physical features of India
- Class: 9th
- Subject: Social Science (Geography)
- Subject: physical features of India
- Resources: Notes, Important Questions
Class 9th Social Science (Geography)physical features of India- Get notes here, questions for class 9th. Those candidates who are ambitious to pass class 9th with good marks, can check this article for notes, by practicing this resource, the candidates definitely get to know that their weak area and good for the exam How to prepare
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| physical features of India |
Division of Himalayas:
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| Himadri |
Himadri or Inner Himalayas:
- The northernmost range is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the 'Himadri
- It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres .
- It contains all the prominent Himalayan peaks.
- The core of this part of Himalayas is composed of granite It is perennially snow bound, and a number of glaciers descend from this range.
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| Himachal |
Himachal or Lesser Himalayas:
- Himadri is the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
- The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
- The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average width is of 50 km While the Pir Panjal range forms the longest.
- This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
- This region is well known for its hill stations
Shiwaliks
Shiwaliks:
- The outermost range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks .
- They extend over a width of 10-50 km and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100 meters.
- There ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought the main Himalayan ranges located farther north These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium.
- Divisions of Himalayas on the basis of regions from west to east These divisions have been demarcated by river valleys
Punjab Himalayas:
Lie between Indus and Satluj rivers
Kumaon Himalayas:
Lie between Satluj and Kali rivers
Nepal Himalayas:
Lie between Kali and Tista rivers
Assam Himalayas:
Lie between Tista and Dihang rivers.
Purvachal Hills:
North-eastern extension of the Himalayas
THE NORTHERN PLAINS
Formation:
- The Northern Plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries.
- This plain is formed of alluvial soil The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya over millions of years, formed thin fertile plain.
Extension:
It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division .
Importance:
- With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate.
- it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
Important feature:
In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands Majuli, in the Brahmaputra river in the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
PENINSULAR PLATEAU
- composed of the old crystalline, igneous metamorphic rocks.
- It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwanaland and thus, making it a part of the oldest landmass .
Important features:
- The plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
- The Peninsular plateau is a tableland.
Divisions:
- This plateau consists of two broad divisions la The Central Highlands .
- The Vindhya range is bounded by the Central Highlands on the northwest south and the Aravallis .
- The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river covering major area of the Malwa plateau is known as the Central Highlands .
- The Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east The eastward tensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
The Deccan Plateau
- The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada.
- The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills .
- The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
- An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast-locally known as the Meghalaya.
- Three prominent hill range from the west to east are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
- The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively.
THE INDIAN DESERT
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| Indian desert |
- The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravalli Hills .
- It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
- This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year.
- It has arid climate with low vegetation cover.
- Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon after they disappear into the sand as they do .
- Barchans (crescent-shaped dunes) cover larger areas more prominent in Jaisalmer but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan boundary
Western Ghats
Western Ghats
- They run parallel to the western coast and form the western boundary of the Deccan Plateau.
- They are continuous and can be crossed only through the passes in like Pal Ghat, Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat.
- The highest peak of this region is Anai Mudi with a height of 2,659 m.
- These Ghats are higher and their T average height is 900-1600 metres. They face the rain bearing winds and cause orographic rainfall.
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| Eastern Ghats |
Eastern Ghats
- They run parallel to the eastern coast and form the eastern boundary of the Deccan Plateau.
- These are more discontinuous and irregular.
- The hightest peak of this region is Mahendragiri with a height of 1,051 m.
- These Ghats are lower than the western ghats with an average height of about 600 metres.
- It is almost parallel to monsoon winds originating from the Bay of Bengal and does not cause much rainfall.
THE ISLANDS
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| Island |
The Lakshadweep Islands:
- lies close to the Malabar coast of Kerala. This group of islands is composed of small coral island known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive.
- In 1973, these were named i covers small area of 32 sq km Kavaratti island in the administrative headquarters of kahadweep.
- This inland group has great diversity of flora and fauna.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
- The elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal extending from north
- They are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered to south.
- The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories - The Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south .
- These islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains
- These island groups are of great strategic importance for the country
- There is great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands These islands lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate too and has thick forest cover.
REVISION CHART
1
India-a major landmass
- India is a large landmass formed during which has different geological periods influenced her relief.
- Besides geological formations, a number of processes are responsible for creating and modifying the relief of its present form.
2
Formation of Physical features based on evidences
- According to Plate Tectonics theory, the crust (upper part) of the earth has been formed of seven major and some minor plates.
- The movement of the plates leads to folding, faulting and volcanic activities.
3
Classification of Plate Movements
- The movement of the plates results in the making up of stresses within the plates and the continental rocks above, leading to folding, faulting and volcanic activity.
- The plate movements are classified into Convergent boundary, Divergent boundary and Transform boundary.
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Landform features of India
- Such plate movements have also influenced the evolution of the present landform features of India.
- The land of India displays great physical variation.
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Major Physiographic Divisions
The physical features of India can be grouped under the five main physiographic divisions
- The Himalayan Mountains
- The Northern Plains
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Desert
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
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The Himalayan Mountains
The Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over the northern border of India.
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Northern Plains
The Northern Plains are generally described as flat land with no variations in its relief.
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The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular Plateau was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and thus, making it a part of the oldest landmass.
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The Indian Desert
It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. It lies towards the western margins of the Aravalli Hills.
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The Coastal Plains
They are narrow coastal strips, running along the Arabian Sea on the west and Bay of Bengal on the east.
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The Islands
- Lakshadweep Islands are formed by deposition of skeletons of microscopic species, called coral islands of India.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands are probably formed by volcanic eruptions.
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Conclusion
- The different physiographic units highlights the unique features of each region of India.
- Each region complements the other and makes the country richer in its natural resources
Map Work
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Outline map of India |
Question Bank
Q. Name the oldest land mass of the Indian subcontinent.
Ans The Great Peninsular Plateau.
Q. What was the Gondwanaland ?
Ans. It was an ancient super continent located in southern hemisphere which included the present day South America, Africa, Australia and Ant
Q. Which continents of today were Gondwanaland ?
Ans.1. South America
2. Africa
3. Australia
4. Asia.
Q. Which is the northernmost range of Himalayas ?
Ans. The Himadri
Q. Which is the outermost range of Himalayas?
Ans. The Shiwalik .
Q. Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas and give their other names.
Ans 1. The Himadri (Greater Himalayas)
2. The Himachal (Lesser Himalayas)
3. The Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas)
Q.10. Why are the Himalayas called the young fold mountains?
Ans. The Himalayas are not very old, they are of recent birth. So they are called the young fold mountains.
Q. Which is the highest peak of India ?
Ans. Kanchenjunga (8,598 m).
Q. Which Is the highest peak of the world ? Where is It situated ?
Ans. Mount Everest (8848 m) located in Nepal highest peak in the world.
Q. Name the highest mountain peak of the world located In Nepal.
Ans Mount Everest
Q. Name the part of the Himalayas lying between Tista and Dihang rivers.
Ans. Assam Himalayas .
Q. Which part of Himalayas is located between Kali and Satluj rivers ?
Ans. Kumaon Himalayas
Q. Which is the most important mountain range of Himachal Himalaya ?
Ans. The Panjal range forms the longest and most important range.
Q. How long are east-west distances covered by the Himalayas ?
Ans 2.400 km
Q. Name the Himalayan range lying between Himadri and Shiwaliks.
Ans .Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
Q. In which state Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills are located ?
Ans. Meghalaya
Q. Name some hill stations of the Himachal range.
Ans Mussoorie, Chakrata, Nainital, Ranikhet and Almora
Q. Which river marks the easternmost boundary of the Himalayas ?
Ans The Brahmaputra
Q. Name some of the Important passes of t Himalayas from west to east.
Ans. Shipkila, Nathula and Bomdila
Q. What is a Bhangar?
Ans. The older alluvium soil of the northern plains is called the Bhangar
Q. What is Khadar ?
Ans. The younger alluvium of the flood plains in known as the Khadar
Q. What the northern and southern extension of the western coast called ?
Ans. northern Konkan coast and southern Malabar coast
Q. Name some of the depositional features formed by the rivers in the plain.
Ans. Flood plains, levees, channel ban
Q. Name any two peaks of the Western Ghats.
Ans. Analmudi (2,695 m) Doddabetta (2,637 m)
Q. Which is the highest peak of the Deccan plateau ?
Ans. The Anamudi hill in Kerala.
Q. Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges ?
Ans. The Malwa Plateau.
Q. What are the two divisions of Peninsular Plateau ?
Ans. The Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
Q .Which physical feature marks the Western and the Eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau ?
Ans. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
Q. Which type of rainfall is received by the Western Ghats?
Ans. Orographic rain