Chapter 2 Physical Features of India ( For Class 9)

Physical Features of India

One of the most interesting countries, India has a very amazing physical geography with a variety of landscapes and  the geographical features.

Geographers believe that the physical form of India is a mixture of all types of land-forms found in the world. our country has practically all major physical features of the earth, i.e., mountains, plains, deserts, lakes, plateaus and islands.

   

Formation of different types of land forms :-

There are some theories behind the creation of these physical figures, one of which is the theory of plate tectonics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theory of plate tectonics :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The theory of Plate tectonics  tries to explain the formation of physical features of the earth due to the movement of the tectonic plates.According to this theory, the crust (upper part) of the earth has been formed out of seven major plates.

Important Plates :-

 Eurasian Plate 

North American Plate

South American Plate 

African Plate 

Indo-Australian Plate 

Pacific Plate 

Antrarctic Plate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plate movements :-

The plate movements have been classified into three types :-

Convergent Boundary :- Some plates come towards each other and form convergent boundary.
Divergent Boundary :- Some plates move from each other and form divergent boundary.
Transform Boundary :- When two plates come towards each other, they may collide and crumble, or one may slide under the other. At times, they may also move horizontally past each other and form transform boundary.
The oldest landmass was (the peninsular part) was part of the Gondwanaland land. The Himalayan Mountains have uplifted out of the Tethys Sea.

 

 Formation of the young Fold Mountain- Himalayas:

 

THE MAJOR PHYSIO-GRAPHIC DIVISIONS OF INDIA :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The physical features of India can be grouped under the following physio graphic divisions :-

The Himalayan Mountains
The Northern Plains
The Peninsular Plateau
The Indian Desert
The Coastal Plains
The Islands

Mountain Ranges 

 

 

The Himalayan Mountains :-

The Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over the northern borders of India.
Total length of the Himalayas is 2400 Km. Their width varies from 400 Km in Kashmir to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh. 

The Himalayas consists of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent :- 

Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri :- 

It is the northern most range of the Himalayas. It is the most contiguous range and contains all the prominent Himalayan peaks. (Average hight-6,000 metres). Some highest peaks include- Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Naga Parbat etc.

Himachal (lesser Himalaya) :- 

The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres. Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar and Mahabharat are important range. Famous valley of Kashmir is also in this range.

Shiwaliks :- 

This is the outermost range of the Himalayas. The altitude varies between 900 and 1100 metres. The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalayas and the Shivaliks are known as Duns. 

 

Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well known Duns.

Division of Himalayas on the basis of regions :-

The Himalayas have been divided on the basis of regions from west to east. These divisions have been demarcated by river valleys. These are :-

River Basins Of India

 

 

The Northern Plain :-

• 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. It is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
• It spreads over an area of 7,00,000 sq. km.
•  The plain is about 2400 Km long and 240 to 340 Km broad.
•  It is called khadar as it is ideal for intensive agriculture. 
• It is made of alluvial soil brought by the rivers. 
• The continuous renewal of  alluvial soil makes it a highly fertile land. 
• So, it’s a densely populated area.

Division of the Northern Plain :-

The northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections :-


Punjab Plains :- 

• This is the western part of the Northern Plain. 
• It is formed by the Indus and its tributaries- the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas(Bipasha) and the Satlej(Shatadru). 
• This section of the plain is dominated by the Doabs ( ‘Do’ means two and ‘ab’ means water)

The Ganga Plain :- 

• It extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. 
• It is spread over the states of Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

The Brahmaputra Plain :- This plain is formed by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. It lies mainly in the state of Assam.


The division of the northern plain according to the variation in relief features :-

The Northern Plain  

 It can be divided into four regions according to the variations in relief features :-


Bhabar :- 

• This region lies parallel to the slopes of the Shivaliks. 
• The rivers, after descending from the mountains deposit pebbles in this region. 
• All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt.
  

Terai :- 

• It lies to the south of bhabar. 
• The streams and rivers re-emerge here.
•  It is a wet, swampy and marshy region.
  

Bhangar :-

• Bhangar is the largest part of the northern plain and is formed of the oldest alluvial soil. 
• They lie above the flood plains of the rivers and present a terrace like feature. 
• The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits locally known as kankar.
  

Khadar :- 

• The floodplains formed by newer and younger deposits are called Khadar. 
• They are renewed almost every year and so are fertile.
  

Doab :-

‘Doab’ is made up of two words – ‘Do’ means two and ‘ab’ means water, So it becomes Two Waters.

The Peninsular Plateau :-

• It is a composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. It was part of the Gondwanaland land and thus, making it a part of the oldest landmass.
• The Peninsular Plateau consists of three broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands, Deccan Plateau and Chhotanagpur.

Central Highlands :-

• The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. 
• The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Satpura range on the south and the Aravalis on the northwest. 
• The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of Rajasthan.

Deccan Plateau :-

• The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. 
• The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north, while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range form its eastern extensions.
•  The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
• An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast, locally known as the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.

Deccan Trap :-

• The black soil area of the peninsular plateau is known as Deccan Trap. 
• This is of volcanic origin. 
• Hence the rocks here are igneous.

The Indian Desert :-

• The Indian Desert is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. 
• This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year. 
• It has arid climate with low vegetation. 
• Streams appear during the rainy season. 
• Luni is the only large rivers in this region. Barchans (large shaped dunes) cover larger areas of the Indian Desert.

The Coastal Plains :-

• The Peninsular plateau is flanked by stretch of narrow coastal strips, running along the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. 
•  The western coast, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a narrow plain.

Division of the coastal plains :-

The western coast :- 

• It is located between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
• It is relatively narrow. 
• It consists of three sections. 
• The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan, 
• The central stretch is called the Kannad Plain 
• The southern stretch is called the Malabar coast.

The eastern coast :- 

It lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.

• This plain is wide and level.
•  It is divided into two parts. 
• In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar. 
• The southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.
• Large rivers such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri have formed extensive delta on this coast.

largest salt water lake in India :-

• The Chilka Lake is the largest salt water lake in India.
•  It is in the state of Odisha.
• Birds migrate in the largest number during winter to this lake.
  

Difference between Western Ghats And Eastern Ghats :-

 

 

THE ISLANDS :-

India has two major island groups :-


Lakshadweep Islands :- 

• This group of Islands is composed of small coral islands.
• It covers small area of 32 sq. km. Kavaratti island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep.
• This island group has great diversity of flora and fauna.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands :-

• These islands are located in the Bay of Bengal extending from north to south. 
• The entire group of island is divided into two broad categories.
• The Andaman is in the North.
• The Nicobar in the south. 
• It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains.
•  These islands lie close to equator and experience equatorial climate.
• They have thick forest cover.