PHYSICAL FEATURE

OF INDIA
Chapter 2
Lets recall the previous chapter
◦ India entirely lie in the Northern hemisphere the main land extends between latitudes
8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25’E.
◦ Tropic of cancer passes through India and divides into two parts
◦ Land mass is 3.28 million km and total area in world covers 2.4 percent
◦ India is 7th largest country in world size wise
Physical feature - A natural feature on the surface,
such as water, mountains, and deserts. Usage: Deserts,
mountains, and lakes, are all Physical Features.
 The The
Himalayan Northern
Mountains Plains
The
The Indian
peninsular
plateau Desert

The The Costal

Island Plains
The Himalayan Mountains
◦ Himalayan mountain are present in northern boarder . It
runs from west to east direction from the Indus to
Brahmaputra
• The mountains are geographically young and fold
mountains
• The Himalayas represent the loftiest and one of the most
rugged mountain barriers of the world
• It covers 2400km
• Its width varies from 400km in Kashmir to 150 km in
Arunachal Pradesh
• The hight is greater in east than of west
Himadri
◦ The northern most range is known as Great or Inner Himalayas or
Himadri . Its height is around
6000
◦ The folds of the Great Himalaya is asymmetrical in nature. The
core of this part of Himalayas is composed of granite.
◦ It is covered with glacier
Highest mountain peaks

◦ Mt. Everest Nepal 8848

◦ Kanchenjunga India 8598
◦ Makalu Nepal 8481
◦ Dhaulagiri Nepal 8172
◦ Nanga Parbat India 8126
◦ Annapurna Nepal 8078
◦ Nanda Devi India 7817
◦ Kamet India 7756
◦ Namcha Barwa India 7756
◦ Gurla Mandhata Nepal 7728
Himachal
◦ The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser
Himalaya
◦ The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average width is of 50 Km.
◦ The pir panjal range forms the longest and the most important range, the dhaula dhar and the mahabharat ranges are also
prominent ones.
This range consists of the famous valley of kashmir, the kangra and kullu valley in himachal pradesh. This region is well-
known for its hill stations.
Shiwalik

◦ The outer-most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks.

◦ They extend over a width of 10-50 Km and have an altitude varying
between 900 and 1100 metres.
◦ Ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down
by rivers from the main himalayan ranges located farther north.
◦ These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium. The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the
Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns
• The part of Himalayas lying between Indus
and Satluj has been traditionally known as Punjab
Himalaya but it is also known regionally as Kashmir and
Himachal Himalaya from west to east respectively.

The part of the Himalayas lying between

Satluj and kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
The kali and Teesta rivers demarcate the
Nepal Himalayas and the part lying between Teesta and
Dihang rivers is known as assam Himalayas.
◦ The Brahmaputra marks the eastern-most boundary of the Himalayas. Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas bend sharply
to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India. They are known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and
mountains.
◦ These hills running through the north-eastern states are mostly composed of strong sandstones, which are sedimentary rocks.
Covered with dense forests, they mostly run as parallel ranges and valleys. The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga
hills, the Manipur hills and the Mizo hills.
THE NORTHERN PLAINS
◦ 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
◦ This plain is formed of alluvial soil. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of
the Himalaya over millions of years, formed this fertile plain.
. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad,
is a densely populated physiographic division. With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water
supply and favourable climate it is agriculturally a productive part of India.
◦ The rivers coming from northern mountains are involved in depositional work. In the lower course, due
to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases, which results in the formation of riverine islands.
◦ The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of silt These channels
are known as distributaries
• . It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to
320 km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division. With a rich soil cover
combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate it is agriculturally a
productive part of India.

The rivers coming from northern mountains are involved in depositional work. In the
lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases, which results in the
formation of riverine islands.

The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of silt
These channels are known as distributaries
The northern plain is divided into three sections, viz. the Punjab Plain, the Ganga
Plain and the Brahmaputra Plain.

◦ The Punjab plains form the western part of the northern plain. This is formed by the Indus and its
tributaries; like Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. A major portion of this plains is in Pakistan.
Doabs abound in this plain.

◦ Ganga Plains: This plain extends between Ghaggar and Tista rivers. The northern states, Haryana,
Delhi, UP, Bihar, part of Jharkhand and West Bengal lie in the Ganga plains.

◦ Brahmaputra Plains: This plain forms the eastern part of the northern plain and lies in Assam.
Punjab Plains
Ganga plains
Based on the relief features; the northern plain can be
divided into four regions, viz. bhabar, terai, bhangar and
khadar.
◦ Bhabar: After descending from the mountains, the rivers deposit pebbles in a narrow belt. The
width of this belt is about 8 to 16 km and it lies parallel to the Shiwaliks. This region is known
as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this region.
◦ Terai: The terai region lies towards south of the bhabar belt. In this region, the
streams reappear and make a wet, swampy and marshy region.
◦ Bhangar: Bhangar is the largest part of the northern plain and is composed of
the oldest alluvial soil. They lie above the flood plains. They resemble terraces.
The soil of this region is locally known as kankar and is composed of
calcareous deposits.
◦ Khadar: The floodplains formed by younger alluvium are called
khadar. The soil in this region is renewed every year and is thus
highly fertile.
PENINSULAR PLATEAU
What is Peninsular Plateau

◦ The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of

the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic
rocks. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting
of the Gondwana land and thus, making it a part of
the oldest landmass. ... This plateau consists of two
broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and
the Deccan Plateau.
The plateau can be broadly divided into two regions,
viz. the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau
◦ . The Central Highlands: The Central Highlands lies to the north of the Narmada river. It
covers the major portion of the Malwa plateau. The rivers in this region flow from southwest
to northeast; which indicates the slope of this region. It is wider in the west and narrower in
the east. Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand mark the eastward extension of this plateau. The
plateau further extends eastwards into the Chhotanagpur plateau.
◦ The Deccan Plateau:- The Deccan Plateau lies to the south of the Naramada river. It is
triangular in shape. The Satpura range makes its northern part. The Mahadev, Kaimur Hills
and Maikal range make its eastern part. The slope of the Deccan Plateau is from west to east. It
extends into the north east which encompasses Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North
Cachar Hills. Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills are the prominent ranges; starting from west to east.
WESTERN AND EASTERN GHATS

◦ They make the western and eastern edges of the Deccan

Plateau. The average elevation of Western Ghats is 900 –
1600 metres; compared to 600 metres in case of Eastern
Ghats. The Eastern Ghats stretch from Mahanadi Valley to
the Nilgiris in the south. The Western Ghats cause
oceanographic rains as they face the rain-laden winds from
west.
THE INDIAN DESERT
◦ The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali
Hills. This region gets scanty rainfall which is less than 150 mm in
a year. Hence they climate is arid and vegetation is scanty. Luni is
the only large river but some streams appear during rainy season.
Crescent-shaped dunes (barchans) abound in this area.
THE COSTAL PLAINS
◦ The Peninsular plateau is flanked by stretch of narrow coastal strips. They run along the
Arabian Sea on the west and along the Bay of Bengal on the east. The western coast lies
between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is divided into three sections. The Konkan;
which comprises of Mumbai and Goa makes the northern part. The Kannada Plain makes the
central pat and the Malabar coast makes the Malabara coast. The western coastal plain is wider
and level and it runs along the Bay of Bengal. It is divided into two parts. The northern part is
called Northern Circar. The southern part is called the Coromandel Coast. Extensive deltas are
formed by large rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari and Kavery. Chilika lake is an important
feature along the eastern coast
ISLAND OF INDIA
WHAT IS AN ISLAND ?

◦An island is a piece of land

that is surrounded by water
◦ The Lakshadweep Islands are in the Arabian Sea. Its area is 32 sq km.
The administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep is at Kavaratti island.
This group of islands is rich in terms of biodiversity. They have rich
flora and fauna. This group of islands is composed of small coral isalnds.
Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive. In 1973,
these were named as Lakshadweep This group of islands is composed of
small coral isalnds.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which
live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud-free and
warm waters. They secrete calcium carbonate. The coral
secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form
of reefs: they are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef.
fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia
is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs. Atolls are
circular or horse shoe-shaped coral reefs
◦ The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are bigger in size and has more
number of islands. This group of islands can be divided into two
groups. The Andaman is in the north and the Nicobar is in the
south. These islands too have rich biodiversity. These island groups
are of great strategic importance for the country. There is great
diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too. These
islands lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate and
has thick forest cover.
THANK YOU