What is a peninsula? Which peninsula is located to the east: Hindustan or Indochina?

In this article, we will try to answer the question of which peninsula is located to the east - Hindustan or Indochina? Where are they and what is their area?

What is a peninsula?

Before answering the question of which of the peninsulas is located to the east: Indochina or Hindustan, it is important to understand what a peninsula is, how it looks and how it differs from an island.

A peninsula in geography is usually called a section of terrestrial land washed on three sides by the waters of the ocean, the sea or another body of water. On the fourth side, as a rule, it is connected to the mainland (sometimes - in the form of a thin isthmus).

It should be noted that the peninsula - the concept of a rather subjective and unclear. After all, it is impossible to clearly define the boundaries of these geographical objects. In addition, there are no unambiguous criteria for their allocation. After all, by and large, the whole of Europe can be called a peninsula - in relation to the mainland of Eurasia. It is also washed by the waters of the seas on three sides: from the north, west and south.

The largest peninsula of the planet is the Arabian one. Its total area is 3.2 million square meters. Km. All the states of Western and Central Europe could freely occupy its territory !

We find out which peninsula is located to the east: Hindustan or Indochina

Now it's time to answer the main question of our article. So, which peninsula is located to the east - Indochina or Hindustan?

If you look at the list of the largest peninsulas of the planet, then we will meet these names at the top of it. And Indochina occupies the second position (after the Arabian), and Hindustan - the third. On the map, these two peninsulas are also located not so far apart.

The southern outlines of Asia are distinguished by three large "denticles": in the west by the Arabian Peninsula, to the east by Hindustan, and to the east by Indochina. So we answered our main question! The average longitude of Hindustan is 78 ° E, while Indochina is 101 °. It is interesting to note that these two peninsulas are divided by the largest bay in the world - Bengalsky.

Hindustan: geographical location and landscapes

The area of the peninsula is about 2 million square meters. Km. The northern border of Hindustan is a conventional line connecting on the map the deltas of the Indus and Ganges rivers. The peninsula is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean: in the west - the Arabian Sea, and in the east - the Bay of Bengal. Almost all of its territory is occupied by one state - India. In the photo you can see the location of Hindustan on the map of Eurasia.

Hindustan (or rather, Hindustan), these lands are called Persians. Later this toponym passed into many European languages. Interestingly, in the English-language literature called "Hindustan" means the five southern states of India.

The subsoil of the peninsula is extremely rich in mineral resources, in the first place - rare and non-ferrous metals. Here, gold, diamonds, monazite, graphite, iron and manganese ore are mined. There are significant deposits of coal and oil.

The nature of Hindustan is greatly changed by human activity. Instead of natural landscapes here on the vast territories dominates the so-called cultivated savannah - groves of palm trees and fruit trees in the middle of agricultural land.

Indochina: geographical position and landscapes

The area of the peninsula: 2.4 million square meters. Km. It is located in the south-eastern part of Asia. The northern border of Indochina is a conventional line connecting on the map the deltas of the Ganges and Hongha rivers. The western shores of the peninsula are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, while the eastern coasts are already washed by the seas of the Pacific Ocean.

Seven countries are fully or partially located on the territory of Indochina: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Bangladesh. In the photo you can see the location of Indochina on the map of Eurasia.

The present name of the peninsula was given to the French. Why Indochina? The thing is that the inhabitants of this peninsula reminded Europeans of both Hindus and Chinese at the same time.

Indochina is not rich in mineral resources. There are large deposits of tungsten and tin. But the natural flora and fauna, unlike neighboring Hindustan, is much better preserved here. On the peninsula, tropical rain forests and mangroves are common. Rice and rubber plantations are an integral part of the landscape of the plains of Indochina.