Geography - Grade 6
INDIA
Location and Physical Features
Geographically, India is a part of the continent of Asia. It is the 7
th
largest country in the
world in terms of area and 2nd largest in terms of population in the world, after China. India,
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka form a subcontinent and since India
occupies a major part of the subcontinent, the entire region is called Indian subcontinent.
LOCATION AND EXTENT
India lies entirely in the northern and eastern hemispheres.
It extends from 8°4'N to 37°6' N latitudes and 68°7'E to 97°25'E longitudes. The Tropic of
Cancer passes right through India, dividing it into two parts. The 82 1/2°E longitude passing
through Allahabad is the Standard Meridian for India.
The lofty Himalayas separate it from the rest of Asia. It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal
in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean to the south.
In the North-west lies Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the North-east lies China, Nepal and
Bhutan. In the east lies Bangladesh. The Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Straits separate India
from Sri Lanka. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep
islands in the Arabian Sea are parts of the territory of India.
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POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF INDIA
India is divided into 28 states and 8 centrally administered union territories. The states were
recognized after independence on the basis of language. Delhi, one of the union territories
is the National capital of India. People of India speak different languages and have diverse
cultural, religious, and ethnic traits.
India’s neighbouring countries are Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Myanmar,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.
Political map of India
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PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS OF INDIA
Physical map of India
India can be divided into seven main physical divisions:
1. The Northern Mountains
2. The Great Northern Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateau
4. Western and Eastern Ghats
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Thar Desert
7. The Islands
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The Northern Mountains:
The Northern Mountains consist of the Himalayas and the hills of north-east India. The
Himalayas are young fold mountains which stretch over the northern borders of India
covering a distance of over 2,400 km. The width of this mountain arc varies between 400 km
in Kashmir and 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh. The Himalayas consist of three main ranges
that are almost parallel.
A) The Greater Himalayas (Himadri): They are the northernmost range of the Himalayas
consisting of some of the highest peaks. It contains Mt. Everest (8,849 meters) in Nepal.
B) The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): They lie between the outer and the Greater
Himalayas. Maximum height: 5,000m.
C) The Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks): They form the foothills of the Himalayas to the south.
Maximum height: 1,500m.
The Himalayas exert a significant influence on the life of the people of India in several
ways.
•
They form a natural boundary between India and China.
•
They serve as a climatic barrier by preventing the entry of the cold winds from
Central Asia and preventing the rain-bearing monsoon winds from leaving
India.They are a source of perennial rivers (flows 12 months) such as the Indus, the
Ganga,the Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. (Refer to the map of rivers on the
last page)
Their rugged terrain is ideal for hydro-electric power generation.
The mountain slopes are forested which provide different types of timber and forest
products.
The Himalayas have beautiful hill stations such as Shimla, Darjeeling, Mussoorie, etc.
•
•
•
The hills of the north-east are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges and lie along the
eastern borders of India.
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The Great Northern Plains:
The Indo-Gangetic plains, also known as the Great Plains. They are large alluvial plains
dominated by three main rivers, the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. They run parallel to
the Himalayas, from Punjab in the west to Assam in the east and drain most of northern and
eastern India.
Importance:
● It has fertile alluvial soil, flat surface, slow moving perennial rivers.
● It has the largest alluvial tract of the world extending from the mouth of the
Indus to the mouth of the Ganga.
● This area has the highest density of population.
● Northern Plain has a big network of roads and railways which has developed
large scale industrialisation and urbanisation which has led to development
of trade and commerce.
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The Peninsular Plateau:
South of the Northern Plains lies the Peninsular Plateau. It is triangular in shape and has
numerous hills and valleys. The Plateau is also referred to as a tableland constituting igneous
and metamorphic rocks.
Three different mountain ranges, the Aravallis, the Vidhyas, and the Satpuras and the
Western and Eastern Ghats surround the Peninsular Plateau.
Importance:
● The peninsular plateau is the home of India’s most valuable mineral resources.
● Coal mines are very important for the industrial development of India.
● The black soil here helps in the growth of cotton.
The Western Ghats: The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range in the north,
stretching from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu. It passes through the states of Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka, and Kerala. The average height is 1500m but in some parts it rises to 2,440m. The
Western Ghats are continuous and are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan
plateau. They are steep and rugged, rising abruptly from the narrow Western Coastal Plains
close to the Arabian Sea. (Refer to the map of rivers on the last page)
The Eastern Ghats: The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India’s
eastern coast. The Eastern Ghats pass through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu and
some parts of Karnataka as well as Telangana. The average height is 450m, rarely exceeding
1,200 m. They are not continuous, with rivers flowing through them. The Eastern Ghats have
gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains at some distance from the Bay of
Bengal. (Refer to the map of rivers on the last page)
Western and Eastern Ghats of India
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The Coastal Plains:
The Coastal Plains of India lie on either side of the Peninsular Plateau.
They are broadly divided into the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains.
The Eastern coastal plains of India are along Bay of Bengal, and the Western coastal plains are
along the Arabian sea.
Importance:
● The coastal plains are agriculturally well developed.
● Coconut palms grow profusely.
● Roads, railways, and waterways provide easy and cheap means of transport.
●
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Industrial regions have developed near the ports.
The Thar Desert:
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian desert, is an arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. The desert continues into Pakistan. Most of the
Thar Desert is situated in Rajasthan, covering 61% of its geographic area. The region receives
less than 25 cm of rainfall. The high temperature experienced in the region evaporates the
moisture in the air. Thorny shrubs, Cactus, are the most common type of plant or shrub
found here.
Importance:
Despite having an extreme climate, Thar desert can provide development opportunities.
These include mining. The desert has valuable minerals such as phosphorite, gypsum and
kaolin. These minerals are used to produce a range of things from cement to fertilisers and
therefore valuable.
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The Islands:
The Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are India's two major island
formations and are classified as union territories.
The Lakshadweep Island is a group of 36 islands, inlets, reefs located in the Arabian sea. These
islands are of coral origin and have no hills or streams.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consists of two groups of islands:
● Andaman group
● Nicobar group
These lie at the south-eastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. They consist of 572 islands, of
which 38 are inhabited by people.
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Rivers of India
**END OF NOTES**
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PRACTICE MAP
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PRACTICE MAP
INDIA
PHYSICAL AND RIVERS MAP
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