CHAPTER 2 PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA

1. What are tectonic plates? Give examples

Ans: Rising energy currents tear the crust apart dividing it into large fragments called tectonic plates.
Example :Australian plate, cocos plate etc.

2. Write about the three types of plate boundary .

Ans: a) Some plates come towards each other and form convergent boundary

b) Some plates move away from each other and form divergent boundary.

c) At times, plates may also move horizontally past each other and form transform boundary.

3. Distinguish between Converging and diverging tectonic plates.

Ans:

Converging tectonic plates diverging tectonic plates

1. Some plates move towards each other and 1. Some plates move away from each other and
form convergent boundary form divergent boundary
2.When two plates converge the crust is 2.when diverging boundaries occurs a rift will
destroyed and recycled back into the interior of arise and the mass of land will break apart inti
the earth as one plate divides under the other. distinct landmasses.

3.Mountains and volcanoes are often found 3.a divergent boundary between North
when plates converge. American and Eurasian plates has caused a
ridge to occur in the middle of the Atlantic
Ocean.
4.The Himalayas were formed due to 4.Effects that are formed at a divergent
converging of Eurasian plate with the Indo boundary between oceanic plates include a
Australian plate .Effects of a convergent submarine mountain range such as the mid
boundary between an oceanic and a atlantic ridge, Volcanic activity in the form of
continental plate include a zone of earthquake fissure eruptions,shallow earthquake
activity that is shallow along the continent but activity,creation of new sea floor and widening
deeper beneath the oceans. of ocean basin.

4.Describe how the Himalayas were formed.

Ans: About 120 million years ago there were only two big continents in the world- laurasia in the
north and angaraland in the southern hemisphere. In between Laurasia and gondawana land there
was a long, narrow and shallow sea called Tethys sea. Sediments were brought down by the rivers
from these landmasses and deposited in the bed of the sea.The sediments were subjected to
powerful compressive force , this compression squeezed and crushed sediments of Tethys sea and a
series of folds were formed, one behind the other giving rise to the highest features on the earth –
the Himalayas. The curved shape of the Himalayas convex to the south is attributed to the
maximum push offered at two ends of the Indian peninsula during its northward drift. In the
northwest it was done by Aravallis and in the north east by Assam ranges.

5. Explain the characteristic feature of the Himalayas.

  Ans: The Himalayas, are the youngest and structurally ffold mountains stretch over the
Himalayas northern borders of India.
 They run along the northern border of India.
 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.
 The altitudinal variations are greater in the eastern half than those in the western half.

6. Explain the three ranges of the Himalayas.

Ans: The Himalaya consists of three parallel ranges in its longitudinal extent.
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 folds of Great Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature. The
core of this part of Himalayas is composed of granite. It is perennially snow bound, and a number of
glaciers descend from this range.

The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as
Himachal or lesser Himalaya. The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average
width is of 50 Km.This range is mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. This region
is well known for its hill stations.

he outer most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. They extend over a width of 10-50 Km
and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100 metres. These ranges are composed of
unconsolidated sediments .These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium. 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.

7. Explain the following:

Ans: Punjab Himalaya: the part of 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.

Kumaon Himalayas :The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as
Kumaon Himalayas

Assam Himalayas : The part lying between Tista and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas

Eastern hills and mountains: 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
hills . They are known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains. These hills are mostly
composed of strong sandstones. The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, Manipur
hills and the Mizo hills.

8. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India

Ans: The northern plain has been formed by 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 over millions of years, formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7
lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 Km long and 240 to 320 Km broad, is a densely populated
physiographic division.
9.Explain the three sections of the northern plain.
Ans: 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 originate in the Himalaya. This section of the
plain is dominated by the doabs.

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 to its East, lie in this plain.

The Brahmaputra plains:They form the eastern part of the northern plain and lie in Assam.

10.According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into
four regions. Discuss
Ans: 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. It 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.

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 bhangra The soil in this region
contains calcareous deposits locally known as kankar.

The newer, younger deposits of the flood plains are called khadar. They are renewed almost every
year and so are fertile, thus, ideal for intensive agriculture.

11 Explain the Peninsular Plateau.

Ans: The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic
rocks. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land The plateau has broad
and shallow valleys and rounded hills.

12. Explain the regions of the Peninsular plateau.

Ans: This plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely,

 the Central Highlands

 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 rivers draining this region, namely the
Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and Ken is from southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope. 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.

The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Satpura
range makes its base in the north while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range form its
eastern extensions. The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards. An
extension of the Plateau is also visible in the northeast– locally known as the Meghalaya, Karbi-
Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills. Three Prominent hill ranges from the west to east are the
Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.

13. Differentiate between

Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau.

Ans:

Central Highlands Deccan Plateau

They lie to the south of the Narmada
They lie to the north of the Narmada river
river
They are bounded by the Aravali mountains, They are bounded the Eastern ghats
Vindhya range, Malwa and Chotanagpur Plateau and the western ghats
The Chota Nagpur Plateau mark its eastwards The Mahadev, Kaimur Hills and
extension Maikal range make its eastern part
Its slope is from southwest to
Its slope is from west to east
northeast

14. Differentiate between Eastern ghats and Western Ghats

The Western Ghats The Eastern Ghats
The Western Ghats lie on the western margin The Eastern Ghats lie on the eastern margin of
of the Deccan Plateau. the Deccan Plateau.
The Western Ghats are higher in elevation. The Eastern Ghats are lower in elevation.
Their average elevation is from 900 to Their average elevation is 600 metres.
1600 metres.
They have a continuous chain of mountains The mountain chains are not continuous and
and can be crossed through passes only. are denuded by the rivers which flow into the
Bay of Bengal.
No major river has cut across them. They have been cut across by major rivers like
the Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Kaveri.
They lie along Arabian Sea They lie along Bay of Bengal

Stretch from Tapi river to Kankyakumari in Stretch from Mahanadi valley to Nilgiri in the
south south.

18. Distinguish between Eastern coast and Western coast.

15. Define deserts

Ans: Deserts are defined as areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 250
milimetres per year.
16. Describe the political features of the Indian desert.
Ans: 1. The great Indian desert is a large arid region in the north western part of the Indian
subcontinent.
2 It has an area of more than 200,000 SQ KM.
3 It is the world’s ninth largest sub tropical desert.
17. Write characteristic features of The Indian Desert
Ans: The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills. 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. 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. Crescent shaped dunes abound this area.

Eastern coast Western coast

1. It stretches from Tamil Nadu in the It extends from Gujarat in the north to
south to West Bengal in the north. Kerela in the south.

2.width varies from 100 to 130 kms Width varies from 50 to 80 kms
3.The eastern coastal plains are wider and 3.The western coastal plains are wsmqaller
levelled than the western coastal plains and than the Eastern coastal plains and is
is divided into divided into
1.the Northern Circar coast 1.Gujarat coastal plains
2. The Coromandal coast. 2.konkan coastal plains
3. kannad coastal plains
4.Malabar coastal plains.
18. Distinguish between Eastern coast and Western coast.

19. What are islands?

Ans: An island is a piece of sub continental land that is surrounded by water.

20 Explain the islands of India.

Ans: Lakshadweep Islands group lying in the Arabian Sea has an area of 32 sq km.The kavratti island
is the administrative headquarter and these islands are rich in biodiversity.

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. There is great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too.

21. Write short note on Andaman Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep islands
Ans: Andaman Nicobar islands :These islands are of great starategic importance for the country.

 Tourism potential
 Security
 Trade
 Migration
  Arms smuggling
 Smuggling of all natural resources
 Control of Indian ocean.

Lakshadweep islands:
1. They have 36 coral islands out of which 10 are inhabited and 6 have been opend
for tourism
2. It has has an area of 32 sq km
3. These are coral islands called atolls
4. The kavratti island is the administrative headquarter
5. There is great diversity of flora and fauna.