PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
Q1. Describe the Northern Plains of India / State the characteristics of Northern Plains?
A1.(a)The Northern Plain have been formed by the combined action of the Indus, the Ganga and the
Brahmaputra rivers and their active tributaries.
(b)The vast plains have been formed by the deposition of alluvium or sediments in a vast basin or depression
lying at the foothills of the Himalayas. Deposition of river continues over millions of years.
(c)The Northern Plains are one of the world’s most extensive and fertile plains. They are formed of alluvial
soil.
(d) It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq.km . The plain is 2400km long and 240 to 320 km broad.
(e)The rich soil covers , adequate water supply and favourable climate have made this region agriculturally the
most productive part of India.
(f)This physiographic region is India’s most densely populated division. West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
provide very high densely populated regions lying in this part.
Q2.How would you divide the Northern Plains on the basis of relief?
A2.On the basis of variations in relief features, the Northern Plains can be divided into four regions:
Bhabar,Terai, Bhangar and Khadar.
(a)Bhabar :
(i)It is a narrow belt of 8 to 16km in width. It lies all along the foot of the Shiwaliks.
(ii)It is largely covered with pebbles brought down and deposited by the rivers descending from the
mountains.
(iii)All streams disappear in the belt due to the porous beds formed by them.
(b)Terai:
(i)It’s a low lying zone of great dampness that lies to the south of the Bhabhar belt.
(ii)Streams re- emerge here on the surface from the Bhabhar belt. They create a wet swampy and marshy
region in this belt.
(iii)It has a thick growth of forest and a rich variety of life. However, its climate is unhealthy.
(iv)Forests have been largely cleared for agriculture and resettlement of migrants.
(c)Bhangar:
(i)The older alluvium of the Northern plain is called Bhangar.
(ii)The largest part of the plain is formed of this older alluvium.
(iii)It forms the alluvium terrace above the levels of the flood plains or the new flood plains of the rivers
(iv)The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits locally known as Kankar. The soil is less fertile. But
irrigation facilities are available.
(d)Khadar:
(i)The newer or the younger deposits of the flood plains are called Khadar.
(ii)This younger alluvium covers low lying regions and gets renewed almost every year by local floods.
(iii)This region provides the best fertile soils, level land and good climatic conditions
(iv)It is ideal for Intensive agriculture or farming and grows a variety of crops.
Q3. Give the brief explanation about features of Ganga Plains.
A3.(a)The Ganga plain forms the middle part of the Northern plains of India
(b)It extend from the seasonal or dry Ghaggar river in the west to the Teesta river in the east. It spreads mainly
over the states of Haryana,Uttar Pradesh,Bihar, Partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Q4. Explain the division of Northern Plains / three section of Northern Plains.
A4. The Northern plain is broadly divided into 3 sections:1. The Punjab plains
2. The Indus Basin
3. The Ganga plains
( Features of all three – from the text book- discussed in class)
Q5. Describe the Peninsular Plateau of India.
A5.(a)The Peninsular Plateau is the oldest pat of the Indian subcontinent. It lies to the south of the Northern
Plains.
(b)It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwanaland.
(c)It is a huge tableland that consists of many broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills .It is composed of
the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
(d)The peninsular plateau consists of two broad divisions. Its northern part comprises central highlands. The
southern part is known as the Deccan Plateau.
(e)The central highlands comprise some famous plateau such as the Malwa, the Bundelkhand and the
Chotanagpur plateaus.
(f)One distinctive features of the Peninsular plateau is the Deccan trap or the Lava plateau. It is black soil
region.
(g)Most of this region is drained towards the south-east by rivers like Mahanadi ,the Godavari,the Krishna and
the Kaveri rivers. The Narmada and the Tapi rivers flow westwards.
Q6.Distinguish between Northern plains and Peninsular Plateau.
A6.
The Northern Plains
It extend south of the Himalayas, from Punjab
to the Brahmaputra valley in Assam
It comprises three drainage basins the Indus
and the Ganga Plain and the Brahmaputra
Valley
It has perennial rivers which are both snow
fed and rain fed
The land is largely plain or undulating covered
with fertile alluvial soils. The general slop of
the land is very less
The rivers provide water for good irrigation
facilities and navigations.
These rivers valleys or basins are very thickly
populated and agriculturally developed.
The Peninsular Plateaus
The Peninsular plateau covers the southern
part of India. It is roughly triangular in shape
with its base in the north and top in the south.
It comprises mainly two divisions. The Central
Highlands cover its northern part. Its southern
part is the Deccan Plateau.
It has rivers which are only rainfed. They are
seasonal in character.
It is a table land composed of old crystalline
,igneous and metamorphic rocks. The terrain
is very uneven.
Irrigation facility is limited. Tank irrigation is
Important. River course do not permit too
much navigation.
This region is generally moderately populated.
It has some pockets of dense population
.Agriculture is important in the delta regions.
Q7.Explain the two major divisions of the Peninsular Plateau.
A7.The two major divisions are as under:
(a)The Central Highlands: The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of Narmada river covering a
major area of the Malwa plateau is known as the Central Highlands.
- The Vindhya range is bounded by the Central highlands on the south and Aravalis on the northwest.
- the further westward extension merges with the desert of Rajasthan.
- its wider in the west but narrower in the east.
(b)The Deccan Plateau: It is a triangular land mass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. Its broadest part
forms its base in the north. The Kanniyakumari ,is the southern most point, forms strip. It is higher in the west
and slopes gently eastwards.
- It is separated by a fault from the Chotanagpur Plateau.
Q8.Compare Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats on the basis of their locations ,relief and significance.
A8.
Western Ghats
LOCATIONS:
It is situated along the Western Coast /the
Arabian Sea
Lies parallel to Malabar coast
Relief:
-They are higher than the Eastern Ghats. The
average elevation is 900-1600 meters.
-They are continuous chain and can be crossed
through passes only.
Importance:
-It cause orographic rain by facing the rain
bearing moist winds to rise along the western
slopes of the Ghats
-The height of the Western Ghats
progressively increase from north to south.
-The highest peaks is the Anai Mudi and Doda
Betta (2695 meters&2637 meters
respectively)
Eastern Ghats
LOCATIONS:
It is situated along the Eastern Coast/Bay of
Bengal
Lies parallel to Coromandel coast
Relief:
-Average elevation is 600 meters.
-Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and irregular
and divided by rivers draining into Bay of
Bengal
Importance:
-It stretches from the Mahanadi Valley to the
Nigiris in the south
-Dissected by rivers draining in to the Bay of
Bengal
- Highest peak is Mahendragiri (1501 meters)
Q9. Describe the features of Central Highlands of India?
A9.(i)The part of the Peninsular Plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river covering a major area of the
Malwa plateau is known as the Central Highlands.
(ii)The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Central Highlands on the South and the Aravalis on the northwest.
The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky deserts of Rajasthan.
(iii)The flow of the rivers draining this region namely the Chambal,The Sind ,The Betwa and Ken id form
southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope.
(iv)The Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east.
(v)The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.The
Chotanagpur Plateau marks the further eastward extensions drained by the Damodar river.
Q10. Write an account on Great Indian Desert highlighting its main features.
A10.(i)The Great Indian Desert lies towards the western margin of the Aravali Hills in the western part of
Rajasthan.
(ii)It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. Both the Barchans and the longitudinal dunes
cover large parts.
(iii)This regions has arid climate. It receives very low rainfall 150mm per year.
(iv)Due to hot and dry climate it has no vegetation cover or very low vegetation i.e.largely shurbs
(v)Surface water is scarce. Seasonal streams appear mainly during the short rainy season.
(vi)This is an area of inland drainage. Streams do not have enough water to reach the sea. Luni is the only
notable river in this region.
Q11.Describe the features of Deccan Plateau.
A11.(i)It is the southern part of the Peninsular India. It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the
river Narmada.
(ii) The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north while the Mahadev , the Kaimur hills and the Maikal
Range form its eastern extension .
(iii)It is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
(iv)It is separated by a fault from the Chotanagpur plateau.
(v)The three prominent hill ranges from the west to east are the Garo , the Khasi, Jaintia hills.
Q12. Discuss the features of the Coastal Plains
A12. Answer discussed in the class.
Q13. Discuss briefly the Islands of India
A13. Answer discussed in the class.
Q14. What are Coral polyps?
A14. Answer discussed in the class.
Q15.Distinguish between :1. Bhangar and Khadar
2. Western Coast and Eastern Coast
A15.Answer discussed in class.