IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN RANGES
KARAKORAM RANGES:
- Extends from the Pamir, east of the Gilgist River, 600 km long and the average width 120-140km.
- Ancient name was Krishnagiri.
- Trans Himalaya, originally a part of Eurasian plate.
- Abode of largest glaciers in India.
- Siachen, Baltora, Biafo, and Hisper all the four of largest glacier are in Karakoram.
- Highest Peak: K2 or Godwin Austin (8611m)
- Other important Peak: Gasherbrum or Hidden Peak Broad Peak and Gasherbrum II
- In the northern limit of Karakoram Range lie Pamir, the Aghil Mountains and the Yarkand River and in the southern limit Rive Indus and its tributary Shyok.
LADDAKH RANGE
- Situated to the north of Indus Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) and south or Karakoram, between River Indus and Shyok.
- Highest Peak: Mt.Rakaposhi (steepest peak in the world)
(A)GREAT HIMALAYA OR HIMADRI
- Northern most part of the Himalayan Range is the world’s highest with an average altitude of 6,000m.
- Include the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest(8,848 m) , Makalu (8,481m), Mansalu (8,156m), Annapurna(8,078m) and also the Indian peak Kanchenjunga (8,598 m) and Nanga Parbat(8,126m)
- Include some famous passes- Burzil and Zozila in Kashmir, Shipki La and Bara lapchala in Himachal Pradesh, Thag La, Niti Pass, and Lipulekh in U.p, Jelepla and Nathu La in Sikkim.
ZASKAR RANGE
Western part of the main Great Himalayan Mountain is situated to the south of Trans Himalayan.
Nanga Parbat (8,126m)
Forms the north-west part of Zaskar Range but geographically confined to the Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Garhwal region.
Second highest peak of the Himalayan Range in India.
Dhalagiri (8,172 m)
Eastern continuation of Nanga Parbat and is located in Nepal.
(B) LESSER HIMALAYA
Also known as Himachal-Himalaya which is separated from the Shiwalik Range by Duns.
(I) PIR PANJAL RANGE
Located in Kashmir, Punjab and extends from the Jhelum River to the upper Beas River for over 300km.
Separated from the Zaskar Range by the valley of Kashmir (vale of Kashmir)
(II) DHAULADHAR
Southern-most range of the Lower or Lesser Himalaya.
Rarely attains elevations higher then 4,000m
Continue eastward in to Mahabharat Range.
(C)SIWALIK RANGE
Extends from Jammu & Kashmir (150km wide) to Arunachal Pradesh (8-15km) over 2400km.
Northern limit-Main Boundary thrust which separates Outer Himalaya from the Lesser Himalaya. Its southern limit is Indo Gangetic Plain.
Also known as Sub-Himalaya or Outer Himalaya.
Youngest part of mountain chain stretching from the Brahmaputra to the Indus.
Separated from Lesser Himalaya by Main Boundary Thrust.
CLASSIFICATION OF HIMALAYA ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
NAME LOCATION DISTANCE
- Punjab Himalaya between Indus and Sutlej 560 km
- Kumaon Himalaya between Sutluj and Kali 320 km
- Nepal Himalaya between Kali and Tista 800 km
- Assam Himalaya between Tista and Dihang 720 km
THE PURVANCHAL
(The North Eastern Highland)
The Himalaya range after crossing the Dihang gorge in the east, bend southwards, forming a series of hills, in north south trend.
Hills, North Cachar Hills and the Tripura Hills.
PURU NEFA
(I) Mishmi Hills
The highest range of Purvanchal Hills which is situated in the north-eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh.
(II) Patkai Bum
A synclinal range extending north south in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
NAGA RANGES
Forms watershed between Nagaland and Myanmar.
MANIPUR HILLS
Characterized by ridge and valley type of topography
Loktak lake (centripetal drainage) is situated in this hill.
NORTH CACHAR HILLS
Larger portion of hilly belt lying between Meghalaya and the North eastern ranges.
MIZO HILLS
Previously known as Lushai Hills
Characterized by cuesta type of topography
TRIPURA HILLS
Characterized by ridge and valley topography
THE NORTHERN PLAINS OF INDIA
East-West Extent 2,400 km (3,200 km if the Indus plains are included)
Average width:150-300km
- Largest alluvial tract of the world, extending from the mouth of Indus to the mouth of Ganga between Peninsular plateau and the northern are of the mountains.
Alluvial in nature, and are composed of Bhangar (old alluvium), Khadar (new alluvium) in river bed. Bhabar (porous gravel ridden plains at the foot of Himalaya) and Terai (damp thickly forest area, where bhabar stream reappears)
SUBDIVISION OF GREAT PLAINS
THE RAJASTHAN PLAIN
- Extent: 650km long.
- Average width:250-300 km wide
- Thar or Great Indian Desert is the westernmost region of Great Indian Plains in the western Rajasthan.
- A semi arid plain, lying to the east of Thar desert is known as Rajasthan Bagar.
- The Luni is the only southwest flowing rivers of this region.
- The Sambhar(largest), the Kuchaman, and the Didwana are important lakes situated to the north of Luni Basin.
THE PUNJAB HARYANA PLAINS:
- Extent: 640km in northwest to southeast and 300km in east west direction.
- Extends from Punjab in the west to Yamuna River (Haryana)in the east.
- Land of five rivers-is primary made up of ‘doabs’-the land between two rivers.
- They are composed by Bet (Khadar plains)and Dhaya(Heavily gullied bluffs).
THE GANGA PLAINS:
- The largest Great Plain stretching from Delhi to Calcutta across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
- The Ganga and its tributaries like Yamuna, Ghagra,Gomti, Kosi, and Son deposit large amount of alluvium and make this extensive plain more fertile.
- They comprise of Gango-Yamuna Doab in the west, to the east of this Doab are the Rohilkhand plains which merges which merges with Avadh plain in the east
THE BRAHMAPUTRA PLAIN
- The low level plain formed by the Brahmaputra river system is situated between Eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh) in the North, Patkai and Naga hills in the east, Garo-Khasi-Haintia and Mikir Hills and lower Ganga Plain and Indo Bangladesh border in the west.
PENINSULAR MOUNTAINS
- Total length: 800km
- Highest peak: Guru Sikhar(1,722m) of the Abu Hills.
- Extending from the north east to the south-west of India and separates to semi desert regions of Rajasthan from the fertile Udaipur and Jaipur regions.
- It is an example of relict mountain.
- One of the oldest fold mountains in the world.
VINDHYAN RANGE
- A block mountain which separates northern India from the southern mainland. Composed of sandstones, shales and quartzites.
- South of it, Narmada River flows in the rift valley.
- Acts as a natural watershed between north and south India.
SATPURA RANGE
- Highest peak: Dhupgarh(1,350m) near Panchmarhi.
- Average elevation: 1,030m above sea level.
- Extending in east west direction, to the south of Vindhyans.
- Situated between Narmada and Tapi River.
- Starting from Rajpipla hills in the west through Mahadeo hill to Maikal range.
MAIKAL RANGE
- Eastern part of Satpura system is situated in Madhya Pradesh.
- Mount Amarkantak is the highest peak
AJANTA RANGE, BALAGHAT RANGE, AND HARISH CHANDRA RANGE:
- Extending in east west direction, are all spurs of Western Ghats forming local watersheds.
- Kalsubai(1,646m) the highest peak of Western Ghat forming local watersheds.
NILGIRI HILLS
- It is the meeting point of Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Doda Betta(2,637m) is the highest peak of Nilgiri Hills.
- The hills are separated from southern hills by a gap called Palghat Gap
ANAIMALAI HILLS
- Anai Mudi(2,695m) the highest peak of South India is in Anaimalai Hills.
CARDAMON HILLS
- It is situated in the extreme south of Peninsular India. Formed of gneisses and schists.
RAJMAHAL HILLS
- Extends in north south direction and is situated in the northeaster edge of the Chhotanagpur Plateau
SAHYADRIS(WESTERNGHATS)
- Total length: about 1600km. Average height: 1200m. Highest Peak: Kalsubai(1646m)
- Runs along the western coastal plain from the south of valley of Tapi to Kanya Kumari, the southernmost point of mainland India.
- Region which receives maximum rainfall and is covered with evergreen forest The Western Ghats meet with Eastern Ghats in the Nilgiri hills.
- Acts as a main watershed of Peninsular Rivers.
EASTERN GHATS:
- Runs along the eastern coast of India from northern Orissa to the Nilgiri Hills.
- Characterised by unbroken hills between Mahanadi and Godavari.
- Mahendragiri is the highest peak of Eastern Ghats.
- Nallamalli Hills is situated between Krishna and Penneru Rivers.
THE INDIAN PLATEAU
BUNDELKHAND BHANDER, BAGHEL AND MALWA PLATEAU
- These highlands are situated to the north of Narmada rift valley.
- Bundelkhand Plateau is a part of central highlands and is composed of granite and
- gneisses.
- Malwa plateau is an example of dissected lava plateau, which is covered with black soil.
MEGHALAYA PLATEAU
- It comprises of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Originally a part of peninsular plateau.
- Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates it from the main block of peninsular plateau
CHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU
- Highest peak- Parasnath (1,366m) in the Hazaribagh Plateau.
- Situated in the north eastern part of Indian Plateau includes the region of Bihar,
- adjoining Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. It consists of the Ranchi Plateau in the south, the Hazaribagh Plateau in the north, and the Rajmahal Hills in the northeast. Described as the “Ruhr of India”. Pat lands are one of the chief characteristics of Chotanagpur Plateau. Very rich in mineral resources.
DECCAN PLATEAU
South of the Satpura Range in the peninsula is called the Deccan Plateau.
(1)The Deccan Lava Plateau Region
- Northwestern part of Deccan Plateau is the region of Basaltic lava.
- It includes the Western Ghats north of 16o north latitude, plateau of Maharashtra (except the east of Nagpur) and the adjoining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
(2) Telengana Plateau
- Part of the Deccan Plateau, comprises of the interior region of Andhra Pradesh.
- North of Krishna River is the plateau of Telengana.
- South of the Krishna River, lying in the Rayalseema plateau region.
(3)The Karnataka Plateau
- Situated to the south of Deccan Lava Region.
- Malnad and Maidan are two physiographic regions of Karnataka plateau.
- i) Malnad
Hilly and dissected plateau region about 64km wide lying close to the Western Ghats.
(ii) Maidan
Situated in the eastern part of Malnad, relatively large rolling plains with low granitic hills.
THE WEST COASTAL PLAIN
Runs from Rann of Kachchh to Kanyakumari and are confined to a narrow belt about 10-15 km wide.
KATHIAWAR COAST(Total length:500km)
- The West Coastal Plain between Daman in the north and Goa in the south is examples of coast of submergence due to vertical movements , and is consequently dissected.
- Coastal lowland is uneven and is interspersed with river valleys, creeks and ridges.
MALABAR COAST
- Extends from Goa in the north to Kanyakumari in the south is a coastline of emergence.
- Southern coastal region receives more rainfall during summer monsoon season.
THE EAST COASTAL PLAIN
- Extends from the deltaic plains of the Ganga in the north to Kanyakumari in
- the south for 1100 km with an average width of 120km.
(I)UTKAL COAST
- Extends for about 400km from deltaic plains of the Gango to the Mahanadi delta.
(II)ANDHRA COASTAL PLAINS
- Extends from the southern limit of Utkal plains to Puliant lake(Andhra Pradesh).
- It has large deltas of the Krishna and the Godavari rivers.
(III)TAMIL NADU PLAINS
- Extends about 675km, from the north of Chennai to Kanyakumari in the south. It has the deltaic plains of Kaveri and is popularly called the Granary of South India.
IMPORTANT GULFS
GULF OF KACHCHH
Separates: Kachchh and Kathiwar Penisual.
- Location: West if Gujarat
- Information: Region with highest potential of tidal energy generation.
GULF OF CAMBAY
- Separates: Kathiawar Penisula and Gujarat
- Location: Gujarat
- Information: Tapi, Narmada, Mahi and Sabarmati rive drain into the Gulf.
GULF MANNAR
- Separates: Sri Lanka and Southern India
- Location: South east of Tamil Nadu
- Information: Asia’s first marine biosphere reserves.
IMPORTANT LAGOONS AND LAKES
VEMBNAD LAKE
- State: Kerala
- Information: Large sized lagoons of Kerala, have fertile alluvial islands, 63 km in length.
KAYALS
- State: Kerala
- Information: Popularly called back water in Kerala. A chain of lakes which are connected with each other y canal. Peaty soils of backwaters are called Kari in Kerala.
CHILKA LAKE
- Maximum length -64km/ Maximum breadth- 20km/ Average width -150km
- State: Orissa
- Information: Situated to the south west of the Mahanadi Delta.
- Enclosed by the sand pit, has an opening which permits sea connection.
- Largest brackish water lake in Asia.
FRESH WATER LAKE
WULAR LAKE:
- State: Jammu and Kashmir.. Largest fresh water lake of India
KOLLERU LAKE:
- State: Andhra Pradesh
- Information: A part of the sea enclosed between the deltas of Godavari and the Mahanadi and has a number of islands in it.
PULICAT LAKE:
- State: Andhra Pradesh
- Situated on the southern border of Andhra Pradesh. Lagoon formed due to enclosure by sand bar.
JAISAMAND LAKE:
- State: Rajasthan
- Information: Largest fresh water lake of Rajasthan
NAKKI LAKE:
- State: Rajasthan
- A small natural lake near Mt. Abu surrounded by hills important as tourist place.
LOKTAK LAKE:
- State: Manipur
- Site hydroelectricity power generation an example of centripetal drainage.
SALINE WATER LAKES:
SAMBHAR LAKE
- State: Rajasthan
- Largest Lake of Rajasthan lies on the border of Jaipur and Nagaur District.
- Sodium chloride (common salt) and sodium sulphate are produced mainly by the
- Hindustan Salt Ltd.
DEEDWANA LAKE
- State: Rajasthan
- Information: Situated near Deedwana Town of Nagpur District.
PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS
MAJOR DIVISIONS:
WESTERN HIMALAYA
(i) Jammu & Kashmir state: Comparatively cool, arid and semi-arid over a large area. Rains during summer season occur only over a small area in the southern part.
(ii)Punjab and Kumaun : Himalaya Region(between Nepal in the east to Jammu and Kashmir in the north west)- Wetter, more densely forested and more thickly populated region than Jammu and Kashmir state.
iii) Assam region-includes Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam.
(i) Assam Himalaya
(ii) The Brahmaputra or Assam Valley
(iii) The Meghalaya Hills or Shillong plateau including the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and Mikir- It is a part of peninsular plateau and structurally a granitic block.
(iv) The Eastern Highlands- Young fold mountains running from North to South
THE PLAINS OF NORTHERN INDIA
-Rainfall is the main criterion used for dividing this alluvial plain into regions.
(i) The West Bengal Plain-Rice and Jute producing area.
(ii) The West Bengal duars and the Sikkim, Darjeeling, Himalaya– Wetter than West Bengal Plain, semi-evergreen forest and tea plantation.
(iii) The Ganga Plain- Comprising alluvial plain of U.P and Bihar- Decrease in the amount of summer rainfall in the west.
(iv) The Punjab-Haryana Plain- Situated to the west of Yamuna and North of arid and semi-arid Rajasthan desert
Extensive well irrigation coupled with canal-irrigation in the northern districts.
(v)The Rajasthan desert- Situated to the west or Aravalli-Region deficient in rainfall. Entirely different in character from the highly plains of the Ganga and Brahmaputra.
THE INDIAN PLATEAU
Deccan Lava Region
Includes plateau area of Maharashtra and neighbouring states of M.P., A.P. and Karnataka.- Receives annual rainfall between 50cm and 100cm. Region has Black soil and produces cotton, jowar and groundnut.
The North Western Plateau and the Aravalli Range.
Situated to the north of Deccan lava region. Receives less rainfall during summer than the Deccan lava region and is relatively cooler in winter.
The Karnataka Plateau
Situated to the south of the Deccan lava region-Relatively cooler in summer than neighboring areas due to its high elevation.
Telengana and Rayalseema
Situated to the East of Karnataka state.Receives less rainfall than coastal A.P.
The North Eastern Plateau
Situated to the east of the Deccan lava region and includes interior part of Orissa, the Jharkhand Plateau and eastern M.P.-Regions very rich in minerals.
THE COASTAL LOWLANDS
More productive soils , heavier rainfall and better irrigation facilities than the Indian Plateau.
Eastern Coastal Region
(i) Coastal Plain of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa in the North.
(ii) Tamil Nadu Region – Receives rainfall during winter also.
Western Coastal Region
(i) Gujarat Region North of Daman
(ii) The Konkani Region between Daman in the north and Goa in the south.- Largely semi –arid, millet and cotton producing region. Dominated by port and industries of Mumbai.
(iii) Goa and littoral of Karnataka, Kerala. – Plantation and wet crops producing region.
INDIA- MAJOR SOIL TYPES
ALLUVIAL SOIL
DISTRIBUTION:7.7 lakh km2 (24% of the country’s total area)
Formation: Formed due to deposition of alluvium brought by rivers over millions of years. Newer alluvium is called khadar and the old alluvium is called Bhangar , Terai Soil: Bhabar infertile soil: Usar
Characteristics:
Very fertile soil, rich in potash and lime, deficient in humus, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Regions&States: Northern plains or river basin: Punjab, Haryana, eastern part of Rajasthan, Gujarat, U.P., Bihar, West Bengal and Assam Valley.
BLACK COTTON SOIL OR REGUR SOIL.
Distribution: 5.18 lakh km2 (16%)
Formation: Formed over Deccan lava, gneiss and granites.
Characteristics: Black in colour due to presence of Fe and Mg. Deficient in nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Rich in potash and lime.
Regions&States:
It covers lateaus of Maharastra,Sourth Orissa, Northern Karnataka, Parts of Rajasthan (two districts of Bundi and Tonk)Central and South Tamil Nadu.
RED SOIL
Distribution: 5.18 lakh km2 (16%)
Formation: The soil developed on old crystalline rock under moderate to heavy
rainfall. It is in different shads of Red and Yellow.
Characteristics: Red colour due to presence of Fe. Deficient in organic plant material, phosphorus, nitrogen and lime content. Potash and alumina content are satisfactory. Acidic like laterite but less leached than laterite soil.
Regions& States:
Larger part of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Southern parts of Maharashtra, Eastern Mp, parts of Orissa and Chotanagpur and Bundelkhand.
LATERITE SOIL:
Distribution: 1.26 lakh km2
Formation: The Laterite soil is a result of intense leaching due to heavy tropical rains
with alternate wet and dry seasons.
Characteristics: More acidic on higher areas due to presence of Al and Fe. Deficient in
nitrogen, potash, magnesium and phosphoric acid.
Regions & States: Tropical humid areas where rainfall is more than 200 cm e.g., Western Ghats, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chotanagpur Plateau and slopes of North Eastern states.
ARID OR DESERT SOIL
Distribution: 1.42 lakh km2
Formation: Sand and wind blown. Weathering due to temperature help in the formation of these soils. Developed under arid or semiarid conditions in the north western part of the country.
Characteristics: Deficient in humus and nitrogen, rich in phosphorus, Due to less leaching mineral content is high.
Regions& States: Punjab, Southern parts of Haryana, Western Rajasthan and Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat.
MOUNTAIN SOILS
Formation: Formed by the deposition or organic matter derived from the forest growth,
Characteristic of soil varies with variation of rocks, ground configuration and climate.
Characteristics: Rich in humus but deficient in potash, phosphorus and like. Most suitable for plantation crops like tea, coffee etc.,
Region& states: Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh. Also in Western and Eastern Ghats as well as in some region of Peninsular plateau.
PEATY AND ORGANIC SOIL:
Formation:Developed in hot humid conditions as a result of accumulation of large amount of organic matter.
Characteristics: Dark and almost black in colour, very strongly acidic and saline.
Region & States: They are confined to depression caused by dried lakes in alluvial and coastal plain areas and developed under water logged environments. For example, Regions like Kari in Kerala, T.N., coastal Orissa, W.B. and North Bihar.
MEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL
AREA OF HEAVY RAINFALL: Rainfall between 200- 400 cm
The Arabian Sea branch of south west monsoon cause rainfall all along the western Ghats and Western coastal regions from June to September. In North East India, the Bay of Bengal branch of monsoonal winds which causes monsoon in the southern hills of Shillong Plateau, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills (Meghalaya) and other states. In These regions Orographic features play an important role because the moisture laden monsoon winds strike against physical barriers the like mountains to cause heavy rainfall.
AREA OF MODERATE RAINFALL : Rainfall between 100 – 200 cm
The average rainfall over North Indian Plain generally remains between 100 to 200 cm. Other areas of moderate rainfall are northeastern parts of Peninsular India, highlands of Central India, and Tamil Nadu.
Rain fall between 60 – 100 cm occurs in the upper Ganga Valley, eastern parts of Aravallis, eastern Gujarat, internal parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The intensity of rainfall decreases from east to west and north to south in the Northern Plains.
AREA OF SCANTY RAINFALL : Rain fall between 40 – 60 cm
Parts of Punjab, Haryana, northern and western Rajasthan and Kachchh and Kathiawar regions of Gujarat. A narrow strip of land, lying in rain shadow areas of Peninsular India receives rainfall below 60cm. The dry regions of Rajasthan, west of the Aravalli hills receives rainfall below 20cm, Northern parts of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir are other regions which receive scanty rainfall.
AREAS OF WINTER RAINFALL
(i) The northwestern parts of India-Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and UP plains.
(ii) Tamil Nadu: Rainfall due to North East monsoon.