The map shows the main route of the Silk Road. A map titled Physical Features of East Asia. A key shows the Main route of the Silk Road with a purple line, Lowlands in green, Highlands in yellow, and mountains with brown triangles. Large areas of yellow span across northern China and Mongolia, west toward Europe, east toward the rivers. Green areas run along the eastern and southern coastline and most of India. The Gobi desert is in Mongolia north of China. The East China Sea and South China Sea form the China coast. The Taklimakan desert is in eastern China between the Himalaya Mountains to the south and the Gobi desert to the north. The Himalayas are along the southern border between China and India. The Qin Mountains are in central China. A purple line begins east China and travels west through the Highland regions south of the Taklamakan Desert, continuing toward Europe and Africa.

How did the physical features of East Asia affect the route of the Silk Road?

The rough terrain blocked its extension into eastern lands.
The seas kept it from connecting with northern lands.
The river systems blocked passage along the trade routes.
The mountains forced it to follow a central route.