LESSON -7 GEOGRAPHY OUR COUNRTY – INDIA Location The location of India is very unique. It is located in the largest continent of the world that is Asia. India is located in the northern hemisphere of the world. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’N) passes almost halfway through the country India. The extend south to north, the mainland of India extends between 8°4’N and 37°6’N latitudes. From the other extends west to east, India extends between 68°7’E and 97°25’E longitudes. Neighbours of India Seven countries share the boundaries with India. In Northwest there lies Afghanistan and Pakistan, In the North, India, is bound with China, Bhutan and Nepal, to the far east India, is surrounded by Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. In south-east there lies Sri Lanka and Maldives in the south-west. These two countries share the water borders. The northern part of India is referred to as Subcontinent and Southern part of India is referred to as peninsular region. PHYSICAL DIVISION OF INDIA THE HIMALAYAN RANGES The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges, the Greater Himalayas known as the Himadri, the Lesser Himalayas called the Himachal, and the Shivalik hills, which comprise the foothills. Mount Everest at a height of 8848m is the highest peak followed by the Kanchanjunga at 8598 m. THE NORTHERN PLAINS Famously referred to as the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Great Indian Northern plains lie south to the Himalayan belt. Or else put it, the plains situate the Himalayas in the north and the Peninsular Plateau in the south. The three Himalayan rivers, the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra, constitute the formation of these Northern plains. Additionally, covering an area of around seven lakh square km, the northern plains extend from Rajasthan in the west to the Brahmaputra river in the east. Rajasthan in the west to Assam in the east. These plains characterize an average width between 150-300 km. Covering a total area of around 7 lakh square km, the Indo-Gangetic plains have experienced sedimentation deposits over a million years. This has further resulted in the formation of erosional land pieces such as meanders, braided channels, bars, and oxbow lakes. Located 200 m above the sea level, these plains comprise massive alluvial deposits. Further to this, the mainland plains are pretty fertile with a maximum number of villages and cities built over its wide region. Further to this, the great Northern Plains can be classified into four different parts namely: Rajasthan Plain North Central Plain Eastern Plain Brahmaputra Plain THE GREAT INDIAN DESERT Thar Desert, also called Great Indian Desert, arid region of rolling sand hills on the Indian subcontinent. It is located partly in Rajasthan state, northwestern India, and partly in Punjab and Sindh (Sind) provinces, eastern Pakistan. Thar (Great Indian) Desert. THE 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. The plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills. This plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. 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 Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. THE COASTAL PLAINS The Coastal Plains of India lie on either side of the Peninsular Plateau, along the western and eastern coasts of India. They extend for about 6,150 km from the Rann of Kutch in the west to West Bengal in the east. They are broadly divided into the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains. THE ISLAND TERRITORIES POLITICAL DIVISION OF INDIA India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions. EXERCISES A. Choose the correct option. 1. North of India 2. Palk Strait 3. 8°4′ North to 37°6′ North 4. 82½° East 5. Great Himalayas 6. Lesser Himalayas 7. All of these 8. Ganges and Brahmaputra 9. Triangular 10. Anamudi 11. Konkan 12. Coromandal Coast 13. Bay of Bengal B. Fill in the blanks. 1. 2.4% 2. 5 hours and 30 minutes 3. Tibet 4. Aravalli 5. West, East C. State whether true or false. 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. False 5. True 6. False 7. False D. Match the following. Column A Column B 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bay of Bengal 2. Lakshadweep Islands Arabian sea 3. Malabar Coast Western Coastal Plain 4. Coromondal Coast Eastern Coastal Plain 5. Shivalik Southern most range 6. Lesser Himalayas Hill Stations 7. Great Himalayas highest peak E. Answer the following questions briefly. 1. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China and Srilanka. 2. East-West extent of India is a maximum at 29°18. For every 1° longitude there is a difference of 4 minutes of local time. It means there could have been a variation of 2 hours between the two extremes of the country. To avoid this India has chosen 82½° E as its standard meridian. 3. The Northern plains, Himalayas, the Indian desert, the peninsular plateau the coastal plains & the island territories. The Indian desert – It lies towards the west of Aravalli Hills. It receives very little rainfall and has very little vegetation cover. 4. • Shivaliks are covered with thick gravel and alluvium. Dehradun lies in the Shivaliks. 5. The Himalayas beyond Bramhaputra turn sharply south and are known as Purvanchal. Garo, Khasi and Jaintia are part of Purvanchal. 6. Indian desert is located to the west of the Aravalli hills & is covered by sand dunes. It receives very title rain fall. 7. They are located in Bay of Bengal. They have equatorial climate & have thick forest cover. F. Answer the following questions in detail. 1. Locational setting of India — • Located in the continent of Asia. • It has borders touching 7 countries. • Surrounded by 3 oceans – Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. • Tropic of cancer passes through the centre of it. • East west extent is 68°7 east to 97°25 east longitude. • North-South extent is between 8°4 north to 37°6 north latitudes. 2. Features of 3 parallel ranges. • Great Himalayas – known as Himadari. The highest peaks are in this range which includes the Mt. Everest and K2. It has Karakoram Range, Ladakh range etc & ranges have glaciers which are a source of water. • Lesser Himalayas – consist of famous valley of Kashmir and valleys of Kullu and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. This region is known for its hill stations. • Shivaliks – Southern most range. They are covered with thick gravel and alluvium. 3. Importance of Northern plains: • Rich in alluvial soil which has made it very fertile. • Rich in minerals. • Have adequate supply of water. • Climate is favourable for living. 4. The peninsular plateau is formed by the cooling of lava which erupted out of volcanoes millions of years ago. Features: 1. They are broad and have shallow valleys and rounded hills. 2. It consists of two broad divisions – Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. 3. Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east. 4. The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. 5. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and eastern edges of the Deccan plateau respectively. 5. Western Ghats Eastern Ghats (1 Parallel to the Parallel to the eastern ) western coast. coast. (2 Are continuous. Are not continuous ) and are irregular dissected by many rivers. (3 They are higher They are lower and ) with an average have an average elevation of 900- height of 600 metres. 1600 metres. .