Physical Features of India
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Questions and Answers

What kind of terrain exists in hilly regions?

Rugged Terrain

Which of the following is NOT a major physical feature of the earth?

  • Deserts
  • Plateaus
  • Plains
  • Volcanoes (correct)
  • Islands
  • Mountains

Which of these rocks is used to make talcum powder?

  • Soapstone (correct)
  • Marble
  • Limestone
  • Granite

India's landmass was formed during a single geological period.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are three geological processes that shape the relief of the Earth?

<p>Weathering, erosion, and deposition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the theory that explains the formation of physical features based on the movement of the Earth's crust?

<p>The Theory of Plate Tectonics</p> Signup and view all the answers

The movement of the plates results in ______ within the plates and the continental rocks above, leading to folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.

<p>stresses</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of plate boundaries with their descriptions:

<p>Convergent Boundary = Plates move towards each other Divergent Boundary = Plates move away from each other Transform Boundary = Plates slide horizontally past each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

The movement of tectonic plates has influenced the position and size of continents over millions of years.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where are most volcanoes and earthquakes located?

<p>At plate margins</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the ancient supercontinent that included India, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Antarctica?

<p>Gondwana Land</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Himalayan uplift is a result of the collision of the Indo-Australian plate with the Eurasian plate.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were the northern plains of India formed?

<p>By the deposition of sediments from rivers flowing from the Himalayas and the peninsular plateau.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The peninsular plateau is considered one of the most stable landmasses on Earth.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recent landform in India?

<p>The Peninsular Plateau (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the highest mountain range in the world, and where does it stretch?

<p>The Himalayas, stretching from the Indus to the Brahmaputra rivers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Himalayas are geologically young and structurally fold mountains.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the northernmost range of the Himalayas that contains the highest peaks, and what is its average height?

<p>The Himadri, with an average height of 6,000 meters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the longitudinal valley lying between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks?

<p>Duns</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the most rugged mountain system south of the Himadri, and what is its average altitude?

<p>Himachal, with an average altitude of 3,700 to 4,500 meters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the outermost range of the Himalayas, and what is its altitude range?

<p>The Shiwaliks, with an altitude of 900-1100 meters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the peninsular plateau composed?

<p>Of igneous and metamorphic rocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two broad divisions make up the peninsular plateau?

<p>The Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the sandy and rocky desert that merges with the western extension of the Central Highlands?

<p>The Thar Desert.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the direction of the flow of the rivers that drain the Central Highlands?

<p>From southwest to northeast.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the names of the three hills that mark the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau?

<p>The Garo, the Khasi, and the Jaintia Hills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Western Ghats are lower in elevation than the Eastern Ghats.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the black soil region in the Deccan Plateau, and how did it form?

<p>The Deccan Trap, formed from volcanic activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the desert that lies toward the western margins of the Aravali Hills, and what is its characteristic climate?

<p>The Indian Desert, with an arid climate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Indian Desert is a flat plain with no variations in its relief.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the only major river in the Indian desert?

<p>The Luni River.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the coastal strip that runs along the Arabian Sea, and into which three sections is it divided?

<p>The western coast, divided into the Konkan, the Kannad Plain, and the Malabar coast.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The coastal plains along the Bay of Bengal are wider and flatter than those along the Arabian Sea.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the largest salt-water lake in India, and where is it located?

<p>Chilika Lake, located in the state of Orissa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two island groups of India?

<p>The Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep, and what is its significance in terms of biodiversity?

<p>Kavaratti Island, known for its diverse flora and fauna.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are coral polyps?

<p>Short-lived, microscopic organisms that live in colonies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of coral reefs?

<p>Barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal, extending from north to south?

<p>The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are believed to be elevated portions of submarine mountains?

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of India's only active volcano?

<p>Barren Island Volcano.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Himalayas are the primary source of water and forest wealth for India.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the northern plains in relation to India's agricultural production?

<p>They are the granaries of India, providing fertile land for agriculture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the peninsular plateau in relation to India's industrial development?

<p>It is a storehouse of minerals, providing resources for industrial activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major activities associated with the coastal region and island groups of India?

<p>Fishing and port activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Shiwaliks

The outermost range of the Himalayas, extending over 10-50km with an altitude between 900 and 1100m. These ranges are made up of unconsolidated sediments deposited by the rivers from the main Himalayan ranges.

Peninsular Plateau

The oldest landmass in India, formed by the ancient supercontinent Gondwana Land. It consists of igneous and metamorphic rocks and features broad, shallow valleys and rounded hills.

Gondwana Land

The southern part of the ancient supercontinent Pangea, which included what is now India, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Antarctica. It was a single landmass until it was split by continental drift.

Plate Tectonics

A geological theory explaining the movement of Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle) divided into large pieces called plates. These plates move and interact, causing various landform features and geological events.

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Weathering

The process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces due to factors like wind, water, temperature changes, and biological activity, leading to soil formation and shaping Earth's surface.

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Erosion

The process of transporting weathered rock material from one location to another through wind, water, ice, or gravity. This plays a significant role in shaping landscapes.

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Deposition

The process by which eroded material is deposited in a new location, often forming landforms like deltas, sand dunes, and alluvial plains.

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Himadri

The northernmost range of the Himalayas, known as the Great Himalayas or the 'Himadri', with the most continuous range of lofty peaks with an average height of 6,000 meters.

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Himachal

The middle range of the Himalayas, also called the Lesser Himalayas, known for its rugged mountain system of highly compressed and altered rocks. Its altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500m, with an average width of 50km.

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Majuli

The largest inhabited riverine island in the world, located in the Brahmaputra River.

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Bhabar

A narrow belt of 8-16km in width, lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. It is formed by the deposition of pebbles by rivers descending from the mountains, where streams disappear.

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Terai

A wet, swampy, and marshy region south of the bhabar belt. It is created by the re-emergence of streams and rivers after they disappear in the bhabar.

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Bhangar

The larger part of the northern plain formed of older alluvium. It lies above the flood plains of the rivers and presents a terrace-like feature, with calcareous deposits known locally as kankar.

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Khadar

The newer, younger deposits of the flood plains, renewed almost every year. They are fertile and ideal for intensive agriculture.

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Central Highlands

The part of the Peninsular Plateau lying to the north of the Narmada River, including the Malwa Plateau. It's bounded by the Vindhyan range on the south and the Aravalis on the northwest.

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Chilika Lake

The largest salt-water lake in India, located in the state of Odisha south of the Mahanadi delta. It is an important feature along the eastern coast.

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Deccan Plateau

A triangular landmass south of the Narmada River, forming the largest part of the Peninsular Plateau. It has a higher western side and slopes gently eastwards.

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Western and Eastern Ghats

Two parallel mountain ranges along the western and eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats are higher and continuous, while the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and irregular.

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands

An elongated chain of islands in the Bay of Bengal, extending from north to south. This group is divided into two broad categories: the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south.

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Lakshadweep Islands

A group of small coral islands lying close to the Malabar coast of Kerala. They are known as the Lakshadweep Islands and are known for their diverse flora and fauna.

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Deccan Trap

The area in the Peninsular Plateau that is characterized by black soil, which is of volcanic origin. The volcanic rocks have denuded over time, forming the black soil.

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Indian Desert

The undulating sandy plain in the western margins of the Aravali Hills. It is a desert region with low rainfall, arid climate, and low vegetation cover.

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Western Coastal Plains

The plains along the Arabian Sea, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This narrow plain consists of three sections: the Konkan, the Kannad Plain, and the Malabar coast.

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Eastern Coastal Plains

The plains along the Bay of Bengal, wide and level. The northern part is known as the Northern Circar, and the southern part is called the Coromandel Coast. Large rivers have formed deltas on this coast.

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Peninsula

A landmass bounded by sea on three sides.

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Purvachal

Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India, forming its boundary with Myanmar.

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Kannad Plain

The western coastal strip south of Goa.

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Mahendragiri

The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.

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Study Notes

Physical Features of India

  • India has diverse landforms, including plains, mountains, plateaus, deserts, and islands
  • These features result from processes like plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and deposition.
  • Rocks vary in hardness and type (marble, soapstone) reflecting different geological compositions
  • Plate movement (convergent, divergent, transform) leads to folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.
  • The Himalayas formed from the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
  • The Himalayas are structurally young, highly elevated mountains, and varied in altitude.
  • The northern plains formed from the alluvial deposits of rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra).

Major Physiographic Divisions

  • Himalayan Mountains: A young mountain system stretching from Indus to Brahmaputra
  • Northern Plains: Formed by the sediment deposition of rivers, flat land, fertile soil and thickly populated.
  • Peninsular Plateau: Anciet rock formations, high plateaus and gently sloping hills
  • Indian Desert: Undulating sandy plains, low rainfall, arid climate due to dryness
  • Coastal Plains: Narrow strips, western (Konkan, Kannad, Malabar) and eastern (Coromandel, Northern Circars) coast
  • Islands: Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep, composed of coral islands and volcanic rocks

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Description

This quiz explores the diverse physical features of India, including its mountains, plains, plateaus, and deserts. Understand the impact of geological processes like plate tectonics and erosion on these landscapes. Dive into the major physiographic divisions, including the Himalayas and northern plains, highlighting their formation and significance.

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