Physical Features of India

Physical Features of India

• India's major physical features include the Himalayas, the Northern Plains, and the Peninsular Plateau.

Himalayas

• The Himalayas are a rugged terrain with mountains and valleys.
• The Himalayas represent a zone of intense mountain building activity, with geological characteristics of folding and faulting.
• The width of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh is approximately 100 km.
• The loftiest peaks in the Great Himalayas have an average height of over 7,200 m.

Notable Himalayan Peaks

• Three prominent Himalayan peaks located in India are Nanda Devi, Kanchenjunga, and Mount Everest.

Composition of the Himalayas

• The core of the Great Himalayas is composed of granite rocks.

Himachal or Lesser Himalaya

• The altitude range of the Himachal or lesser Himalaya is between 1,500 to 5,000 m.
• Three prominent ranges forming the Himachal or lesser Himalaya are Dhaula Dhar, Pir Panjal, and Mahabharat.

Shiwaliks

• The altitude range of the Shiwaliks is between 900 to 1,500 m.
• The average width of the Shiwaliks is 10 to 50 km.

Hill Stations

• Three famous hill stations located in the region of the Himachal or lesser Himalaya are Shimla, Mussoorie, and Dharamshala.

Himalayan Mountain Ranges

• The Himalayan mountain ranges stretch for a distance of approximately 2,500 km in an east-west direction.