Northern Plains of India Overview

The Northern Plains of India

• Extends from the Himalayas in the north to the Great Indian Plateau in the south.
• Spans from Rajasthan in the west to the Brahmaputra Valley in the east.
• Area is over 700,000 square kilometers.
• Extremely fertile land, supporting a large portion of India's population.

Formation and Features

• Composed of alluvium (sediments) deposited by rivers from the Himalayas and the plateau.
• Alluvial layer depth varies greatly, from a few hundred meters to 2000-3000 meters in some areas.
• Almost flat terrain with an average elevation of 200 meters above sea level.
• Gentle slope; rivers flow slowly, with a very slight slope (e.g., 10 cm per km).
• The plain rises slightly at Ambala, creating a water divide between the Satluj and Ganga river basins.

Subdivisions of the Northern Plains

• Western Plain: Includes Rajasthan desert and land west of Aravalli ranges.
  • Parts are rocky and sandy.
  • Ancient rivers (Saraswati and Drishadvati) are believed to have flowed through this area.
  • Includes the fertile Bikaner region, and the River Luni.
  • Features the saltwater Sambhar lake.
• North Central Plain: Covers Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Punjab and Haryana part is formed by alluvium from the Satluj, Beas, and Ravi rivers.
  • The Uttar Pradesh part is formed by the Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomati, Ghagra, and Gandak rivers.
  • Highly fertile; a historical cradle of Indian civilization and culture
• Eastern Plain: Covers the middle and lower Ganga valley in Bihar and West Bengal.
  • The Ganga river flows through Bihar.
  • Other rivers (e.g., Ghagra, Kosi, Gandak, and Son) join the Ganga from different directions.
  • Widens further in West Bengal, expanding to the foothills of the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
  • Includes fertile delta regions.
  • The Ganga has distributaries (e.g., Hooghly) in this area.
• Brahmaputra Plain: Located in Northeast India (Assam).
  • Created by alluvium from the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries.
  • Prone to regular and devastating floods, causing frequent course changes.
  • Contains the world's largest river island, Majuli (1250 sq km).
  • Borders the Bangladesh delta region; the Ganga and Brahmaputra together form a large delta.
  • Surrounded by hills on three sides.

Transition Zones

• Bhabar: A narrow (~10-15 km wide) strip along the foothills of the Siwaliks (mountain range).

• Made of gravel and coarse sand.

• Streams disappear underground during summer and reappear further south.

• Terai: A marshy area (~15-30 km wide) extending south of the bhabar.

• Formed by accumulated water from the Bhabar region.

• Reclamation in many parts for agricultural purposes.

This quiz explores the Northern Plains of India, detailing their geography, formation, features, and subdivisions. It covers the significance of fertile land that supports a large population and highlights variations in terrain and alluvial deposits. Test your knowledge on this crucial aspect of India's physical geography.