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