NORTH INDIAN

PLAIN
 NORTHERN PLAINS
▪ The northern plains are formed by the
alluvial deposits brought by the rivers –
the Indus, the Ganga and the
Brahmaputra & tributaries.
FEATURES OF INDO – GANGETIC –
BRAHMAPUTRA PLAIN
▪ Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plain is
the largest alluvial tract of the world.
▪ It stretches for about 3,200 km from
the mouth of the Indus to the mouth of
the Ganga.
▪ Indian sector of the plain accounts
for 2,400 km.
.
▪ Northern boundary - Shiwaliks
▪ Southern boundary - northern edge of
the Peninsular India.
▪ Western boarder - Sulaiman and
Kirthar ranges.
▪ Eastern border - Purvanchal hills.
▪ It is widest in the west. Its width
decreases in the east.
▪ Its average elevation is about 200 m
above mean sea level, highest elevation
near Ambala
▪ Ambala- This elevation forms the
drainage divide or watershed between
Indus system and Ganga system
 GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF
INDO – GANGETIC – BRAHMAPUTRA PLAIN

1. Bhabar
2. Terai
3. Bangar
4. Khadhar
 THE BHABAR
 It
is a narrow, porous, northern
most stretch of Indo-Gangetic plain.
 It is about 8-10 km
▪ Rivers descending from the Himalayas
deposit their load along the foothills in
the form of alluvial fans.
▪ These alluvial fans have merged
together to build up the bhabar belt.
▪ The porosity of bhabar is the most
unique feature.
▪ The porosity is due to deposition of huge
number of pebbles and rock
debris across the alluvial fans.
▪ The streams disappear once they reach
the bhabar region because of this
porosity.
▪ The Bhabar belt is narrow in the
east and extensive in the west
▪ The area is not suitable for agriculture
▪ only big trees with large roots thrive in
this belt.
 TERAI
▪ Terai is an well-drained, marshy and
thickly forested narrow tract
▪ south of Bhabar running parallel to it
▪ Terai is an well-drained, marshy and
thickly forested area
▪ The Terai is about10-20 km wide.
▪ The underground streams of the Bhabar
belt re-emerge in this belt.
 JimCorbett National park in
Uttarakhand and Kaziranga National
park in Assam lie in terai region
 More marked in the eastern part than in
the west because the eastern parts
receive comparatively higher amount of
rainfall.
 Mostof the Terai land turned into
agricultural land
 BHANGAR
• The Bhangar is the older alluvium along
the river beds forming terraces higher
than the flood plain.
• The terraces are often impregnated with
calcareous concretions known
as ‘kankar’.
• ‘The Barind plains’ in the deltaic region
of Bengal and the ‘bhur formations’ in
Ganga and Yamuna doab are regional
variations of Bhangar.
 KHADAR
• The Khadar is composed of newer
alluvium and forms the flood
plains along the river banks.
• A new layer of alluvium is deposited by
river flood almost every year.
• This makes them the most fertile soils of
rivers.
REGIONAL DIVISIONS
OF GREAT INDIAN
PLAIN
 REGIONAL DIVISIONS GREAT
INDIAN PLAIN
1. Sindh Plain
2. Rajasthan Plain.
3. Punjab Plain.
4. Ganga Plain.
5. Brahmaputra Plain.
 1.SINDH PLAIN
• Mainly formed of Bhangar Plains.
• Dhors: Long narrow depressions
which are the remnants of the course
of former rivers.
• Dhand: Alkaline lakes on some dhors.
2. RAJASTHAN PLAIN
• Occupied by Thar or the Great Indian
Desert.
• This plain is an undulating plain
• The desert region is called Marusthali
• Geologically it is a part of the Peninsular
Plateau
• It has gneisses, schists and granites
• It is drained by short seasonal
streams originating from the Aravali –
eg:Luni
RAJASTHAN PLAINS
 3. PUNJAB PLAIN
• This plain is formed by five important rivers of
Indus system -
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas
• The plain is primarily made up of ‘doabs’ —
the land between two rivers.
• The depositional process by the rivers has
united these doabs giving an homogenous
appearance.
• The eastern boundary of Punjab Haryana
plain is marked by subsurface Delhi-Aravali
ridge.
4. GANGA PLAIN
• This is the largest unit of the Great Plain of
India stretching from Delhi to Kolkata
• The Ganga along with its Himalayan
tributaries(Gaghra,Gandak etc.) build this
extensive plain.
• The peninsular rivers such as Chambal, Betwa,
Ken, Son, etc. joining the Ganga river system
have also contributed to the formation of this
plain.
5. BRAHMAPUTRA PLAIN
• This is also known as the Brahmaputra
valley or Assam Plain
• Its western boundary is formed by the
Indo-Bangladesh border
• Its eastern boundary is formed
by Purvanchal hills.
• It is built up by the depositional work of
the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PLAIN
 Hosts half of the Indian population
 Facilitate agricultural activity
 Close network of roads and railways
 Urbanization.
 Cultural tourism
THANK YOU