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South Asia

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A colorful map showing the region of South Asia, helpful for learning about geography.

South Asia

South Asia is a beautiful part of the world. It includes countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This area has over two billion people, which is a quarter of all the people in the world.

The lands of South Asia have very diverse geography. You can find tall mountains, green forests, wide valleys, big deserts, and grassy plains. It is surrounded by water on three sides—the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. The climate changes a lot, from very hot and wet in the south to very cold and snowy in the north.

South Asia is home to many different cultures, languages, and religions. People here enjoy many sports, movies, music, and special foods. One of the most popular sports is cricket, which fans around the world love, especially in this area. There are also traditional games like kabaddi and kho-kho that people play and watch in competitions.

India has the largest economy in the region. It is growing very fast and has helped many people move out of poverty. But some parts of South Asia are still much poorer than others. Many people still live in poverty, and improving education and health is very important.

Each country in South Asia has its own government and leaders. India is a big federal parliamentary republic with the prime minister as the head of government. Bangladesh is a parliamentary republic, and Sri Lanka is the oldest lasting democracy in Asia with a multi-party system. Nepal became a secular democratic republic in 2008. Bhutan is a Buddhist state with a constitutional monarchy, and the Maldives is a unitary presidential republic with Sunni Islam as the state religion.

Images

A map showing the extent and important sites of the Indus Valley Civilization during its Mature Phase (2600-1900 BCE).
A map showing the countries of South Asia.
Map showing different definitions of the region of Central Asia, with areas shaded in green to indicate core, commonly included, and sometimes-included regions.
Map showing the Mauryan Empire at its greatest extent around 265 BCE.
Historical map showing the British Indian Empire from 1909
A historical map showing the division of British India into India and Pakistan on the eve of Independence in 1947.
Map showing the borders and disputed areas between India, Pakistan, and China, with each region marked by circles representing the administering and claiming countries.
Map showing IVT projections for Asia in 2023
A scientific graphic showing how glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas have changed over time, with colors indicating ice loss.
A colorful map showing the different language families spoken in Southern Asia.
A map showing the Indian subcontinent, useful for learning about geography.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on South Asia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.