famous navigators sought to open a direct route here to get rich: the discoverer of America Christopher Columbus, the first circumnavigator Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama. It was the Portuguese who were the first to create their own trade missions and colonies; later they were joined by the Dutch and the British, and, having divided Southeast Asia among themselves, they jealously ensured that competitors did not penetrate here.
Southeast Asia is a “bridge” between Eurasia and Australia. It is located at the intersection of major sea routes. The location of the countries of the region on islands and peninsulas on both sides of the equator determines the uniqueness of the economic activities of the population.
The island world of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines), as well as the Malacca Peninsula (Malaya), which is close to it geographically and historically and culturally, is a special part of the Southeast Asian region, in many ways different from the continental one.
Finally, and this is important to take into account, it was the island subregion with its subtropical and tropical products, especially spices, so desired by Europeans, that turned out to be one of the first objects of the colonialist aspirations of early European capitalism. This island world was, if you like, that same dream, a convenient route to which they were so eager to find and in search of which enterprising Europeans made their most famous geographical discoveries, including the discovery of America. And it is no coincidence that for many centuries these lands were called the Dutch Indies, just as it is no coincidence in this regard that the modern name of Indonesia is either.
Southeast Asia is distinguished by a more complex tectonic structure, the predominance of mountainous and plateau relief, increased and more uniform moisture, dense erosion and tectonic dissection, more stable flow, the antiquity of flora and fauna with a high degree of endemism, the richness and diversity of forest landscapes, as well as more low degree of economic development of the territory and, consequently, changes in primary landscapes.
The purpose of this work was to study and get acquainted with the region - Southeast Asia, namely: the formation of the territory, relief, minerals, hydroclimatic resources, flora and fauna of the region, i.e. its complete physical and geographical characteristics.
And the main task of the work is an extensive disclosure of the characteristics of this subregion according to its individual components.
Ch. 1. History of formation, geological and tectonic structure of the territory and minerals.
Southeast Asia consists of the Indochina Peninsula, Bengal, Bhutan, Southern China and the Malay Archipelago.
The Chinese platform is widespread in the region, which has been preserved in the form of separate massifs - the Sino-Burmese and Indosinian, which probably represented a single whole in the Precambrian, characterized by the greatest mobility throughout their development. An important role in the formation of the structural plan of these massifs was played by intense folded dislocations of the Mesozoic, which led to the emergence of specific linear epiplatform folded-block structures. They are distributed mainly where tectonic movements covered a thick sedimentary cover, and according to morphological characteristics they are close to the linear folds of geosynclinal areas. There are numerous faults in places where the strike of these structures changes.
The Mesozoic structures of Southeast Asia border the ancient platform massifs - Sino-Burmese and Indosinian - and extend to the south-eastern regions of Indochina. The structures of the eastern margins of Indochina are based on eugeosynclinal complexes. They are distinguished by the predominance of narrow linear folded elements, a clear alternation of large synclinoria and anticlinorium, and a wide development of faults. Mesozoids of Indonesia and southern Tibet were formed on Lower and Middle Paleozoic miogeosynclinal and sometimes platform structures. They are characterized by gentle, often irregularly shaped folds of large radius and numerous breaks. The tectonic movements of the Mesozoic were accompanied by volcanism and powerful outpourings of lavas.
In Southeast Asia, as in South Asia, there were no significant changes in the paleoclimatic conditions in the Pleistocene compared to the Paleogene and Neogene; the climate remained hot and humid. Here there is a widespread development of the fluvial type of morphosculpture and a significant correspondence between ancient and modern fluvial forms. Under hot and humid climate conditions, biogeochemical weathering processes took place intensively and lateritic crusts formed.
The countries of Southeast Asia occupy leading places in the world in reserves of many types of minerals: oil, coal, tin, iron ore, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, etc. The geography of mineral resources is very uneven and reveals a close connection between morphostructural areas.
The Mesozoic belt of low and mid-altitude mountains is rich in mineral resources. Here, in a powerful belt stretching through Southern China, Burma, Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's reserves of tin and tungsten are concentrated. The destruction of vein deposits is associated with rich colluvial and proluvial placers containing high concentrations of tin. Alluvial placers are large in size, the accumulation of which dates back mainly to the Middle Pleistocene. In this part of Asia there are also deposits of silver-lead-zinc and cobalt ores. Coal deposits are confined to the platform geosynclinal structures of the Indochina Peninsula. Large deposits of oil, copper, Oligocene sedimentary, as well as lateritic deposits of iron ore, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, diamonds, gold, cassiterite, wolframite, zircon, and monazite are associated with the Cenozoic era of ore formation in Southeast Asia. Brown coals (lignites) are found in marginal troughs.
The Indochinese Peninsula is one of the richest metallogenic provinces in foreign Asia. An exceptional diversity of endogenous ore formations is associated with Mesozoic folding. A significant part of the world's tin and tungsten deposits is concentrated in the powerful belt of primary, colluvial and proluvial placer deposits of Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia. On the Shan-Yunnan Plateau there are the largest deposits of silver-zinc-lead and cobalt ores in Asia, alluvial and indigenous gold, sapphires and rubies are mined. Deposits of Mesozoic coals of the DRV are confined to platform structures. The Irrawaddy foothill trough contains oil deposits.
The Malay archipelago is rich in mineral resources. There is a lot of oil in the depths of the shelf seas. On the islands of Banka, Belitung (Billitung), Sinkep, Seram, in bedrock deposits and placers there are the world's richest deposits of tin and tungsten. Sedimentary and laterite deposits of bauxite are abundant, and gold is found everywhere. The Philippine Islands have rich deposits of nickel, copper and chromite.
the islands of Indochina - and the island - Malay archipelago. The southern tip of the Malacca Peninsula, located, like most of the Malay archipelago, in the equatorial belt, is close to the latter in its natural conditions.
Indochina. A peninsula in southeast Asia with an area of about 2 million km², washed from the west by the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean, the Strait of Malacca, and in the south and east by the South China Sea and its Gulfs of Thailand and Bakbo (Tonkin), which belong to the Pacific Ocean. The northern border of the peninsula is conventionally drawn from the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers to the delta of the Hongha River. The southern tip of Indochina south of the Kra isthmus forms the elongated Malay Peninsula.
The northern part of the peninsula is occupied by mid-altitude ridges of meridional and submeridional strike, closely pressed against each other, between which there are vast peneplain highlands. To the south, the surface height decreases, the mountains fan out. Between them there are longitudinal tectonic valleys, intermountain basins, and structural plateaus. In the north of Burma, on the border with China, the highest Khakaborazi massif (5881 m) is located.
In the west of the peninsula rise the Rakhine (Arakan) Mountains with the Victoria Massif, 3053 m, Leta and the Patkai Range. This mountain system represents a complex anticlinorium. Glacial processes played a major role in the formation of the relief of the northern part of the mountains, as evidenced by smoothed flat peaks, trough-shaped valleys, cirques, etc. The folded and block-folded ridges of the Rakheim system are characterized by steep slopes, deep and narrow gorges, modern and ancient erosion and erosion -accumulative landforms.
Further to the east, in a wide alpine intermountain trough, there is the hilly accumulative-denudation plain of the Irrawaddy. In its southern part there is a low Pegu ridge - an example of recent folding, characterized by increased seismicity. Its highest point is Mount Pope (1518 m) - an extinct volcano. The southern part of the plain is a vast alluvial, sometimes swampy lowland, formed as a result of the confluence of the Irrawaddy deltas and the Seatown flowing to the east. The Shan Plateau rises in a steep ledge, in some places completely undisturbed by erosion, to the east of the Irrawaddy and Sitown plains. Its western part is a Paleogene peneplain, divided into separate blocks and having the character of a stepped plateau. The eastern part is a folded-block highland with massive, inaccessible ridges, deeply dissected by tectonic and erosional valleys. In the northeast, it almost imperceptibly passes into the Yunnan Plateau, mainly located in the PRC. In the east of this highland, Fan Sipan Mountain, 3143 m, reaches its greatest height in Vietnam (Hoang Maeng Long Range). To the east is the Bac Bo Plain, through which the Hong Ha (Red) River flows. The highlands of Indochina are characterized by karst processes, widely developed in Permocarbonic limestones, collapse-karst and residual karst landforms and tropical karst (stone pillars, stone forest, etc.). From the south, parallel chains of Taninthai ridges adjoin the Shan Plateau. Their axial parts, composed of granite intrusions, have rounded peaks and steep slopes with young erosional incisions. The spurs of these mountains, reaching the coast of the Andaman Sea, form many of the islands of the Myei (Mergui) archipelago. The eastern edge of the peninsula is occupied by the massive asymmetrical Truong Son (Annam) mountains. Their eastern slope ends rather abruptly to a narrow strip of coastal lowland, while the western slope turns into low hills and undulating plateaus adjacent to the alluvial lowland of the Mekong.
In its northern part there is a vast sandstone plateau of Korat, bounded on the west and south by steep ledges. On its flat surface, dissected by the valleys of the Mekong and its tributaries, three levels of ancient Quaternary terraces stand out. The low-lying plains of the Mekong and Menam end in deltas separated by the mid-altitude Kra Van (Cardamom) Mountains. Deltas, especially the giant Mekong Delta, are the most densely populated and intensively developed. These are economically important areas of Indochina.
Malay Archipelago. This is the largest cluster on Earth (about 10 thousand) of large and small islands with an area of more than 2 million km2: Greater and Lesser Sunda, Moluccas, Philippine. They are located on both sides of the equator from 18° N. w. to 11° south w.
The Malay Archipelago lies within two developing geosynclinal zones of the Pacific belt. One of them runs in a huge arc through the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the eastern tip of Seram Island, within the other, running from south to north, are the Philippine Islands. Along the outer edge of the island arcs there are deep-sea trenches, where the maximum depths of the World Ocean are confined. The sharp differentiation of the relief and the huge amplitude of heights reflect the high dynamism of the earth's crust in this area. There is intense tectonic activity here, with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Within this vast arc lies a relatively stable array of ancient Indochina structures. Within the continental platform lie the inland seas of the northern part of the archipelago. The subsidence of the platform, which led to the disappearance of the land bridge between Asia and Australia, occurred already in historical times.
The folded arcs of the Malay Archipelago, which arose in the last stages of Cenozoic folding, are composed of Mesozoic and Tertiary limestones, sandstones and products of volcanic eruptions. Volcanic cones are set on a folded base and on some islands stretch continuously, merging at their bases. In Java, for example, there are more than 130 volcanoes, of which about 30 are active. In the strait between Java and Sumatra is the volcano-island of Krakatoa, known for its destructive eruptions. Some volcanoes operate continuously, throwing out ash and clouds of hot gases; there are numerous outlets of hot mineral waters. Clusters of volcanic rocks form volcanic plateaus; the basins are also filled with products of volcanic eruptions. Along with mainland and volcanic islands, the Malay Archipelago also has coral islands - barrier reefs and atolls. Most of them are in the east; in the west, coral islands are found in the central part of shallow inland seas.
The relief of almost all the islands of the Malay Archipelago is represented by folded-block ridges, dissected by tectonic and erosion processes into separate massifs. Some of them are the bases of active and extinct volcanoes, the peaks of which are the highest points of the islands. Along with the mountains, the large islands have young lowlands - alluvial or formed by the products of volcanic eruptions.
In Sumatra, the second largest island of the archipelago (435 thousand km2), the western outskirts are occupied by mountain ranges and plateaus. They consist of Paleozoic crystalline rocks, folded in the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic and complicated by faults and faults at the end of the Neogene. Volcanic rocks play a major role in the structure of the Sumatra mountains, forming vast plateaus. Active and extinct volcanoes rise in the southern part of Sumatra. The highest and most active among them is Kerinci (3800 m). In the west, the mountains are separated from the coast by swampy lowlands. To the west, at some distance from Sumatra, stretches a strip of the Mentawai Islands, accompanied by coral buildings. In the east, the mountains pass through a strip of rolling foothills into a huge alluvial lowland, almost entirely swampy. This is the most extensive equatorial swamp in Southeast Asia, which has not yet been developed. In some places, the width of the swampy strip reaches 250 km. Because of it, the island is inaccessible from the east.
The narrow and long island of Java (126 thousand km2) is composed of young sedimentary rocks and products of volcanic eruptions. The mountains of Java consist of volcanic chains and free-standing volcanic cones set on a folded base. Many volcanoes of Java and its neighboring small islands have gone down in history thanks to their powerful explosive eruptions. One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. occurred in December 1931 “due to the fault” of the Merapi volcano. In two weeks, the lava flow reached about 7 km in length and 180 m in width; its thickness was almost 30 m. Volcanic ash covered half of the island. More than 1,300 people died.
In the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra, there is the famous volcanic island of Krakatoa, 800 m high. The largest eruption in 1883 was accompanied by an explosion that destroyed half of the island. The resulting wave killed tens of thousands of people in Sumatra and Java; The ash from this eruption remained in the Earth's atmosphere for several years. Krakatoa's eruptions continue to this day.
Dozens of volcanoes still do not cease their activity, throwing out masses of loose products or erupting flows of basic lava. Some volcanoes emit clouds of hot dust or clouds of gases. Heavy poisonous gases accumulating at the bottom of some valleys make it impossible for organic life to exist there. In many areas, hot sulfur springs come to the surface. The highest volcanoes in Java exceed 3000 m. These are Raung, Slamet, the highest peak Semeru (3676 m), etc. Between the volcanoes there are basins filled with eruption products. They are densely populated and cultivated and often bear the names of the cities located in them, for example, the Bandung basin, etc.
In northern Java, at the foot of a volcanic highland, lies a hilly, densely populated area where Indonesia's major cities are located. Jakarta is located on a swampy coastal lowland, crisscrossed by numerous canals. General structural features characteristic of Java are preserved on the islands of Madura and the Lesser Sundas.
Strongly dissected mountainous terrain is also characteristic of the Moluccas. A relatively small part of their surface is occupied by low-lying plains along the coasts and in the interior of the islands between mountain ranges. Inactive and active volcanoes are associated with recent faults. Sulawesi (170 thousand km2) differs from all other islands in its bizarre outlines, high average height and difficult accessibility from the sea. It is the most mountainous of all the islands in the Malay Archipelago. Its relief is determined by fault tectonics; in some places faults are accompanied by volcanoes, but volcanism is much less widespread than on other islands of the archipelago. In the central part of the island there is a large tectonic depression, the bottom of which is occupied by Lake Poso.
The largest and most massive island of the Malay archipelago is Kalimantan, one of the largest islands on Earth (734 thousand km2). A massive blocky highland crosses the middle part of the island from northeast to southwest. Its peak is Kinabalu (4101 m) - the highest point of the entire archipelago. Along the coast there are extensive alluvial lowlands and hilly plateaus, interrupted by mountain spurs and isolated massifs. There are no volcanoes in Kalimantan.
In general, the Malay Archipelago is characterized by a mid-mountain (up to 3500-4000 m), highly dissected alpine-type relief. The folded-block massifs of Kalimantan, composed of Paleozoic rocks with a large proportion of granites, are distinguished by weakly dissected rounded summit surfaces and steep slopes. The Philippine Islands are characterized by short ridges separated by intermountain troughs; there are numerous volcanoes. Lowlands occupy significant areas only on the largest islands - Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java. On the last two, they are located on the inner side, facing the South China and Java Seas, and are essentially raised sections of their shelf.
Chapter 2 2.1. Climate.
The formation of the climate of Southeast Asia is determined by its geographical location, the compactness of the land and the predominance of mountainous and plateau terrain.
A summer monsoon circulation is established over Southeast, as well as over South Asia, and it is associated mainly with the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the formation of the South Asian (Punjab) thermal depression.
The equatorial regions of island Asia are characterized by the predominance of equatorial air throughout the year and intense convection. Variability in wind directions indicates active exchange of air between the hemispheres. In the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), air flows from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. The ITC differs sharply from extratropical fronts in that the converging air masses differ only in humidity with no or very small horizontal temperature contrasts. IBD usually occurs in areas of the highest temperatures of surface waters of the oceans and land. This is a fairly wide area where one or more surface wind convergence lines can be observed simultaneously. It moves between extreme seasons over long distances - in the north of the Indian Ocean and in the south of Asia by 25-30° (versus 10° in Africa). Since the meeting of the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres occurs in a fairly wide zone, with the slightest changes in pressure, pockets and bands of high and low pressure appear. This leads to the fact that continuous clouds do not form in the ITC system; it has a cellular structure.
The equatorial regions are not areas of continuous low pressure. The alternation of small troughs and ridges of pressure causes significant changes in the weather. In intensity they are not comparable to cyclones and anticyclones of extratropical latitudes, but they are associated with showers, thunderstorms, and squalls. Tropical depressions can form in this area and, if the conditions are right, develop into destructive tropical hurricanes.
In winter, the surface of Asia is noticeably colder than the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Over the Pacific and Indian oceans the pressure at this time is about 1012 hPa. In southern China, in the area of convergence of cold continental and warm sea air, cyclonic activity develops and rains occur. To the south, over Hindustan and Indochina, the northeast air current prevails, carrying tropical air and being, in essence, the winter trade wind. The weather this season is stable anticyclonic: clear, dry and warm.
The southeast of the Malay Archipelago in summer is in the zone of development of the Australian (winter) anticyclone, accompanied by dry and hot weather. On average, the western slopes of the Rakhine (Arakan) and Tanentungyi mountains in Burma receive the greatest amount of precipitation per year. In particular, the windward slopes of the islands of South and Southeast Asia receive 2000-4000 mm per year, and the Cherrapunji weather station (altitude 1300 m) on the Shillong plateau receives more than 12,000 mm. In Southeast Asia, up to 95% of the annual precipitation falls in summer. The exception is the equatorial region, where precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year.
Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia is located in tropical, subtropical and equatorial latitudes, the sum of active temperatures reaches up to 10,000°. This makes it possible to grow a very wide range of crops and obtain two or three harvests per year in areas with thermal resources above 4000°. Since almost the entire territory of Southeast Asia, with the exception of the area of excessive moisture (southern part of the Philippines, Greater Sunda Islands, Malaysia), is characterized by long periods of aridity with acute moisture deficit and droughts, which are observed even in those areas where 1000- With 2000 mm of precipitation per year, artificial irrigation is very important and is used almost everywhere.
A number of regions of Southeast Asia are characterized by an uncomfortable climate - in the tropics, with persistent high temperatures and consistently high air humidity, which have a debilitating effect on the body. There are distinct climatic zones here:
Equatorial belt. The equatorial climate is typical for the south of Malacca, the Malay Archipelago, and the south of the Philippine Islands. It is characterized by high temperatures with slight fluctuations, the absence of a dry period, and abundant and uniform precipitation; There is excessive moisture throughout the year.
Subequatorial belt. Monsoon climate is typical for South and Southeast Asia. It is characterized by high temperatures (especially in spring) and sharp seasonality in precipitation. Dry seasons are winter and spring, wet seasons are summer and autumn. In the barrier shadow and in the north-west of the belt, the dry season extends for 8-10 months.
Tropical zone. The eastern oceanic sector (Southern China, the northern part of the Indochina Peninsula) has a humid maritime monsoon climate. Temperatures everywhere, except for mountainous areas, are high throughout the year, in summer there is heavy rainfall, and there is sufficient moisture.
In contrast to Hindustan, where everywhere except the extreme southeast the winter monsoon is dry, it brings large amounts of precipitation to some areas of southeast Asia: the eastern coast of the Philippine Islands, the northeast of the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, the islands of Java and the Lesser Sunda. The monsoon comes here from the ocean, saturated with moisture. In the summer, not only the Indian monsoon, but also the Malayan monsoon (southeast winds from the Arafura Sea and the Banda Sea), as well as eastern and northeastern air flows from the North Pacific Ocean, in which tropical cyclones can occur, come to Southeast Asia. In the summer of the northern hemisphere, the dry Australian monsoon comes to the Lesser Sunda Islands and the island of Java. In this regard, the eastern part of the peninsula is characterized by a sharp seasonality in precipitation (up to 80% in summer), while the western part is characterized by a somewhat more uniform annual distribution and a shift in maximum precipitation to autumn and winter. The rainy season is characterized by tropical storms that cause great destruction. The most humidified are the mountain outskirts of the peninsula and the windward slopes of higher mountains and highlands (from 5000 to 2000 mm/year). The least precipitation falls on the interior plains and plateaus - 500-700 mm. The southern part of the Malay Peninsula is located in the equatorial zone and is characterized by relatively even temperature and precipitation.
Most of the Malay Archipelago has an equatorial climate. East Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands lie in the subequatorial zone of the southern hemisphere, the Philippines - in the subequatorial zone of the northern hemisphere and have a monsoon climate. The equatorial climate is characterized by high and even temperatures - their monthly amplitude does not exceed 1.5-2°. Soil temperatures are even more constant; their fluctuations do not go beyond a few tenths of a degree. Annual precipitation amounts are 2000-4000 mm with average monthly rates of at least 100 mm. There is excessive moisture everywhere. Near the boundaries of the equatorial climate region, there is a tendency for summer precipitation to increase and winter precipitation to weaken.
The seasonality of moisture is much more clearly expressed in the zone of action of the Malayan and Australian monsoons and less so in the Pacific (on the Philippine Islands). The eastern parts of the archipelago are the driest, experiencing the effects of the Australian monsoon.
ial region of the Russian Federation, 800 km east of Moscow. Due to historical, geographical, natural conditions and other important factors, the Republic of Tatarstan has emerged as a major scientific, educational and industrial center, recognized not only in Russia, but throughout the world. 1. The geological structure of the region of the Republic of Tatarstan is one of the most important...
Isthmus of Panama Geographical location. This part of Central America includes a strip of land between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west. The northern geographical border of Central America is the tectonic valley of the Balsas River, the southern one runs from the Gulf of Darien to the Pacific Ocean where North America connects with South America (see map of physical...
The countries of Southeast Asia include the countries of the Indochina and Malacca Peninsulas, as well as the Malay Archipelago. In particular: Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and East Timor. The states of Southeast Asia gained independence after the collapse of the colonial empire of Great Britain, France and the Netherlands, between 1945 and 1984.
The area of Southeast Asia is 4.5 million sq. km. More than half of the territory of Southeast Asia is made up of numerous islands. The largest island countries in Southeast Asia are Indonesia and the Philippines.
Economic and geographical location. Southeast Asia occupies an advantageous economic and geographical position, as it is crossed by busy sea routes that connect the Pacific states with Europe.
All countries of Southeast Asia, with the exception of Laos, have direct access to the sea, which plays a positive role for the economic development of the region as a whole.
Natural conditions and natural resources. Most of Southeast Asia is occupied by mountain structures of varying heights located in the north of the region. A number of islands in Southeast Asia are protrusions of underwater ridges. In the Philippines
and Indonesia are home to dozens of active and extinct volcanoes. The territory of the mentioned countries is characterized by high seismicity. The climate of Southeast Asia is warm, monsoonal, favorable for agricultural production.
The subsoil of Southeast Asia is rich in minerals. Large deposits of tin, tungsten and other non-ferrous metals are found here. In addition, deposits of zinc, lead, iron ore, rare and precious metals, coal, oil, natural gas, etc. have been discovered in Southeast Asia. The shelf zone of Southeast Asia is considered promising for oil and gas. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, etc. are rich in mineral deposits.
Population. More than 629 million people live within Southeast Asia. The rate of natural population growth in Southeast Asia is one of the highest in the world. Every year the population of this region increases by 8 million people. The populations of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are growing most rapidly, where there are 20-22 newborns for every 1000 inhabitants. Relatively low natural growth is typical for the developed countries of Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, where there are 5-10 newborns for every 1000 inhabitants.
The territory of Southeast Asia is unevenly populated. The average population density is 140 people/1 sq. km. The average population density in Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia is 200 people/km2, on the island of Java it is 2-2.5 thousand people/1 km2, and in Singapore - 6500 people/1 km2. In Laos, Cambodia, Brunei and others, the average population density is 50-80 people per 1 sq. km. The average level of urbanization is 54.6%. In Singapore this level is 100%. High levels of urbanization are typical for Brunei (76.1%) and Malaysia (73.0%). The Philippines (49.6%) and Indonesia (44.6%) occupy an intermediate position. The lowest urbanization rates are found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and East Timor.
Economy, transport and foreign economic relations
Until the 70s of the last century, Southeast Asia was considered one of the economically backward regions of the globe and has now achieved significant success in the field of industrial development. This applies primarily to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and secondarily to Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei.
Thus, according to the level of economic development, the states of Southeast Asia are divided into: a) industrial and industrial-agrarian; b) agrarian-industrial countries.
Currently, many countries in Southeast Asia, whose GDP in 2012 amounted to 3.5 trillion. US dollars, increasing the pace of industrial construction.
Industry. The share of industry, whose importance is increasing year by year, accounts for 40.7% of GDP, the service sector - 34.6%, and only 24.7% of GDP - agriculture. Mechanical engineering has developed in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. The listed countries specialize in labor-intensive types of mechanical engineering, namely electrical engineering, radio engineering and telemechanics. Singapore has achieved the greatest success in radio-electronic engineering. Light and food industries are developed almost everywhere.
Agriculture plays a leading role in the economies of Southeast Asia. Natural conditions make it possible to obtain 2-3 harvests per year. Rice is mainly cultivated and supplied in significant quantities to the world market. The main exporters of rice are Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. The region occupies a leading position in the world in the production of oil obtained from coconut palms. Livestock farming is a backward branch of agriculture. Fishing, on the contrary, is developed in all coastal states of Southeast Asia.
Transport and foreign economic relations. The main modes of transport in Southeast Asia are sea and river transport. Railroad and road transport ranks second in importance. Air transport is busy with passenger transportation on international routes.
Tourism is one of the developing sectors of the economy of Southeast Asia.
In terms of the volume of export-import transactions in the region, the leaders are Singapore (45.0%), Malaysia (17.3%), Thailand (14.7%) and Indonesia (10.8%).
Internal differences. The countries of Southeast Asia are divided into three groups according to a number of characteristics.
1. Malacca countries. The group under consideration includes Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, which occupy 20% of the territory of Southeast Asia, where 16% of the region's population lives. This group of countries occupies a leading place in the world in the production of natural rubber, rice, and coconut oil per capita. The group of countries under consideration is ahead of other countries in Southeast Asia in the development of heavy industry, electricity production, petrochemicals, light and food industries.
Automotive manufacturing and energy-intensive metallurgy sectors are also characteristic of this group of countries.
2. Group of island states. This group includes Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and East Timor. Indonesia owns 13.6 thousand islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the Philippines - more than 7 thousand.
3. States of Indochina. This group includes Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. The group of countries under consideration is rich in natural resources. Agriculture occupies a leading position. Light and food industries are developed.
A. Kayumov, I. Safarov, M. Tillabaeva "Economic and social geography of the world" Tashkent - "Uzbekistan" - 2014
We present to your attention a video lesson on the topic “Southeast Asia”. The video lesson allows you to get interesting and detailed information about the countries of Southeast Asia. From the lesson you will learn about the composition of Southeast Asia, the characteristics of the countries in the region, their geographical location, and population. The lesson focuses heavily on the newly industrialized countries of Asia.
Topic: Foreign Asia
Lesson: Southeast Asia
1. Southeast Asia: composition
Rice. 1. Southeast Asia on the map
Southeast Asia- a cultural and geographical region covering continental and island territories between China, India and Australia.
1. Vietnam.
2. Cambodia.
4. Myanmar.
5. Thailand.
6. Brunei.
7. East Timor.
8. Philippines.
9. Malaysia.
10. Indonesia.
2. Southeast Asia: general characteristics
Southeast Asia is perhaps the most interesting, contrasting region, unlike other parts of the planet.
Southeast Asia is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans and their parts. Almost all countries have access to the sea.
The climate is monsoon, subequatorial, equatorial. The region is characterized by rainy seasons and typhoons.
The total population of the region is approximately 600 million people. (8% of the world's population). More than 200 peoples live in Southeast Asia.
Countries in Southeast Asia with the largest populations:
1. Indonesia (240 million people).
2. Philippines (104 million people).
3. Vietnam (90 million people).
The peoples of Southeast Asia are diverse. You can mainly meet Malays, Lao, Thais, Vietnamese, Semang, Burmese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Javanese, Chinese, as well as many other less numerous peoples.
The main religion of Southeast Asia is Islam, with approximately 240 million followers. Buddhism is practiced in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Singapore and Vietnam. Confucianism is also found in Singapore and Vietnam. And in some territories you can meet Protestants and Catholics (Philippines, East Timor).
The maximum average population density is 7200 people. per sq. km in Singapore. In the cities of the region, the population density can reach 20,000 people. per sq. km! The largest cities in the region by population include: Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila.
Southeast Asian culture is mainly a mixture of Indian and Chinese. And in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, Arab, Spanish and Portuguese cultures also have influence. All these regions had, first of all, an influence on food culture. In all countries, it is customary to eat with chopsticks; there is a widespread cult of tea, which can be found in every corner of the region.
The administrative-territorial structure and form of government of the countries of Southeast Asia are diverse. Countries with a monarchical form of government include: Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei. Myanmar and Malaysia have a federal structure.
In most countries, mining, various branches of mechanical engineering, agriculture, animal husbandry, textile production, and tourism are common.
Countries in the region carry out regional cooperation through Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)) - a political, economic and cultural regional intergovernmental organization of countries located in Southeast Asia.
Rice. 2. ASEAN Flag
3. Newly industrialized countries
In terms of GDP, the leader in the region is Indonesia ($1,200 billion). In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore ($52,000) and Brunei ($47,000) are the leaders.
Newly Industrialized Countries (NIEs):
2. Malaysia.
3. Thailand.
4. Philippines.
5. Indonesia.
4. Characteristics of newly industrialized countries
The only economically developed state in the region is Singapore.
Rice. 3. Singapore
Geologically, the countries of Southeast Asia are located in one of the most volcanic regions on the planet. But this is compensated by the tropical climate, diverse nature, which captivates with its diversity and number of exotic plants and animals.
The subsoil of the territory has been poorly explored, but explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There is very little coal in the region; only in the north of Vietnam are there insignificant reserves. Oil and gas are produced offshore in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The world's largest metallic "Tin Belt" of Asia stretches through the region. Mesozoic deposits provided the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin (in Indonesia - 1.5 million tons, in Malaysia and Thailand - 1.1 million tons each), tungsten (reserves in Thailand - 23 thousand tons, Malaysia - 20 thousand tons). The region is rich in copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, gold, cobalt, the Philippines is rich in copper and gold. Nonmetallic minerals are represented by potassium salt (Thailand, Laos), apatites (Vietnam), and precious stones (sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.
Agroclimatic and soil resources: a warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for the relatively high efficiency of agriculture; 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year.
Water resources are actively used for irrigation in all countries. The lack of moisture in the dry season requires considerable expenses for the construction of irrigation structures. The mountain waterways of the Indochina Peninsula (Irrawaddy, Menam, Mekong) and numerous mountain rivers of the islands are capable of meeting the needs for electricity.
Forest resources are exceptionally rich. The region is located in the Southern forest belt, forests cover 42% of its territory.
Fish resources of the coastal zone of seas and inland waters are of considerable importance in every country: fish and other marine products are widely used in the diet of the population. On some islands of the Malay archipelago, pearls and mother-of-pearl shells are mined.
Rice. 4. Selling pearls in Manila
Currently, the countries of Southeast Asia are rapidly developing, occupying high positions in the modern world. New industrial countries are developing especially quickly, where much attention is paid to the education of the population, economic development, competition, and new industries. In terms of HDI, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia rank high in the world. An important feature of newly industrialized countries is the openness of their economies, the development of high-precision production, the service sector, tourism activities, the export of goods and services, attracting foreign capital, and large investments in their own economy.
Rice. 5. Capital of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Homework
1. What are the features of the geographical location of Southeast Asia?
2. Tell us about the economic features of the countries of Southeast Asia.
Bibliography
Main
1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 grades: Textbook for educational institutions / A. P. Kuznetsov, E. V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.
2. Economic and social geography of the world: Textbook. for 10th grade educational institutions / V. P. Maksakovsky. - 13th ed. - M.: Education, JSC "Moscow Textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.
3. Atlas with a set of outline maps for grade 10. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: FSUE "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.
Additional
1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A. T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., map.: color. on
2. Berzin E. O. Southeast Asia in the 13-16th centuries. - M., 1982.
3. Shpazhnikov S. A. Religion of Southeast Asian countries. - M., 1980.
Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections
1. Geography: a reference book for high school students and applicants to universities. - 2nd ed., rev. and revision - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.
Literature for preparing for the State Exam and the Unified State Exam
1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade / E. M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 80 p.
2. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.
3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. E. M. Ambartsumova, S. E. Dyukova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2012. - 256 p.
4. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.
5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Exam 2011. - M.: MTsNMO, 2011. - 72 p.
6. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.
7. Geography tests: 10th grade: to the textbook by V. P. Maksakovsky “Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade” / E. V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.
8. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.
9. Unified State Exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for preparing students / FIPI - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.
10. Geography. Answers on questions. Oral examination, theory and practice / V. P. Bondarev. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2003. - 160 p.
11. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks / O. V. Chicherina, Yu. A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.
Materials on the Internet
1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements.
2. Federal portal Russian Education.
3. Ege. yandex. ru.
4. Cool abstract. com.
5. Countries of the world.
Southeast Asia is a fairly large region of the planet, within which 600 million people live. Today there are 11, the list of which is given below, which differ significantly from each other in terms of level and models of economic development. These differences will be discussed in our article.
Countries of Southeast Asia: list and capitals
The Southeast Asia region covers an area of five million square kilometers. From the name itself it is clear that it is located in the southeastern part of Asia. Geographers usually include 11 states in this region. Six of them are located on the continent, and another five are on islands and archipelagos adjacent to the mainland.
So, all the countries of Southeast Asia (list):
- Vietnam.
- Cambodia.
- Laos.
- Myanmar.
- Thailand.
- Malaysia.
- Indonesia.
- Philippines.
- Singapore.
- Brunei.
- East Timor.
It is worth noting that geographically, Southeast Asia also includes the eastern parts of India and Bangladesh.
Southeast Asia: cultural and economic-geographical characteristics of the region
This region is home to at least 600 million people, 35% of whom are from one country, Indonesia. This is where (the most densely populated on the planet) is located. There are quite a lot of migrants from China in the region. They mainly settle in Malaysia, the Philippines and
The indigenous peoples of this region are highly diverse. Malays, Thais, Vietnamese, Burmese, Javanese and dozens of smaller nations live within Southeast Asia. The most popular religions here are Islam and Buddhism; Protestantism is widespread in some areas.
The formation of local culture was significantly influenced by Chinese, Indian, Arab, and Spanish cultures. The cult of tea and the habit of eating with chopsticks are also very common in Southeast Asia. Music, architecture, and painting differ very little in each of the ethnic groups of the region.
The economies of many countries in Southeast Asia are heavily dependent on agriculture, and industry and the service sector are gradually developing. In some countries of the region, tourism has become an important sector of the national economy (primarily Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia).
Developing countries of Southeast Asia: list
A developing country is a rather relative concept. It refers to a state whose performance is significantly lower than that of the rest of the world.
According to the generally accepted classification, all 11 countries of Southeast Asia should be classified as developing countries. However, among them there are three countries with a weaker level of development. They are also called These include:
- Laos.
- Cambodia.
- Myanmar.
Brunei is considered the richest and most developed state in the region, which is often called the “Islamic Disneyland”. The reason for this prosperity is simple - solid reserves of oil and gas. The country has long been in the top ten in terms of income level. It is curious that every second person who works at industrial enterprises in Brunei came here from neighboring, less prosperous countries.
NIS countries in the region
New (abbreviated as NIS) refers to a group of states that have experienced a significant leap in development and have significantly improved all their economic and social indicators in a very short time (just a few decades).
The countries of this group demonstrate amazing rates (up to 5-8% per year), generate powerful transnational corporations, actively introduce the latest technologies, and devote a lot of attention and funds to the development of science and education. Which states in the region can be classified as NIS?
So, the newly industrialized countries of Southeast Asia (list):
- Singapore.
- Malaysia.
- Thailand.
- Indonesia.
- Philippines.
In addition, another country in the region - Vietnam - has very real prospects of joining this list.
Finally...
The countries of Southeast Asia, the list of which is given in this article, belong to developing countries of weak and medium development. Their economies still rely heavily on agriculture.
The most developed countries in the region are Singapore and Brunei, while the poorest are Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Natural resources. The subsoil of the territory has been poorly explored, but explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There was a lot of coal in the region, only in the north of Vietnam there are insignificant reserves. Oil and gas are produced offshore in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The world's largest metallogenic "Tin Belt" of Asia stretches through the region. Mesozoic deposits provided the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin (in Indonesia - 1.5 million tons, Malaysia and Thailand - 1.2 million tons each), tungsten (reserves in Thailand - 25 thousand tons, Malaysia - 20 thousand. T). The region is rich in copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, gold, cobalt, the Philippines is rich in copper and gold. Nonmetallic minerals are represented by potassium salt (Thailand, Laos), apatites (Vietnam), and precious stones (sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.
Agroclimatic and soil resources. The warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for the relatively high efficiency of farming; 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year. On fairly fertile red and yellow feralite soils, many hot zone crops are grown (rice, coconut palm, rubber tree - hevea, bananas, pineapples, tea, spices). On the islands, not only coastal areas are used, but also mountain slopes smoothed by volcanic activity (terraced agriculture).
Water resources are actively used for irrigation in all countries. The lack of moisture in the dry season requires considerable expenses for the construction of irrigation structures. The water mountain arteries of the Indochina Peninsula (Irrawaddy, Menam, Mekong) and numerous mountain rivers of the islands are capable of meeting the needs for electricity.
Forest resources are exceptionally rich. The region is located in the Southern forest belt, forests cover 42% of its territory. The forests of the region are especially rich in wood, which has very valuable properties (strength, fire resistance, water repellency, attractive color): thok, sandalwood, legume trees, local species of pine, sundri (mangrove) tree, palms.
Fish resources of the coastal zone of seas and inland waters are of considerable importance in every country: fish and other marine products are widely used in the diet of the population. On some islands of the Malay archipelago, pearls and mother-of-pearl shells are mined.
Population.
Population size. 482.5 million people live in the region. The maximum number is in Indonesia (193.8 million), the minimum is in Brunei (310 thousand). The countries are very contrasting in terms of the number of inhabitants.
Demographic features. In Southeast Asia, natural population growth rates have always been high - an average of 2.2% per year, and in some cases - up to 40%. The child population (under 14 years old) is 32%, the elderly - 4.5%. There are more women than men (50.3 and 49.7%
Ethnic composition. More than 150 nationalities live in the largest country in the region - Indonesia. In the Philippines, which is small compared to Indonesia, there are up to a hundred unique Malay-Polynesian ethnic groups. In Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, over 2/3 of the inhabitants are Siamese (or Thai), Viet, Khmer, Lao and Burmese. In Malaysia, up to half of the population are closely related to the Malay language. The most mixed and multilingual population of Singapore are people from neighboring Asian countries (Chinese - 76%, Malays - 15%, Indians - 6%). In all countries, the largest national minority is the Chinese, and in Singapore they even represent the majority of the population.
The following language families are represented in the region: Sino-Tibetan (Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore, Burmese, Karen in Thailand); Thai (Siamese, Lao); Austro-Asian (Vietnamese, Khmer in Cambodia); Austronesian (Indonesians, Filipinos, Malays); Papuan peoples (in the eastern part of the Malay Archipelago and in the west of New Guinea).
Religious composition. The ethnic composition and historical fate of the peoples of the region determined its religious mosaic. The most common faiths are: Buddhism - in Vietnam (Mahayana is the most loyal form of Buddhism, coexists with local cults), in other Buddhist countries - Hinayana); Islam is professed by almost 80% of the population of Indonesia, Malaysia, and partly in the Philippines; Christianity (Catholicism) is the main religion of the Philippines (a consequence of Spanish colonization), partly in Indonesia; Hinduism is especially pronounced on the island. Balle in Indonesia.
Aborigines of Southeast Asian countries widely practice local cults.
The population is distributed extremely unevenly. The maximum density is on the island. Java, where up to 65% of the population of all Indonesia lives. Most of the inhabitants of Indochina live in the valleys of the Irrawada, Mekong, Menem rivers, here the population density reaches 500-600 people/km2, and in some areas - up to 2000. The mountainous outskirts of the peninsular states and most small islands are very sparsely populated, the average population density is not exceeds 3-5 people/km2. And in the center of. Kalimantan and in the west. New Guinea has uninhabited territories.
The share of the rural population is high (almost 60%). In recent decades, due to the migration of rural residents and natural growth, the number of urban population has been increasing. Large cities are growing rapidly, almost all of them (with the exception of Hanoi and Bangkok) arose during the colonial era.
Over 1/5 of the population lives in cities (Laos - 22, Vietnam - 21, Cambodia - 21, Thailand - 20%, etc.), only in Singapore they make up 100%. In general, this is one of the least urbanized regions of the world.
Millionaire cities, as a rule, are port or port-side centers that were formed on the basis of trade activities. Urban agglomerations in the region: Jakarta (10.2 million people), Manila (9.6 million), Bangkok (7.0 million), Yangon (3.8 million), Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, 3.5 million), Singapore ( 3 million), Bandung (2.8 million), Surabaya (2.2 million), Hanoi (1.2 million), etc.
Labor resources. There are over 200 million people, of whom 53% are employed in agriculture, 16% in industry, others are involved in the service sector.
Southeast Asia is a multiethnic region characterized by social contrasts. The rapid growth of cities led to an influx of unskilled labor into them, which resulted in a concentration of people, an increase in crime, drug trafficking, unemployment, etc. At the same time, since the 60s of the XX century. New business and shopping districts with modern buildings and skyscrapers built by American and Japanese companies are appearing in the countries of the region.
Agriculture. Agriculture in the region is insufficiently provided with land resources due to high population density. Agriculture predominates in it over livestock raising, the costs of manual labor per unit of land area are high and the marketability of farms is low. Techniques and technology are mostly very primitive.
Plant growing. Subtropical and tropical agriculture forms the basis of the economy of all countries. Southeast Asia is the world's largest region for growing rice, the main agricultural crop. It is harvested 2-3 times a year, the total volume is 126.5 million tons (1/4 of world production). In Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, rice fields occupy 4/5 of the sown area of the valley and delta lands of the Irawada and Menem rivers.
The main agricultural crops in the region are also:
- - coconut palm - produces nuts and coper (coconut core from which oil is obtained). The region accounts for 70% of their world production, Malaysia - up to 49%;
- - Hevea - up to 90% of world production of natural rubber occurs in the countries of the region (Malaysia - 20% of world production, Indonesia, Vietnam);
- - sugar cane (especially the Philippines and Thailand);
- - tea (Indonesia, Vietnam);
- - spices (everywhere);
- - orchids (Singapore is the world leader in their cultivation);
- - cotton, tobacco (countries located in the north of the region grow in the dry season);
- - coffee (Laos);
- - opium poppy (grown in the Golden Triangle area - a hard-to-reach region on the border of Thailand and Laos).
Notable producers and exporters of pineapples are Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Peppers are grown in Indonesia and Malaysia. Sago, cassava, cocoa, peanuts, vegetables and fruits, jute, etc. are also cultivated in the countries of the region.
Animal husbandry. It is very poorly developed due to a shortage of pastures and the spread of tropical animal diseases. Cattle are used primarily as draft power. The total population is 45 million pigs, 42 million cattle, 26 million goats and sheep and almost 15 million buffalo. Muslim peoples do not raise pigs.
Sea and river fishing is widespread. Every year, countries catch up to 13.7 million tons of fish. Fish from fresh reservoirs is fully used in the domestic market, and a significant amount of sea fish is exported. Thailand also exports a variety of tropical fish for aquariums.
The basis of agricultural production in the region is the plantation economy, which employs the majority of the population, and the export of plantation crops provides the majority of budget revenues.
Transport. In general, transport in the region is unevenly developed. A few railways connect the main commodity-producing areas with the capitals. Their total length is 25,339 km, and Laos and Brunei do not have railways. Recently, road transport has been developing rapidly. The total fleet includes 5.8 million passenger vehicles and 2.3 million trucks.
Water transport plays the main role in all countries, river transport in peninsular ones, and sea transport in island countries. The Strait of Malacca is of great importance in the transport complex (its length is 937 km, the smallest width is 15 km, the smallest depth in the fairway is 12 m). Sailboats are also used for transportation between the islands. Singapore (11.4 million gross register, tons), Thailand (2.5 million gross register, tons), and Indonesia (2.3 million gross register, tons) have their own merchant fleets. The port of Singapore is one of the largest in the world in terms of total cargo turnover (280 million tons) and the third after Rotterdam and Hong Kong in terms of handling sea containers (14 million conventional commodity units). Large ports are Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Da Nang (Vietnam), Jakarta, Surabaya (Indonesia), Kuantan, Klan, Kota Kina Balu (Malaysia), Bangkok (Thailand), etc. Air transport is progressing significantly in the region. There are 165 airports with regular flights. Over the past few years, Changi Airport (Singapore) has been leading the world in terms of quality of service and operational efficiency. Its annual capacity has reached 24 million air passengers, and in the near future it may increase to 60 million passengers. The main flights between domestic airports are operated by national airlines Garuda (Indonesia), Singapore Airlines (Singapore).
The main railways and highways connect the ports of countries with their hinterlands and serve primarily foreign economic relations.
Foreign economic relations. The agricultural and raw material orientation of the economy connects the countries of the region with the world market. Export of goods is the most important source of foreign currency for them.
Exports ($422.3 billion) are dominated by:
- - in Brunei - oil and gas;
- - in Vietnam - cotton fabrics, knitwear, rubber, tea, rubber shoes, rice;
- - in Indonesia - oil and gas, agricultural products, plywood, textiles, rubber;
- - in Cambodia - rubber, wood, rosin, fruits, fish, spices, rice;
- - in Laos - electricity, forestry and wood processing products, coffee, tin concentrate;
- - in Malaysia - oil and gas, rubber, tin, palm oil, wood, electronics, textiles;
- - in Singapore - equipment, instruments, machines, light industry products, electronics;
- - in Thailand - rice, rubber, tin, corn, cassava, sugar, textiles, kenaf, jute, teak, integrated circuits;
- - in the Philippines - coconut oil, copper concentrate, copra, bananas, sugar, gold, electronic equipment.
The main imported goods ($364.0 billion) are: oil and petroleum products, machinery, equipment, steel, chemicals, vehicles, medicines, etc. Singapore is the site of large international trade and industrial exhibitions, scientific and technical symposiums and conferences (700-750 per year).
Recreation and tourism. The region is rich in recreational resources, which are underutilized due to the economic backwardness of some countries. The basis for the development of the tourist area is the unique and picturesque equatorial landscapes, resort areas of the coast, historical and architectural monuments of different eras, the exotic nature of modern life and the traditions of different peoples.