Exercise Solution
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 (c) Peninsula
(b)
Island (d) None of the above
Answer - (c) Peninsula
Note - The Peninsular Plateau of India constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the
earth’s surface. It was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks. The
peninsular plateau is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently
rising hills and wide valleys.
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of
India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called
(a)
Himachal (c) Purvachal
(b)
Uttarakhand (d) None of the above
Answer - (c) Purvachal
Note - 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.
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of
Goa is referred to as
(a)
Coromandel (c) Kannad
(b)
Konkan (d) Northern Circar
Answer - (c) Kannad
Note - 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. It consists of three
sections. The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain, while the southern
stretch is referred to as the Malabar
coast.
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a)
Anai Mudi (c) Mahendragiri
(b)
Kanchenjunga (d) Khasi
Answer - (c) Mahendragiri
Note - The
highest peaks of Western Ghats is the Anai Mudi (2,695 metres) and the second
highest peak of western ghats is the Doda Betta (2,637 metres) located in
Nilgiri Hills. Mahendragiri (1,501 metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern
Ghats.
2 Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is the bhabar?
Answer - Bhabar is located in the
south of the lower Himalayas and the Shiwalik hills. It is a narrow belt
measuring 8-16 km. Bhabar is made of small pebbles transported by the rivers
flowing downward from the mountains. All the
streams disappear in this bhabar belt.
(ii) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
Answer - The
Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over the
northern borders of India. These mountain ranges run in a west-east direction
from the Indus to the Brahmaputra. A number of valleys lie between these ranges.
The northern-most range is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri. It
is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average
height of 6,000 metres. It contains all prominent Himalayan peaks. The folds of the Great Himalayas are asymmetrical
in nature. The core of this part of Himalayas is composed of granite. It is
perennially snow bound, and a number of glaciers descend from this range.
The range lying to the south of the Himadri
forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya. The ranges
are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. The altitude varies
between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average width is of 50 Km. While
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.
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. These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by
rivers from the main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
(iii) Which plateau lies between the
Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges?
Answer - The
part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river and the
Vindhyan ranges between the Aravalli Hills in West is called Malwa Plateau,
also known as the Central Highlands. Malwa is a natural region lying in
the west-central India and occupies a plateau of volcanic origin.
(iv) Name the island group of India having coral origin.
Answer – 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
The Lakshadweep Islands
group lying close to the Malabar coast of Kerala.
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. 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 Pitti island, which is uninhabited, has a bird sanctuary.
3. Distinguish between
(i) Bhangar
and Khadar
Answer - The
largest part of the northern plain of India is formed of older alluvium. It lies above the
floodplains of the rivers and presents a terrace- like feature. This part
is known as bhangar. The soil
in this region contains calcareous deposits, locally known as kankar. The newer,
younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar. They are renewed
almost every year and so are fertile, thus, ideal for intensive
agriculture.
(ii) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
Answer –
(i)
The Western
Ghats and the Eastern
Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan
Plateau respectively.
(ii)
Western
Ghats lie parallel to the western coast. They are continuous and can
be crossed through passes (the Thal, Bhor and Pal Ghats) only.
(iii) The Western Ghats are
higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–1600 metres as
against 600 metres of the Eastern Ghats.
(iv)
The
Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nigiris in the south.
(v)
The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and
irregular and dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.
(vi)
The Western Ghats cause orographic rain by
facing the rain bearing moist winds to rise along the western slopes of the
Ghats.
(vii) The
Western Ghats are known by different local names.
(viii) The
height of the Western Ghats progressively increases from north to south.
(ix)
The highest peaks include the Anai Mudi
(2,695 metres) and the Doda Betta (2,637 metres). Mahendragiri (1,501
metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.
(x)
Shevroy Hills and the Javadi Hills are
located to the southeast of the Eastern Ghats. Udagamandalam, popularly
known as Ooty and the Kodaikanal are the famous hill stations in the Eastern
Ghats.
4. Which are the major
physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region
with that of the Peninsular plateau.
Answer - The
physical features of India can be grouped under the following
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 regions with the Peninsular Plateau:
The Himalayan Mountains:-
1.
The
Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains stretch over the
northern borders of India.
2.
These
mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
3.
The
Himalayas represent the loftiest and one of the most rugged mountain barriers
of the world.
4.
They
form an arc, which covers a distance of about 2,400 Km.
5.
Their
width varies from 400 Km in Kashmir to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh.
6.
The
altitudinal variations are greater in the eastern half than those in the
western half.
7.
The
Himalaya consists of three parallel ranges - the Great or Inner Himalayas or
the Himadri, Himachal or lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks in its longitudinal
extent.
8.
The
Pir Panjal, the Dhaula Dhar and the Mahabharat ranges are the most important
range in Himalaya. The Patkai hills, the Naga hills, the Manipur hills and the
Mizo hills comprises the Purvachal.
9.
This
region is well-known for its hill stations, Likely Srinagar, Kulu, Manali,
Shimla, Nainital etc.
10.
The
Himalayas glaciers are the source of many rivers system of India, Likely the
Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
The Peninsular Plateau:-
1.
The
Peninsular plateau is a triangular shaped tableland composed of the old
crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
2.
It
was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and thus,
making it a part of the oldest landmass.
3.
The
plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
4.
This
plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and the
Deccan Plateau.
5.
The
major rivers flow through the peninsular plateau are the Narmada, the Tapi, the
Godawari, the Krishana, the Kaveri, the Mahanadi, the Chambal, the Betwa, the
Ken, the Son, the Hugli and the Damodar etc.
6.
The Satpura, the Vindhyan, the Mahadev, the Kaimur and the Maikal hills
range are found in this region. Shevroy Hills and the Javadi Hills are located
to the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.
7.
The
Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
8.
The
Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of
the Deccan Plateau respectively.
9.
The
major highest peaks lies in this region are the Anai Mudi (2,695 metres) and
the Doda Betta (2,637 metres) in the Western Ghats and the Mahendragiri (1,501
metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.
10.
The
famous hill stations of this region are the Udagamandalam, popularly known as
Ooty and the Kodaikanal.
11.
One
of the distinct features of the peninsular plateau is the black soil area known
as Decean Trap. This is of volcanic origin; hence, the rocks are igneous.
12.
The
Aravali Hills lie on the western and northwestern margins of the peninsular
plateau. These are highly eroded hills and are found as broken hills. They
extend from Gujarat to Delhi in a southwest-northeast direction.
5. Give an account of the Northern Plains of
India.
Answer - In ancient times the
Northern Plains of India were a part of Tethys Sea, dispersed in water. This
low land slowly filled with sediments brought by the perennial rivers of the
Himalayan region as also the mud, silt and pebbles shed by Gondwana and Angara land.
During the core movements of the earth, they drifted toward north of the
peninsular plateau and the Tethys sea started opening. The stock of deposits
thus, began traveling and got elevated. The highest of these elevations formed
the Himalayan Mountains and the plain, but higher than sea level landforms
constituted the Northern Indian Plains, consisting of the Ganga-Yamuna-Doab,
the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta and the Indus plains.
On the basis of the relief features, The
Northern Plains of India are further divided into four regions; Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar.
6. Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
Answer - The
Indian Desert: The Indian Deserts lie toward the western borders of the
Aravalli Hills. This landform is formed by undulant sandy plains covered with
sand dunes. It receives scanty rainfall of about 15 cms annually and thus, this
region is not fit to live in. It is arid land and without vegetation cover.
Luni is only river flown in this region and that too is categorized as an
inland drainage.
(ii) The Central Highlands
Answer - The
Central Highlands: The Central Highlands lies to the north of the Narmada and
cover a major part of the Malwa Plateau. Vindhya and Aravalli forms the edges
in south and north respectively. Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken rivers are the
major rivers flown in this region from southwest to northeast. The Central
Highlands are wider in the west and become narrower in the east. Bundeldkhand,
Baghelkhand, Chhotanagpur plateau are at its eastward extensions. The Deccan
Plateau is separated by Narmada and lies to the south of this region.
(iii) The Island groups of India
Answer –
(a) The
Island groups of India: There are total 247 island groups in India, out of which 204 lie in the Bay of Bengal and 43 lie in the Arabian Sea.
(b) The island groups located in the Bay of
Bengal are collectively called The Andaman and Nicobar group of islands and the
group situated in the Arabian Sea is known as The Lakshadweep islands.
(c) The
total area of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands is 8249 sq. kms and the area
of Lakshadweep islands is 32 sq. kms.
(d) Andaman
and Nicobar Islands comprises of hard volcanic rocks. Lakshadweep islands are
formed by the corals.
(e) The southernmost point of India is
located in the Nicobar Islands and is known as the Indira point, named after India’s first female Prime Minister,
Ms. Indira Gandhi. After 2004 Tsunami, the Indira point got submerged into the
water.
(f) In
Lakshadweep islands, there is a bird sanctuary is settled in Pitli Islands.
Map Skills
On an outline map of India show the following.
(i) Mountain and hill ranges – the
Karakoram Range, the Zaskar range, the Patkai Bum hills, the Jaintia hills, the
Vindhya range, the Aravali range, and the Cardamom hills.
(ii) Peaks – K2, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat
and the Anai Mudi.
(iii) Plateaus, Chotanagpur Plateaus and Malwa
Plateaus
(iv)
The Indian Desert, Western Ghats, Lakshadweep Islands
India Size and Location👉Project/Activity