PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA - Q&A

EXERCISE

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast
(b) Island
(c) Peninsula
(d) None of the above

Answer: (c) Peninsula

Explanation: A peninsula is defined as a piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water but is connected to the mainland on one side. India itself is a peninsula, surrounded by the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean.

(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called
(a) Himachal
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Purvachal
(d) None of the above

Answer: (c) Purvachal

Explanation: The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, the Manipur hills, and the Mizo hills. These ranges run along the eastern border of India, separating it from Myanmar.

(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel
(b) Konkan
(c) Kannad
(d) Northern Circar

Answer: (c) Kannad

Explanation: The western coast is divided into three sections: the northern part is the Konkan (Mumbai-Goa), the central stretch is the Kannad Plain, and the southern stretch is the Malabar coast. Therefore, the strip south of Goa is Kannad.

(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi
(b) Kanchenjunga
(c) Mahendragiri
(d) Khasi

Answer: (c) Mahendragiri

Explanation: According to the textbook, Mahendragiri (1,501 meters) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. (Note: Anai Mudi is in the Western Ghats, and Kanchenjunga is in the Himalayas).

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) What are the tectonic plates?

Answer: Tectonic plates are large, rigid, irregularly shaped slabs (fragments) of the Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle) which hold both continental and oceanic crusts. These plates move slowly over the asthenosphere, leading to geological activities like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

(ii) Which continents of today were part of the Gondwana land?

Answer: The continents and regions that were part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwanaland include:
1. South America
2. Africa
3. Australia
4. Antarctica
5. Asia (specifically the Indian subcontinent)

(iii) What is the "bhabar"?

Answer: The bhabar is a narrow belt of land, approximately 8 to 16 km wide, lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. Rivers descending from the mountains deposit pebbles in this zone. All streams disappear in this bhabar belt due to the porosity of the rocks.

(iv) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.

Answer: The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas from north to south are:
1. The Great or Inner Himalayas (also known as Himadri)
2. The Lesser Himalayas (also known as Himachal)
3. The Shiwaliks (the Outer Himalayas)

(v) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges?

Answer: The Malwa Plateau lies between the Aravali hills (to the northwest) and the Vindhya range (to the south).

(vi) Name the island group of India having coral origin.

Answer: The Lakshadweep Islands located in the Arabian Sea are of coral origin. They are formed by the accumulation of coral skeletons (polyps).

3. Distinguish between

(i) Bhangar and Khadar

Answer:
Bhangar:
1. It is the old alluvium soil of the Northern Plains.
2. It lies above the floodplains of the rivers and presents a terrace-like feature.
3. The soil contains calcareous deposits locally known as 'Kankar'.
4. It is less fertile compared to Khadar.

Khadar:
1. It is the new, younger deposits of the floodplains.
2. It is renewed almost every year by floods.
3. The soil is fine-grained and does not contain Kankar nodules.
4. It is very fertile and ideal for intensive agriculture.

(ii) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats

Answer:
Western Ghats:
1. Located on the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, parallel to the western coast.
2. They are continuous and can be crossed only through passes (e.g., Thal, Bhor, Pal).
3. Their average elevation is higher (900–1600 meters).
4. Major rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri originate here.
5. Highest peaks include Anai Mudi and Doda Betta.

Eastern Ghats:
1. Located on the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau.
2. They are discontinuous and irregular, dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.
3. Their average elevation is lower (around 600 meters).
4. No major rivers originate here; they are eroded by rivers flowing from the west.
5. Highest peak is Mahendragiri.

4. Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.

Answer:
Major Physiographic Divisions:
1. The Himalayan Mountains
2. The Northern Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateau
4. The Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands

Contrast between Himalayan Region and Peninsular Plateau:

Himalayan Region:
1. Origin: Geologically young and structurally fold mountains.
2. Topography: Rugged terrain with high peaks, deep valleys, and fast-flowing rivers.
3. Composition: Made of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
4. Stability: It is an unstable zone prone to earthquakes and landslides.

Peninsular Plateau:
1. Origin: Ancient landmass formed by the breaking of Gondwanaland.
2. Topography: Tableland with broad, shallow valleys and rounded hills.
3. Composition: Made of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
4. Stability: It is one of the most stable land blocks on earth.

5. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.

Answer:
Formation: The Northern Plains have been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems – the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra – along with their tributaries. Millions of years ago, the depression formed at the foothills of the Himalayas was filled with alluvial deposits brought by these rivers.

Features:
1. Area: It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
2. Dimensions: It is about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad.
3. Soil: It is made of fertile alluvial soil, making it very productive for agriculture.
4. Divisions:
   - Punjab Plains: Formed by the Indus and its tributaries (dominated by Doabs).
   - Ganga Plains: Extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers (spread over North India).
   - Brahmaputra Plains: lies in the east, particularly in Assam.
5. Significance: Due to fertile soil, adequate water supply, and favorable climate, it is the most densely populated and agriculturally productive part of India.

6. Write short notes on the following.

(i) The Indian Desert

Answer: The Indian Desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills. It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes (barchans). It receives very low rainfall (below 150 mm per year), has an arid climate, and low vegetation cover. Luni is the only large river in this region.

(ii) The Central Highlands

Answer: The Central Highlands are the part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau. They are bounded by the Vindhya range in the south and the Aravalis on the northwest. The flow of rivers (Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken) is from southwest to northeast, indicating the slope. The eastward extensions are known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand, with the Chotanagpur plateau marking the further eastward extension.

(iii) The Island groups of India

Answer: India has two main island groups:
1. Lakshadweep Islands: Located in the Arabian Sea. They are small, coral islands. Kavaratti is the administrative headquarters. This group has great diversity of flora and fauna.
2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Located in the Bay of Bengal. They are larger, more numerous, and scattered. They are essentially an elevated portion of submarine mountains and are of volcanic origin. They are divided into the Andaman (north) and Nicobar (south).

MAP SKILLS

On an outline map of India show the following.
(i) Mountain and hill ranges – the Karakoram, the Zaskar, the Patkai Bum, the Jaintia, the Vindhya range, the Aravali, and the Cardamom hills.
(ii) Peaks – K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat and the Anai Mudi.
(iii) Plateaus, Chotanagpur and Malwa
(iv) The Indian Desert, Western Ghats, Lakshadweep Islands

Answer: (Since a map cannot be drawn here, descriptions of locations are provided for self-plotting)
(i) Ranges:
- Karakoram: Northernmost range in Ladakh/Kashmir.
- Zaskar: South of Karakoram and Ladakh ranges.
- Patkai Bum: On the northeastern border with Myanmar (Arunachal/Nagaland).
- Jaintia: In Meghalaya, east of Khasi hills.
- Vindhya: Central India, north of Narmada river.
- Aravali: Runs southwest to northeast in Rajasthan.
- Cardamom Hills: Southernmost part of Western Ghats in Kerala/Tamil Nadu.

(ii) Peaks:
- K2 (Godwin-Austen): In the Karakoram range (POK).
- Kanchenjunga: On the border of Sikkim and Nepal.
- Nanga Parbat: Western end of the Himalayas (Gilgit-Baltistan).
- Anai Mudi: Highest peak in Western Ghats, located in Kerala.

(iii) Plateaus:
- Malwa: Between Aravali and Vindhya ranges (Madhya Pradesh).
- Chotanagpur: Eastern India (Jharkhand, parts of Odisha/West Bengal).

(iv) Regions:
- Indian Desert: West of Aravalis in Rajasthan.
- Western Ghats: Parallel to the west coast from Gujarat to Kerala.
- Lakshadweep: Group of islands in the Arabian Sea.

PROJECT/ACTIVITY

Locate the peaks, passes, ranges, plateaus, hills, and duns hidden in the puzzle. Try to find where these features are located. You may start your search horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Answer:
Some of the geographical terms hidden in the puzzle include:
1. CHOTANAGPUR (Plateau in Eastern India)
2. ARAVALI (Range in Western India)
3. KONKAN (Coastal plain in the West)
4. JAINTIA (Hills in Meghalaya)
5. MALWA (Plateau in Central India)
6. NILGIRI (Hills in Southern India)
7. SHIPKILA (Pass in Himachal Pradesh)
8. VINDHYA (Range in Central India)
9. SAHYADRI (Another name for Western Ghats)
10. BOMDILA (Pass in Arunachal Pradesh)
11. NATHULA (Pass in Sikkim)
12. MAHENDRAGIRI (Peak in Eastern Ghats)
13. THAR (Desert in Rajasthan)
14. ANAI MUDI (Peak in Western Ghats)
15. KARDUNG LA (Pass in Ladakh)
16. KANCHENJUNGA (Peak in Himalayas)