Indian Geography Physical geo of India
Nov 19, 2015
Indian Geography
Indian GeographyPhysical geo of India
Pre-Cambrian eraIndia part of Gondwana land
Geological history of India
Indian Peninsular plate =Oldest crustal block of IndiaCollision between 3 proto continentsAravalliDharwadSinghbhum
Pre-Cambrian era
3 lineamentsNarmadaSonGodawariRemmenants:Aravalli R, Dharwad plt, Singhbhum pltPre-Cambrian era
Geosynclines at margins of Proto-continents:AravalliVindhyanSatpuraEastern GhatsBijawal
Pre-Cambrian era
Reactivation of Narmada Son-Godawari lineamentRifting of Mahanadi and Damodar valley Submergence of forest-Development of coalfieldsGondwana times
Faulting along western edge of peninsular plateauGondwana times
150 ml yrs ago Indian plate broke from Gondwana landStarted northward journey15 ml yrs ago India broke from Madagascar
Mesozoic time
India move over Reunion IslandsHotspot volcanismDeccan lava plateauNarrowing of Tethys sea
Late Cretaceous
Collision between Indian plate and Eurasian plateUpliftment of HimalayasTertiary time
The jerk activation of crack created at western margin of peninsulaBreaking of western part subsidence peninsula raised at western side Western ghats = horst
Tertiary Time
3 phases of formation of Himalayas:Great Himalayas (Oligo-Eocene)Mid-Himalayas (Miocene)Outer-Himalayas (Pleistocene)Tertiary time123
Late Pleistocene formation of Northern plainsSediments from Himalayan riversTertiary time
4 types of physiographic features:Northern mountainsNorthern plainsIndian peninsular plateauCoastal IndiaPhysiography of India1234
Physiography of India
Himalayas (Nanga parbat to Namcha barwa)Trans-Himalayas ( Karakoram, Ladakh and Zaskar)Purvanchal
Northern mountain complex123
C-C plate collisionFold mt., tertiary young mt., sedimentary rocks of marine originNot a single range but series of chain of mountains
The Himalayas
Dras-kohistan islands
Karakoram rangesPhases of formation of Himalayas
Upliftment of Great Himalayas
Upliftment of mid-HimPhases of formation of Himalayas
Upliftment of Shiwaliks
Still risingPhases of formation of Himalayas
Great Himalayas (Himadri)Middle/ lesser Himalayas (Himachal)Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas)North south division of Himalayas123
Highest and most continuous mountain range of the worldCrystalline rocksMount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Mansalu, AnnapurnaNanda devi, Kamet, Gurla MandhataGreat Himalayas
Mid/lesser-Him (Himachal) discontinuities Pir PanjalDhauladhar Nag tibbaMasoorieKumaon hillsMahabharat (Nepal)
Middle Himalayas123456
Upliftment of foothills of HimalayasFluvial in origin alluvial fans, coarse deposits brought by Himalayan riversCloser to great Him in Nepal disappear after river GandakShiwaliks
1) Aravalli and Assam hills strong push.Middle peninsula sagged- convex shape of Himalayas2) Sharply bent towards southward - sudden endWestern bend near Nanga parbat and eastern near Namcha BarwaCalled syntaxial bendStructure of Himalayas
Great Himalayas and Shiwaliks hog-back structureGentle sloping northern face southern face steep slopeNorthern side rest against Tibetan pltSnow accumulation on southern side Structure of Himalayas
Dont as a water divide river cut across antecedent riversIndus, Satluj, Brahmaputra, KosiRate of erosion of rivers are higher than rate of upliftment of Himalayas Antecedent rivers
antecedent
Superimposed riversErosion process of rivers
Indian plate first collide at its north-western part to Eurasian plateNanga Parbat and Namcha barwa edge of peninsular plate
Western and eastern Himalayas
Then rotate clockwise NW part as hinge collision of eastern edgeAgain rotate anti-clockwise NE as hinge
Western and eastern Himalayas
NW edge releasedWestern Himalayas spread out-broadenThats why, shiwaliks gets closer to Great Himalayas in Nepal
Western and eastern Himalayas
Western HimalayasFrom Indus to Kali riverGreat Him, Dhualadhar, Pirpanjal, Kumaon, Massoorie rangeLower and gradual slopeKali river to BramhaputraNepal Him (Dudwa, Muree, Churia) NE Him (Dafla, Miri, Abor, Mishmi)Higher and steep-sudden slopeEastern HimalayasDifference between W and E Himalayas
Western HimalayasPeaks= k2, Godwin Austin, Gasherbrum, MasherbrumLocated on higher latitude colderDont act as barrier for north-west monsoon -drierPeaks= Everest, Makalu, Annapurna, DhaulagiriLocated on lower latitude warmerActive barrier of south west monsoon winds -wetterEastern HimalayasDifference between W and E Himalayas
Prelims1995Q. The alpine vegetation in western Himalayas is found only upto a height of 3000m while in Eastern Himlayas it is found upto a height of 4000m. The reason for this variation in same mountain range is that:
a) Eastern Himalayas are higher than western HimalayasUPSCQuestion
Prelims2010b) Eastern Himalayas are nearer to equator and sea than Western Himalayasc) Eastern Himalayas get more rainfall than western Himalayasd) Eastern Himalayan rocks are more fertile than western Himalayas
Ans. C)UPSCQuestion
East-West division of Himalayas
Kashmir-PN HimalayasKarakoram, Ladakh, Zasakar, Pir panjal, Dhaula dharZozila pass btwn Kashmir and LadakhValleys, duns, lakesWest Garhwal HimalayasEast Kumaon HimalayasNandadevi, Kamet, Badrinath, Kedarnath, GangotriSource of Ganga, YamunaNainital and Bhimtal -lakes Kumaon HimlayasEast-West division of Himalayas
Nepal HimalayasTallest section of HimalayasGreat Himalayas peaks (W->E)Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Mansalu, Everest, MakaluKathmandu valley
Peak: KanchenjungaTeesta originate near KanchenjungaJelep la pass- tri-junction of India- China-BhutanSikkim HimalayasEast-West division of Himalayas
Assam HimalayasHimalayas narrowerLesser Himalayas close to great HimalayasPeaks: Namcha Barwa, Kula KangriBengal Duars
Diphu pass- tri-junction of India- China-Myanmar
Assam HimalayasEast-West division of Himalayas
Prelims2003Q. Nanda devi peak forms part of:Assam HimalayasKumaon HimlayasNepal HimalayasPunjab Himalayas
Ans. B)Nandadevi - UttarakhandUPSCQuestion
When river initially blocked by rising mt., it spreads out form lakeLakes dry out when river find weak rocks to cut across the mt. Dry lakes = DunsBetween great and mid-Him Dehradun btw Shiwaliks and masoorie range Duns formation
Flat-topped terraces of Kashmir valley on flanks of Pir Panjalmade up of clay, sands from old deltaic fansFertile land Karewas
Prevents cold Siberian wind to enter into IndiaNo Himalayas No Tibet No rainfall- India would have been desertHimalayas split STWJ into 2 branches winter rainSource of perennial rivers great fertile plain
Importance of Himalayas
Forest wealth great Himalayan NP unique Bio diversityMinerals coal (Anthracite) at kalakot, Nickle, Copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver Most of them cannot be exploited due to adverse geo conditions
Importance of Himalayas
Prelims2010Q. If there were no Himalayan range, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India?Much of the country would experience the cold wave from SiberiaIndo-Gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soilsUPSCQuestion
Prelims20103. The pattern of monsoon would be different from what it is at present.Which among the above is/are correct?1 only1 and 32 and 31,2,3Ans. D)UPSCQuestion
Prelims2012Q. When you travel in Himalayas, you will see following:Deep gorgesU-turn river coursesParallel mountain rangesSteep-gradient causing land-slidesWhich of the above can be said to be evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains?
UPSCQuestion
Prelims20121 and 21,2 and 43 and 41,2,3 and 4
Ans. D)UPSCQuestion
Immediately north of Great HimalayasMost of them lie in TibetKarakoram LadakhZaskar KailashAvg. elevation 3000m
Trans-Himalayas1234
KarakoramLadakhKailashZaskarK2RakapokshiKailashNanga ParbatGasherbrum
Ranges and peaks
Karakoram is home of the greatest glaciers of world outside polar regionsWatershed btwn India and TurkmenistanKashmir lie between Zaskar and Pir Panjal
Trans-Himalayas
Deosai mt. part of ladakh rangeOrigin of Suru river (tri.of Indus)Kailash range is off-shoot of Ladakh rangeIndus river passes between Ladakh and Zaskar range
Trans-Himalayas
Ladakh range
Eastern HimalayasSame orogeny that of HimalayasPatkaibum, Naga hills, Manipuri hills, Mizo hillsElevation decrease from north to southPurvanchal
Mt.detailsPatkai bumBorder between Arunachal Pradesh and MyanmarNaga hillsHighest peak mt. sharamatiForm water shed between India and MyanmarManipuri hillsBorder between Manipur and MyanmarSource of R.Manipuri(tri.Chindwin, Myanmar)Mizo hillsHighest peak blue mt.
Purvanchal
Extension of Purvanchal continues in Myanmar as Arakan yome then Andaman and Nicobar IslandsPurvanchal
Physiography of India
Youngest physiographic feature in IndiaDepositional flood plain created by Himalayan riversIndusGanga-YamunaBrahmaputraNorthern plains123
One of the largest, continuous and extensive plainsFertile plain- flat topography -historically settled dense population30% of the worlds population on 10% of worlds agro-land
Northern Plains
NS division of Northern plainsBhabharTeraiBangarKhadarNorthern Plains
Bhabhar = alluvial fans of Himalayan rivers coarse depo large bouldersHigh porosity and permeabilityRivers disappearNot good for cultivationN-S division of N.Plains
Terai:Bad drainageRivers re-appears swamps, marshyNaturally sal forestTerai of Bengal and Bihar more developed
N-S division of N.Plains
Bangar: old flood plains of rivers - Dry landColcareous concretion -KankarN-S division of N.Plains
Khadar new flood plains fresh river depositionSlope btw Bangar and Khadar:PN- Dhayas, UP- Khol, Bengal Bhils, Bihar Taal
N-S division of N.Plains
East-West division of plainRJ plains (Indus)PN plains (Indus)Gangetic plainsAssam plains (Brahmaputra)
Northern Plains1234
West of AravalliNorth: Gangasagar (1) regionExtension of PN plains of IndusWest of Aravalli: Rajasthan Bagar (2)Drained by river LuniLuni merged into Rann of KutchhRJ Plains12Thar desertAravalli range
SW plains: marine origin While north movement- Indian plates western margin marine transgression marine depo. oil and gas reserve salt lakesExtend to Kutchh
RJ Plains123Aravalli range
Rajasthan Bagar (2): fluvial grasslands RJ steppeVery fertile Rohi tractsWestern most RJ- marusthali/ Thar desert (4) sand dunes DhriansRJ PlainsThar desertAravalli range24
Tropical desertOff-shore trade winds + local reason Aravalli parallel to SW monsoon no orographic rainSoil is fertile but moisture deficiency cultivable if relclaimed
Deserts in RJ
Fluvial plains Ravi, Beas and Sutlej (tri. Of Indus)Khadar plains: fertile but limitationsAridityBasin topography (bad drainage) - salinationPunjab Plains
Divisions:Upper Gangetic plainsMiddle Gangetic plainsLower Gangetic plainsGangetic Plains123
Upper ganga plainsFrom Yamuna to Ghaghara plainsRohilkhand plainSandy depositsGangetic Plains
middle ganga plainsKosi plainCalled Magadh / Awadh /Anga plainFlood-prone, shifting of river course of KosiGangetic Plains
Lower ganga plainsGanga enters WBSundarban deltaLowland-almost sea levelSagar IslandLothian Is. (N.P)Bengal tigersGangetic Plains
Brahmaputra largest river of India (volume)Origin Mansarovar lake- enters as Dihang in Arunachal PradeshRiver course narrow- numerous stream flow -flood prone
Assam PlainsKailash mt.
Streams from north swift flowing form alluvial fansManas, Subansiri,
Streams from south plt. smooth flowing- Dibang, Lohit, Dhansiri, KapilliAssam plains
Physiography of India
Pre-Cambrian old region8 divisions:
N-C highlandsS-C highlandsEastern plateauNorth DeccanSouth DeccanWestern GhatsEastern GhatsMeghalaya uplands
Indian peninsular plateau
Aravalli Mahabharat Uplands Madhya Bharat Pathar BundelkhandN-C highlands
1432
One of the oldest mt rangeSedimentary, metamorphosed rocks marble, quartziteFrom Palanpur to Delhi ridgeSource of Sabarmati, Luni and Banas (tri. Chmbal)Aravalli range
Granite, gneissic rocksDrought-prone low agro-productivityJhansi, Gwalior, HamirpurBundelkhand
Vindhyan rangeMalawa plateauNarmada valleyS-C highlands
123
From GJ to Bihar Rifting- southern slope steeperVindhyan range
Source of many north flowing riversChmabal, Sindh, Betwa and Ken(tributaries of Yamuna)Water divide of central India
Vindhyan rangeVindhyan range
Located btwn Arvalli and Vindhyan rangeSemi arid regionFaulty agro-practice- high soil erosion gully erosion- Chambal badlandsHistorically known as Khandesh
Malawa plateau
BaghelkhandGarhjat hills, Rajmahal hills, Mahanadi basin, DandkarnyaChotanagpur plateauEastern plateau
123645
Craton of Singhbhum metallic mineral richRifting along Damodar valley 2 partsN. Hazaribaug PlateauS. Ranchi plateauDamodar and MahanadiRifting coal formationUnique coal + iron combinationChhota Nagpur plateau
Rajmahal hills NE edge of Chhota Nagpur plt.Garhjat hills southern edge of Chhotanagpur plt Chhota Nagpur plateau
Radial drainageDamodarBarakarSubarnrekha North koel, (tri. Of Son), South koel rivers (tri. Of Brahmani)Chhota Nagpur plateau
3 parts of plateauGaro-Khasi-JaintiaGaro (Nokrek), Khasi (Shillong)Mikir, Regma, Barail rangesKapilli river separates mikir, Regma & Barail from Meghalaya plateau
Meghalaya Plateau
Extension of Peninsular blockSeparated from Chhotanagpur plateauDown warping along Rajmahal garo hills = malda gap
Meghalaya PlateauRajmahal hills
Hills are not very highNot effective in blocking the rain bearing winds reach till Arunachal PradeshBut pass with funnel effect heavy rainfall in MeghalayaBut inadequate storage water shortage Meghalaya Plateau
India pass over Reunion hot spotBasaltic lava flowLayer over layer of lava formationLook like steps traps
Deccan traps
Satpura range (Rajpipla, Gawilgarh, Mahaev, Maikal, Amarkantak plt.)Maharastra plateau
North Deccan12
fold mt. of Archaenean then faultingRajpipla (GJ)Gawilgarh (MH) Mahadeo (MP), Maikal (Chh)Highest peak Dhupgarh (Mahadeo) Satpura range1234
Amarkantak plateau- east of Maikal rangeSource of Narmada and Son (tri. Of Ganga)Betul plateau south of Mahado hillssource of river Tapi, Pench/ Wainganga river (Tri. Of Godavari)
Satpura Range
1234Betul plateauAmarkantak plateau
Shield crystalline rocksOverland by lava flowNorthern portion- Vidarbha regionIn south merge with KN plateau and in east with Telangana plateauMH plateau
MH plateauAjantasatmalaBalaghatHarishchandraTelangana plt
1) KN -Dharwad pltOne of the oldest physiographical region2) Telangana plateau
South Deccan2
Baba budan hills, Maidan and MalnadMalnad = forested Maidan = aridHighest peak of Baba Budan = MulangiriMalnad and Baba budan hills coffee cultivationKN plateau
plainMalnadMaidanBanglore plateau
Baba budan hills
The most oldest sedimentary rocks of IndiaAncient Dharwad craton (shield) metallic mineral rich regionShimoga, Tamkut and Chitradurg, Chikmaglur of KN mineral richDharwad plateau
Iron and limestoneBellary (KN) and upto Ratnagiri (MH) Fe oreKemangundi and Kudremukh mines (near Chikmaglur)Dharwad plateau
Ajanta Satpura Balaghat HarishchandraHighest peak: AnaimudiPasses:Thalghat Btwn Mumbai-NashikBhor ghat btwn Mumbai -Pune
Western Ghats
Arachaean gneisses Avg. elevation 500-600mSouthern portion higher than northern partNorth Satmala hillsSouth Sheshachalam hills, Rayanseema pltDrained by Godavari, Krishna and Penneru
Telangana plateau
Godavari riverKrishna riverPenneru riverBenglore plateau
More rainfall in KNSteeper in MH, lower and broader in KNKR isolated hills rain bearing wind pass between gapsWestern Ghats
KN: Gentle slope= Air parcel can retain energy and speed for a long time, allowing cloud droplets to grow and precipitate as rainfall.In Karnataka, mountains are continuous. No gaps= Clouds cant easily escape to leeward side.
Western Ghats
Western Ghats- UNESCO world heritage site (evergreen to thorn)KN-TN-KR region:SHOLA forest biosphere reserve unique BD above 2000m Stunted tropical montane forestWestern Ghats
KN-KR-TN region:Bandipur-Waynad-Mudumalai NPTN tea-coffee KN rubber, coastal cashew plantationKR- spicesWestern Ghats
Northern circasNallamallaPalkondaJavadi ShevroyHighest peak: Armakonda
Eastern Ghats12345
Laterite soilsBauxite deposits:MalaygiriNiyamgiri Baflai mali Panchpat mali
POSCO plant, Niyamgiri
Eastern Ghats`11243
South of Western Ghats but geologically not part of Western Ghats or Eastern GhatsNilgiri,AnamalaiPalaniKardamom hills
Southern hill complex1234
Pal ghat gap btwn Nilgir and JavadiHill stations:Nilgiri OotyAnnamalai MunnarPalani hills - Kodaikanal
Southern complex
Prelims2005Q. Which one of the following is correct sequence of hills starting from north to south?Nallamalla Nilgiri Javadi Anamalai hillsAnamalai Javadi Nilgiri- Nallamalla hillsNallamalla Javadi Nilgiri- Anamalai hills
UPSCQuestion
Prelims2005d) Anamalai Nilgiri javadi- Nallamalai
Ans. C)Nallamalla Javadi Nilgiri Anamalai
UPSCQuestion
Prelims2008Q. Which of the following hills are found where Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats meet?Anamalai hillsCardamom hillsNilgiri hillsShevroy hills
UPSCQuestion
Ans. C)Nilgiri hillsPhysical map of Southern India
Prelims2005Q. Which of the following is not correct?Western Ghats are relatively lower in their northern regionThe Anaimudi is highest peak in western GhatsTapi river lie south of SatpuraThe Narmada and Tapi river valley are said to be old rift valleysAns. A)
UPSCQuestion
Peninsular plateau oldest and most stable regionRich in minerals iron, limestone, bauxite98% of Gondwana coalPlantation agriculture in hilly areas: tea, coffee, rubber, spices, cashews
Importance of Peninsular plateau
Physiography of India
From Rann of Kutch to SundarbanWestern coastal plainEastern coastal plainCoastal plains12
Narrower than Eastern coastal plainSteeper fast flowing riversEstuariesPort development
Western coastal plain
Narmada, Mahi and Sabarmati flow into Gulf of KhambhatGir radial drainageIslands: Alia bet, Pirotan island, DiuBaidar, Kora, Kurumbhar Is in g. of KutchhWestern coastal plain
KR coast:Vembnad lakePeriyar river merge near Vembnad lakeInner side Ernakulam and outward side - KochiWestern coastal plainkochiVembnad lake
Periyar riverAnnamalai hills
Broader Large rivers extensive delta formationMahanadi deltaGodavari delta Krishna delta Kaveri deltasEastern coastal plain
Odisha coast: Wheeler Is. missile testingChilka lake (biggest)Olive ridley turtles Ganjam coast- (nr. Mouth of Rushikulya river)Eastern Plain
Wheeler Is.
Rushikulya riverChilka lake
Andhra coast:Pulicut lake split bar Shriharikota Is. (ISRO)Kolleru lake deltaic lake (Goadavari and Krishna rivers)Eastern plains
Kolleru lakePulicur lake +Shriharikota Island
TN coast:Winter rainfallRameshwaram Pamban Island last point DhanushkondiPalk bay biosphere reserveRamsetu issueEastern Plain
Physiography of India
Geological history of IndiaPhysiographical regions of IndiaNorthern mountainsNorthern plainsPeninsular plateauCoastal plains