Physical Features of India Class 9

– Detailed Notes India’s landscape is incredibly diverse, shaped by geological processes over millions of years. It is broadly divided into six major physiographic divisions:

1. The Himalayan Mountains

• Location: Northern border of India, stretching from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
• Formation: Result of the collision between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates.

• Divisions:

• Himadri (Greater Himalayas): Loftiest peaks (e.g., Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga), average height ~6,000 m, composed of granite.
• Himachal (Lesser Himalayas): Rugged terrain, includes Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar ranges; famous valleys like Kashmir and Kullu.
• Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas): Youngest range, composed of unconsolidated sediments; features valleys called Duns (e.g., Dehradun).

• Eastern Extension: Known as Purvanchal Hills – includes Patkai, Naga, Mizo, and Manipur hills.

2. The Northern Plains

• Formation: Deposited by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems.
• Area: ~7 lakh sq. km; highly fertile and densely populated.

• Divisions:

• Punjab Plains: Formed by Indus and its tributaries.
• Ganga Plains: Spread across UP, Bihar, West Bengal.
• Brahmaputra Plains: Located in Assam.

• Relief Features:

• Bhabar: Pebbly belt at the foothills.
• Terai: Marshy, swampy zone south of Bhabar.
• Bhangar: Older alluvium, terrace-like.
• Khadar: Newer alluvium, fertile floodplains.

3. The Peninsular Plateau

• Geological Significance: Oldest landmass, part of Gondwana land.
• Composition: Igneous and metamorphic rocks.

• Divisions:

• Central Highlands: North of Narmada; includes Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Chotanagpur Plateau.
• Central Highlands (North of the Narmada River)
• Location & Extent
• Lies to the north of the Narmada River and south of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
• Bounded by the Aravalli Range in the northwest and the Vindhya Range in the south.
• Spread across parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
• Geological Features
• Composed of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• Represents a relict mountain system, heavily eroded and weathered.
• Elevation ranges from 300 to 1,000 meters, sloping north and northeast.
• Subdivisions
• Region
• Description:- Located in western Madhya Pradesh and southeastern Rajasthan. Formed by volcanic lava flows (Deccan Traps), covered with black soil. Drained by Chambal and Mahi rivers.
• Malwa Plateau
• Lies between the Yamuna River and Vindhyan escarpment. Composed of granite and Bundelkhand Upland
• Region
• Description:- gneiss. Dissected terrain with low hills and ravines.
• Baghelkhand Plateau:- Lies east of Bundelkhand. Made of sandstone and granite. Acts as a water divide between the Son and Mahanadi rivers.
• Chotanagpur Plateau:- Northeastern extension. Rich in minerals like coal, iron, and mica. Drained by Damodar.
• Region
• Description:-  Subarnarekha, and Koel rivers.

Natural Resources & Importance

• Rich in minerals (coal, iron ore, bauxite).
• Dense forests and tribal population.
• Important for agriculture (cotton, millets) and hydroelectric projects.
• Deccan Plateau: South of Narmada; triangular shape; includes Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana.
• Deccan Plateau (South of the Narmada River)

Location & Extent

• A vast triangular plateau covering most of southern India.
• Bounded by:
• Satpura and Vindhya ranges in the north
• Western Ghats in the west
• Eastern Ghats in the east
• Covers parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Geological Features

• Formed from ancient volcanic activity (Deccan Traps).
• Composed of basaltic lava flows, granite, and gneiss.
• Average elevation: 600–900 meters, sloping west to east.

Subdivisions

• Region
• Description
• Northern part; covered with black cotton soil (regur); dissected by Godavari and Bhima rivers.
• Maharashtra Plateau
• Rolling terrain; divided into Malnad (hilly) and Maidan (plains); rivers like Tungabhadra and Kaveri originate here.
• Karnataka Plateau (Mysore Plateau)
• Lies between the Western and Eastern
• Ghats; drained by Godavari and Krishna rivers; composed of Archaean rocks.

Natural Resources & Importance

•Rich in minerals (iron, mica, uranium).
• Fertile black soil ideal for cotton cultivation.
• Major river basins (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) support agriculture and hydroelectricity.

Key Differences

• Feature:- Central Highlands Deccan Plateau
• Location:- North of Narmada River South of Narmada River 
• Elevation:- 300 – 1,000 m 600 –900 m
• Slope Direction:- North and northeast 
• Soil Type:- Red and yellow soils Black cotton soil (regur)
• Major Rivers:- Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Son Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Tungabhadra
• Rock Type:- Granite, gneiss, sandstone Basalt (Deccan Traps), granite, gneiss

Ghats:

• Western Ghats: Continuous, higher (avg. 900–1600 m), includes Anamudi peak.
• Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous, lower (avg. 600 m), includes Mahendragiri peak.

4. The Indian Desert (Thar Desert)

• Location: Western Rajasthan, near Aravalli Hills.
• Climate: Arid,
• Features: Sand dunes, sparse vegetation, dry rivers (e.g., Luni).

5. The Coastal Plains

• Location: Narrow strips along the eastern and western coasts.

• Divisions:

• Western Coastal Plains: Narrow, includes Konkan, Kannad, and Malabar coasts; features backwaters and estuaries.
• Western Coastal Plains of India – Detailed Notes
• Location & Extent
• Lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
• Extends from the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
• Covers the coastal regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Length: ~1,500 km
• Width: Narrow, ranging from 50 to 100 km.
• Subdivisions of the Western Coastal Plains