Q 1- How many plates the Earth has been formed?
Ans- The Earth formed out of seven major tectonic plates and some minor plates.
Q 2- What do you mean by Gondwanaland?
Ans- The Gondwanaland is the name of an ancient supercontinent which included India, Australia, South Africa, South America and Antarctica.
Q 3- Name the oldest landmass of India.
Ans- Peninsular Plateau
Q 4- Name the southern coast of the western coastal plain.
Ans- It is called the Malabar Coast.
Q 5- Mention one example of hard and soft rock with their use.
Ans- Hard rock like marble has been used for making the Taj Mahal and soft rock like soap stone is used for making talcum powder.
Q 6- What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Ans- The Theory of Plate Tectonics states that the earth’s crust has been formed out of seven major and some minor plates. The movement of these plates results in folding, faulting and volcanic activity.
Q 7- What happens when two tectonic plates collide with each other?
Ans- When two plates collide with each other, it can lead to folding, faulting and volcanic activity.
Q 8- Which are the three types of plate boundaries/movements?
Ans- The three types of plate boundaries includes convergent, divergent and transform boundary.
Q 9- Mention any six tectonic plates of the earth’s crust.
Ans- The six tectonic plates of the earth’s crust are Eurasian plate, North American plate, South American plate, African plate, Indo-Australian plate and Pacific and Antarctic plate.
Q 10- What is the implication of plate movements?
Ans- The plate movements have changed the size and position of the continents over million years. These movements have also influenced the evolution of present landforms.
Q 11- Mention the division of super continent Pangea.
Ans- The super continent was divided into two parts i.e. Angara land in north and Gondwana land in south.
Q 12- Name the major physical divisions of India.
Ans- The major physical divisions of India are the Himalayan mountains, the Northern plains, the Peninsular plateau, the Indian desert, the Coastal plains, the Islands.
Q 13- What is the extent of Himalayas?
Ans- The Himalayas stretch along the northern borders of India. The Himalayas spread out from Indus to Brahmaputra in a west-east direction.
Q 14- Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas.
Ans- The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas are:
(a) The Great Himalayas or Inner Himalayas or Himadri
(b) Himachal or Lesser Himalayas
(c) Shiwaliks or Outer Himalayas.
Q 15- What is Khadar?
Ans- The younger alluvium of the §ood plains is known as the Khadar.
Q 16- What is distributary?
Ans- The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of silt. These channels are known as distributries. For example, Hoogly, Meghna is a distributary of river Ganga.
Q 17- What is meant bydoab?
Ans- The land between two rivers is locally known as the doab.
Q 18- What is the Terai Zone?
Ans- It is a zone next to the Bhabar zone which is wet and marshy. It has a thick forest cover and a variety of wildlife.
Q 19- What is a Bhangar?
Ans- The older alluvium soil of the northern plains is called the Bhangar.
Q 20- Which is the highest peak of India?
Ans- Kanchenjunga (8,598 m).
Q 21- Which is the highest peak of the world? Where is it situated?
Ans- Mount Everest (8848 m) located in Nepal is the highest peak in the world.
Q 22- Which is the highest peak of the Deccan Plateau?
Ans- The Anaimudi hill in Kerala.
Q 23- What is orographic rainfall?
Ans- This is rainfall caused when masses of air pushed by wind are forced up the side of elevated land formations like mountains. Orography is the study of the physical geography of mountains and mountain ranges.
Q 24- What are barchans?
Ans- Barchans are crescent-shaped dunes found in the Indian desert.
Q 25- The Northern Plains has been formed by the interplay of three major river systems, namely ________ .
Ans- The Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputr
Q 26- The hills of Purvachal or the Eastern hills are composed of ________ .
Ans- Sedimentary rocks
Short Answer Questions
Q 27- What are the three types of plate movements on the Earth?
Ans-
• Coverage boundary: When some plates come towards each other, they form a convergent boundary.
• Divergent boundary: When some plates move away from each other they form a divergent boundary.
• Transform boundary: In the event of two plates coming together, they may either collide and crumble or may slide under the other and form the transform boundary.
Q 28- Define a ‘Geosyncline’. What is the result of the upliftment of the sediments in the basin?
Ans- A narrow, shallow, elongated basin with a sinking bottom in which a considerable thickness of sediments was deposited by the river coming from Angara and Gondwanaland is called a ‘Geosyncline’. The upliftment of the sediments in the basin resulted in the formation of Himalayas.
Q 29- Differentiate between convergent plates and divergent plates.
Ans- Convergent Plates:
• The tectonic plates move closer to each other in convergent plate boundaries.
• The two plates coming together may either collide or may slide under other.
• It may result into activity like earthquake.
Divergent Plates:
• The tectonic plates move away from each other in divergent plate boundaries.
• The two plates drift away from each other creating gap between them.
• It result in volcanic eruption.
Q 30- How are riverine islands formed?
Ans- The rivers coming from the northern mountains carry alluvium with them and do the depositional work. In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands.
Q 31- Why are the Shiwalik ranges prone to landslides and earthquakes ? Give reasons.
Ans- • Shiwalik is the Southern range of the Himalayas. It is a discountinuous range as it disappears in the east.
• This region is made of loose unconsolidated deposits brought down by rivers from the main Himalayan ranges.
• The region is prone to widespread erosion landslides and earthquakes.
Q 32- Give a brief description of the Himalayan mountains.
Or
State any three features of Himalayan mountains.
Ans- The three features of Himalayan mountains are:
(a) Himalayas are geologically young as well as structurally fold mountains stretching along the northern borders of India.
(b) They run from west to east direction i.e. from River Indus to River Brahmaputra.
(c) They form an arc over a length of 2400 km. They are higher in the east than in the west. They are the loftiest rugged mountain range in the world.
Q 33- Explain in brief the famous passes of the Himalayas.
Ans- A pass is a natural pathway in between high mountains. The Himalayan mountains are so formidable that it is not possible to cross them. There are some passes in the Himalayas which provide route-way across them. Some of the important passes are:
(a) Shipki La located in Satluj valley in Himachal Pradesh along Tibet border.
(b) Lipu Lekh pass near Tibet border in Uttarakhand providing route to Mt. Kailash and Mansarowar in Tibet.
(c) In the east, there is Nathu La pass in Sikkim and China border providing passage from India to Lhasa and Bomdi la pass La Arunachal-China border.
Q 34- Mention divisions of Northern Plains marked by rivers.
Ans- The Northern Plains of India are fertile alluvial plains. The division of Northern plains marked by river are:
(a) Indus Plains: Indus plain formed by River Indus and its tributaries e.g. Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj.
(b) Ganga Plains: The plain formed by River Ganga and its tributaries such as Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi etc. It extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It covers the states of Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
(c) Brahmaputra Plains: The plains lies in the east mainly in Assam. These are very narrow plains drained by Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Q 35- Write some important features of Ganga Plains.
Ans- Some important features of Ganga Plains are:
(a) The Ganga Plain lies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Delhi and West Bengal. The deltaic part of the plain is in West Bengal and Bangladesh. This part of the plain is formed by Ganga and its Himalayan tributaries (Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak) and Peninsular tributaries (Chambal, Betwa, Ken and Son).
(b) The plain slopes towards east and southeast and also has high fertile soils.
(c) These plains extended between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers.
Q 36- Write the importance of peninsular plateau.
Ans- (a) The peninsular plateau which is made up of old crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, is a rich source of mineral wealth.
(b) The Deccan Trap provides the black soil, which is most suitable for cultivation of cotton crops.
(c) It has a number of industries especially in the Chotanagpur plateau area e.g. Jameshedpur and Bokaro steel plants etc.
Q 37- Mention the three distinct features of Aravali hills.
Ans- The three distinct features of Aravali hills are:
(a) It lies on the western and northwestern margins of the peninsular plateau.
(b) These hills appeared as broken hills as they got highly eroded.
(c) In a southwest to northeast direction, Aravali hills extended from Gujarat to Delhi.
Q 38- What is the difference between a tributary and a distributary?
Ans- A Tributary: A tributary is that river which joins the main river, and increases the volume of water. It is generally found in the upper or the middle course of a river. For example, the Yamuna is the main tributary of the river Ganga.
A Distributary: It is that river which originates from a main river. It is formed near the river’s mouth before it falls into the sea. It is found in the lower course of the river. For example, the Hooghly is the main distributary of the Ganga.
Q 39- Write about the main features of the Shiwaliks.
Ans- It is the outermost range of the Himalayas.
The average altitude of the Shiwalik range varies between 900 m and 1,100 m above the sea level, and extends over a width of about 10-50 km. This range is made of unconsolidated material such as mud, silt and soft rocks and is prone to earthquakes and landslides. Some narrow valleys are found between the Shiwaliks and the Himachal. They are called ‘duns’. For example, Dehradun, is situated in one such valley.
Q 40- How did the northern plains come to existence? Write two points briefly. Also mention two features of these plains.
Ans- (i) The northern plains have been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, i.e., the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
(ii) The northern plain is formed of the alluvial soil brought by these rivers.
Features:
- These plains are very fertile.
- These are densely polulated.
Q 41- Why are Northern Plains agriculturally productive parts of India? Explain.
Ans- The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya over millions of years, formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh km.
The plain being about 2400 km. long and 240 to 320 km. broad, is a densely populated physiographic division.
With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate, it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
Q 42- Which three river systems form the northern plains of India? Mention main features.
Ans- The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems—the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
Features:
The river Indus and its tributaries form the western part of the northern plain which is referred to as the Punjab plains. The larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan.
The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It spreads over the states of North India; Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The Brahmaputra plain particularly lies mainly in Assam. It forms the largest riverine islands in the world.
Q 43- What is a delta? Name some deltas of the Indian sub-continent.
Ans- The triangular deposition of sediments at the mouth of a river is known as a delta.
- The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta.
- The Mahanadi Delta.
- The Godavari Delta.
- The Krishna Delta.
- The Kaveri Delta.
Q 44- What are Purvanchal hills? Mention any two features of these hills.
Ans- Mountains along the eastern boundary of India are called the Purvanchal. There are medium heights. Some of the important mountains of Purvanchal are:
- The Patkoi Bum and the Naga Hills in the North.
- The Mizo Hills in the South.
- The Jaintia, the Khasi and the Garo hills from east to west.
Features:
- They comprise of sandstone and sediments.
- They are covered with dense forests.
- They comprise of Patkoi Hills, Manipur hills etc.
Q 45- Give an account of the Deccan Plateau.
Ans- An account of Deccan Plateau of India:
- It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north while the Mahadev forms its eastern extensions.
- The Deccan Plateau is higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
- An extension of the Plateau is also visible in the north-east. It is locally known as the Meghalaya, Karbi Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
- It is separated by a fault from the Chhotanagpur Plateau. Three prominent hill ranges form the West to East are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
- The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the Western and Eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively. The Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast and Eastern Ghats, lie parallel to the eastern coast.
Q 46- Describe any three features of the coastal plains of India.
Ans- The Peninsular plateau is flanked by a strip of narrow coastal strips running along the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.
- The western coast, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a narrow plain.
- It consists of three sections. The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai-Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain while the southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast.
- The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level.
Q 47- Name two island groups possessed by India. Mention one feature of each.
Ans-
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands: This group of island is composed of small coral islands.
- Lakshadweep Islands: These are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered.
Q 48- Write a note on corals.
Ans- Corals are small, sedentary marine animals with a calcareous homy skeleton.
These thrive in warm shallow water and grow into large colonies called coral reefs.
They secrete hard rock like substance. The coral secretion and their skeletons form coral deposits in the form of reefs. They are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef, fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia and Lakshadweep Islands are a good example of the first kind of coral reefs.
Q 49- How the Himalayas have been divided on the basis of regions from west to east?
Ans- Punjab Himalayas: These divisions have been demarcated by river valleys. The part of Himalayas lying between Indus and Satluj has been traditionally known as Punjab Himalaya, but it is also known regionally as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya from west to east respectively.
- Kumaon Himalayas: The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas.
- Nepal Himalayas: The Kali and Teesta rivers demarcate the Nepal Himalayas.
- Assam Himalayas: the part lying between Teesta and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas.
Q 50- Which are the three main ranges of the Himalayas?
Ans- The Himalayas have three ranges which run almost parallel to each other. The distance between these ranges is wider in the west and becomes narrow in the east.
These ranges are—
- the Outer Himalayas or the Shiwalik Range
- the Middle Himalayas or the Himachal Range and
- the Inner or Great Himalayas or the Himadri
Q 51- Why is the soil in the Northern Plain fertile?
Ans-
- The soil of this plain has been formed by the sediments brought down by the rivers from the Himalayas.
- Such plain is called an alluvial plain and it is very fertile. This plain is one of the largest and most fertile plains of world.
- It is the most thickly populated plain. This is also the major crop growing area in India. This plain is drained by river Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The slope of this plain in the west is south-west and in the east is south-east.
- An area through which a river and its tributaries flow is called its basin.
Q 52- What do you mean Great Himalayas? Write its two characteristics.
Ans- The northern most range of the Himalayas is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri.
(a) It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6000 metres. It contains all prominent Himalayan peaks.
(b) Its folds are asymmetrical in nature and its core is composed of granite rock. It is perennially snow bound, and several glaciers descend from this range.
Q 53- Write a short note on ‘coral polyps’.
Ans- Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mudfree and warm waters. They secrete hard rock like substance. The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form of reefs.
They are mainly of three kinds—barrier reef, fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs. Atolls are circular or horse shoe-shaped coral reefs.
Q 54- “The northern plains have diverse relief features”. Explain.
Ans- Northern plains have great diverse relief features. According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into four regions. The rivers, after descending from the mountains deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. It is known as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt. South of this belt, the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai. The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. It lies above the floodplains of the rivers and presents a terrace like feature. This part is known as bhangar. The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits, locally known as kankar. The newer, younger deposits of the flood plains are called khadar.
Long Answers Question
Q 55- Write in detail about the Himalayan mountains.
Ans-
- The Himalaya mountains lie between the Indus river and the Brahmaputra river which covers a distance of about 2,400 kilometres.
- They consist of three parallel ranges-the Himadri, the Himachal and the Shiwaliks from north to south.
- The Himadri or the Great Himalayas is the highest of all with an average height of more than 6,000 metres above sea level.
- It contains some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Mt. Everest in Nepal (8,848 metres high, the highest peak in the world), Kanchanjunga, Nanga Parbat, Nanda Devi, Dhaulagiri, Makalu and Annapurna. Kanchenjunga (8,598 metres) in Sikkim
is the highest peak of the Himalayas in India. - To the south of the Himadri is the Himachal, also called the Middle or Lesser Himalayas. The range is mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
- The altitude varies between 3,600 and 4,500 metres and the average width is of 50 km.
- Many important hill stations such as Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Mussourie, Nainital and Darjeeling are situated in the Himachal range.
- The southern-most range, which is rather discontinuous, is the Shiwalik. The extend over a width of 10-50 km and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100 metres.
- There are a number of broad longitudinal valleys called duns, especially in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Dehradun is situated in one such valley. There are many passes like the Shipki La, Nathu La and the Bomdi La in
the Himalayas.
Q 56- What is the significance of the Northern Plains?
Ans- The significance of the Northern Plain are :
- This plain is made up of the alluvial soil brought down by the rivers. This soil is very soft and fertile.
- Major crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, pulses, oil seeds, etc. are grown here. This plain is the ‘food bowl’ of India.
- The land of this plain is soft, levelled and §at. Therefore, wells, tubewells and canals can be dug for irrigation. Due to proper irrigation, it is the largest producer of foodgrains in india.
- This plain gets sufficient rainfall. There are many rivers, streams and lakes. There is also rich vegetation. These factors affect the climate.
- The climate of the Northern Plains is very cold in winter and very hot in summer.
- This is one of the most thickly populated plain of the world. The most thickly populated states of India, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, lie in this plain.
Q 57- What is the significance of Himalayas?
Ans- The significance of Himalayas is as follows :
(a) The Himalayas stand like a mighty mountain wall in the north of India. They separate the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia.
(b) They have vast snowfields and glaciers which are the source of numerous perennial rivers. These rivers provide water for irrigation, navigation and generation of hydel power.
(c) The Himalayas act as a climatic barrier. They protect the Northern Plains from freezing cold winds. They also stop and deflect the rain-bearing winds.
(d) The forests in the Himalayas provide a suitable habitat for wildlife. They also have many wildlife sanctuaries.
(e) The Himalayas also have many beautiful hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital and Darjeeling, which attract tourists.
Q 58- How do different physiographic regions of India complement each other?
Ans- A detailed account of the different physiographic units highlights the unique features of each region :
(a) Each region complements the other and makes the country richer in its natural resources.
(b) The mountains are the major source of water and forest wealth.
(c) The Northern Plains are the granaries of the country. They provided the base for early civilizations.
(d) The plateau is a storehouse of minerals, which has played a crucial role in the industrialization of the country.
(e) The coastal region and island groups provide sites for Fishing and port activities. Thus, the diverse physical features of the land have immense future possibilities of development.
Q 59- Which part of the Himalayas is known as Purvachal? Write a short note on the Purvachal Himalayas.
Ans-
- The eastern hills and mountains of the Himalayas running along the eastern boundary of India are known as Purvachal. They are in the northeastern states of India.
- The Brahmaputra marks the eastern-most boundary of the Himalayas. Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas bend sharply to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India. They are known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains.
- These hills running trough the north-eastern states are mostly composed of strong sandstones, which are sedimentary rocks. Covered with dense forests, they mostly run as parallel ranges and valleys.
- The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, the Manipur hills and the Mizo hills.
Q 60- “The land of India displays great physical variations”. Justify this statement with five examples.
Ans- Physical variations of land of India are:
- Geologically, the Peninsular Plateau constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the earth’s surface.
- It was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks.
- The Himalayas and the Northern Plains are the most recent landforms.
- From the view point of geology, Himalayan Mountains form an unstable zone.
- The whole mountain system of Himalaya represents a very youthful topography with high peaks, deep valleys and fast flowing rivers.
- The Northern Plains are formed of alluvial deposits.
- The Peninsular Plateau is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently rising hills and wide valleys.
Q 61- Explain the three types of plates and write the effects of movements of plates.
Ans- The plate movements are classified into three types:
- Some plates come towards each other and form convergent boundaries. Some plates move away from each other and form divergent boundary. At times, they may also move horizontally pass each other and form transform boundary.
- When two plates come together, they are known as convergent plates. They are also known as constructive plates. When two plates move far away from each other, they are known as divergent plates.
- When two plates coming towards each other collide or burst pass, they are known as transform plate. The movement of plates causes volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, formation of mountains etc.
Q 62- Distinguish between Bhabhar and Terai.
Ans-
| Bhabhar | Terai |
| (i) It lies to the south of Shiwalik range. | The belt exist to the south of Bhabhar area. |
| (ii) The width ranges between 8 to 16 km. | It is almost parallel to the Bhabhar. |
| (iii) The area is highly coarse in nature due to many pebbles and ‘kankars’ found over here | The area has got highly fine sediments due to the deposition made by several streams. |
| (iv) Vegetation found here is very less. | Very dense vegetation is found in Terai region. |
| (v) Main feature is that river disappears in the Bhabhar region because big pores present in it. | Since the river re-emerges back in this region, the area becomes highly swampy and marshy |
Q 63- Describe the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas.
Ans- The three parallel ranges of the Himalayas are:
(a) Himadri (Greater or Inner Himalayas): It is the most continuous range of the Himalayas. It has loftiest peaks with an average height of 6000 metres. For example, Mount Everest 8848 metres, Kanchenjunga 8598 metres. The folds of this part are asymmetrical in nature. It is perennially snow bound and gives rise to a number of perennial rivers e.g. Ganga rises from Gangotri glacier.
(b) Himachal (Lesser Himalayas): These ranges lie south of Himadri and forms the most rugged ranges. These ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. The average height of the lesser Himalayas is between 3700 and 4500 metres. The important ranges are the Pir Panjal, the Dhaula Dhar and the Mahabharat. This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and the Kullu Valley. This range is also famous for its hills stations like Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, Shimla. This range is also famous for its fruit orchards.
(c) Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas): These ranges extend over a width of 10-50 km and height between 900 and 1100 metres. These ranges are made up of unconsolidated mud and rocks brought down by the Himalayan rivers. These ranges are more prone to
landslides and earthquakes. They are more prominent in the western part of India. The longitudinal valleys lying between lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are called ‘Duns’ like Dehra dun, Kotli Dun and Path.
Q 64- What are Duns ? Differentiate between the inner Himalayas and the lesser Himalayas.
Ans- The longitudinal valley lying between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns.
• The northern most range is known as the greater or inner Himalayas or the Himadri’.
• It is the most continuous range consisting of the loftiest peak with an average height of 6000 mt.
• It contains all the prominent Himalayan peaks.
• The range lying to the south of the Himadari is the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or the Lesser
Himalayas.
• Continuous altered rocks with altitude between 3,700 and 4,500 mt.
• This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kulu.
Q 65- Explain which two forces are responsible for shaping the present geographic features of India. Which continents of today were parts of Gondwanaland.
Ans- • Divergent and convergent movements are the two forces that are responsible for two continental plates to fracture and fold.
• The position and size of the continents have been changed due to the movements of these crustal plates over millions of years.
- The present landform features and reliefs of India are the part of this process.
- The Gondwanaland included Asia, Australia, South America, South Africa and Antarctica.
Q 66- Give an account of the four divisions of Himalayas from West to East along with Purvanchal hills respectively.
Ans- • Punjab Himalayas: It lies between Indus and Satluj rivers
• Kumaon Himalayas: It lies between Satluj and Kali rivers
• Nepal Himalayas: It lies between Kali and Tista rivers
• Assam Himalyas: It lies between Tista and Dihang rivers.
• Purvanchal Hills: It is north- eastern extension of the Himalay
Q 67- Describe the features of Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats in reference to height, slope, continuity, rivers and vegetation.
Ans-
| Features | Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats | |
| (i) Height | Their height is 900 to 1,100 m. The highest peak of this region is from Anaimudi with a height of 2,659 km. | The Eastern Ghats are lower in height than the Western Ghats. It ranges from 600 to 900 m. Mahendragiri is the highest peak in Eastern Ghats. | |
| (ii) Slope | They have steep slop as height increases from North to South. | They have a gentle slope. | |
| (iii) Continuity | They are continous and can be crossed through passes only. | They are irregular and discontinous and dissected by the rivers. | |
| (iv) Rivers | They lie parallel to Western Coast and are source for some rivers. | They stretch from Mahanadi valley to Niligiris in South. The rivers flow through easily. | |
| (v) Vegetation | Western Ghats have tropical evergreen forests. They are evergreen to deciduous forests. | Eastern Ghats have scrub vegetation due to overgrazing and deforestation |
Q 68- Describe any five features of the Central highlands of India.
Ans- Features of Central Highlands:
- The part of the Peninsular Plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river covering major area of the Malwa Plateau is known as the Central Highland.
- The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Central Highland on the south and the Aravallis on the northwest. The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of Rajasthan.
- The flow of the rivers draining this region, namely Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and Ken is from southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope.
- The Central Highlands are wider in the West but narrower in the East.
- The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
Q 69- Which is the oldest land mass of India? Name its two road divisions and explain any three features of each.
Ans- The Great Peninsular Plateau lies to the south of the great plains and is the oldest land mass of India. It is triangular in shape. The river Narmada divides it into two parts:
- The Cental Highlands and
- The Deccan Plateau.
The Central Highlands:
- It is made up of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks.
- It comprises the Malwa Plateau, the small plateau of Bundelkhand and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau while the Western Ghats extend to the west of the Deccan Plateau.
- Chambal, Sind and Betwa are three important rivers which §ow through the Central Highlands.
- It has been’drained by tributaries of Yamuna and Ganga.
- Bundelkhand in southern UP and Baghelkhand in northern Madhya Pradesh.
- The Deccan Plateau:
- It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of river Narmada.
- It is higher in the west and slopes gendy eastwards.
- It is the largest unit of the Peninsular Plateau of India.
- Satpura range, Mahadev hills, Maikal range covers northern edge.
It is the oldest block made up of igneous and metamorphic rocks.