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INTRODUCTION

The present physical form of India is a result of vast geological formation.
Stratigraphy, geological structure, and physiography are different.
Indian Peninsula is a part of global Gondwana shifted northward and striking with central Asiatic plate forming high mountain out of Tethys sea.
Rich in different physiographic units complements each other such as :

= Mountains : the source of water and forest

= Nothern Plain : granaries of the country

= Plateau : a storehouse of minerals

= Coast: fishing and port activities

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OBJECTIVE

To make familiar with various physical features of India
To draw out the comparative study of various regional linkage
To learn about continents and mountain building procedure in combination with agents of erosion
To develop map work skill and appreciate nature and its scenic beauty

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MAJOR PHYSIOGRAPHIC� DIVISIONS OF INDIA

India consist of three major landforms

grouped into seven physiographic unit:

A) The Himalayan mountain

1. Nothern mountains

B) The Indo-Gangetic plain

2. Great plains

3. Thar desert

C) Peninsular Plateau

4. Central Highlands

5. Peninsular Plateaus

6. Coastal plain

7. Islands

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Area occupied and %age of Physical Units of India

AREA PER SQ. KM

UNITS

PERCENTAGE OCCUPIED

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PANGEA

Super continent
fromed duing late paleozoic and early mesozoic era
335million years ago
breakup- 175million years ago

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SPLIT OF PANGEA OVER AGES

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TECTONIC PLATE MOVEMENT

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HIMALAYA

Asymmetrical young fold mountain
Distance- 2400km
Width- 400km (Kashmir) to 150km (Arunachal Pradesh)
Abode of snow
Runs in the west to east direction (Indus to Bramhaputra)
Formed out of Tethys sea
60 million years ago (tertiary period)
Under the control of sub-aerial erosion
Loftiest and most rugged mountain barrier of the world

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DIVISIONS OF HIMALAYA: PARALLEL DIVISION

From north to south- Longitudinal
three main divisions are:

1) HIMADRI

2) HIMANCHAL

3) SHIWALIK

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1) HIMADRI

HIMADRI
Known as Greater/Inner Himalaya
Continuous range
Consist of loftiest peaks
Average elevation(6000mtr)
Asymmetrical mountain with southward spurs
Everlasting snow
Important mountain peaks are: Kanchanjhanga & Dhaulagiri
Compose of granite at the core

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2) HIMANCHAL

HIMACHAL
Also known as lesser/middle Himalaya
Situated towards the south of Himadri
Rugged mountain system
Altitude: 3700 to 4500mts average width: 50km
Hill station: Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet
Important valley: Kashmir, Kangra and Kullu valley
Important mountain ranges are: PirPranjal, Dhauladhar, Mahabharat Range
Made up of compressed and altered rocks

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3) SHIWALIK

SHIWALIK
also known as outer Himalaya
covered with thick gravel & alluvium
width: 10-15km altitude: 900-1100mts
earthquake-prone area
Dunes found: Dehradun, Kotli Duns. Patli Duns
composed of unconsolidated sediments(river deposits)

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DIVISIONS OF HIMALAYA: LONGITUTIONAL DIVISION

INDUS RIVER

SATLUJ RIVER

KALI RIVER

TEESTA RIVER

DIHANG RIVER

Punjab/ kashmir Himalaya

Kumaon HImalaya

Nepal Himalaya

Assam Himalaya

In extreme east, beyond Dihang Gorge Himalaya bend to south and stretches to eastern boundary known as PURVANCHAL
running through North-East states
composed of sandstones
dense forset
parallel ranges and valley
Important hills in Purvanchal: Patkai, Naga, Manipur and Mizo Hills

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PUNJAB HIMALAYA

NEPAL HIMALAYA

KUMAON HIMALAYA

ASSAM HIMALAYA

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NOTHERN PLAINS OF INDIA

The interplay of three major river systems and its tributaries
composed of alluvial soil (Bhangar, Khadar, etc)
origin: two million years old
spread over 7 lakh sq. km, length- 2400km, width- 240 to 320 km
densely populated, adequate water supply, favorable climate, agriculturally productive
Division of Northern plain:

a) Rajsthan plain,

b) Punjab Plain,

c) Upper plain,

d) Middle plain,

e) Lower plain,

f) Assam plain

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NORTHERN PLAIN(cnted..)

on the basis of relief feature can be divied into four zone:

a) Bhabar
south of lower Himalaya and Shiwalik hills in Uttarakhand.
8 to 10 km wide
pebble studded rocks,porous beds, between Indus and Teesta

b)Terai
belt of marshy grassland & savannas
Located at the south of outer Himalayan foothills, north of Indo-Gangetic plain
The reemergence of streams lost in Bhabar
stretches- Yamuna river in west to Brahamaputra river in east
thick forest biodiversity
imp. national park named Dudhwa situated

d) Khadar
new alluvial deposit
found- flood plain, pene plain, riverside, beds & deltas
fine particles found (sand+silt+clay)
high renewable frequently
no kankar found

c) Bhanger
Bhanger is the old alluvial soil, above the flood plain
contain calcareous deposit, locally called kankar,
slightly elevated and terraced land
found in the edge of Indo-Gangetic plain.
It is not renewable
kankar found

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PENINSULAR PLATEAU OF INDIA

Tableland
Composed of crystalline, Igneous and metamorphic rocks
Formed due to breaking and drifting of Gondwana land
Part of the oldest landmass
Plateau has broad, shallow valley and rounded hills
Peninsular experienced crustal movement, upper Carboniferous period
Divided into two major area - a) central highland , b) Deccan plateau

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CENTRAL HIGHLAND

A wide belt of hilly country
Extension : Westward up to Aravali range and East up to Vindhyachal, south limit up to rift valley of Narmada
Inhabited by Gonds, Santals, Orans and Bhils tribes.
Imp ranges: Aravali, East Rajasthan upland, Madhya Bharat uplands, Bundelkhand upland, Malwaplateau, Vindhya scarplands and Narmada valley.
ARAVALI:

= Extend south-west (Delhi toAhemedabad) 800km

= oldest tectonic fold mountain

= composed of hard Quartzites, Gurushikhar(1722m in Abu hills)

=elevation: 250-500m

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CENTRAL HIGHLAND (cntd..)

MADHYA BHARAT PATHAR :

= East of Chambal

= a rocky & densely forest area

= river Chambal flowing

= made up sandstone upland.

BUNDELKHAND:

= Between Yamuna river & Vindhyan scarp land,

= ranging 100-300m

= old erosional surface made of granite.

EASTERN ARAVALI:

= Rajasthan upland

= river Chambal and Banas flowing

MALWA PLATEAU:

= Between Madhya Bharat pathar and Vindhya range

= lava plateau covered with black soil

= present at the north of Vindhya range

= Running parallel to Narmada River

= composed of sandstone, limestone, Quarzit and shales

= North-East section of Malwa plateau have scape land topoghaphy (Kimur Hills)

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DECCAN PLATEAU

Triangular landmass
South of Narmada river
Length : 1500km (North to South), 1400km(East to west),. Elevation: 1000mtr
Satpura range in the north (broad base)
Mahadev, Kaimur and Maikal ranges are eastern extension of Deccan Plateau
Higher in the west and gentle slope towards the east
North-east extension are : Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong plateau and Cachar Hills
Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills ranging from west to east.
Separated by a fault Chotanagpur Plateau

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GHATS - WESTERN & EASTERN GHATS

WESTERN GHAT
western edges of Deccan Plateau
parallel to Malbar Coast
its is continuous
Avg. elevation: 900-1600mtr
Highest peak: Anai Mudi & Doda Betta
Three passes: Thal, Bhor and Pal Ghats
Stretches from Gujarat to Kerala

EASTERN GHAT
eastern edge of Deccan Plateau
parallel to Coromandal Coast
Dissected
Avg. elevation: 600mtr
Highest peak: Mahendra Giri
No passes
Stretches from Mahanadi Valley to Nilgiri

V/S

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COASTAL PLAINS

WESTERN COAST
Parallel to western ghat, narrow plain
Peninsular such as Kathiawar & Kachchh found
Important river: Tapti and Narmada, Mandovi and Nuari
Extensive plain of Gujarat, no Delta
more or less straight, sufficient rainfall (orographical)
width-10 to25km
Konkan,Kannad plain &Malbar coast are important
Continental shelves are wider

EASTERN COAST
roughly parallel, wider & drier
River: Mahanadi, Godavri, Krishna, Kaveri
Mahanadi, Godavri, Krishna, Kaveri (Important Deltas)
monsoonal and cyclonic
width: 100 to 130 km
extended from Delta of Godavari to Kanyakumari
Two large lagoons: Pulicut and Chillika
continental shelves are narrow except at Ganga mouth

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INDIAN COAST

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THE ISLAND GROUPS OF INDIA

LAKSHADWEEP
close to Malbar coast of Kerala
originates from coral reefs (skeleton of sea anemones)
area: 32 sq. km
Important Islands are Agati, Minicoy, Kadmat, Kalpani, Pitti, etc
a great diversity of flora and fauna
Pitti Island is uninhabited and a bird sanctuary is found

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