Geography CA Revision

for Prelim 2020

Lecture 5
 NH 766
• Why in News > Kerala’s Wayanad district has witnessed a series of
protests against a ban on night traffic on the forest stretch of NH 766.

About
• NH 766 is a key highway between Karnataka
and Kerala that passes through the Bandipur
Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.
• The Kollegal-Mysuru-Kozhikode road has
existed for 200 years and remains a major link.
• It was declared a national highway in 1989,
then named NH 212, and later renamed NH
766.
 NH 766
• NH 766 is used by transporters of essential provisions from Karnataka to
Kerala, and by commuters from Kerala to Bengaluru for want of good rail
connectivity.

Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

• Spread over 990.51 sq km, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is part of
interconnected forests that include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil
Nadu), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) and Nagarhole National
Park (Karnataka).
• A large variety of wildlife including the elephant moves from one stretch
to another, cutting the states.
 National Monsoon Mission
• Why in News > The Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast Model, developed
under the Monsoon Mission has failed to accurately forecast the excess
rainfall in August-September 2019.

About NMM
• Ministry of Earth Sciences had launched NMM in
2012 with a vision to develop a state-of-the-art
dynamical prediction system for monsoon
rainfall on different time scales.
• The responsibility of execution and coordination
of this mission is vested to the Indian Institute of
Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
 National Monsoon Mission
• Climate Forecast System of USA has been identified as the basic
modelling system for the above purpose, as it is one of the best among
the currently available coupled models.
• The objective to build a state-of-the-art coupled ocean-atmospheric
model for –
1. improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on the extended range to
seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and
2. improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather
events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days).
 National Monsoon Mission
Coupled Forecast Model
• The American model called “Climate Forecast System” (CFS) is
developed by National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP),
USA.
• Climate Forecast System (CFS) of NCEP, USA has been identified as the
basic modelling system which helps to combines data from ocean,
atmosphere and land for providing long-range forecasting (seasonal
prediction of Indian Monsoon).
• It is one of the best among the currently available coupled models.
 Question
The Major Objective of the National Monsoon Mission is to
a) Improve monsoon forecasting in India
b) Incorporate better water harvesting structures for saving Monsoon
water
c) Reduce the variability of Monsoons in India
d) Seed the oceans with nutrients to increase Monsoon rainfall
 Question
Solution: a)
 Asia’s Oldest Bamboo
• Why in News > A new fossil record has shown that India is the birthplace
of Asian bamboo.

About
• The fossils were formed about 25 million years
ago in the north-eastern part of the country.
• Bamboo fossils are not very common in India as
they are known only from the Siwalik sediments.
• The new fossils were found in Makum coalfield
in Assam, belonged to the late Oligocene period
of about 25 million years ago.
 Asia’s Oldest Bamboo
• Yunnan Province in China now has the highest diversity of bamboo, but
the oldest fossil in that region is less than 20 million years old.
• It clearly indicates that Asian bamboo was born in India and then
migrated there.
• This finding further strengthens the theory that bamboo came to Asia
from India and not from Europe.
• The collision of Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate was not completed
until 23 million years, restricting migration of plants and animals.
• Bamboo braved the climatic and geographical changes making it the
fittest in the survival rate.
 Geotail
• Why in News > Recently, an instrument on Chandrayaan-2 named CLASS
(Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer) has detected
charged particles during the orbiter’s passage through the “Geotail”.
About
• The geotail region exists as a result of the
interactions between the Sun and Earth.
✓The Sun emits the solar wind, which is
a continuous stream of charged
particles.
✓These particles are embedded in the
extended magnetic field of the Sun.
 Geotail
✓Since the Earth has a magnetic field, it obstructs the solar wind
plasma.
✓This interaction results in the formation of a magnetic envelope
around Earth.
✓On the Earth side facing the Sun, the envelope is compressed into a
region that is approximately three to four times the Earth's radius.
✓On the opposite side, the envelope is stretched into a long tail, which
extends beyond the orbit of the Moon called the Geotail.
• Once every 29 days, the Moon traverses the geotail for about six days.
• The geotail region allows the best scientific observations.
 HINDU-KUSH-HIMALAYAN (HKH) REGION
• Why in News > The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will
collaborate with meteorological agencies in China and Pakistan to provide
climate forecast services to countries in the Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH)
region.
About
• The Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region
spans Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan.
• The HKH region is considered the Third Pole
[after the North and South Poles] and has
significant implications for climate.
 HINDU-KUSH-HIMALAYAN (HKH) REGION
• The Third Pole, which contains vast cryospheric zones, is also the world’s
largest store of snow and ice outside the polar region, and the source of
10 major rivers, and, therefore, particularly sensitive to climate change.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO):

• It is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 192
Member States and Territories. It is a specialized agency of the United
Nations (UN) for meteorology, operational hydrology and related
geophysical sciences.
• It was established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23
March 1950.
• It is headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.
 HINDU-KUSH-HIMALAYAN (HKH) REGION
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO),
which was established after the 1873 Vienna International
Meteorological Congress.
 Saturn is the planet with the highest number of moons
• Why in News > Recently the discovery of 20 new moons of Saturn has
made Saturn the planet with the highest number of moons (82).

About
• The previous record- holder, Jupiter, has 79.
• This was announced by the International
Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center.
• Of Saturn’s 20 newfound moons, 17 are
retrograde, meaning they orbit in the opposite
direction that Saturn rotates. Three orbit in the
same direction that Saturn spins.
• Two of those prograde moons orbit fairly close to
the planet while one oddball is farther out.
 Typhoon Hagibis
• Why in News > Typhoon Hagibis caused flooding and landslides as it
reached Japan.

About
• Typhoon Hagibis could be the strongest storm to
hit Japan since 1958.
• Typhoon Hagibis, which means “speed” in the
Philippine language, had packing winds of 180
km per hour near its centre.
• The storm brought record-breaking rainfall to
many areas, resulting in floods and landslides in
the country.
 Typhoon Hagibis
• Typhoon Ida, known as the “Kanogawa Typhoon” in Japanese, killed
more than 1,000 people in September 1958. Ida had winds of 190 kmph
when it hit the country.

What’s the difference between hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons?

• Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are all tropical storms. They are all
the same thing but are given different names depending on where they
appear. When they reach populated areas they usually bring very strong
wind and rain which can cause a lot of damage.
• Hurricanes are tropical storms that form over the North Atlantic Ocean
and Northeast Pacific. Cyclones are formed over the South Pacific and
Indian Ocean. Typhoons are formed over the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
Typhoon Hagibis
 Tulagi Island
• Why in News > A Chinese company has signed an agreement to lease
Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands for 75 years.

About
• Tulagi is a small island Solomon Islands,
just off the south coast of Ngella Sule
(Florida islands).
• It is about two square kilometres (0.8
square miles) with a population of 1,200. I
• It is the site of a former Japanese naval
base and was the scene of fighting in
World War II.
 Tulagi Island
• The agreement with Chinese company mentions developing a refinery
on the island.
• However, its potential for dual use as a Chinese military base is certain
to raise concerns with the United States and Australia.
 Mount Paektu
• Why in News > North Korea leader has visited the Mount Paektu.

About
• Paektu Mountain is also known as Baekdu
Mountain. In China, it is known as Changbai
Mountain.
• It is a volcanic mountain that had last erupted
over 1,000 years ago.
• The mountain is situated at the border
between North Korea and China.
 Mount Paektu
• At a height of about 9,000 feet, it is also the highest peak in the Korean
Peninsula.
 Bhashan Char Island
• Why in News > Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have agreed to be
relocated to the newly built camp on the Bhashan Char Island.

About Island
• The Bhashan Char is an uninhabited island around
30 kilometre east of Hatiya island in the South East
Bangladesh.
• Bhashan Char island was formed about two
decades ago on the mouth of river Meghna.
• The Island falls in an ecologically fragile area prone
to floods, erosion and cyclone.
 Bhashan Char Island
• However, the Bangladesh government has built a three metre high
embankment along its perimeter to keep out tidal surges during
cyclones.

Who are Rohingyas?

• Rohingya are an ethnic group, largely comprising Muslims, who
predominantly live in the Western Myanmar province of Rakhine.
• In Myanmar, they are they are classified as resident foreigners or as
associate citizens.
• Lakhs of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh
and India after facing religious and ethnical persecution in Myanmar.
This has led to a historic migration crisis and a large humanitarian crisis.
 Siachen Glacier
• Why in News > The Siachen glacier is “now open” for tourists and
tourism.

About Siachen
• Lies in the Karakoram Range system
which is a part of western Himalayas.
• Lies to the south of the zone that
separates Eurasion Plate with the Indian
Plate, which is the result of convergence
boundary interaction in geographical
terms.
 Siachen Glacier
• It is the highest battle field in the world and lies on LoC (Line of Control)
between India and Pakistan. It has been continuously contested by
Pakistan as its own part which has led to militarisation of the glacier.
• After the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, an agreement was signed between
the two countries in 1972, which came to be known as the Shimla
Agreement, but it failed to clearly mention who controls the glacier.
• However, in 1984, the Pakistan army tried to enter the glacier, forcing
India to launch a military operation known as “Operation Meghdoot”
and since then we have control over the glacier.
• A ceasefire agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in 2003
• The glacier is the source of many rivers including Nubra River, a tributary
of Shyok, which is a part of the Indus River System.
 Siachen Glacier
• Siachen Glacier also boasts of the world’s highest helipad built by India
at Point Sonam, to supply its troops.
• India also installed the world’s highest telephone booth on the glacier.
• The region is also a home to rare species of snow leopard, brown bear
etc which may be affected by military presence.
• This has led to talks in international forums about creating a “Peace
Park” in the area and demilitarise it.
 Ramgarh Dam
• Why in News > The Ramgarh dam, located in the state of Rajasthan,
which earlier supplied drinking water to the city of Jaipur has dried
completely in the last decade.

About
• To resolve this problem a proposal is suggested that
the Chambal river water be supplied to the dam
through the proposed Eastern Rajasthan Canal
Project.
• The dam was constructed in 1904 during the reign
of erstwhile Jaipur ruler Sawai Madho Singh-II.
• Ramgarh lake had hosted rowing events during the
1982 Asian Games.
 Ramgarh Dam
Chambal River
• It is one of the most pollution-free rivers of
India.
• It’s a 960 km. long river that originates at the
Singar Chouri peak in the northern slopes of the
Vindhya mountains (Indore, Madhya Pradesh).
From there, it flows in North direction in
Madhya Pradesh for a length of about 346 km
and then follows a north-easterly direction for a
length of 225 km through Rajasthan.
• It enters U.P. and flows for about 32 km before
joining the Yamuna River in Etawah District.
 Ramgarh Dam
• It is a rainfed river and its basin is bounded by the Vindhyan mountain
ranges and the Aravallis. The Chambal and its tributaries drain the
Malwa region of northwestern Madhya Pradesh.
• Tributaries: Banas, Kali Sindh, Parbati.
• Main Power Projects/ Dam: Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam,
Jawahar Sagar Dam, and Kota Barrage.
• The National Chambal Sanctuary is located along river Chambal on the
tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is
known for critically endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle,
and the endangered Ganges river dolphin.
 COL. CHEWANG RINCHEN SETU
• Why in News > Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Col.
Chewang Rinchen Setu in Ladakh.

About
• Col Chewang Rinchen Setu is India’s highest
altitude all-weather permanent bridge.
• Located in eastern Ladakh at nearly 45 km
from the country’s border with China.
• The bridge is strategically located on the 255-
km Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO)
section of the road between Leh and
Karakoram Pass.
 COL. CHEWANG RINCHEN SETU
• Built on Shyok River.
• The bridge is sandwiched between strategic Karakoram and Chang
Chenmo ranges.
 Chenani-Nashri tunnel renamed
• Why in News > J&K's Chenani-Nashri Tunnel renamed as Shyama Prasad
Mukherjee Tunnel.

About
• The 9km Chenani Nashri Tunnel is on NH 44 in
Jammu & Kashmir.
• It is the longest such state of art tunnel in the
country, connecting Udhampur to Ramban in
Jammu.
• It is the world’s sixth road tunnel with a
transverse ventilation system enabled and
controlled by ABB software.
 Chenani-Nashri tunnel renamed
• It also boasts features like Integrated Traffic Control System (ITCS), Video
Surveillance System, FM Rebroadcast System, Entrance Detection
Control System and Active Firefighting System.
 Cyclone Kyarr
• Why in News > Cyclone 'Kyarr' intensifies to become the first Super
Cyclonic storm in Arabian Sea in last 12 years after Cyclone Gonu
ravaged the Oman coast in 2007.
About Sarayu River
• Kyarr is the ninth super cyclone to have
developed in the North Indian Ocean, after
Super Cyclone Gonu in 2007.
What is Super Cyclonic Storm?
• Intense low pressure system represented on a
synoptic chart by more than four closed isobars
at 2 hPa interval and in which the wind speed on
surface level is 120Kts. And above.
 Sarayu River
• Why in News > 5.50 crore earthen lamps on the banks of Saryu River
has helped Uttar Pradesh enter into the Guinness Books of World
Records for lightening of record number of diyas on any occasion.
About Sarayu River
• Sarayu flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh. This river is of ancient significance,
finding mentions in the Vedas and the
Ramayana.
• The Sarayu originates from Lake Mansarovar in
the Himalayas and is also known as the Ghaghra
and the Manas Nandini. It merges with the
Ganga in Bihar’s Saran district.
 Sarayu River
• It forms at the confluence of the Karnali and Mahakali in Bahraich
District.
• Ayodhya is situated on the banks of this river.
• It flows through the Kumaon himalayas.
 Uluru
• Why in News > Recently the climbing Uluru, Australia’s famous desert
rock, considered sacred by the local Anangu people, has been banned.

About
• It is also known as Ayers Rock and a
sacred place to the Anangu people, the
Aboriginal people of the area of
Central Australia.
• It is an ancient sandstone monolith in
Central Australia, famous for its
gorgeous auburn hue.
 Uluru
• It is dominantly composed of coarse-grained arkose (a type of sandstone
characterised by an abundance of feldspar) and some conglomerate.
• It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 ROHTANG PASS
Why in News > Over 500 people rescued from snow-struck Rohtang Pass.
Rohtang pass:
• It is a high mountain pass which connects the Kulu
Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal
Pradesh.
• It is located on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the
Himalayas.
• The pass is traversed by the Leh-Manali Highway.
• The pass is located at a massive height of 3978
metres above sea level.
• The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab
and Beas basins.
 ROHTANG PASS
Important Passes in India
• Zoji La, Karakoram Pass - Jammu & Kashmir (It connects Srinagar with Kargil
and Leh)
• Bara- Lacha Pass, Shipki La - Himachal Pradesh
• Mana Pass, LipuLekh- Uttarakhand
• Jalep La, Nathu La - Sikkim
• Diphu Pass, Dihang pass, Bomdi-La - Arunachal Pradesh
 MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Why in News > Differently-abled man from Aluva scales Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro:
• It is a dormant volcano in Tanzania.
• It is the highest mountain in Africa, with its
summit about 4,900 metres from its base, and
5,895 metres above sea level.
• It is also the world’s tallest free standing
mountain.
• The first people known to have reached the
summit of the mountain were Hans Meyer and
Ludwig Purtscheller, in 1889.
• Kilimanjaro had three volcanic cones – Kibo,
Shira and Mawenzi.
 ROHTANG PASS
• Shira and Mawenzi are extinct volcanoes; however, Kibo is a dormant
volcano.
Seven Summits:
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven
continents. They include:
1. Mount Everest – Asia
2. Aconcagua – South America
3. Kilimanjaro – Africa
4. Denali – North America
5. Mount Kosciuszko – Australia
6. Mount Elbrus – Europe
7. Mount Vinson – Antarctica