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Document 35

The document outlines the major physiographic divisions of India, including Islands, Peninsular Plateau, Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, Thar Desert, and Coastal Plains. Each division is described in terms of location, characteristics, economic activities, and notable features. Key highlights include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Deccan Plateau, the Himalayas, and the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains.

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Suhaib Fahad Arcot
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7 views

Document 35

The document outlines the major physiographic divisions of India, including Islands, Peninsular Plateau, Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, Thar Desert, and Coastal Plains. Each division is described in terms of location, characteristics, economic activities, and notable features. Key highlights include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Deccan Plateau, the Himalayas, and the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Uploaded by

Suhaib Fahad Arcot
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Major Physiographic Divisions of

India
1. Islands
 Andaman and Nicobar Islands
o Located in Bay of Bengal with 572 islands covering 8,000 sq km
o Divided into northern (Andaman) and southern (Nicobar) groups
by Ten Degree Channel
o Mostly covered with tropical forests; believed to be parts of
submerged mountain range
o Capital: Port Blair; main occupations: agriculture and fishing
 Lakshadweep Islands
o Located 280-480 km off Malabar Coast; 36 islands covering 32 sq
km
o Made of coral atolls, reefs, and submerged banks
o Main economic activities: coconut cultivation, fishing, and
tourism
o Andrott Island is the largest, followed by Minicoy

2. Peninsular Plateau
 Oldest landmass in India; formed from volcanic activity
 Composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks; average altitude >600m
 Forms inverted triangle in central and southern India
 The Deccan Plateau
o Triangular plateau south of Narmada River
o Surrounded by Satpura-Vindhya ranges (north), Western Ghats
(west), Eastern Ghats (east)
o Western Ghats: Higher (average 1,500m), continuous mountain
chain with peaks like Anai Mudi
 Important for coffee, tea, and spice cultivation
o Eastern Ghats: Lower (600m), discontinuous mountains
stretching from Mahanadi to Nilgiris
 Central Indian Plateau
o Located north of Deccan Plateau; altitude 700-1,000m
o Includes Malwa, Bundelkhand, and Baghelkhand plateaus
o Major rivers: Narmada, Tapi, Chambal, Son, Betwa
o Chota Nagpur Plateau rich in minerals (coal, iron, manganese)
o Black soil regions ideal for cotton and sugar cane cultivation

3. Northern Mountains (Himalayas)


 Youngest mountain system (40 million years); fold mountains
 Sedimentary and metamorphic rock composition; altitude >3,500m
 Extends from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh
 Three parallel ranges:
 Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
o Highest range (6,000-8,000m) with perpetual snow
o Forms natural boundary in northern India
o Contains world's highest peaks and large glaciers feeding major
rivers
o Famous mountain passes like Rohtang La
o Known for scenic beauty, forests, wildlife, and pilgrimage sites
(Amarnath, Vaishno Devi)
 Middle Himalayas (Himachal)
o Mid-range (3,500-4,500m) with dense forests
o Popular hill stations: Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling
o Slopes suitable for terrace farming
 Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks)
o Lowest range (900-1,200m) composed of soft rocks
o Formed by erosion material from higher ranges
o Rich forests supporting diverse wildlife
o Northeastern extension called Purvanchals includes Patkai-Bum,
Garo-Khasi-Jaintia, Lushai Hills

4. Northern Plains
 Formed by alluvial deposits from Himalayan rivers; relatively young
landform
 Flat, fertile plains below 150m altitude
 Supports some of the world's highest population density
 Indo-Gangetic Plains
o Created by three major river systems: Indus, Ganges,
Brahmaputra
o Most significant is Ganga Basin:
 Flows through Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, West Bengal
 Major tributaries include Yamuna, Son, Chambal, Gandak
 Deposits mineral-rich alluvial soil; extremely fertile
 Known as "food bowl of India" with high agricultural
productivity
o Foothills divided into Bhabar (porous, rocky terrain) and Terai
(marshy, dense vegetation)

5. Thar Desert
 Located in northwestern India across Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat,
Haryana, Punjab
 Covers approximately 320,000 km² (10% of India's geographic area)
 Natural boundary between India and Pakistan
 Mix of rocky terrain and sandy areas with undulating dunes
 Drained by seasonal Luni River; contains Sambhar Lake (India's largest
saltwater lake)
 Indira Gandhi Canal brings water from Sutluj River, supporting
agriculture and settlements

6. Coastal Plains
 Western Coastal Plain
o Narrow strip between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea
o Divided into Kutch/Kathiawar (Gujarat), Konkan
(Maharashtra/Goa), Malabar (Kerala)
o Terrain mostly rocky and rugged; suitable for harbors
o Major ports: Kandla, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Marmagao, Kochi
o Features distinctive backwaters and lagoons along Kerala coast
 Eastern Coastal Plain
o Broader plain between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal
o Divided into Northern Circars and Coromandel Coast
o Forms well-developed deltas: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
Kaveri
o Major ports: Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata

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