Physical Features of India

Physical Features of India

• India  Lies entirely in the Northern hemisphere the main land extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25'E.
• The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30'N) divides the country into almost two equal parts.
• India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and the total length of the coast line of the mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7,516.6 km.
• From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag of two hours. Hence, time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for the whole country. 
• India shares its land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
• Our southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries, namely Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar while Maldives Islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.

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

(1) The Himalayan Mountains

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.The Himalaya consists of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent. 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 the prominent Himalayan peaks.

The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya. The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres.

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.The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns.

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

• The part of Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj - Punjab Himalaya/ Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya.
• The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
• The part lying between Tista and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas. 

The Northern Plain

• The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely– the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. 
• This plain is formed of alluvial soil. Due to this, it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
• In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands. Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
• The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. They lie above the flood plains of the rivers and present 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 flood plains are called khadar.

The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections:

a) Punjab Plains - Formed by the Indus and its tributaries, The Indus and its tributaries–the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj originate in the Himalaya. This section of the plain is dominated by the doabs.

b) The Ganga plain - Extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers.

c) Brahmaputra plain - Particularly in Assam. 

The Peninsular Plateau 

• 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 eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension, drained by the Damodar river.
• The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range form its eastern extensions.

• Three Prominent hill ranges from the west to east are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills..
• The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively. 
• 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.

The Indian Desert

• The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
• It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year. 
• It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear during the rainy season. 
• 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 boundary.

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