Introduction

1. Natural resources

2. Population

3. Agriculture

4. Transport

5. Foreign economic relations

6. Recreation and tourism

7. general characteristics farms

8. Industry

9. Natural conditions

Conclusion

List of sources used

Introduction

Southeast Asia is located on the territory of the Indochina Peninsula and numerous islands of the Malay Archipelago. The countries of the region border on the South and East Asia, Australia and Oceania. The region includes 10 countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and East Timor.

Southeast Asia connects Eurasia with Australia, delimiting at the same time the basins of the Pacific and Indian oceans... The region is washed by the seas, the largest of which are the South China and the Philippine Seas The Pacific, Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean.

Important air and sea routes pass through the countries of Southeast Asia: the Strait of Malacca has the same great importance for world shipping, like the Strait of Gibraltar, Panama and Suez Canals.

The location between two long-standing cells of civilization and the largest number of people in the states of the modern world - China and India - affected the formation political map the region, the processes of economic development, the ethnic and religious composition of the population, the development of culture.

Among the states of the region, there is one absolute monarchy - Brunei, three constitutional ones - Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, all the others are republics.

The countries of Southeast Asia are members of the UN. All but Cambodia are ASEAN members; Indonesia - in OPEC; Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam - to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation bloc.

1. Natural resources

The subsoil of the territory is poorly explored, but the explored reserves indicate rich deposits of mineral resources. There was a lot of bituminous coal in the region, only in the north of Vietnam there are insignificant reserves. Oil and gas are produced in the offshore zones of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The largest metallogenic "Tin Belt" in Asia stretches across the region. The Mesozoic deposits determined the richest reserves of non-ferrous metals: tin (in Indonesia - 1.5 million tons, Malaysia and Thailand - 1.2 million tons each), tungsten (reserves of Thailand - 25 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 potash salt (Thailand, Laos), apatite (Vietnam), precious stones(sapphire, topaz, ruby) in Thailand.

Agroclimatic and soil resources. A warm and humid climate is the main prerequisite for a relatively high efficiency of agriculture; 2-3 crops are harvested here throughout the year. On sufficiently fertile red and yellow feralite soils, many crops of the hot zone are grown (rice, coconut palm, rubber tree - hevea, bananas, pineapples, tea, spices). The islands use not only coastal areas, but also slopes of mountains smoothed by volcanic activity (terraced agriculture).

Water resources are actively used for land irrigation in all countries. The moisture deficit in the dry season requires considerable expenses for the construction of irrigation facilities. The watery mountain arteries of the Indochina Peninsula (Ayeyarwady, Menam, Mekong) and the numerous mountain speech of the islands are capable of providing electricity needs.
Forest resources are extremely rich. The region is located in the South forest belt, forests cover 42% of its territory. Brunei (87%), Cambodia (69%), Indonesia (60%), Laos (57%) have numerous forests, and in Singapore the total forest area is only 7% (the lowest in the region). The forests of the region are especially rich in wood, which has very valuable properties (strength, fire resistance, water repellency, attractive color): current, sandalwood, legume trees, native pine species, sundri (mangrove) tree, palms.

Fish resources of the coastal zone of the seas and inland waters are of considerable importance in every country: fish and other marine products are widely used in the nutrition of the population. On some islands of the Malay Archipelago, pearls and nacreous shells are mined.

The rich natural resource potential and favorable climatic conditions of the region make it possible to engage in agriculture throughout the year, and various reserves of mineral resources contribute to the development of the mining industry and oil refining. Due to the existence of valuable tree species, the forest is a traditional area. However, due to intensive deforestation, their area decreases every year, which worsens the eco-balance. This predetermines the need for nature conservation measures, which are being carried out in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and other countries, for the preservation of the unique flora and fauna of the region.

2. Population

Population. The region is home to 482.5 million people. The maximum number is in Indonesia (193.8 million), the minimum is in Brunei (310 thousand). In terms of the number of inhabitants, the countries are very contrasting.

Demographic features. Southeast Asia has always had high rates of natural population growth - an average of 2.2% per year, and in some cases - up to 40%. The child population (up to 14 years old) is 32%, the elderly - 4.5%. There are more women than men (50.3 and 49.7%, respectively).

Racial makeup. The overwhelming majority of the population belongs to the transitional types between the Mongoloid and Australoid races.

In some areas, “pure” australoid groups not mixed with the Mongoloids have survived: the Vedoids (Malacca Peninsula), residents close to the Papuans Eastern Indonesia, Negro type (in the south of the Malacca Peninsula and in the Philippines).

Ethnic composition. More than 150 nationalities live in the largest country in the region, Indonesia. In the small territory of the Philippines in comparison with Indonesia, there are up to a hundred peculiar Malay-Polynesian ethnic groups. In Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, over 2/3 of the inhabitants are represented by Siamese (or Thai), Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao and Burmese. In Malaysia, up to half of the population are Malay peoples with similar language. The most mixed and multilingual population of Singapore is from neighboring Asian countries (Chinese - 76%, Malays - 15%, Indians - 6%). In all states, the Chinese are the most numerous national minorities, 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, Khmers in Cambodia); Austronesian (Indonesians, Filipinos, Malays); Papuan peoples (in the eastern part of the Malay archipelago and in the west about. New Guinea).

Religious composition. The ethnic composition and historical fate of the peoples of the region determined its religious mosaic. The most widespread are the following confessions: Buddhism - in Vietnam (Mahayana is the most loyal form of Buddhism, coexists with local cults), in other Buddhist countries - Hinayana); Islam is practiced by almost 80% of the population of Indonesia, Malaysia, 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 about. Balle in Indonesia.

The natives of the countries of Southeast Asia widely profess local cults.

The population is extremely unevenly distributed. The maximum density is on the island. Java, home to 65% of the population of all Indonesia. 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 of the small islands are very poorly populated, the average population density does not exceed 3 -5 people / km2. And in the center of Fr. Kalimantan and in the west about. New Guinea has unpopulated areas.

High is specific gravity rural population (almost 60%). In recent decades, due to rural migration and natural growth, the urban population has increased. Growing fast, above all, big cities, almost all of them (with the exception of Hanoi and Bangkok) originated in the colonial era. More than 1/5 of the inhabitants live 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 in the world.

Millionaire cities tend to be port or seaport centers that have evolved from trading activities. Urban agglomerations of 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 which

53% are employed in agriculture, 16% - in industry, others are involved in the service sector.

Southeast Asia is a multinational region with social contrasts. The rapid growth of cities led to an influx of unskilled labor, which resulted in the concentration of people, an increase in crime, drug smuggling, unemployment, etc. At the same time, since the 60s of the XX century. new business and shopping districts appear in the countries of the region with modern facilities, skyscrapers built by American and Japanese companies.

3. Agriculture

The agriculture of the region is insufficiently provided with land resources due to the high population density. It is dominated by agriculture over animal husbandry, high costs of manual labor per unit of land area and low marketability of farms. Technique and technology are for the most part very primitive.

ASIA

Foreign Asia is unusually attractive: - diverse, exotic nature, - history with its numerous historical monuments, - ethno-confessional features of Asian peoples. It was in Asia that many centers of ancient civilizations were located.

Within the territory of overseas Asia a tourist can meet many natural areas: from the equatorial forests of Indonesia

to the deserts of the temperate zone in northwestern China and Mongolia.

In different countries and regions, monuments dating back to millennia:

Buddhist, - Jewish, - Muslim, - Christian and other cultures.

Asian countries are inhabited by representatives of the Mongoloid and Caucasian races, speaking a wide variety of languages ​​and dialects.

In Asia, there are the highest mountain systems in the world, and among them the Himalayas, where the highest peaks of the Earth are concentrated.

There are areas in Asia

Long and widespread tourism (Middle East, India),

Regions where the tourist boom has begun in recent years (countries of Southeast Asia).

The level of development of the tourist infrastructure is also different.

Natural, historical, cultural, ethno-confessional attractiveness, developed tourist infrastructure form tourist and recreational zones and regions of Asia.

The political conjuncture, acute conflicts in many Asian countries and regions alienate tourists from Asian regions.

All this makes the tourist map of overseas Asia very colorful.

It can reveal five touristrecreational areas:

Southwest Asia- includes 4 macro-districts:

1. Turkey and Cyprus,

2. Palestine (Israel),

3. Arab states (Middle East) - (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia),

4. Middle East (Iran and Afghanistan).

South Asia- includes 4 macro-districts

1. India (territory of India (outside the Himalayas) and Bangladesh),

2. Pakistan,

3. Himalayan (mountainous regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan),

4. Bangladesh and Island state(on the island of Ceylon) Sri Lanka.

Southeast Asia- includes 2 macro-districts:

1. Continental (Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia - part of which lies on the islands),

2. Insular (Indonesia and the Philippines)

East Asia- is divided into 4 tourist macro-districts:

1. Japan,

2. Korea region (DPRK and the Republic of Korea),

3. North-East and East China,

4. Southern China (with Taiwan)

central Asia- divided into 3 macro-districts:

1. Western China,

3. Mongolia.

1. Southwest Asia

Includes the states of the Near and Middle East with ancient history and predominantly Muslim culture.

The exception is Israel- a country of immigration and widespread Judaism with its shrines.

Jerusalem city - shrines of three religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Attracts pilgrims

Creates the basis for constant acute conflicts

which also affects the scale of tourism.

In the countries of this zone, the attention of tourists is attracted by:

Warm sea (especially the Mediterranean, washing the coast

Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Israel),

Subtropical climate favorable for recreation.

Ancient cities or their ruins,

Numerous cities with their historical and cultural heritage. Among them:

Istanbul, Turkey),

Amman (Jordan),

The ancient cities of Lebanon - Baalbek, Sayda, as well as the tourist center of the country - its capital Beirut,

Nicosia (Cyprus),

Iranian cities Tehran, Isfahan, Shirak, Hamadan.

Afghanistan is interesting for its tourist opportunities, but the events of recent decades make it impossible to use them.

As part of South-West Asia, tourist macro-districts: Turkey and Cyprus, Palestine, Arab States (Middle East), Middle East.

1. Turkey and Cyprus They are connected both by their history and by modern relations.

Republic Cyprus- an island state in the eastern part Mediterranean Sea... Member of the European Union since May 1, 2004).

Officially, the territory of the Republic of Cyprus includes

98% of the island of Cyprus (the remaining 2% is occupied by British military bases),

As well as the nearby islands of Agios Georgios, Geronissos, Glukiotissa, Kila, Kiedes, Cordilia and Mazaki.

In reality, after 1974, the island was divided into three parts:

60% of the island's territory is controlled by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus (inhabited mainly by Greeks),

38% - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (populated mainly by Turks),

2% by the British Armed Forces.

The TRNC is recognized as an independent state by the Republic of Abkhazia, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (within Azerbaijan) and Turkey.

Muslim Cypriots live in the northern part of Cyprus,

speaking Turkish.

The rest of the island is predominantly Orthodox,

speaking greek.

Partitioning Cyprus creates unnecessary tension.

Holiday tourists have the opportunity

Enjoy the benefits of the Mediterranean

Beneficial Mediterranean climate.

Visit low mountainous areas,

Take baths near mineral springs.

The tourism industry is one of the main items of the national income. A significant part of the population is engaged in tourism, profit from tourism is the main source of foreign exchange in the budget of the republic. Over the past 4 years, the number of tourists in Cyprus has increased by 29% and tourism income by 40%.

The largest resorts: - Larnaca, - Paphos, - Limassol, - Ayia Napa

Protaras - Famagusta - Kyrenia (under the control of the TRNC).

Many beaches in Cyprus have been awarded the European Union Blue Flag for environmental friendliness and infrastructure.

Town Nicosia (Levkosha) - the capital and largest city of Cyprus - in the center of the island, divided by the "green line" - the buffer zone m / d south and northern Cyprus... In Nicosia, tourists visit:

Selim Mosque, - Hagia Sophia, - 6-meter Venetian column,

Ruins of the fortress wall,

Museum with objects of the Bronze Age and masterpieces of historical art;

The second largest city in Cyprus - sea ​​port Limassol founded in Byzantine times. To the west of it lies the British sovereign base of Akrotiri. Near Limossol - the tower of Colossia (the castle of the Ionian Order - 1454 - one of the most famous castles of Cyprus - was the citadel of various orders of knighthood - first the Templars, then the Hospitaller Order, and from the XIV century the knights of the Order of Malta (Ioannites) settled here, the head of which is one the time was the Russian emperor Paul I. The surroundings of the castle are the most beautiful citrus plantations, and the fortress itself is famous primarily for its sugar factory).

The beaches of Limassol are covered with dark sand, mainly of volcanic origin.

Resort Ayia Napa - the center of club life (along with Ibiza) is youth-oriented.

For family vacation serves mainly Paphos and Protaras.

The beaches of Ayia Napa and Protaras are distinguished by white sand.

The Paphos coast is mostly rocky.

Town Pathos included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Nearby is the bay of Aphrodite. According to legend, in this place the goddess of love and beauty was born from the foam of the sea. Remains of the temples of Aphrodite and Apollo

sights Cyprus is a mixture of different eras:

The Byzantine castle of Kolossi, where Isaac Comnenus hid from the crusaders (the Byzantine emperor of Cyprus in 1057-1059, the son of Manuel Eroticus Comnenus, an approximate of the emperor Basil II, until he was deposed by Richard I during the Third Crusade)

The church in which Richard I the Lionheart was married to Princess Berengaria of Navarre,

Venetian fortresses,

British left hand traffic,

The main attraction in the north of the island is the old walled city Famagusta - with the medieval Tower of Othello (It was in Famagusta that the main events of Shakespeare's tragedy “Othello” took place),

- "ghost town" (Varosha quarter before the Turkish invasion in 1974 was the main tourist center in Cyprus, and then became a "ghost town")

Geographic proximity to the row Mediterranean countries allows you to conduct sea trips for tourists Cruises to Egypt, Israel, Rhodes, Jordan. Cruise ships depart from the seaports of Larnaca and Limassol.

The local population traditionally adheres to Orthodox Christianity. There are many Orthodox churches on the island; Orthodox icons are on sale.

Among the attractions of Cyprus are Orthodox shrines, such as the tomb of St. Lazarus in Larnaca.

Turkey attracts tourists recreants:

Seaside areas (along the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, Black Seas) are known for swimming seasons (warm sea, subtropical climate),

Famous Mediterranean resorts (Antalya, Alanya, etc.).

Resorts based on the use of mineral springs (ex. Springs near the city of Bursa were used by the Byzantines).

Turkey attracts with its historical culturetourism values.

Many of them are concentrated on the shores of the Bosphorus in the city of Istanbul (in the past - Constantinople, in ancient Russian documents - Constantinople).

The transformation of the Orthodox Byzantine capital into a Muslim city also led to a change in the appearance of the city:

Orthodox churches turned into mosques (there are also many minarets).

The most famous temple is the work of Byzantine architecture Hagia Sophia

Museums, incl. archaeological (with the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great),

Monuments of civil architecture.

In the XX century. Istanbul has been largely Europeanized.

Other centers of educational tourism in Turkey:

Capital Ankara (ancient buildings, the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey Ataturk (Kemal Pasha);

- Izmir (which is famous for antiquities and annual fairs);

- Bursa, Adan, Erzurum (with their antiquities and mosques).

There are many elements in the east of Turkey natural attraction:

The plateaus and low mountains in the east of the country turn into high-mountainous regions with a well-pronounced altitudinal zonation (up to the nival zone),

Sacred for Armenians (but located after World War I on the territory of Turkey) Ararat massif, where Noah's Ark ended its journey

Big and very picturesque lake Wang

2. Palestine. This macro-district includes:

State of Israel, populated predominantly by Jews (indigenous people and immigrants),

And the Arab territories, which have been fighting for many decades to create an Arab Palestinian state.

The territory of Palestine is rich in historical events.

The very first city in the world was discovered in the Jordan Valley - Jericho ("The city of dates"), which is seven thousand years old. Archaeological excavations are being carried out on a large hill, which attracts the attention of many tourists.

South of the largest city in Palestine, Jerusalem (Jerushalayma), there is a city Bethlehem , over which, according to legend, a star lit up at the moment when Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger. A grandiose temple was built here.

Jeru salim - a city of three confessions (Jewish, Christian, Muslim)

Historical and cultural monuments:

Jewish Wailing Wall,

Christian shrines: - Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher,

Calvary, where Christ was crucified,

The rock where he prayed

Many more places related to gospel stories

According to Islam, the Muslim prophet Muhammad later ascended to heaven from the rock where Christ prayed (the magnificent Omar mosque was built here).

It is no coincidence that during the division of Palestine after World War II, the UN made a decision on the special status of Jerusalem, which is historically divided into the Old and New City.

Other cities in the region should be named:

The actual capital of Israel Tel Aviv (although the leadership of the state considers Jerusalem as the capital, which is not recognized by most states in the world) with its:

Museum of Mediterranean Art "Haaretz",

Picture galleries.

There are streets Korolenko, Zola and others.

- Jaffa , numbering several centuries of its existence. Here you can walk along the street: Pushkin, Pestalozzi, Michelangelo, Dante, M. Gorky

An even older city Haifa .

In these cities there are historical and cultural sites of previous centuries.

Resorts- marine

On the Mediterranean coast, especially in the area of ​​Natanya and Eilat in the Arabian Gulf of the Red Sea.

On the coast of the Dead Sea with very high salinity

3. Arab countries... Includes the Middle East or most of Western Asia (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia). All these are Muslim Arab states.

With the exception of Mediterranean Lebanon and partly Syria and Arabia, all countries are arid deserts and semi-deserts. Civilization developed only with the creation of irrigation systems at the expense of rivers (as in Mesopotamia) or groundwater, in oases.

From ser. XX century. began to produce oil - a modern civilization is being formed

Modern seaside resorts appeared on the shores of the seas.

In the mountains of Lebanon there are mountain resorts.

In all countries of the macroregion, there are many historical and cultural sights - monuments of distant millennia and centuries

V Lebanon - one of the earliest human settlements - Baalbek , where preserved:

Ruins of places of worship dedicated to Jupiter,

Statues, sculptural images of Venus, Bacchus,

Rows of colonies and sculptures, stairs.

Saida City is one of the ancient settlements in Lebanon

The capital of country - Beirut, along with the old quarters, is distinguished by modern buildings, corresponding to the role of Beirut - the center of finance and culture.

V Syria

The ancient cities of Palmyra and Aleppo with monuments of Hellenic art.

The capital of country Damascus attracts with objects of Muslim culture (ex. Omayyad Mosque - one of the most famous shrines of Islam)

V Iraq

In its capital Baghdad

Mosque Nazimiyya, or Golden Mosque, decorated with four minarets with gilded domes

Many modern buildings, stylized in the spirit of Muslim traditions.

Away from the capital, located on the banks of the Tigris River, there are ruins of ancient cities: incl. Babylon.

In the north and north-east of Iraq there are summer high-mountain resorts.

Despite the tourist attraction of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, the flow of tourists to these countries due to political painvitality limited.

Less interesting otherother arab countries Middle East: Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain - whose economies are based on oil production - are attracted by modern cities.

Saudi Arabia occupies a special place:

The main places of pilgrimage for Muslims are cities associated with the activities of the Prophet Muhammad and the birth of Islam - Mecca (with a black stone Kaaba)

And Medina

The pilgrimage (hajj) brings huge profits to the country

The city of Jeddah, through which thousands of pilgrims go. There are several historical monuments, incl. grave of the first woman Eve.

UAE

To the north - east coast The Arabian Peninsula, at the junction of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, is a small, but cozy and modern state - United United Arab Emirates- fabulous Arab country

This is the charm of the exotic oriental tale,

Western standards of service,

Country of Arab sheikhs,

Skyscrapers striking the imagination

The best hotels in the world,

First class jewelry stores,

Giant shopping malls

Unforgettable shopping (duty free zone),

White sand of endless beaches

Gardens blooming in the middle of the desert

The sun is almost all year round

The bottomless blue of the warm Persian Gulf

An impressive excursion program.

4. Countries of the Middle East - Iran and Afghanistan.

Iran - a country of very diverse nature and ancient history.

Seas and rivers, plains (low and uplifted) and high mountains Elburs with the peak of Demavend (in the north), various forests, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, healing mineral springs and curative mud.

Monuments of Muslim culture (civil and religious buildings)

In the capital Tehran,

The cities of Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Qazvin and others.

Currently, due to the difficult international position of Iran, the flow of tourists is limited. This is facilitated by both external forces and the activity of Islamic fundamentalists.

V Afghanistan - a multinational mountainous country where military operations are taking place, tourism is impossible these days. Practically inaccessible for tourism:

The harsh but impressive nature of Afghanistan,

Historical and cultural sites in the capital Kabul, in the cities of Herat, Kandahar

One of the most famous tourist sites throughout Asia - Biamin (in this depression, at an altitude of more than 2 thousand meters, there is a rock dug by hundreds of caves) -

In the rocks there are two carved 50-meter statues of Buddha,

And on the hill is the Shahar-i-Gulgula fortress

Opportunities unclaimed winter resort Jalalabad,

hunting opportunities,

observing local ritual festivals.

According to Wikipedia, at the moment I managed to visit half of the countries of Southeast Asia. Let's briefly go over where it was interesting and what could have been missed. If you are interested Southeast Asian countries, in the blocks below you will find links to all the sections of interest.

Southeast Asia. Philippines.

I'll start with Philippines, because this country was the first to which he went to travel on his own. Having overcome a heap of doubts and fears, I discovered an amazing and new world travel. I realized that the world is not limited to the city in which I was born and how many amazing places... Here he got his first experience of independent travel.

The countries of Southeast Asia are Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

This was my second trip, which included, in addition to the listed countries, also China. Honestly, it was China that was the main country of that trip and it was there that I spent the most time. But China is not included in the list of countries in Southeast Asia, so today we are not talking about it.

V Thailand was only in Bangkok, and even then for a couple of days. I can't say exactly why, but the city left a rather pleasant impression. Markets, narrow streets, friendly Thais, temples. It was interesting to spend some time in this city.

Then there was Cambodia, in which the strength was a week. After driving through tourist places such as Angkor Wat and Kampot went straight to Vietnam. In my opinion, the most interesting things in Cambodia are hidden in small non-tourist villages in the north of the country. I didn't get there that time.

In Vietnam happened to be twice. The country is pleasant, it left a rather even impression. You can drive all of it slowly in a couple of weeks. Probably, the main thing that Vietnam gave me is a few interesting people with whom I still communicate.

Countries of Southeast Asia. India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.

If we nevertheless decided to hook India, I can say that the country is very unusual and unlike anything else. I had a chance to visit only in the north of the country and go down a little further south, to Mumbai. Almost all the places visited, with the exception of only Delhi, seemed very interesting. Mountains in the north, desert in the west, plains in the central part. It was interesting and memorable.

Malaysia turned out to be a country to which he remained absolutely indifferent. Neither good nor bad ... not at all. True, I did not go anywhere further than Kuala Lumpur and Putrajai, maybe that's why nothing remained in my memory.

Singapore, city-country for a couple of days. Very clean, tidy. As for me, so too calm. I would not fly to Singapore for the second time.

On Sri Lanka visited in 2018. A country that left positive emotions, but, as for me, also at times.

(0 voted. Vote and you !!!)

Southeast Asia is a major world economic center, known for most for its popular tourist destinations... This vast region is very diverse in terms of ethnic composition of the population, culture and faiths. Over time, all this affected the general life, arouses great interest among tourists from all over the world.

The countries of Southeast Asia is a generalized definition that refers to a number of states concentrated south of China, east of India and north of Australia. Despite this, usually the map of Southeast Asia includes 11 states.

Since the middle of the last century and now, this part of the world is actively developing and plays a huge role in the world economy. The population of Southeast Asia is about 600 million people, the most populous state is Indonesia, and the most populous island is Java.

The length of the region from north to south is 3.2 thousand kilometers, and from west to east - 5.6. The following are considered the countries of Southeast Asia:

Sometimes this list includes some other territories controlled by states that are part of Asia, but in general, by location, not from the countries of the southeast. Most often these are islands and territories controlled by China, India, Australia and Oceania, including:

• (China).
• (China).
• (Australia).
• (China).
• Nicobar Islands (India).
• islands (India).
• Ryukyu Islands (Japan).

According to various sources, about 40% of the world's population lives in the countries of Southeast Asia, many have united in the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. Thus, in 2019, almost half of the world's GDP is produced here. The economic characteristics of recent years have been marked by high development in the region in many areas.

Tourism sector

The end of the war between the United States and Vietnam had a positive effect on the popularization of resorts in the late 60s. They are actively developing today, especially since the citizens of our country can go to most of these states under a simplified visa regime, and many do not require a visa at all. The countries of Southeast Asia, due to their tropical climate, are suitable for beach holiday all year round.

Nevertheless, in some parts of this giant peninsula, the climate at different times of the year is different, so it will be useful to study the maps first. In the middle and second half of winter, it is better to go to India to the island or to Vietnam, since at this time of the year there is no constant rainfall inherent in a tropical climate. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are also suitable for recreation.

• south of China;
• Indonesia;
• Malaysia;
• pacific islands.

The most popular destinations among our tourists are Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Peoples and cultures

Racial and ethnic composition Southeast Asia is very heterogeneous. This also applies to religion: the eastern part of the archipelago is mostly inhabited by followers of Buddhism, and there are also Confucians - due to the large number of Chinese immigrants from southern provinces China there are about 20 million of them. These countries include Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and a number of other states. It is also not uncommon to meet Hindus and Christians. In the western part of Southeast Asia, Islam is predominantly practiced, it is this religion that takes the first place in the number of followers.

The ethnic composition of the region is represented by the following peoples:

And in this list - only a small part of all ethnic groups and subgroups, there are also representatives of the peoples of Europe. By and large, the culture of the southeast is a cross between Indian and Chinese cultures.

The Spanish and Portuguese, who colonized the islands in these places, had a great influence on the population. The Arab culture also played a huge role, with about 240 million people professing Islam here. Over the centuries, common traditions have developed here, almost everywhere in all these countries people eat using Chinese sticks, they love tea very much.

Yet there are amazing cultural features that will interest any foreigner. One of the most superstitious peoples in the archipelago is the Vietnamese.... For example, it is customary for them to hang mirrors on the outside of the entrance: if a dragon comes, he will immediately run away, frightened of his own reflection. There is also a bad omen to meet a woman in the morning, leaving the house. Or it is considered bad form to lay out appliances on a table for one person. It is also not customary to touch a person's shoulder or head, as they believe that there are good spirits nearby, and touching them can frighten them away.

Demography

In the countries of Southeast Asia, the birth rate has decreased in recent years, however, this part of the world ranks second in terms of population reproduction.

The inhabitants here are settled very heterogeneously, the most densely populated place is the island of Java: the density per 1 square kilometer is 930 people. All settled on the Indochina Peninsula, which occupies eastern part Southeast Asia, and the western Malay archipelago, which consists of many large and small islands. The population preferentially lives in the deltas of numerous rivers, the high-mountainous regions are less populated, and the forests are practically deserted.

Most of all people live outside the cities, the rest settle in developed centers, more often the capitals of states, the lion's share of the economy of which is replenished due to the tourist flow.

Thus, almost all of these cities have a population of over 1 million, yet most of the population lives outside of them and is engaged in agriculture.

Economy

Looking at the map, one can conditionally divide the countries of Southeast Asia into 2 camps. The first includes the following:

• Laos;
• Cambodia;
• Vietnam.

In the post-war period, these countries chose the socialist path of development, when, in fact, territorial division began in order to strengthen national sovereignty. Back in the 1980s, these countries practically did not have any manufacturing industries, the local population was mainly engaged in agricultural production. According to UN statistics of those years, these states had a low level of development, per capita income usually did not exceed $ 500 per year.

The second camp includes the following countries:

• Indonesia;
• Malaysia;
• Singapore;
• Philippines;
• Thailand;
• Brunei.

The countries from this list have united in the Association of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) and followed the path of a market economy. As a result, the socialist camp has achieved less success, although initially the chances of all these countries were practically equal. Income per person per year ranged from 500 to 3 thousand dollars.

Brunei and Singapore are the most developed countries among the ASEAN members, with about 20 thousand dollars per capita. These indicators were achieved due to the fact that Singapore has a well-developed industry, and Brunei acts as an exporter of petroleum products. The emerging ASEAN was helped by several factors:

• Export.
• Industry.
• Foreign investments.
• Creation of corporations with a flexible viable system.
• Reforms.

ASEAN countries began to develop successfully due to the presence of a large number of natural resources and they are constantly exporting their goods. Even in the countries of Southeast Asia, components are made for various household appliances, electronics and other equipment. Thailand also exports cars.

In countries following the path of socialism, the restructuring of the system began in the late 1980s and yielded prominent results just a few years later. Vietnam was engaged in oil refining, extraction of natural gas, iron ore and others. Foreign capital was poured into this country from Singapore, a number of European countries... Thailand invested in Laos, and at the end of the twentieth century, both states were also able to join ASEAN.

Southeast Asia is the most geographically fragmented region in Asia. It is located in the continental and island territories between India, China and Australia. Includes the Malay Archipelago and the Indochina Peninsula.

Southeast Asian countries:

• Brunei
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Cambodia
• East Timor
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam

The most popular states of Southeast Asia for tourists are Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos…. But the popularity of these tourist destinations does not deter lovers of Asian exoticism from visiting a country like Papua New Guinea!

Climate of Southeast Asia:

The climate in Southeast Asia can be described in one word: tropical. The temperature is 30 ° C all year round, tropical storms are very rare here. As a rule, the seasonal characteristics of the region can be divided into two parts: the equatorial regions have a "wet" climate in winter and a "dry" summer, while the rest of Southeast Asia (including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam), as usually have three seasons: Hot (March-June), Wet (July-October) and Dry (November to February). All seasons have their advantages, as well as disadvantages, but the “dry” season in Southeast Asia is the most predictable and generally the most popular among tourists and vacationers.

Southeast Asia Economy:

Southeast Asia occupies a significant place in the world trading system. Economy of states the region depends on agriculture, however, production and services are in constant development and are slowly crowding out the agricultural market. Indonesia is the country with the largest economy in Southeast Asia, but Brunei and Singapore are the most economically the developed countries... Tourism in Southeast Asia is the main factor in the development of the states of this region.

Population of Southeast Asia:

The population of Southeast Asia is about 600 million people, and most of them (1/5 of the entire region) inhabit the island of Java (Indonesia), which is considered the most populous island in the world. On average, 30 million people in Southeast Asia are overseas Chinese living in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Peoples of Southeast Asia:

The peoples inhabiting the territory of Southeast Asia are diverse, but mainly these are:

• malays
• Thais
• Vietnamese
• semangs
• Burmese
• Filipinos
• indonesians
• Javanese

Culture of Southeast Asia

The culture of Southeast Asia is a mixture of Chinese and Indian. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore are influenced by Arab, Portuguese and Spanish cultures. First of all, they have an impact on the food culture. In all countries, it is customary to eat with sticks, and the culture of tea is widespread, which can be easily found throughout the states of Southeast Asia.

Religion of Southeast Asia:

The main religion of Southeast Asia is Islam. Buddhism is also widespread in Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam. In addition to him, Confucianism is practiced in Vietnam and Singapore, in some areas you can meet Catholics and Protestants.

Some sights of Southeast Asia:

Taman Negara. it National park in Malaysia (Malacca Peninsula). It is the oldest rainforest in the world.
Angkor Wat. Ancient temple located in Cambodia. It is one of the most stunning landmarks in Southeast Asia.
Koh Phangan (Ko Pha Ngan). Island in the Gulf of Thailand in Thailand. One of the most spectacular paradise spots.
Southeast Asia is a completely unique and special part of the world, and is guaranteed to leave pleasant memories for a long time.
See also:

• Asia. Regions of Asia