CBSE Class 9 Geography Notes Chapter 2 Physical Features of India
Chapter 2 - Physical Features of India
India has all the major physical features of the earth, i.e., mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus, and islands. The land of India displays great physical variation. Geologically, the Peninsular Plateau constitutes one of the ancient land masses on the earth’s surface. The Himalayas and the Northern Plains are the most recent landforms. The northern plains are formed of alluvial deposits. The Vidyakul CBSE Notes Class 9 Geography Chapter 2 on Physical Features of India will provide you with more insight into these topics. You can also use these for revision during the exam. These Vidyakul CBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes are concise and provide you with a brief description of the entire chapter.
Major Physiographic Divisions
The physical features of India are grouped under the following physiographic divisions:
The Himalayan Mountains
The Northern Plains
The Peninsular Plateau
The Indian Desert
The Coastal Plains
The Islands
Let’s discuss each of them in detail:
The Himalayan Mountains
Himalayan mountains are stretched over the northern borders of India. This mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
The Himalayas consists of 3 parallel ranges in their longitudinal extent.
The northernmost 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 meters.
The folds of the Great Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature. The core of this part of the Himalayas is composed of granite.
The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
Pir Panjal range forms the longest and the most important range.
The outermost range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments.
The longitudinal valley lying between the lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks is known as Duns. Dehradun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns.
The Himalayas have also been divided on the basis of regions from west to east.
The part of the Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj has been traditionally known as Punjab Himalaya but it is also known regionally as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya from west to east, respectively.
The part of the Himalayas lying between the Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
The Kali and Teesta rivers divide the Nepal Himalayas and the part lying between Teesta and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas.
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, which is known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains. The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, the Manipur hills, and the Mizo hills.
The Northern Plain
The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the 3 major river systems – the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. It spreads over an area of 7 lakhs sq. km.
The Northern Plain is broadly divided into 3 sections as mentioned below:
The Western part of the Northern Plain is referred to as the Punjab Plains. This plan is formed by the Indus and its tributaries – the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, and the Satluj.
The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It is spread over the states of North India, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Brahmaputra plain lies in the state of Assam.
According to the variations in elevation points, the Northern plains can be divided into 4 regions.
The rivers, after descending from the mountains, deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks, which is known as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt.
The streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy, and marshy region known as terai.
The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. It lies above the floodplains of the rivers and presents a terracelike feature which is known as bhangar.
The soil in the bhangar region contains calcareous deposits and is known as kankar. The newer, younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar.
The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land. One of the distinct features of the Peninsular plateau is the black soil area known as Deccan Trap.
This plateau consists of 2 divisions:
The Central Highlands: The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
The Deccan Plateau: It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast, which is known as the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau, and North Cachar Hills.
The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively.
Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast. | The Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris in the South. |
They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only. | They are discontinuous and irregular. They can be dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. |
They are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–1600 meters. | Their average elevation is 600 meters. |
Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. | Mahendragiri (1,501 meters) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. |
The Indian Desert
The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
It is a sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year.
It has a dry climate with low vegetation cover.
The Coastal Plains
A coastal plain is a flat, low-lying piece of land next to the ocean. To the east and west of the peninsular plateau, 2 narrow strips of plain lands are found, which are respectively called Eastern Coastal Plain and Western Coastal Plain.
Eastern Coastal Plain
The Eastern Coastal Plains is a wide stretch of landmass lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. In the northern part, it is referred to 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 an extensive delta on this coast. Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.
Western Coastal Plain
The western coast is sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is a narrow plain and consists of 3 sections as mentioned below:
The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa)
The central stretch is called the Kannad Plain
The southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast
The Islands
An island is a piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Lakshadweep Islands group is composed of small coral islands which were earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive.
The entire group of islands is divided into 2 broad categories:
The Andaman in the north
The Nicobar in the south
These islands lie close to the equator and experience an equatorial climate and have thick forest cover.
The diverse physical features of India have immense future possibilities for development because of the following reasons.
The mountains are the major sources of water and forest wealth.
The northern plains are the granaries of the country. They provide the base for early civilizations.
The plateau is a storehouse of minerals, which has played a crucial role in the industrialization of India.
The coastal region and island groups provide sites for fishing and port activities.
Exercise
1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) A landmass bounded by the sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast
(b) Island
(c) Peninsula
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called
(a) Himachal
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Purvachal
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel
(b) Konkan
(c) Kannad
(d) Northern Circar
Answer: (c)
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi
(b) Kanchenjunga
(c) Mahendragiri
(d) Khasi
Answer: (C)
2. Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is the bhabar?
Answer: The northern plains are generally described as flatlands, with no variations in their relief. However, that is not true. These vast plains also have diverse relief features. According to the variations in relief features, the northern plains can be divided into four regions. The rivers, after descending from the mountains, deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. This region is known as bhabar.
(ii) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
Answer:
The northernmost range is known as The Great or Inner Himalayas or Himadri.
Himachal or Lesser Himalaya.
Outer Himalayas or Shiwaliks.
(iii) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges?
Answer: The Malwa plateau lies between Aravali and Vindhya ranges.
(iv) Name the island group of India having a coral origin.
Answer: The Lakshadweep Islands is an island group of India that has a coral origin.
3. Distinguish between
(i) Bhangar and Khadar
Answer: Bhangar
Lies above flood plains of the river.
Older alluvium or old soil forms the largest part of the northern plains.
Khadar
It is a newer, younger deposit of flood plains. It is renewed every year.
(ii) the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats
Answer: The Western Ghats
Lie parallel to the Western Coast.
They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only.
The Western Ghats’ average elevation is 900 – 1600 meters.
The Western Ghats cause orographic rain by facing the rain-bearing moist winds to rise along the western slopes of the Ghats.
The height of the Western Ghats progressively increases from north to south.
The Eastern Ghats
Lies parallel to the Eastern Coast.
They are discontinuous and irregular.
The Eastern Ghats are dissected by rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
The Eastern Ghats' average elevation is 600 meters.
4. What are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau
Answer: The major physiographic divisions of India are
The Himalayan Mountains
The Northern Plains
The Peninsular Plateau
The Indian Desert
The Coastal Plains
The Islands
Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region and Peninsular Plateau
Geologically, the Peninsular Plateau constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the earth’s surface. It was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks. The Himalayas are the most recent landforms. From the viewpoint of geology, the Himalayan mountains form an unstable zone. The whole mountain system of the Himalayas represents a very youthful topography with high peaks, deep valleys, and fast-flowing rivers. The northern plains are formed of alluvial deposits. The peninsular plateau is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently rising hills and wide valleys.
5. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
Answer: The Northern Plains are the most recent landforms. The northern plains are formed of alluvial deposits. 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. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalayas over millions of years formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lacks sq. km. The plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division. With a rich soil cover combined with an adequate water supply and favorable climate, it is agriculturally a productive part of India. The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections. The Western part of the Northern Plain is referred to as the Punjab Plains. Formed by the Indus and its tributaries, the larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan. The Indus and its tributaries — the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, and the Satluj all originate in the Himalayas. This section of the plain is dominated by the doabs. The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It is spread over the northern states of Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, and partly Jharkhand. The Ganga plains also extend towards Bengal to its east. Further east, in Assam lies the Brahmaputra plain. The northern plains are generally described as flatlands with no variations in their relief. However, this is not exactly true. These vast plains also have diverse relief features. According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into four regions. The rivers, after descending from the mountains, deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. This region is known as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt. South of this belt, the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy, and marshy region known as terai. This was once a thickly forested region, full of wildlife.
6. Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
Answer: 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. The average rainfall is below 150 mm per year. It has an arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon after they disappear into the sand as they do not have enough water to reach the sea. Luni is the only large river in this region.
(ii) The Central Highlands
Answer: 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 Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east. 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.
(iii) The Island groups of India
Answer: Lakshadweep Islands
The Lakshadweep group of islands is composed of small coral islands. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive. In 1973, these were renamed Lakshadweep. It covers a small area of 32 sq km. Kavaratti Island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep. This island group has a great diversity of flora and fauna. Pitti island, which is uninhabited, has a bird sanctuary.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal extends from north to south. These are the Andaman and Nicobar islands. They are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – The Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submarine mountains. These island groups are of great strategic importance to the country. There is a great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too. These islands lie close to the equator and experience an equatorial climate and have thick forest cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the physical features present?
Physical features include landforms, bodies of water, climate, natural vegetation, and soil.
What is a ‘Peninsula’?
A peninsula is a piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water but is connected to the mainland on one side.
Where is the Brahmaputra plain located?
Brahmaputra basin spans the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and the whole of Sikkim in India.
