India's Geography Overview Quiz

India's Geography Overview

Spanning over nine million square kilometers, India is one of the world’s largest countries by both population and landmass. It occupies a significant portion of South Asia, encompassing diverse landscapes and climates. In this exploration of its geographic attributes, we delve into the size of India, its states and union territories, latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, and physical features.

Size of India

With an area of approximately 3.287 million square kilometers, India ranks seventh among nations according to land size. This extensive expanse comprises several distinct regions, including a vast north-central plain known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Western Ghats mountain range stretching along the western coastline, and the Himalayas presenting a natural barrier between it and China to the northeast.

States and Union Territories of India

India consists of 28 federated states and seven union territories. These administrative divisions vary significantly in terms of their area, population density, and cultural heritage. For example:

• Rajasthan covers nearly 343,000 km²—one of the largest states in the country.
• Goa has only around 3,704 km², making it one of the smallest.

The union territories function directly under the central government rather than state governors. They do not have legislatures like states and comprise areas such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Latitude and Longitude of India

Situated primarily within the tropics, India lies mainly between latitudes 8° N and 37° N and longitudes 68° E and 97° E. Its northernmost point, Siachen Glacier, sits near the border with Pakistan, while Kanyakumari marks the southernmost tip of mainland India. Its highest peak is Mount Everest on the Nepal border (which technically belongs to India), standing at a staggering elevation of 8,849 meters above sea level, whereas the lowest point, Keoladeo National Park, rests just 2.62 meters below sea level.

Physical Features of India

India boasts numerous diverse physical features, from fertile plains to snowcapped mountains, sandy deserts, dense forests, and beautiful beaches. Some prominent examples include:

• The Ganges River flows through North Indian Plains, supplying water to millions of people residing alongside its banks.
• The Deccan plateau extends southward covering almost half of peninsular India.
• The Thar desert, also referred to as the Great Indian Desert, spreads across parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat.
• The Western Ghats extend for more than 1,600 km and includes some of India's most biodiverse ecosystems.
• The eastern Himalayas contain six of the ten highest peaks in the world, including Kangchenjunga and Mount Everest.

In conclusion, India's expansive landscape provides an array of opportunities for development and economic progress, fostering unity amidst great diversity.