Physical Features of India Class 9 ||Geography|| Chapter 2 NCERT Notes

Physical Features of India Class 9 ||Geography|| Chapter 2 NCERT Notes

1. The Physical Divisions of India

India is divided into six major physiographic divisions:

  1. The Himalayan Mountains
  2. The Northern Plains
  3. The Peninsular Plateau
  4. The Indian Desert
  5. The Coastal Plains
  6. The Islands

2. The Himalayan Mountains

  • Location: Stretch across the northern borders of India, running from west to east.
  • Length: Around 2,500 km long.
  • Division of Himalayas:
    • Himadri (Greater Himalayas):
      • The northernmost range.
      • Average height: 6,000 meters.
      • Includes some of the world’s highest peaks (e.g., Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga).
    • Himachal (Lesser Himalayas):
      • Lies south of Himadri.
      • Average height: 3,700 to 4,500 meters.
      • Famous hill stations like Shimla, Manali, and Darjeeling are located here.
    • Shiwaliks:
      • The southernmost range.
      • Formed by the deposition of sediments brought by rivers.
      • Known for narrow valleys called ‘Duns’ (e.g., Dehradun).

3. The Northern Plains

  • Formation: Formed by the deposition of alluvial soil by the rivers – the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, and the Indus.
  • Extent: Spread over an area of about 7 lakh square km.
  • Division of Plains:
    • Punjab Plains: Western part, formed by the Indus and its tributaries.
    • Ganga Plains: Cover major parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
    • Brahmaputra Plains: Located in Assam.
  • Importance: Very fertile land, supports high population density and agriculture.

4. The Peninsular Plateau

  • Oldest Landmass: Formed during the breaking of Gondwana land.
  • Composition: Made of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
  • Division of Plateau:
    • Central Highlands: Lies to the north of the Narmada River. Includes the Malwa Plateau.
    • Deccan Plateau: Lies to the south of the Narmada River. Triangular in shape. Bordered by the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
  • Western and Eastern Ghats:
    • Western Ghats: Higher, continuous range, known for biodiversity. Average height of 900 to 1600 meters.
    • Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous and lower range, average height of 600 meters.

5. The Indian Desert (Thar Desert)

  • Location: Western Rajasthan.
  • Characteristics:
    • Receives less than 150 mm of rainfall annually.
    • Has arid climate, sandy soil, and dunes.
    • Vegetation is sparse and water sources are scarce.

6. The Coastal Plains

  • Location: Located along the eastern and western edges of the Peninsular Plateau.
  • Western Coastal Plain:
    • Narrow and runs from Gujarat to Kerala.
    • Subdivided into the Konkan Coast (Mumbai to Goa), Kannad Plain, and Malabar Coast.
  • Eastern Coastal Plain:
    • Wider than the western coastal plain, runs from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.
    • Subdivided into the Northern Circar and the Coromandel Coast.
    • Several rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri form deltas here.

7. The Islands

  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
    • Located in the Bay of Bengal.
    • Made up of around 572 islands, known for tropical rainforests and marine biodiversity.
    • Home to indigenous tribes.
  • Lakshadweep Islands:
    • Located in the Arabian Sea.
    • Composed of coral atolls and smaller in size compared to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Summary of Key Points:

  • India has a variety of landforms: mountains (Himalayas), plains (Northern Plains), plateaus (Peninsular Plateau), deserts (Thar Desert), coastal plains, and islands.
  • The Himalayas protect the country from cold winds and are home to many rivers.
  • The fertile Northern Plains are important for agriculture and dense population.
  • The Peninsular Plateau is rich in minerals, while the coastal plains support trade and fishing.
  • The islands of Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep add to the geographic diversity.