PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
**The Himalayan Mountains**
**1. Geographic Extent**
- Stretch over India's northern borders from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
- Cover a distance of about 2,400 Km with varying widths.
**2. Structure and Composition**
- Consist of three parallel ranges: Himadri (Great Himalayas), Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and Shiwaliks.
- Himadri: Northern-most range, highest peaks, perennially snowbound, composed of granite.
- Himachal: Rugged, composed of highly compressed rocks, includes famous valleys and hill stations.
- Shiwaliks: Outer-most range, composed of unconsolidated sediments, covered with thick gravel and alluvium.
**3. Regional Divisions**
- Divided into regions based on river valleys.
- Examples: Punjab Himalaya, Kashmir Himalaya, Himachal Himalaya, Kumaon Himalayas, Nepal Himalayas, Assam Himalayas.
**4. Eastern Boundary and Purvachal**
- Brahmaputra marks the eastern boundary.
- Beyond lies the Purvachal or Eastern hills and mountains.
- Comprise parallel ranges and valleys including Patkai hills, Naga hills, Manipur hills, and Mizo hills.
**MCQ**
1. What is the geographical extent of the Himalayan Mountains?
a) From the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal
b) From the Indus to the Brahmaputra
c) From the Ganges to the Yamuna
d) From the Himalayan foothills to the Tibetan Plateau
2. Which range of the Himalayas is known for its highest peaks and perennial snow?
a) Himachal
b) Shiwaliks
c) Himadri
d) Purvachal
3. What is the main composition of the Himachal range in the Himalayas?
a) Granite
b) Highly compressed rocks
c) Unconsolidated sediments
d) Sandstones
4. Which river marks the eastern boundary of the Himalayas?
a) Ganges
b) Yamuna
c) Brahmaputra
d) Indus
**Answers**
1. b) From the Indus to the Brahmaputra
2. c) Himadri
3. b) Highly compressed rocks
4. c) Brahmaputra
**The Northern Plain**
**1. Formation and Geography**
- Formed by the deposition of alluvium from the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers.
- Spans approximately 7 lakh sq. km, densely populated and fertile.
- Divided into three sections: Punjab Plains, Ganga Plain, and Brahmaputra Plain.
**2. Relief Features**
- Not just flat land; contains diverse relief features.
- Divided into four regions:
a) Bhabar: Narrow belt of pebbles parallel to the Shiwalik slopes.
b) Terai: Wet, swampy region south of Bhabar, once dense forest.
c) Bhangar: Terrace-like feature formed of older alluvium.
d) Khadar: Younger floodplain deposits renewed annually, highly fertile.
**3. Economic Importance**
- Agriculturally productive due to rich soil, water supply, and favorable climate.
- Settlement of migrants and agricultural development post-partition.
- Dudhwa National Park located in the Terai region, formerly dense forest with abundant wildlife.
**MCQ**
1. What are the major rivers responsible for the formation of the Northern Plain?
a) Ganges and Yamuna
b) Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra
c) Godavari and Krishna
d) Narmada and Tapi
2. Which region of the Northern Plain lies between the Ghaggar and Teesta rivers?
a) Punjab Plains
b) Ganga Plain
c) Brahmaputra Plain
d) Terai region
3. What is the name of the belt formed by the deposition of pebbles parallel to the Shiwalik slopes?
a) Terai
b) Khadar
c) Bhabar
d) Bhangar
4. Where is Dudhwa National Park located?
a) Punjab Plains
b) Bhangar region
c) Terai region
d) Khadar region
5. What type of soil is characteristic of the Bhangar region in the Northern Plain?
a) Fertile alluvial soil
b) Sandy soil
c) Calcareous soil with kankar deposits
d) Clayey soil
Answers:
1. b) Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra
2. b) Ganga Plain
3. c) Bhabar
4. c) Terai region
5. c) Calcareous soil with kankar deposits
**The Peninsular Plateau**
**1. Composition and Formation**
- Composed of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
- Formed from the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land, making it one of the oldest landmasses.
**2. Divisions**
- Divided into two main divisions: Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau.
- Central Highlands: Lies north of the Narmada river, includes the Malwa plateau and the Vindhyan range.
- Deccan Plateau: Lies south of the Narmada river, flanked by the Satpura range in the north and the Western Ghats in the west.
**3. Relief Features**
- Central Highlands: Wide in the west, narrow in the east, drained by rivers flowing from southwest to northeast.
- Deccan Plateau: Higher in the west, slopes gently eastwards, flanked by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
- Western Ghats: Higher and continuous, causing orographic rain, with peaks like Anai Mudi and Doda Betta.
- Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous and irregular, dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal, with Mahendragiri as the highest peak.
**4. Additional Features**
- Deccan Trap: Area of volcanic origin responsible for black soil formation.
- Aravali Hills: Located on the western and northwestern margins of the Peninsular plateau, extending from Gujarat to Delhi.
**MCQ**
1. Which geological processes contributed to the formation of the Peninsular Plateau?
a) Erosion and deposition
b) Folding and faulting
c) Breaking and drifting of Gondwana land
d) Glaciation and moraine deposition
2. Which river marks the northern boundary of the Central Highlands in the Peninsular Plateau?
a) Ganges
b) Narmada
c) Brahmaputra
d) Godavari
3. What is the name of the triangular landmass lying south of the Narmada river?
a) Central Highlands
b) Deccan Plateau
c) Malwa Plateau
d) Vindhyan Range
4. Which mountain ranges flank the Deccan Plateau in the north and east?
a) Aravali Hills and Satpura Range
b) Himalayas and Western Ghats
c) Satpura Range and Eastern Ghats
d) Western Ghats and Vindhyan Range
5. What geological feature is responsible for the formation of black soil in the Peninsular Plateau?
a) Volcanic origin
b) Glacial deposition
c) Aeolian processes
d) Karst topography
Answers:
1. c) Breaking and drifting of Gondwana land
2. b) Narmada
3. b) Deccan Plateau
4. c) Satpura Range and Eastern Ghats
5. a) Volcanic origin
**The Indian Desert: Key Points**
**1. Location and Geography**
- Located towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
- Characterized by undulating sandy plains covered with sand dunes.
**2. Climate and Rainfall**
- Receives very low rainfall, typically below 150 mm per year.
- Features an arid climate with low vegetation cover.
**3. Hydrology**
- Streams may appear during the rainy season but disappear into the sand due to insufficient water flow.
- The Luni River is the only significant river in the region.
**4. Sand Dunes**
- Barchans, crescent-shaped dunes, cover larger areas in the desert.
- Longitudinal dunes are more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan boundary.
**5. Landmark**
- Jaisalmer is a notable city in the Indian desert known for its group of barchans.m
**MCQ**
1. Where is the Indian desert located?
a) Towards the eastern margins of the Aravali Hills
b) Towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills
c) In the foothills of the Himalayas
d) Along the banks of the Ganges River
2. What is the typical annual rainfall in the Indian desert?
a) Over 500 mm
b) Between 300-400 mm
c) Below 150 mm
d) Around 200 mm
3. Which type of sand dunes are more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan boundary?
a) Transverse dunes
b) Parabolic dunes
c) Longitudinal dunes
d) Star dunes
Answers:
1. b) Towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills
2. c) Below 150 mm
3. c) Longitudinal dunes
**The Coastal Plains: Key Points**
**1. Location and Geography**
- Flank the Peninsular plateau along the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.
- Western coast: Narrow strip between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
- Eastern coast: Wide and level plains.
**2. Western Coast**
- Divided into three sections:
a) Konkan: Northern part (Mumbai-Goa).
b) Kannad Plain: Central stretch.
c) Malabar Coast: Southern stretch.
**3. Eastern Coast**
- Divided into two sections:
a) Northern Circar: Northern part.
b) Coromandel Coast: Southern part.
**4. Delta Formation**
- Large rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri have formed extensive deltas along the eastern coast.
- Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.
**MCQ**
1. Which coast of India is flanked by the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea?
a) Eastern Coast
b) Southern Coast
c) Western Coast
d) Northern Coast
2. Which section of the western coast is located between Mumbai and Goa?
a) Konkan
b) Kannad Plain
c) Malabar Coast
d) Northern Circar
3. Which feature is prominent along the eastern coast and is formed by rivers like the Mahanadi and Godavari?
a) Lake Chilika
b) Western Ghats
c) Delta formations
d) Konkan region
Answers:
1. c) Western Coast
2. a) Konkan
3. c) Delta formations
**The Islands of India: Key Points**
**1. Lakshadweep Islands**
- Located close to the Malabar coast of Kerala.
- Composed of small coral islands.
- Formerly known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive.
- Administrative headquarters: Kavaratti Island.
- Cover a small area of 32 sq km.
- Rich diversity of flora and fauna.
- Pitti Island has a bird sanctuary.
**2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands**
- Located in the Bay of Bengal, extending from north to south.
- Divided into two broad categories: Andaman (north) and Nicobar (south).
- Believed to be an elevated portion of submarine mountains.
- Strategically important for the country.
- Rich diversity of flora and fauna.
- Experience equatorial climate with thick forest cover.
**MCQ**
1. Where are the Lakshadweep Islands located?
a) In the Arabian Sea
b) In the Bay of Bengal
c) Along the eastern coast of India
d) Close to the Malabar coast of Kerala
2. What was the previous name of the Lakshadweep Islands?
a) Andaman Islands
b) Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive
c) Nicobar Islands
d) Lakshadweep and Minicoy
3. Which island serves as the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep?
a) Minicoy Island
b) Amindive Island
c) Kavaratti Island
d) Pitti Island
4. What is the geographical feature of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
a) Coral atolls
b) Submarine mountains
c) Volcanic islands
d) Sandbanks
Answers:
1. d) Close to the Malabar coast of Kerala
2. b) Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive
3. c) Kavaratti Island
4. b) Submarine mountains
**Coral Polyps**
1. **Nature and Habitat:**
- Coral polyps are small, short-lived microscopic organisms.
- They live in colonies and thrive in shallow, warm waters.
- Prefer areas free from mud.
2. **Secretion and Skeletons:**
- Coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate, forming hard skeletons.
- These skeletons accumulate over time, creating coral deposits.
3. **Types of Coral Reefs:**
- **Barrier Reef:** Large, continuous reefs separated from the mainland by a lagoon. Example: Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
- **Fringing Reef:** Coral reefs that directly border a shoreline.
- **Atolls:** Circular or horseshoe-shaped reefs surrounding a lagoon, often formed from submerged volcanic islands.
