Physical Features Of India - Class 9 Geography - Extra Questions

Describe three important features of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the seven union territories of India comprising 572 islands of which 37 are inhabited, are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

The territory is about 150 km (93 mi) north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands (partly) and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel (on the 10°N parallel), with the Andamans to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobars to the south (or by 179 km). The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west.

The territory's capital is the city of Port Blair. The total land area of these islands is approximately 8,249 km2 (3,185 sq mi). The islands host the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-service geographical command of the Indian Armed Forces. The territory is dived into three districts: Nicobar District with Car Nicobar as capital, South Andaman district with Port Blair as capital and North and Middle Andaman district with Mayabunder as capital.

The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese people, an uncontacted people. The Sentinelese are the only people currently known to not have reached further than a Paleolithic level of technology.

In December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, renamed three of the islands as a tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep; the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep; and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep. The PM made this announcement during a speech at the Netaji Stadium, marking the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of the Indian flag by Bose there.


Name the two headstreams of the Ganga. Where do they meet to form the Ganga?

  • Alaknanda and Bhagirathi are the two headstreams of the Ganga. 
  • They both meet to form the Ganga at Devprayag.


Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges?

  • The Malwa plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya Ranges.
  • The Central Highlands lies to the north of the Narmada river. It covers the major portion of the Malwa plateau.


(i) Name the rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) What are the names given to parts of the Eastern and Western coastal plains of India?

1) A number of large rivers– the Ganges and its tributaries such as the Padma and Hooghly, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries such as the Jamuna and Meghna, other rivers such as the Irrawaddy river Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Kaveri flow into Bay of Bangal.

2) The names given to parts of the Eastern and Western coastal plains of India are:

Regional Names of The East Coast of India

  • In Orissa (Odisha) it is known as Utkal coast.
  • From the southern limit of the Utkal plain, stretch the Andhra coast.
  • In the south of the Andhra plain is the Tamil Nadu coast. 
  • The Tamil Nadu coast and parts of Andhra coast together are known as Coramandal Coast or Payan Ghat [False Divi Point in AP (Krishna River Delta) in the north to Kanyakumari in south.

Regional Names of The West Coast of India

  • Konkan coast == Maharashtra coast and Goa coast; 
  • Malabar Coast == Kerala and Karnataka coast



Name the northern most ranges of the Himalayas.

THE GREAT OR INNER HIMALAYAS OR HIMADRI:

  • This is the northernmost range and is also known as 'Himadri'.
  • This is the most continuous range.
  • It contains the loftiest peaks.
  • The average height of peaks in this range is 6,000 meters.
  • All the prominent Himalayan peaks are in this range.
  • The folds of the Great Himalayas are irregular in nature.
  • The core of this part is composed of granite.
  • Because of the lofty heights, the peaks of this range are perennially covered with snow.
  • Famous glaciers like the Siachen Glacier, the Gangotri and Yamunotri, etc.


Name the important hills of the northeastern part of India.

  • The Purvanchal Mountains, or Eastern Mountains, consist of the area of the Himalayas bending sharply to the south and spreading along the eastern boundary of India beyond the Dihang gorge. 
  • Composed largely of strong sandstone, they are the eastern extension of the Himalayan range, lying in northeastern India near Myanmar. The Purvanchal Mountains cover the states of  Assam , Manipur,Tripura, Nagaland,, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The Garo ,Khasi and Jaintia hills are not located in this range which are part of Deccan plateau.
  •  Purvanchal hill range include the Patkai, Naga, Barail range,Manipur and  Mizo hills.


Describe the location and extent of the Northern Plains of India.

  • The Northern Plains have been formed from the alluvium that the mountain rivers deposited here. 
  • This turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops.
  •  This led to the development of the Indus River Valley Civilisation. The rich soil was further aided by favourable climate and constant water supply from the rivers.
  •  Between the mouths of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra, the North Indian Plain covers a distance of 2400 km. It is 240-320 km wide at some places.
  •  The North Indian Plains have the Indus river system in the west and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system in the east. The first includes Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj. 
  • The Indus flows into the Arabian Sea. The second includes Ganga, its tributaries and the Brahmaputra which combine as Meghna as they drain into the Bay of Bengal. 
  • They form the world’s largest and fastest growing delta. The difference in relief has led the North Indian Plains to be divided into four zones : (i) Bhabhar, (ii) Tarai, (iii) Bangar and (iv) Khadar.


What is the reason for the north-facing slopes of Himalayas retain snow longer than the south facing slopes.

  •  Both sides of a hill receive approximately the same amount of precipitation, have similar soils and experience the same temperatures but can appear very different from each other.
  •  However, the south facing slopes receive more direct sunlight and snow will melt faster, soil moisture will evaporate faster creating a dryer micro climate than the shady north facing slope which might be only meters away.
  •  The slower evaporation on the north side means that plants (that biology connection) will have more available moisture. With the snow melting at a slower rate, there is more water available longer in to the spring.


The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have __________ forests.

  • The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a tropical rainforest canopy, made of a mixed flora with elements from Indian, Myanmar, Malaysian and endemic floral strains. 
  • The Middle Andamans harbours mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andamans is characterised by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers.
  •  The North Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests  are common in the Andamans, they are almost absent in the Nicobars.
  •  The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.


How does the indented coastline affect the climate of a region?


  • Large bodies of water take longer to warm or cool than the land does, so coastal regions generally see lower temperatures during the summer and warmer temperatures during the winter than areas that are further inland.
  • When warm air from the inland areas meets the cool sea air, moisture and water droplets form fog, which is far less common further from the sea.


What is the extent and location of the shiwalik ranges?

  • Siwalik Range, also called Siwalik Hills or Outer Himalayas, Siwalik also spelled Shiwalik, sub-Himalayan range of the northern Indian subcontinent. 
  • It extends west-northwestward for more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Tista River in Sikkim state, northeastern India, through  Nepal, across northwestern India, and into northern Pakistan.
  •  Though only 10 miles (16 km) wide in places, the range has an average elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet (900 to 1,200 metres). 



What are "Doons"?

  • 'Doons 'are the plains which are formed by the rivers while cutting their courses through the ranges ,leaving behind the drained away rivers 
  • They are found in the shiwalik ranges eg. Dehra Dun.


Describe the location and extent of the Ganga Plain.

The Ganga Plain

  • The major portion of the Great Indian Plain consists of tile Ganga basin. It extends from the eastern margin of the Punjab in the west to Bangladesh border in the east. This is an extensive plain encompassing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
  • It is drained by the rivers such as Yamuna, Ganga, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Tista from the Himalayas in the north and Chambal, Betwa, Son and Damodar from the plateau in the south. The entire region slopes towards south and south-east.



Name the five major regions into which the Indo-Gangetic Plain can be divided.

Indo-Gangetic Plain: 3 Divisions of the Ganga Plain in India are 1. The Upper Ganga Plain, 2. The Middle Ganga Plain, 3. The  Lower Ganga Plain

This is the largest unit of the Great Plain of India stretching from Delhi to Kolkata in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal covering an area of about 3.75 lakh sq. km. The Ganga is the master river after whose name this plain is named.

The general slope of the entire plain is to the east and south east.




Name the Southernmost point of India. Is it visible today?

The Southernmost point of India is Indira Point. The Indira Point is situated in the Great Nicobar group of Island in Andaman Nicobar Islands. It is not visible today because it was submerged under the sea in the 2004 Tsunami. It was named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The point was formerly know as Pygmalion Point and Parson Point. It was renamed in mid-1980s in honour of Indira Gandhi.


Write short notes on the Northern Plains of India ?

Northern plains lie in the south of Himalayas Mountains and north of Deccan plateau. It is formed by flooding of three major rivers- Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. It is drained by many other rivers like Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak etc. These are perennial rivers which flow throughout the year which helps plains maintain their fertility. It has the largest tract of 2400 km of alluvial soil in the world. The soil of these plains is very fertile. A large number of people live here who are dependent on agriculture for livelihood.


Which is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world?

Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River, is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.


Name the important physical regions of the Peninsular Plateau.

Peninsular Plateau of India

The triangular shaped Peninsular Plateau of India extends from the south of Indo-Ganga Plain to the Cape Comorin (now Kanyakumari). This plateau is one of the oldest surfaces of the Earth and represents a segregated part of the old Gondwanaland.

Physical features:

The Aravalli range in the west and the Satpura, the Mahadeo and the Kaimur range in the south divide the Peninsular Plateau into two parts:

(i) The Central Indian Plateau in the north and (ii) The Deccan Plateau in the south of it. A brief account of them is given below:

Central Indian Plateau:

The Aravalli mountain, extending between Delhi and Ahmedabad (also Amdavad) , lies in the western flank of the plateau. 

The Deccan Plateau:

The Deccan Plateau is almost encircled by hills and mountains, viz. the Satpura, Mahadeo, Kaimur ranges on the north, the Western Ghat on the west and the Eastern Ghat on the east. The Deccan plateau forms a large portion of South India.

The Maharashtra Lava Plateau is flanked in the south-west by Karnataka Plateau and on the south-east by the Telangana Plateau.


Name at least three tributaries each from the northern and southern side of the Ganga river.

There are many tributaries of Ganga.

Northern bank tributaries are
Ramganga, Gomati, Rapti, Gandak and Kosi.

Southern bank tributaries are
Yamuna, Son & Damodar.


Name the rivers that form deltas along the Eastern Coastal Plain.

  • Compared to the Western Coastal Plain, the East Coastal Plain is wider.
  •  The deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers have formed nearly 25% of the area of this plain. 
  • The soil of the deltas is very fertile therefore agriculture is very productive.
  •  Specially and delta of the river Krishna is very fertile and is known as the ‘Granary of South India’.


Name the two coastal plains of India and describe any two features of each.

Western Coast and Eastern Coast are the two coastal plains of India.

Western Coast:

(i)   It is located between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
(ii) It is a narrow plain.
(iii) Northern part of the coast is called the Konkan while the Southern stretch is called Malabar Coast.

Eastern Coast:

(i)   It runs along the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) It is wide and level.
(iii) Northern part of it is referred to as Northern Circar while the Southern part is known as Coromandel Coast.
(iv) Lake Chilika is an important feature along this coast.


Mention the extent of the Himalayan mountain ranges.

The Himalayan mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.


Which river drains the Chotanagpur plateau?

The Damodar river drains the Chotanagpur plateau.


Which island countries are our southern neighbours?

Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries that are our southern neighbours.


Name three states of the Northern Plains with high population densities.

The three states of the Northern Plains with high population densities are:
(i) Uttar Pradesh
(ii) Bihar 
(iii) West Bengal


Name the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau.

The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.


Give an account of the wildlife found in the Himalayas.

  • Common animals, which are seen mostly in the different parts of the Himalayas, are snow leopards, blue sheep, musk deer, tigers, elephants, wild boar, and crocodiles.
  • Birds found in the Himalayas are Himalayan Vulture .Crested Serpent Eagle,Bay Owl,Common Flameback, flamingo.Golden Oriole,the Great Cormorant, and critically endangered species Himalayan Quil.
  • There are different species of reptiles and amphibians live in the Himalaya as well such as Himalaya gharial and muggar,common lizard and gecko.


What are the calcareous deposits in the northern plains known as?

The calcareous deposits in the northern plains are known as Kankar.


What kind of soil is found in the northern plains?

Alluvial Soil :-
These are fertile soil deposited by rivers on and near their banks. These soils are majorly found in the northern plains of the country. The most fertile alluvial soil is found in the Ganga valley, where it is deposited by river Ganges. These soils cover almost 35-40% of the region of India.

These soils are rich in minerals especially potash. They are a dark shade of grey and are extremely suitable for agriculture. Some dark black alluvial soil can also be found in coastal areas.


Answer the following questions in a sentence each:
The northern plains are called deposited plains. Why ?

The northern plain lies between the Himalayas and the peninsular plateau of India and is formed by the depositional work of three river systems namely the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Hence, the northern plains are called deposited plains.


Deccan plateau has great economic importance. Explain.

The following advantages of Deccan plateau make it economically important:
- It is rich in mineral resources and rivers. 
- has waterfalls that help in generation of hydroelectric power.
- Plateaus are suitable for the cultivation of cotton. 
- Has dense forests which are the home of many wild animals.


Write short notes on The Shiwalik range.

The southernmost range of the Himalayan system is known as Shiwalik hills. The average altitude of the Shiwalik Ranges varies between 900 to 1100m. The area between Shiwaliks and the lesser Himalayas consist of a number of valleys. These valleys are more or less parallel to the ranges and are known as Duns.


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
The western coastal plains are very ______.

The western coastal plains are very Narrow.
The western coastal plains are thus wetter than their eastern counterpart. The rivers flowing through thiscoastal plain do not form any delta. Many small rivers descend from the Western Ghats making a chain of waterfalls. The Kayals – The Malabar coast has a distinguishing feature in the form of 'Kayals' (backwaters).


Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
The Great Indian desert lies to the _______ part of India.

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
Name the two important hill ranges that lie in the peninsular plateau.

The Vindhyas and the Satpuras.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
What does Himalayas mean?

The word "Himalaya" means House of Snow in Sanskrit, an old Indian language.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
Define the term Desert.

A desert is a dry, hot and sandy stretch of land with very little vegetation.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
Where are the world's highest peaks located?

The world's highest peaks are located in the Great Himalayas or Himadri.


Short Answer Type Questions:
How are coral islands formed? 

Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. As the corals grow and expand, reefs take on one of three major characteristic structures —fringing, barrier or atoll.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
What are called polyps?

Polyps are very small marine animals.


Very Short Answer Type Questions:
What is the height of the Mt. Everest?

The height of the Mt. Everest is 8,848.86 meters. Nepal and China with a consensus came on to agreement in December 2020 on height of mount Everest ,which was calculated to be 0.86 meters higher.


Short Answer Type Questions:
Write a short note on the two groups of islands of India.

India has two groups of islands. The Lakshadweep islands are located in the Arabian Sea close to the Malabar Coast of Kerala. These are the small group of the coral islands. Kavaratti Island is the administrative capital of the Lakshadweep. The Pitt Island is uninhabited and has a bird sanctuary. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are located in the Bay of Bengal and are an elevated portion of the submarine mountains. Since these islands lie close to the Equator, the climate remains hot and wet throughout the year and has dense forests.


Short Answer Type Questions:
Write a short note on the coastal plains in India.

India has a long coastline which runs across the Arabian Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east. ...
The western coast is a narrow strip of land which is located between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. ...
The eastern coastal plains are located between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.


Very Short Answer Type Question:
What is the difference between the western coastal plains and the eastern coastal plains.

The Western  coastal plains are very narrow while the eastern coastal plains are much broader.


The entire group of Bay of Bengal Island is divided into ___________ broad categories.

The entire group of Bay of Bengal Island is divided into two broad categories: the Andaman in the North and the Nicobar in the south.


Western Ghats is known as __________ in Karnataka.

Western Ghats are locally known as Nilgiri hills in Karnataka.


The Indian Desert is located _________ of the Aravalli hills lies the great Indian Desert.

The Indian Desert is located North-West of the Aravalli hills lies the Great Indian desert.


__________ Himalayan zones lies to the North of the great Himalayas bordering Tibet.

Trans Himalayan zones lies to the North of the Great Himalayas bordering Tibet.


Why Pamir is called a knot?

Pamir is called a knot because it is the convergence of one of the major mountain ranges of the world including the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush and the Pamir systems.


Write short notes on 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.



Distinguish between Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.

 Western Ghats Eastern Ghats
Mark the western edge of the Deccan Plateau. Continuous, can be crossed through the passes only. Discontinuous, irregular and dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.
Mark the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. Irregular and dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Higher; average elevation is 900−1600 meters. Lower; average elevation is 600 meters.
It experiences orographic rain mostly in summer due to the summer monsoons. The climate is hot and moist.It receives rain mostly in winter through North-eastern monsoon. 
Soil is highly fertile. Rice, spices, rubber and fruits like coconuts, cashew nuts etc. are grown.Soil is not as fertile. Rice, groundnut, tobacco, coconuts etc. are grown.


How were the Great Himalayan Plains formed?

  • The Northern Plains have been formed from the alluvium that the mountain rivers deposited here.
  •  This turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops.
  •  This led to the development of the Indus River Valley Civilisation. The rich soil was further aided by favourable climate and constant water supply from the rivers.
  •  Between the mouths of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra, the North Indian Plain covers a distance of 3200 km. It is 300 to 150 km wide at some places.
  •  The North Indian Plains have the Indus river system in the west and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system in the east. The first includes Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj.
  •  The Indus flows into the Arabian Sea. The second includes Ganga, its tributaries and the Brahmaputra which combine as Meghna as they drain into the Bay of Bengal. 
  • They form the world’s largest and fastest growing delta.
  •  The difference in relief has led the North Indian Plains to be divided into four zones : (i) Bhabhar, (ii) Tarai, (iii) Bangar and (iv) Khadar.


What is the bhabar?

The Bhabar is a narrow belt about 8-10km wide running in East to west direction along the foot of the Shiwaliks of Himalayan Range with a remarkable continuity from the Indus to the Tista. The Bhabar belt is comparatively narrow in the east and extensive in the western and north-western hilly region. The area is not suitable for agriculture and only big trees with large roots thrive in this belt.


Write three important features of Aravalli hills.

The three important features of Aravalli hills are as follows:
(i) The Aravalli hills lie on the western and the North-Western margins of the Peninsular plateau.
(ii) These are highly eroded and broken hills and lie in the Northward direction of the Satpura ranges.
(ii) These are extended from Gujarat to Delhi in South-West-North-East, direction.


Which are the world's highest and second highest peaks.

Mount Everest:-
Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain. Its peak is an eye-watering 8,848 metres above sea level, making it well over eight times taller than the highest mountain in Wales (Snowdon, at 1,085 metres above sea level).

Everest is situated on the border between Nepal and the autonomous region of Tibet. Officially speaking, the first successful Everest climbers were Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. It is estimated that there is well over 200 dead bodies on Everest, all of them remarkably well-preserved because of the extremely cold temperatures.

Everest is part of the Seven Summits. The Seven Summits is a list made up of the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents. Climbing all seven of the Seven Summits is one of the ultimate achievements in the sport of mountaineering.

K2:-
K2, also known officially as Mount Godwin-Austen or Chhogori, has a summit 8,611 metres above sea level. It is located on the border between China and Pakistan. The Chinese side of the mountain is widely considered to be the more difficult and hazardous side, so the summit is usually attempted from the Pakistan side.

Behind Annapurna, K2 has the second highest fatality rate of any mountain with a height over 8,000 metres. Approximately speaking, there’s one death for every four successful climbs; justifying its nickname as the “Savage Mountain.” Unlike with the other 8,000 metre peaks, nobody has ever successfully ascended K2 in winter


Describe why the Himalayas have many folds? 

  • Fold mountains are mountains that form mainly by the effects of folding on layers within the upper part of the Earth's crust.
  •  Before either plate tectonic theory developed, or the internal architecture of thrust belts became well understood, the term was used for most mountain belts, such as the Himalayas.
  •  The Himalayas are a prime example of how tectonic plate motion can manipulate the earth in extraordinary ways.
  •  These colliding plates resulted in the formation of the highest mountain range on the planet.
  •  Our continents are carried by a series of tectonic plates located in the earth's lithosphere.
  •  Earth's crust itself is warped into folded forms. Foldmountains are often associated with continental crust.


Name the flat, longitudinal valleys in the Shiwaliks.

  1. Shiwalik range is the youngest of the Himalayan ranges facing the plains towards the south and running in a northwest-southeast direction (more in east-west direction) passing through the northern parts of Saharanpur, the southern portion of Dehradun and Garhwal and the middle portion of Nainital district.
  2. The width of the Shiwalik zone varies from 6 to 30 km (wider in west and decreasing in width towards east). Its height above the mean sea level generally varies between 300 and 700 metre, but the crests vary in height between 750 and 1200 metres.
  3.  The Shiwalik ridges are largely forested. The rivers generally flow across the range through deep gorges.
  4.  Beyond this range, towards the north are flat longitudinal valleys or ‘Duns’ which separate it from the lesser Himalayas.


Which valleys are situated in the Himachal range?

Many valleys are situated in the Himachal range. Among them Kashmir valley (in jammu and Kashmir), Kangra and Kullu valleys (in Himachal Pradesh) are some of the examples.


The Deccan plateau has soil that is good for growing cotton. Give reason.

  • The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up most of the southern part of the country.
  •  The Deccan region has historically lacked an enduring geo-political centre, and has been defined in various ways.
  •  Geographers have attempted to define it using indices such as rainfall, vegetation, soil type or physical features.
  •  The thick dark soil (called regur) found here is suitable for cotton cultivation.
  • Black soil is made from lava-solidified rocks and is also called as ‘Black Cotton Soil’ or ‘Regur Soil’.
  • The black colour of regur soil is due to its iron content, deriving from plutonic lava materials.
  • Mainly found in the Deccan region which includes the major part of Maharashtra, Gujarat and part of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Cotton is most important crop .



Why the eastern coastal plain does not have many good ports?

a. West coast is coast of submergence (except Malabar Coast) while east coast is an emergent coast. These imply that sea is deeper in west coast than sea on east coast. So, west coast has favourable conditions for natural harbours.
b. West Rivers form estuaries and eastern rivers form delta. Therefore it becomes difficult for ships to reach the east coast covered with sediments.
c. High Tides hit coast real hard. So coastal erosion, natural ports
d. Continental shelf on east extends up to 500 km into the sea, so, difficult to develop good ports and harbours. Ships can enter and leave only during tides. But this does-not mean we cannot have ports in this condition. Some of the world's well known ports are located on Continental shelves like London, Singapore, Hong Kong.
e. Historically, British India had trade contacts mainly with the Western world & Arabs. So natural choice was ports on western coast. 
Geographically, the west coast is the submergence coast line barring the Malabar coast. Hence it has given rise to deep natural harbors as compared to east coast characterized by emergent coastline barring the coromandel coast.



Distinguish between Western Coastal Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains.

The differences and comparison between Eastern and Western Coastal Plains are discussed below:

1. The Eastern Coastal plain lies along the east coast of India and is washed by the Bay of Bengal.

But the Western Coastal Plain lies along the west coast of India and is washed by The Arabian Sea.

2. The East Coast plain runs smoothly from the north to the south with a broad plain and level surface.

But the West Coast plain also runs from the north to the south and it is in some places intersected by the mountain ridges.

3. Eastern Coastal Plain is broader than the West Coast plain. The width varies from 80 to 100 km.But the Eastern Coastal Plain is narrow with a width of 50 to 65 km. In some places it is so narrow that the Western Ghats touch the Sea water.

4. The large rivers make wide deltas on the Eastern Coastal Plains.But the short swift rivers do not make any deltas on the West Coast.

5. The Eastern Coast is sandy with alluvium and slopes gently towards the sea. Sand dunes and marshy lands are also found. In some Coastal strips lagoons (Chilka, Pulicat) are formed.

But the Western Coast is relatively rocky with sand and sand dunes. It slopes abruptly down to the sea. It has many estuaries on the Konkon Coast. But the southern part especially the Malabar Coast has the beautiful scene of back-water country with a series of lagoons.

6. The Eastern Coast is smooth and unfit for making ports. So, very few ports are developed there.

But the Western Coast is broken and indented and suitable for ports. For this, a large number of ports are there.

7. This Coastal plain receives comparatively low rainfall.

But the Western Coastal plain receives heavy rainfall.

8. The East Coast Plain is formed by fine alluvial soil and is fertile especially on the deltas. Consequently agriculture is developed. The West Coast Plain lies along the west coast of India and is washed by the Arabian Sea.

But the West Coast Plain is formed by coarse grained soil. It is infertile and agriculturally not prosperous except in the Malabar Coast.




What makes the Northern Mountains Important in India?

10 Importance of the Northern Mountains of India
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No other mountain system in the world has affected the lives of the people and shaped the destiny of the nation, as the Himalayas. The Himalayas are actually called the body and soul of India. The Northern Mountains are important due to the following reasons.

1. Climatic Influence:
Due to their height, width and direction, these mountains intercept the summer monsoon winds coming from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, and cause precipitation in the form of rain and snow. In the absence of these mountains, a major part of the Indian Subcontinent would have been a hot and dry desert.
These mountain ranges do not permit the extremely cold winds from Central Asia to enter this region. Their absence would have caused extremely cold winters.

2. Source of Rivers:
Enough rainfall and vast snow-fields in these mountains are the source of perennial rivers. The melting snow provides enough water during the dry season. The rivers and their numerous tributaries, coming from the Northern Mountains, form the basis of life in the Northern Plains of India.

3. Fertile Soils:
In the course of their flow, the rivers and their tributaries bring with them large amount of alluvium. When deposited, these sediments provide extremely fertile soil in the Northern Plains. Thus, it is said that the northern plains of India are the Gift of the Himalayas.

4. Hydroelectricity:
The rivers and their tributaries make several natural waterfalls in the Northern Mountains. These are the sites, where dams can be constructed across the river for producing hydroelectricity.

5. Forest Wealth:
The lower slopes of the Northern Mountains are thickly forested. Trees vary from tropical to the alpine types. These forests provide fuel, wood, timber and raw materials for various industries. Some parts have rich pastures and are widely used for grazing livestock.

6. Agriculture:
The slopes of the mountains have been terraced to produce rice, maize, potatoes, vegetables and fruits. Tea plantations are extensively developed on the lower slopes, especially in the Eastern Himalayas.

7. Storehouse of Minerals:
Many parts in the Northern Mountains have rich reserves of minerals and fuel resources, such as petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, silver, tungsten, limestone, etc.

8. Tourism:
A number of tourist spots have been developed all along the Northern Mountains. These places offer cool and comfortable climate to millions of tourists visiting from all over the world, especially during the summer season.

9. Effective Barrier:
The Northern Mountains have always acted as an effective barrier for the enemy. In spite of new developments in the warfare techniques, the significance of these mountains cannot be ignored altogether.

10. Religious Centres:
The Himalaya mountain ranges have always been considered as the abode of Gods and saints. Large numbers of shrines have developed in these mountains. Some of them are Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jwalaji, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Uttarkashi, etc.


Write short notes on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

Andaman Nicobar
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the seven union territories of India comprising 572 islands of which 37 are inhabited, are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
The territory is about 150 km (93 mi) north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands (partly) and the Nicobar Islands, separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel (on the 10°N parallel), with the Andamans to the north of this latitude, and the Nicobars to the south (or by 179 km). The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west.
The territory's capital is the city of Port Blair. The total land area of these islands is approximately 8,249 km2 (3,185 sq mi). The islands host the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-service geographical command of the Indian Armed Forces. The territory is dived into three districts: Nicobar District with Car Nicobar as capital, South Andaman district with Port Blair as capital and North and Middle Andaman district with Mayabunder as capital.
The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese people, an uncontacted people. The Sentinelese are the only people currently known to not have reached further than a Paleolithic level of technology.

Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 km (120 to 270 mi) off the southwestern coast of India. The archipelago is a Union Territory and is governed by the Union Government of India. They were also known as Laccadive Islands, although geographically this is only the name of the central subgroup of the group. Lakshadweep means "one hundred thousand islands" in Sanskrit and Malayalam.[3] The islands form the smallest Union Territory of India and their total surface area is just 32 km2 (12 sq mi). The lagoon area covers about 4,200 km2 (1,600 sq mi), the territorial waters area 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi) and the exclusive economic zone area 400,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi). The region forms a single Indian district with 10 subdivisions. Kavaratti serves as the capital of the Union Territory and the region comes under the jurisdiction of Kerala High Court. The islands are the northernmost of the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands, which are the tops of a vast undersea mountain range, the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge.



Himadri and Himachal.

  • The Himadri also called the Great or Inner Himalayas, is the northern most range of the Himalayas. This range is in a single, unbroken line and has the highest peaks like Mount Everest and Mount Godwin Austin.

  • Several glaciers, such as the Gangotri and the Siachen, originate from this range. The Zoji La pass is situated in the Great Himalayan range and serves as the only link between Ladakh and Kashmir.

  • The next range the Himachal, is located south of the Greater Himalayas. The height of mountains in this range is between 3700 and 4500 metres hence is also referred to as the Lesser Himalayas! In other words, the Himachal is made up of altered rocks. The Pir Panjal is the longest range in the Lesser Himalayas. The Dhaula Dhar and the Mahabharat are other ranges famous for their beauty. The Himalayas are also divided into regions from east to west.


Write briefly three features of the Shiwalik range which affect human life negatively.

Three features of the Shivalik range which affect human life badly : 

(i) Due to its formation of loose rock material, landslides occur very frequently.
(ii) It is prone to earthquakes for example earthquakes at Chamoli and Uttar Kashi. 
(iii) Soil erosion affects most badly. 


The Himalayan ranges are useful in the economic development of India.

The Indian part of Himalayas extends over 10 states covering about 95 districts. It comprises over 16% of the country’s geographical area and home to 3.73% of the total population of India. 
 Himalayas may be the most dominating geographical feature  of India.
The Himalayas are diverse in people, climate, ecology, soil, flora & fauna.
 They comprise the lowland forests of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the marshy wetlands of the Terai, the porous, rock strewn Bhabar belt, the inner Terai or Dun valleys, the Montane forests, and the Alpine scrub and grasslands.
Source of Rivers and Resources: The Himalayas have the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after Antarctica and Arctic region. These glaciers and snow caps feed large perennial rivers. 
Agriculture: The great rivers and their tributaries carry enormous quantities of alluvial soil while descending from the Himalayas. This is deposited in the Great Plain of North India in the form of fertile soil, making the plain one of the most fertile lands of the world. 
Power Generation: The Himalayan region offers several sites which can be used for producing Hydroelectricity. In  India alone, there are 74 hydro-projects with an installed power generation capacity of 15,208 MW, 37 projects with a capacity of 17,765 MW are under construction and 318 projects are further planned with an expected capacity of 93,000 MW. Thus, they greatly affect energy usage and consumption, thereby saving country billions of dollars in foreign energy trade.
Industries and Modern Cities: There are thousands of cities nurturing millions of settlements across the rivers emanating from Himalayas. Various industries have came across in these cities like heavy and automotive industry in Haridwar region, Leather tanning in Kanpur region.
Tourism: By virtue of their scenic beauty and healthy environment, the Himalayan ranges have developed a large number of tourist spots. The hilly areas in the Himalayas offer cool and comfortable climate when the neighboring plains are reeling under the scorching heat of the summer season.



Describe the general topography of the Himalayan mountains.


  • The Himalayan Region

    Young fold mountains made from the uplift of the strata formed by the sedimentary rocks.

    Consists of the loftiest mountains and deep valleys 
    The ranges have V-shaped and U-shaped valleys.
    It is the origin of perennial rivers.
    From the point of view of geology, this region forms an unstable zone .


Describe the main features of the India desert in detail.

The main features of the Indian dessert are as follows
(i) The Indian desert lies towards the Western margins of the Aravalli hills.
(ii) It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
(iii) This region receives very low rainfall, below 150 mm per year. It has an arid climate with low vegetation cover.
(iv) Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon after, they disappear into the sand as they do not have enough water.
(v) Luni is the only large river in this region. Barchans (crescent shaped dunes) cover larger areas, but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan border.


Describe Northern plains of India. Into how many parts they are divided?

The Northern plain was formed due to the Himalayan upliftment out of the Tethys sea and subsidence of the Northern flank of the Peninsular plateau which resulted in the formation of a large basin. In course of time, this depression gradually got filled with deposition of sediments from rivers flowing from the mountains in the North and led to formation of the fertile Northern plains.
They spread over an area of 7 lakh sq km. The plains are about 2400 km long and 230-240 km broad. It is a densely populated and an intensively cultivated area.
With its adequate water supply and favourable climate, it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
The Northern plains are broadly divided into three parts which are as follows
(i) The Western part of the Northern plains is called the Punjab plain, formed by the Indus and its tributaries.
(ii) The Ganga plain extends between the Ghaggar and the Teesta rivers, spread over the states of Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
(iii) The Brahmaputra plain lies to the East of the Ganga plains. It covers the areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.


Distinguish between the following: Duns and chos in the Shiwalik ranges.

  • Siwaliks are the youngest ranges of the Himalayas. The valley of these ranges are called 'Duns' or 'Duars'.
  •  Doon or Dun  is a local word for valley, particularly an open valley in the Shivaliks or between the Shivaliks and higher Himalayan foothills. Other valleys in this region have names like Patli Dun, Kothri Dun, Pinjore Dun in Himachal Pradesh. 
  • Duns are longitudinal valleys formed as a result of folding when Eurasian plate and Indian plate collided. They are formed between Lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks. These valleys are deposited with coarse alluvium brought down by Himalayan rivers.
  • The southern slopes of Shiwalik range in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are almost devoid of forest cover. These slopes are highly dissected by seasonal streams called Chos.
  • The networks of rivers in the north of the plains jointed with the Shiwaliks are called 'Chos'.


Give an account of the Deccan trap.

  •  The Deccan Traps began forming 66.25 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period.
  •  The bulk of the volcanic eruption occurred at the Western Ghats (near Mumbai) some 66 million years ago.
  • The Deccan Traps are one of the largest volcanic provinces in the world.
  •  It consists of more than 6,500 feet (>2,000 m) of flat-lying basalt lava flows and covers an area of nearly 200,000 square miles (500,000 square km) (roughly the size of the states of Washington and Oregon combined) in west-central India.
  •  The Deccan Traps in India – between 17°–24° North and 73°–74° East – are a place where you can find layer upon layer of solidified rock.
  • Deccan Trap is a thick sequence (3200 metres) of late cretaceous basaltic lava flows that cover about 500000 sq. km. of peninsular India.


Name the important ranges in the Trans-Himalayan ranges.

The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region or Tibet Himalayan Region is located to the north of the Great Himalayas which is consists of Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and Kailash mountain ranges.
 It is also called the Tibet Himalayan Region because most of the part of these ranges lies in the Tibet. The Karakoram Range is known as the ‘backbone of high Asia’.

The Karakoram Range

It is also known as Krishnagiri which is situated in the northern most range of the Trans-Himalayan ranges. It forms India's frontiers with Afghanistan and China. It extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 km. The average width of this range is 120-140 km. It is a range of lofty peaks and its elevation hardly ever falls below 5,500 mt. It is the abode of some of the greatest Glaciers of the world outside the Polar Regions.

Ladakh Range

It lies to the north of the Leh and is an important part of the Trans-Himalayan range that merges with the Kailash range in Tibet. The important passes that lie to the north east of Leh are- Kardung La, and Digar La.

The Zaskar Range

It separate from the great Himalayan Range and runs parallel to it. The Nanga Parbat (8126 mt) bring to a head or to the highest point in the north-west but the adjoining Deosai Mountain may also be included in it. Ladakh range is in the north of the Zaskar range which runs parallel to it. 

The Kailash range

It is a branch of the Ladakh range which is situated in the western Tibet. Its average elevation is 5,500-6,000 mt above sea level and its average width is 30 km. Mount Kailash (6,714 mt) is the highest peak of this range. River Indus originates from the northern slope of the Kailash range.



Why are the Northern Plains of India called the 'gift of the Himalayas'?


  •  Himalayas act as a huge reservoir of water for the north Indian rivers.
  •  Almost all the great and perennial rivers of the India originate from the Himalayan mountain or glaciers,  Abundant rainfall, vast snow field and huge glaciers are the feeding grounds of the mighty rivers of the India. 
  • Snow melt in summer provides water to these rivers even during dry season and hence these are perennial rivers.
  •  Himalayan rivers are the life line of the north India.
  •  Himalayas are the formation of the sediments deposited in the Tethys sea.
  •  This sediment is carried by the Himalayan rivers and deposited in the northern plain in the form of the fertile soil, making the plain one the most fertile land of the world. 
  •  It is, therefore, often said that Northern Plains of India called the 'gift of the Himalayas.


What is the significance of the Peninsular Plateau for the economic development of India?

The Peninsular Plateau is of immense use for the economy of India because:

(i) It is store house of minerals like Iron ore, bauxite, gold, copper, coal, manganese, mica etc.

(ii)Its Black Earth soils are very productive and are intensively given to cotton culture.

(iii) The Ghats are immeasurable sources of wood, Timber etc.

(iv) The Western Ghats have rich water potentials.

The valuable trees are teak, sandal, rosewood, sal, ebony, bamboo etc.

(v)The rivers make falls and rapid thus provide ideal sites for dam construction for producing hydro-power.

(vi) There inhabit a large variety of wild animals, birds etc. in the thickly wooded ghats. 

There are a number of hill resorts of immense scenic beauty and of salubrious climate which attract tourists and film actors, producers and directors.

These centres Mahabaleshwar, Ooty, Pachmarhi etc. The Peninsular Plateau is a region of Dravidian culture. Thus it is dotted with innumerable temples, shrines, etc.



Explain any five characteristics of Peninsular Plateau.

Main features of the Peninsular Plateau:
(i) It is a table land composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
(ii) It is formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land.
(iii) It has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
(iv) It consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
(v) The Central Highlands are wider in the West but narrower in the East.
(vi) The Deccan Plateau is higher in the West and slopes gently eastwards.


What is the importance of the Chota Nagpur Plateau?

Chota Nagpur, plateau in eastern India, in northwestern Chhattisgarh and central Jharkhand states. The plateau is composed of Precambrian rocks (i.e., rocks more than about 540 million years old). Chota Nagpur is the collective name for the Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and Kodarma plateaus, which collectively have an area of 25,293 square miles (65,509 square km). Its largest division is the Ranchi Plateau, which has an average elevation of about 2,300 feet (700 metres). The Chota Nagpur plateau in its entirety lies between the basins of the Ganges (Ganga) and Son rivers to the north and the Mahanadi River to the south. Through its centre, from west to east, runs the coal-bearing, faulted Damodar River valley. Numerous streams have dissected the uplands into a peneplain (an area reduced almost to a plain by erosion) with isolated hills.

Centuries of heavy cultivation have depleted the plateau of much of its natural vegetation, though some valuable forests still remain. Forest products, such as tussah silk and lac, are economically important. The Chota Nagpur area has the most valuable concentration of mineral resources in India. The Damodar valley has vast coal reserves, and the Hazaribagh region is one of the main sources of mica in the world. Other minerals are copper, limestone, bauxite, iron ore, asbestos, and apatite (useful in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers). A huge thermal plant for generating electricity and a large steel mill are located at Bokaro in eastern Jharkhand. Railroads cross the plateau, connecting Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, to the southeast with Patna, Bihar, to the north, and also link other cities in the south and west.


Describe the location, extent and formation of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in India and Bangladesh.

Ganga- Brahmaputra Delta

  • The Ganges Brahmaputra Delta, also named Ganges Delta, Sunderbans Delta or Bengal Delta is situated in Asia where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers discharge into the Bay of Bengal. 
  • It is, with a surface area of more than 100,000 sq. km, the world's largest Delta. Approximately two-thirds of the delta is in Bangladesh, the rest constitutes the state of West Bengal, India.
  • The Ganges Delta is the floodplain of three great rivers: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna.
  • The Ganges Delta is among the most fertile regions in the world. Along the coast, he width of the delta is approximately 350 km. The distance from the confluence of the Brahmaputra and the Ganges to the coast is some 250 km. 
  • When the Ganga flows towards West Bengal, it splits into two the Bhagirathi-Hooghly (a distributary) flows southwards through the deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal. The main stream, flows southwards into Bangladesh and is joined by the Brahmaputra, thus resulting in the formation of a delta. The delta formed by these rivers is known as the Sunderban Delta. The Sunderban Delta derived its name from the Sundari tree which grows well in marsh land. It is the world's largest and fastest growing delta. 
  • With some 130 million inhabitants, the Ganges delta belongs to the most densely populated areas in the world.



Explain any five properties of the northern plains of India.

Properties are:
(i) The northern plains have been formed from the alluvium deposited by the mountain rivers.
(ii) They are located between the Himalayan rivers in the north and the Peninsular Plateau in the south.
(iii) They turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops. This led to the development of the Indus Valley Civilization.
(iv) They are made up of deposits of alluvium and cover an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
(v) They are densely populated physiographic division of India and are believed to be highly productive in terms of agriculture.



The Eastern Coastal Plain is more important than the Western Coastal Plain. Justify the statement.

The eastern coastal plains are more fertile than the western coastal plains because the eastern plains are supplied by the rivers of the Deccan plateau.
The plains along the Bay of Bengal (east part) are wide and level.
→ The northern part is known as the Northern Circar, while 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 eastern coast.
→ Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.


Name the State where Kandla sea port is located.

Kandla sea port is located in Gujarat.


Give an account of the Deccan Plateau.

An account of Deccan Plateau of India:
(i) It 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 forms its eastern extensions.
(ii) The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
(iii) An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the north-east. It is locally known as the Meghalaya, Karbi Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills. It was once a part of Deccan Plateau.(iv) It is separated by a fault from the Chhotanagpur Plateau. Three prominent hill ranges form the West to East are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
(v) The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the Western and Eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively. The Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast and Eastern Ghats lie parallel to the eastern coast.
(vi) An extensive area to the north-west of the plateau is covered by black coloured basalt. This part is called Lava or the Deccan Trap.


Describe the course of the Brahmautra river in Tibet and India.

  • Assam and adjoining region---The Brahmaputra enters India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called Siang.
  •  It makes a very rapid descent from its original height in Tibet, and finally appears in the plains, where it is called Dihang.
  • The Brahmaputra river course in Tibet signifies its origin or the upper course.. River Brahmaputra in India starts from the Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Brahmaputra River has its source in southwest Tibet.
  •  It flows there with the name Yarlung Tsangpo River. 
  • The river runs across south Tibet to penetrate the Himalayan mountain ranges in huge canyons and subsequently Arunachal Pradesh (India).
  • It flows for about 35 km and is joined by two other major rivers like Dibang and Lohit.
  •  From this point of convergence, the river becomes very wide and is called Brahmaputra.



Mention three features of the Central Highlands.

(i) The Central Highlands form the part of the Peninsular plateau that lies to the north of the Narmada river covering a major area of the Maiwa Plateau.
(ii) The Vindhya range is bounded by the Central Highlands on the south and the Aravalis on the northeast. The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of Rajasthan.
(iii) These highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east.


The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent. Name them.

(i) The northernmost range known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri.
(ii) The range lying to the south of the Himadri known as Himachal or lesser Himalayas.
(iii) The outermost range of the Himalayas known as the Shiwaliks.


What are barchans? Where are they found?

Barchans are crescent shaped dunes found in the Indian desert.


Mention two features of the Himadri.

(i) It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000 m.
(ii) it contains all the prominent Himalayan peaks.


Name the rivers draining the central Highlands. Also mention the direction of the flow of these rivers.

The Sind, The Betwa and The Ken. These rivers flow from south-west to north-east.


What is the shape of the Deccan Plateau? Where does it lie?

The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass. It lies to the south of the river Narmada.


Describe how the Himalayas have been divided on the basis of regions from west to east.

(i) Punjab Himalayas. These divisions have been demarcated by river valleys. For instance, the part of Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj has been traditionally known as Punjab Himalayas but it is also known regionally as Kashmir and Himachal Himalayas from west to east respectively.
(ii) Kumaon Himalayas. The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
(iii) Nepal Himalayas. The Kali and Tista riven demarcate the Nepal Himalayas.
(iv) Assam Himalayas. The part lying between Tista and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas.


 What are the eastward extensions of the central highlands locally known as?

The eastward extensions of the central highlands are locally known as the Budelkhand and Baghelkhand.


What would be the possible dangers in the regions of eastern coast of India?

The delta region of the eastern coast of India is frequently struck by cyclones. This is because the cyclonic depressions that originate over the Andaman Sea are brought in by the sub-tropical easterly jet stream blowing over peninsular India during the monsoon as well as during the period between October to November. 
(i) These cyclones cause heavy and widespread rain.
(ii)These tropical cyclones are often very destructive.
(iii)The deltas of Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are frequently struck by cyclones which cause great damage to life and property.
(iv) Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Orissa, West Bengal and Bangladesh.


Explain the three major features of the Shiwaliks.

The outermost range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. The three major features of these ranges are
(i) They extend over a width of 10-50 km and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100 metres.
(ii) These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
(iii) These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium. The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns, such as Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun.


Give three facts about the Lakshadweep Islands groups.

(i) The Lakshadweep Islands group lies close to the Malabar coast of Kerala. This groups of islands is composed of small coral islands.
(ii) It covers small area of 32 sq.km. Kavaratli island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep.
(iii) This island group has great diversity of flora and fauna. The Pitti Island, which is uninhabited has a bird sanctuary.


What is called the outermost range of the Himalayas? Give a brief description of it.

  • Siwalik Range, also called Siwalik Hills or Outer Himalayas, Siwalik also spelled Shiwalik, sub-Himalayan range of the northern Indian subcontinent. It extends west-northwestward for more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from theTista River in Sikkim state, northeastern India,through Nepal, across northwestern India, and into northern Pakistan. 
  • Though only 10 miles (16 km) wide in places, the range has an average elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 feet (900 to 1,200 metres). 
  • Everywhere in this section the poor scrub forests have long since been removed, and the hills are subject to severe erosion. Seasonal torrents, called cos, sweep masses of sand and silt down into ever-changing great streambeds that are dry except after rains. 


Which are the three major Himalayan rivers?

The three major Himalayan rivers are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.


Where do most of the rivers of Peninsular India originate? Where do these rivers flow?

Most of the rivers of Peninsular India originate in the Western Ghats. These rivers flow towards the Bay of Bengal.


Why are the southern slopes in Himalayan region covered with thick vegetation cover as compared to northern slopes of the same hills?

  • The growth of vegetation depends upon the amount sunlight and rainfall received.
  •  The southern slopes of the Himalayas receive more rain due to the south west monsoon winds which travel west along the southern slopes. 
  •  So the southern slopes are covered with thick vegetation as compared to the northern slopes.
  • The northern slopes of the hills in Himalayan region are at high altitude and have low temperature or are snow covered. 
  • This does not allow much vegetation.
  •  In the southern part of the hills there are plains and valleys watered by rivers and with fertile soil and pleasant temperature levels all required for dense growth of vegetation.


Mention three features of the Himalayan mountains.

(i) The Himalayas, geologically young and structurally fold mountains, stretch over the northern borders of India.
(ii) These mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
(iii) The Himalayas represent the loftiest and one of the most rugged mountain barriers of the world.
(iv) They form an arc which covers a distance of about 2,400 km. Their width varies from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.


Which are the main tributaries that come from the peninsular uplands?

They are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son.


Which city is located on the water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river systems?

Ambala is located on the water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river Systems.


What are known as the Purvachal in the Eastern hills?Write about them.

1. After crossing the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas take a sudden southward turn and form a series of comparatively low hills running in the shape of a crescent with its convex side pointing towards the west.
2. These hills are collectively called the Purvanchal because they are located in the eastern part of India.
3.Extending from Arunachal Pradesh in the north to Mizoram in the south, they form India’s boundary with Myanmar.
4. It is obvious that the eastern hills decreases as we move from north to south. Although comparatively low, these hill ranges are rather forbidding because of the rough terrain, dense forest and swift stream.    




Describe division of the Northern Plain on the basis of variations in relief features.

According to the various relief features, the Northern Plains can be divided into four regions:
(i) The Bhabar Belt. The Bhabar is that narrow belt of the plain which is covered with pebbles and lies along the foothills of the Shiwaliks from the Indus to the Teesta. This belt is laid down by numerous streams descending down the hills. All the streams disappear in this Bhabar Belt. 
(ii) The Terai Belt. It lies next to the Bhabar region and is composed of newer alluvium. These plains are formed due to the re-emergence of rivers and thus creating a wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai. It was thickly forested region full of wildlife. But now the forests have been cleared to create agricultural land and to settle migrants from Pakistan after partition.
(iii) The Bhangar Belt. It is formed from older alluvium. They lie above the flood plains of the rivers and present a terrace like feature. These plains are found far from the river basins. The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits locally known as Kankar which is less fertile.
(iv) The Khadar Belt. The newer, younger deposits of the flood plains are called Khadar. They are renewed almost every year. So they are very fertile and ideal ,for intensive agriculture.


Give one feature of the river Brahmaputra.

The Brahmaputra has a braided channel in its entire length in Assam and forms many riverine islands.


Mention some important features of the Brahmaputra river system.

Some important features of the Brahmaputra river system are:
(i) The Bralunaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarovar lake. It is slightly longer than the Indus and most of its course lies outside India.
(ii) It has a braided channel in its entire length in Assam and forms many riverine islands.
(iii) Every year during the rainy season, the river overflows its banks, causing widespread devastation due to floods in Assam and Bangladesh. (iv) The Bralunaputra is marked by huge deposits of silt on its bed causing the river bed rise.
(v) The river also shifts its channel frequently. 


Write in detail about the natural vegetation and animals of Peninsular plateau.

Natural Vegetation of Peninsular (Deccan) Plateau :
a. Varied topography and other, physical features of the Deccan Plateau have rich variety of forests. 
b. Tropical evergreen, Tropical moist deciduous, Tropical dry deciduous and Thorny scrub forests are found in this region.
c. Tropical evergreen forests are dense but limited.
d. Teak, Sal, Sheesham, Sandalwood, Khair, Harda and Arjun are some of the trees found here.
e. Sandalwood has a very high commercial value.
f. Forests are being depleted because of the pressure from population, agriculture and mining.
Animals of Peninsular (Deccan) Plateau:
a. A variety of grazing animals from the Four homed Antelope and blackbuck to the Gaur and Wild Buffalo are found here.
b. Other important animals are the Tiger, Dhole (fierce wild dog of the forest), Sloth Bear and other carnivores.
c. This area is a home to many mammals.
d. Some of the larger species mentioned here are rare.
e. The Indian giant squirrel is endangered.
f. The 300 species of birds including Jerdons Courser-are globally threatened


Give geographical reasons for the following. The northern plains of India do not freeze in winter.

Northern plains of India do not freeze in winter due to the presence of Himalayas which do not allow the cold polar winds to enter India.


The peninsular plateau of India has a great economic significance. Justify.

The peninsular plateau has a great economic significance due to the following reasons:
(i) It has rich deposits of minerals. 
(ii) It has many rivers which are helpful for the production of hydro-electricity.
(iii) It has black soil which is good for commercial farming.


Differentiate between the Western and the Eastern Ghats.

The Western Ghats runs parallel to the western coast in a north-south direction from the Tapi River to Kanyakumari. But the Eastern Ghats runs in a north-east to a south-west direction parallel to the eastern coast from Orissa to the Nilgiri hills. Western Ghat’s average width is 50 to 80 km. But Eastern Ghat’s width varying from 100 to 200 km. The Western Ghats is a source of many large rivers which flow in Peninsular India. But no big river originates from the Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats is almost perpendicular to the south-west monsoons coming from the Arabian Sea and causes heavy rainfall in the western coastal plain. But the Eastern Ghats is almost parallel to the monsoons coming from the Bay of Bengal and does not cause much rainfall. The Western Ghats continuous and can be crossed through passes only. But the Eastern Ghats has been divided into several parts by large rivers.  Western Ghats average elevation is 900 to 1,100 meters above sea-level. But the average elevation of Eastern Ghats is about 600 metres above sea level.


How does coastal plains play a very important role in the economic development of India?

The coastal regions of India are noted for agriculture, trade, industrial centres, tourist centres, fishing and salt making. They provide important hinterlands for big ports. These ports are inevitable for the economic growth of the nation. They are the centres of national and international trade. Many parts of the Indian coastal plains have rich, fertile soil on which, apart from rice, a large variety of crops are grown. Some areas along the coastal plain have deposits of mineral oil. hence the coastal plains play a very important role in the economic development of India.


Mention few uses of Himalayas.

The Himalayas save our country from the cold and dry winds of Central Asia. It also prevents the rain-laden monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean from crossing over to Northern countries and causes heavy rainfall in Northern India. Almost all the great rivers of India have their sources in the Himalayan ranges. Abundant rainfall and vast snowfields, as well as large glaciers, are the feeding grounds of the mighty rivers of India. All the beautiful hill stations in Northern India like Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Shimla, Kulu, Manali, Dharamshala, Dehradun, Nainital are located in the Himalayas. Thousands of visitors come to these hill stations. Many useful herbs which are used as medicines grow on the slopes of the Himalayas. The Himalayan forests provide firewood and a large variety of raw materials for forest-based industries. The Himalayan forests provide shelter to many kinds of wild animals and birds.


Observe the following map and answer the questions given below it:
Name the major rivers on Maharashtra Plateau.
Name the west flowing river.
Name the two hills on Karnataka Plateau
Name any one tributary of river Krishna.
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1. Bhima river, Krishna river, Godavari river are the major rivers on Maharashtra plateau
2. Tungbhadra is west flowing river
3. Nilgiri Hills, Shevroy Hills are two hills on Karnataka Plateau.
4. Tungbhadra is tributary of river Krishna


Explain divisions of Central Highlands in detail.

(a) The Peninsular region extending from, the southern border of the North Indian Plains up to the Narmada Valley is called the central High lands. It mainly comprises the peninsular area that forms a part of the Ganga River basin.
(b) The Aravali mountain Range, EastRajasthan upland, Malwa Plateau, Buhdelkhand, Baghelkhand, Chota Nagpur Plateau and the Vindhya Range are the divisions of the central highlands.
(c) Their locations are as follows :
(i) The Aravali Range in Rajasthan forms the western boundary of the Central highlands. It stretches in the SW-NE direction.
(ii) The East Rajasthan upland and the Malwa Plateau border on the Aravalis in the east.
(iii) To the north-east of the Malwa plateau lies Bundelkhand, spread in the northern Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining part of the South Uttar Pradesh. It forms a part of the Yamuna river basin.
(iv) The Malwa Plateau is located in the south western part of the central Highlands. Its major part lies in Madhya Pradesh.
(v) Baghelkhand lies to the south-east of Bundelkhand and east of the Malwa Plateau. It lies in Madhya Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh to the North of the Vindhya Range which spreads from the western Madhya Pradesh to Bihar. The southern margin of the Vindhya Range defines the edge of the Narmada trough.
(vi) The Chota Nagpur Plateau at the eastern end of the central Highlands lies mostly in Jharkhand.
(d) The central Highlands are wider in the west and narrower in the east.
(e) Most of the rivers such as Banas, Chambal, Sindh, Betwan, Dhasan, Ken, Tons and Son, draining the Highlands flow towards the north-east.
(f) Mount Abu in the Aravalis, the Ravines of the Chambal, the Marble Gorge of the Narmada and the Kaimur Escarpment are some of the noteworthy landscapes of the region


What are the uses of Himalayas for the people of India?

The uses of Himalayas are as below:
(i) Provide protection by obstructing the cold winds
(ii) Birth place of many rivers
(iii) Facilitate hydro-electric power generation
(iv) Great plains
(vi) Many types of plants
(vii) A great treasure-house of minerals
(viii) Tourism and religious centres.


Mention the uses of Himalayas.

Himalayas are useful in the following ways:
  • They trap monsoon winds.
  • They are the birthplace of many rivers.
They have plenty of mineral resources.
  • They attract tourists.
  • They also stop cold winds from Central Asia.
  • Many medicinal plants & herbs grow here.
  • The rivers are useful for generation of hydroelectricity.
  • Noted for the cultivation of fruits like apples and crops like tea and saffron.


Write short notes on Agriculture in the Eastern Coastal Plains.

The East Coastal Plains have some of the most fertile lands of our country. Here, rice is cultivated with three cycles in a year, particularly in the Kaveri Delta area. All the delta regions and adjoining plains between the coast and the Ghats have dominance of rice cultivation.


Write short notes on Characteristics of the Northern Plain.

  • The North Indian Plains are consistently level plains of highly fertile and deep alluvial soil which increases in thickness from west to east.
  • They have a mild climate and a very gentle slope. The rivers flow slowly and form floodplains. Hence the soil is very fertile.
  • Because of high fertility, this region is agriculturally very important for the country.
  • The region is characterized by good infrastructure and economic development. So the density of population is very high in the region.


Very Short Answer Type Question.
What are the occupations of the people of the Andaman Islands?

The people of the Andaman Islands are engaged in fishing, hunting and collecting forest produce.


Map skills:
On the outline map of India, mark the Karakoram Range, Zanskar Range, Ladakh and zojila pass.


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Answer the following question in detail.
Write in detail about Agriculture in the Deccan Plateau region.

  • Agriculture is the main occupation in the Deccan Plateau region. Rice is grown on the eastern part whereas wheat and pulses are produced in the northern part. Jowar, Cotton, Sugarcane and oilseeds are grown mostly in the Maharashtra plateau and Bajra is predominant in the western part of the plateau. 
  • Lakes constitute the backbone of irrigation. Bhandaras i.e check dams built across the river are used to raise the level of water to guide it into channels. It is crucial for sugarcane and rice cultivation.
  • Tanks called Kere in Kannada are predominant traditional method of irrigation in the Central Karnataka Plateau. 
  • Thus, since agriculture is the main occupation in the region, irrigation plays a significant role in obtaining increased yields from the land.


Answer the following question in about 50-60 words:
(a) What is meant by 'Trans Himalayas'?

These great ranges of the Himalayan mountains extend from the Pamir
Knot in the north-west of India towards north-east parallel to each other. These are also known as ‘Tibet Himalaya’ because of most of these fall in Tibet. Their total length is 970 kilometers. Their width at the ends is 40 kilometers while in the central part, the width is almost 222 kilometers. Their average height is 6100
metres. 


Name a few well  - known holy places in the northern mountains of India.

The Northern Mountains are the greatest mountain ranges. These mountains extend through the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

1. Amarnath temple is dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva. It is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir at a height of about 12,760 feet. Devotees visit the Amarnath cave every year for getting a pious glimpse of Lingam of Lord Shiva, which is believed to be formed naturally from ice. 

2. Kedarnath concealed in the lap of Garhwal Himalayas, nearly 221 km from Rishikesh, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. Lying against the setting of the brilliant Kedarnath Range, at a height of 3580 m, the impressive Kedarnath Temple is the place the Pilgrims come looking for the favours of Lord Shiva.

3. Badrinath or Badrinarayan Temple is a Hindu Temple devoted to Lord Vishnu which is situated in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India.
The sanctuary is situated in Garhwal slope tracks in Chamoli region along the banks of Alaknanda River at a rise of 3,133 m (10,279 ft) over the mean ocean level.

4. Vaishno Devi Mandir is a Hindu sanctuary devoted to the Hindu Goddess, situated in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains inside the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir


Class 9 Geography Extra Questions