Physical features of India

1. Due to internal heat of the earth, the currents of the semi-molten rocks begin to move towards the crust and tear it apart dividing it into large fragments called lithospheric or tectonic plates. There are seven such major plates namely, South America, North America, Pacific, Indo–Australian, Eurasian, African and Antarctic.
2. Gondwana land is the name given to the hypothetical ‘super-continent’ located in Southern hemisphere. Gondwana Land included South America, part of Africa (south Africa including Madagascar), part of Asia (India, Arabia, Malaya), Australia and Antarctica, prior to its break-up under the forces causing continental-drift.
3. The ‘Bhabar’ is that narrow belt of the plain which is covered with pebbles and lies along the foothills of the Shiwaliks from the Indus to the Teesta. This belt is laid down by numerous streams descending down the hills.
4. The three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south are –
   (a) The northernmost range which is known as the great Himalayas or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri.
   (b) The range lying to the south of the Himadri which is known as Himachalor the lesser Himalaya.
   (c) The outermost range of the Himalayas which is known as the Shiwaliks. Theses are the foothill ranges and represent the southernmost division of the Himalayas.
5. Malwa plateau or Central Highland
6. Lakshdweep.

1. The internal heat of the earth makes the molten rocks to rush towards the surface of the earth and drive the crust into large fragments known as “Tectonic Plates”. These plates are drifting oven the mantle of the earth. As a result when the two or more plates are pushed towards each other they are called ‘Converging Plates’. On the other hand if they are moving away from each other, they are called ‘Diverging Plates’.
2. According to the age of the soils of the Northern Plain they have been differentiated by two names: 1. Bhangar and 2. Khadar. The difference between these two are mentioned below –
   1. Bhangar - These are the older alluvium or old soil and form the largest part of the Northern Plains. They lie above the flood plains of the rivers and present a terrace like structure. It often contains Kankar nodulesmade of calcareous deposits.
   2. Khadar - The newer and younger deposits of the flood plains are known as ‘Khadar’. So, these are the new alluvium or new soil and are very fertile. Thus, Khadar is ideal for intensive agriculture.

3. Western Ghats

   Eastern Ghats

   The Western Ghats are situated and mark the western edges of Deccan Plateau parallel to the western coasts of India along the Arabian Sea. Continuous, can be crossed through the passes only. The Western Ghats are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Average elevation is 900 - 1600 meters The height increases progressively from north to south. The highest peaks include the Anai Mudi, the Doda Belta. The Western Ghats enclose a narrow strip between its western slopes and the Arabian Sea which is known as Western Coastal Plain. Its maximum width is 64 km. It experiences orographic rain mostly in summer due to the summer monsoons. The climate is hot and moist. Here the soil is highly fertile. Rice, spices, rubber and fruits likecoconuts, cashew nuts etc. are grown here.

   The Eastern Ghats are situated and mark the eastern edges of Deccan Plateau parallel to the eastern coasts of India along the Bay of Bengal. Discontinuous, irregular and dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. Average elevation is 600 meters. The highest peaks include the Mahendragiri, the Javadi Hills. The Eastern Ghats also enclose a strip of land between its eastern slopes and the Bay of Bengal which is known as the Eastern Coastal Plain. It is wider than the Western Coastal strip with its maximum breadth 120 km. It receives rain both in summer and winter, especially in winter through winter monsoons. However, here the rain is lesser than the western strip. The soil is not as fertile as western strip. Rice, ground nuts, cotton, tobacco, coconuts etc. are grown here.

See Additional Notes and Questions on this chapter- Physical Features of India (link given at the end).

The major physiographic divisions of India are the following –

1. The Himalayan Mountain Wall of the north.
2. The Northern Plains.
3. The Peninsular Plateau.
4. The Indian Dessert.
5. The Coastal Plains.
6. The Islands

The following table compares and contrasts between the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.

The Great Northern Plain extends from the Punjab Plain in the west to the Brahmaputra valley in the east. 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. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills to the south of the Himalayas over millions of years formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh square km. The plain is about 2400 km long and 240 - 320 km broad. The rich soil cover combined with the abundant water supply and favourable climate made this agriculturally a very productive part of India. Because of this factor the density of population is also the highest in this region among all the physiographic divisions of India. The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections:

(a) The Punjab Plain - It is the western part of the Northern Plain formed by the Indus and its tributaries. This section is dominated by the Doabs.
(b) The Ganga Plain - It is the largest part of the Northern Plain and extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers.
(c) The Brahmaputra Plain - It forms the eastern part of the Northern Plain by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries. It is narrower than the Ganga Plain and is a flood prone area. In the south-east side of the Northern Plain lays the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta which is the largest delta of the world.

1. The Indian Desert - It is an important physiographic division of India. Some of its features are as follows:
   (a) It covers almost the whole of Rajasthan state.
   (b) It lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
   (c) Its vast expanse is covered with sand dunes which their shape day in and day out.
   (d) This region receives very little rainfall which is below 150 mm so; there are very few streams in this area.
   (e) It has arid climate with very little vegetation.
   (f) During the rainy season small streams are sometimes seen for a short-while which disappears again in sand after the rains are over.
   (g) Luni is the only large river in this area.
   (h) Crescent shape dunes which are called Barchans are a prominent feature of the Indian desert.
   (i) Camel is the most important animal of this desert.
2. The Central Highlands - The northern division 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. The Vindhayas and its eastern extensions divide the Central Highlands from the Deccan Plateau in the southern side. In its west lies the rocky desert of Rajasthan, in the north-west it is bounded by the Aravalis, in the north lays the Gangetic Plain and in the east it is surrounded by part of UP and south Bihar. Most part of the Central Highlands consists of the Malwa Plateau and the Chhotanagpur Plateau. The eastward extensions are known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.