Peninsular Plateau of India PDF

Prepared by Soju Joseph–GHSS Sreepuram–Manakkadavu–Kannur Peninsular Plateau  Peninsular Plateau The triangular-shaped physiographic division situated to the south of the North Indian Plains, bordered by the Western Ghats to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east, and covering a major portio...

Prepared by Soju Joseph–GHSS Sreepuram–Manakkadavu–Kannur Peninsular Plateau  Peninsular Plateau The triangular-shaped physiographic division situated to the south of the North Indian Plains, bordered by the Western Ghats to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east, and covering a major portion of Peninsular India, is known as the Peninsular Plateau. States belong to the Peninsular Plateau Karnataka Rajasthan Telangana Gujarat Chhattisgarh Kerala Odisha Karnataka Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Jharkhand  Features of Peninsular Plateau (a) A riangular-shaped physiographic unit (b) Located at an average altitude of 600 to 900 metres (c) Extensive table lands bordered by mountain ranges and hills (d) Contains comparatively shallow river valleys (e) Habitat for diverse flora and fauna (f) One of the oldest landforms in the world (g) The largest and oldest physical division of India  Plateau A Plateau is a relatively flat and extensive landform situated at a comparatively higher elevation than its surroundings.  Three types of plateaus There are three types of plateaus based on their location. 1. Intermontane plateaus 2. Piedmont plateaus 3. Continental plateaus Three types of plateaus Mountain Piedmont plateaus Mountain Plateau Mountain Plateau Plateaulocated locatedatatthe surrounded by base the of basea mountain of a mountainss range mountain range Sea Intermontane plateaus Plateau located between plains or seas Sea Sea Continental plateaus Boundaries and Extent of Peninsular Plateau The Peninsular Plateau lies to the south of the North Indian Plain. It is bordered by the Western Ghats in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the east. Northwestern border – Aravali Ranges Northeastern border – Rajmahal Hills It extends over an area of 16 lakh square kilometres.  Classification of Peninsular Plateau of India 1. The Deccan Plateau 2. The Central Highlands (a) Malwa Plateau (b) Chota Nagpur Plateau 1. Malwa Plateau 2. Deccan Plateau 3. Chota Nagpur Plateau Classification of Peninsular Plateau Deccan Plateau Central Highlands Chota Nagpur Malwa Plateau Plateau Deccan Plateau and Central Highlands  Deccan Plateau The portion of the Peninsular Plateau that lies to the south of the Satpura ranges and between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats is known as the Deccan Plateau. Satpura ranges, Maikala ranges and the Mahadeo Hills form the northern boundary of the Deccan Plateau. The term ‛Deccan’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‛Dakshin’, meaning the South.  The Formation of Deccan Plateau The Deccan Plateau is made up of crystalline rocks, such as basalt, granite and gneiss, formed by the lava flows millions of years ago. The north western part of the Deccan Plateau composed of lava rocks called basalt is known as the Deccan Trap. The black soil formed by the weathering of basalt rocks is a distinctive feature of the Deccan Plateau. Black soil is also known as Regur soil. Black soil, being highly fertile and having water retaining capacity, is useful even for summer crops. This soil is also called black cotton soil, as it is very useful for cotton cultivation. Minerals Found in Regur Soil (Black Soil) (a) Lime (b) Iron (c) Magnesium (d) Aluminium  Western Ghats The mountain range, extending from Kanyakumari in the south to Gujarat in the north is known as Western Ghats. The length of Western Ghats – 1600 km This mountain range is the western edge of the Deccan Plateau. The height of this range gradually increases from north to south. Anamudi (2695 metres), the highest peak in Peninsular India, is located in Anamalai of the Western Ghats. The Sahyadri mountain ranges along the east of Kerala influence the climate, biodiversity and lifestyle of people there. Anamudi is located in the Idukki district of Kerala.  Regional names of Western Ghats The Western Ghat ranges are known as Anamalai and Elamalai in Kerala.. They are called as the Nilgiris in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. But in Maharashtra they are known as the Sahyadris. Dodabetta (2637 metres) in Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu is another major peak in the Western Ghats.  Some major peaks of the Western Ghats Peaks States located Anamudi Kerala Doddabetta Tamil Nadu Mulholland Peak Tamil Nadu Meghamalai Tamil Nadu Nilgiri Peak Tamil Nadu Brahmagiri Karnataka Parinagiri Karnataka Agasthyamalai Kerala / Tamil Nadu Panchgani Maharashtra Kudremukh Karnataka  Place of Origin of Peninsular Rivers Most of the peninsular rivers originate from the Western Ghat Ranges.  Eastern Ghats The mountain range extending from the Mahanadi banks in Odisha to the Nilgiri ranges in Tamil Nadu is known as Eastern Ghats. The length of the Eastern Ghats – 800 km Eastern Ghats  Altitudinal Comparison Between Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats The altitude of the Western Ghats is higher than that of the the Eastern Ghats. Hill ranges located in the Eastern Ghats (a) Javadi Hills (b) Palkondamalai (c) Nallamalai (d) Mahendragiri  Eastern Ghats Loses its Continuity The east-flowing peninsular rivers originating from the Western Ghats flow over to the eastern coastal plains by cutting across the Eastern Ghats. So the Eastern Ghats loses its continuity in some places. East-flowing Rivers Lose the continuity of Eastern Ghats  Some of the major peninsular rivers that cut across the Eastern Ghats and flow into the Bay of Bengal Godavari - Originating in the Western Ghats, it flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Krishna - Originating in the Western Ghats and flowing through the Eastern Ghats to the Bay of Bengal Cauvery - Originating in the Western Ghats, it flows through the Eastern Ghats into the Bay of Bengal. Mahanadi - This river flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, cutting across the Eastern Ghats. Penna - Originating in the Eastern Ghats, it flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Palar - This river also flows from the Eastern Ghats to the Bay of Bengal, primarily in Tamil Nadu.  Nilgiri Hills The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats join at the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.  Central Highlands The extensive portion of the Peninsular Plateau that lies to the north of Satpura Ranges – Central Highlands Central Highlands is classified into two: Malwa Plateau and Chota Nagpur Plateau Malwa Plateau The western part of Central Highlands bordered by the Aravali mountains on its western margin is known as Malwa Plateau. Mount Abu, the highest peak in Malwa Plateau, is a major hill station located in the Aravali ranges. The Aravali ranges is an old fold The Aravali mountains or residual mountains ranges worn down by long term erosion. Mount Abu Mount Abu The average summer temperature in the Peninsular Plateau is more than 30 Degree Celsius except in the mountain region. Temperature at the Deccan Plateau reaches 38 Degree Celsius in March. Temperature is low at higher elevations in the Western Ghats.  Chota Nagpur Plateau The plateau region situated to the south of the Rajmahal Hills and along the eastern part of the Central Highlands is the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The richest store house of minerals in India – Chota Nagpur Plateau  The major economic activities in the Chota Nagpur Region (a) Mining (b) Mineral-based industries Metallic minerals found here (a) Iron ore (b) Bauxite (c) Manganese (d) Copper Non - metallic minerals available here (a) Lime stone (b) Coal  Climate in Peninsular Plateau The climate of Peninsular Plateau is tropical monsoon climate. But there is spatio-temporal variation in temperature and rainfall here. Factors Influencing the Climate of Peninsular Plateau (a) Tropical location (b) Peculiar shape of the Peninsula (c) Distance from the ocean (d) Orientation of mountain ranges (e) Direction of Monsoon winds The diurnal range of temperature is very high in the interiors of the plateau due to the fall in the night temperature. Diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the maximum temperature and minimum temperature at a particular place in a day. Diurnal range of temperature = maximum temperature – minimum temperature Hyderabad Bengaluru Diurnal Range of Diurnal Range of Temperature: Moderate to Temperature: Moderate high Nagpur Mysuru Diurnal Range of Diurnal Range of Temperature: Moderate Temperature: High Altitude: These hill stations are situated at high elevations, typically ranging from 1,600 to 2,400 meters above sea level. Higher altitudes result in lower temperatures, leading to a cooler climate.  Southwest Northeast Monsoon Winds Monsoon Winds  Rainfall in the Peninsular Plateau Rainfall is moderate throughout the Peninsular Plateau except the western slopes of the Western Ghats. During the southwest monsoon season the western slopes of the Western Ghats receives heavy rainfall as it is on the windward side. The west coast and the western slopes of the Western Ghats receive a high amount of rainfall ranging between 250 to 400 cm during southwest monsoon season. The plateau regions situated close to the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats receive very less amount of rainfall (less than 50 cm) as it is on the leeward side of Western Ghats. The regions situated on the leeward side of a mountain range are termed as rain shadow regions. Rain Shadow Effect: The Western Ghats act as a barrier to the southwest monsoon winds. As the winds ascend the Western Ghats, they cool and release moisture on the windward side (west), leading to heavy rainfall. By the time the winds descend into the interior regions, they are dry, resulting in much lower rainfall. From Maharashtra coast the southwest monsoon winds enter the Indian peninsula through Narmada and Tapti river basins and cause moderate rainfall throughout Central India. Chota Nagpur Plateau also receives a small amount of rainfall during the southwest monsoon season.  Northeast monsoon season in Peninsular Plateau Peninsular Plateau experiences dry climate during the northeast monsoon season (retreating monsoon season). Though the low pressure developed over the Bay of Bengal in the northeast monsoon season causes heavy rainfall in the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the Peninsular Plateau remains unaffected. Northeast Monsoon Winds  Peninsular Rivers The general slope of the Peninsular Plateau is from west to east. The Western Ghats is the major water divide in Peninsular India. Three Divisions of Peninsular Drainage System (a) The peninsular rivers flowing eastwards into the Bay of Bengal (b) The Peninsular rivers flowing westwards into the Arabian Sea (c) Rivers that flow northwards to join Yamuna and Ganga  Factors dividing the peninsular drainage system into three (a) The Western Ghats (b) The mountain ranges of the Central Highlands (c) The Aravali ranges extending up to the Delhi ridges Peninsular Rivers A cross section of the Peninsular Plateau is represented in the diagram given below Most of the east-flowing peninsular rivers originate from the Western Ghats. The rivers Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri and their tributaries cut across the Peninsular Plateau and flows eastwards through the eastern coastal plain to join the Bay of Bengal. Catchment Area The defined area from where the water flows into a river is termed as the catchment area of the river. Drainage Basin The area formed by a river and its tributaries is called a Drainage Basin. Water Divide The boundary line separating two watersheds or drainage basins is called Water Divide. Catchment Area Drainage Basin and Water Divide Drainage Basin and Water Divide East-flowing Peninsular Rivers  Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri Rivers Godavari is the largest peninsular river. The length of Godavari is 1465 km. It has a catchment area of 3.13 lakh sq.Km. It is also called Dakshin Ganga. The second largest peninsular river – Krishna The third largest peninsular river - Kaveri  River Godavari Bhavani River - its source is in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Kabini River - Originating in the Wayanad district of Kerala, it flows into the Kaveri in Karnataka.  Perennial Kaveri Peninsular rivers are seasonal rivers with plenty of water leading to overflows in the rainy season. River Kaveri is the only peninsular river with good amount of water throughout the year. This is because the catchment area of River Kaveri receives both southwest and northeast monsoon rains.  West-flowing Peninsular Rivers Most of the west-flowing peninsular rivers originate from the western slopes of the Western Ghats and flow into the Arabian Sea through the western coastal plains. But the two major west-flowing rivers Narmada and Tapti originate from the uplands in Central Highlands. Factors that Make the Narmada River the most notable west-flowing Peninsular river (a) Steep valleys carved in marble rocks (b) Duandar Waterfalls near Jabalpur (c) Sardar Sarovar Multipurpose River Valley Project Two Major West-flowing Peninsular Rivers  Peninsular Rivers joining River Ganga The rivers originating from the Malwa Plateau and flowing northward either to join Rivers Yamuna or Ganga are termed as peninsular tributaries of River Ganga. Chambal and Sind are peninsular tributaries of River Ganga. The tributary flowing directly into the Ganga from the Central Highlands –The Son River It originates in the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows eastward, joining the Ganga near Patna in Bihar. Tributaries of River Yamuna originating from the Central Highlands Betwa River - Originates in the Vindhya Range and joins the Yamuna near Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. Ken River - Originates in the Vindhya Range and merges with the Yamuna near Banda in Uttar Pradesh. Sindh River - Originates in the Malwa Plateau and joins the Yamuna near the town of the same name in Madhya Pradesh.  Chambal Ravines The distinctive and badland topographical features along the northern slopes of Malwa Plateau, created by the gullies that are formed by the continuous erosion by Chambal River and its tributaries, are known as Chambal Ravines. Purposes for which Peninsular Rivers are being utilised (a) Promoting irrigation (b) Power generation (c) Tourism Sardar Sarovar Dam  Multipurpose River Valley Projects The projects of constructing dams across rivers for serving different purposes simultaneously are known as Multipurpose River Valley Projects. Objectives of Multipurpose River Valley Projects (a) Flood control (b) Irrigation (c) Power generation (d) Fishing (e) Inland water transport (f) Tourism Multi-purpose river valley projects in the Peninsular India Natural Vegetation in the Peninsular Plateau The major natural vegetation types in the Peninsular plateau 1. Tropical Deciduous Forests (a) Moist deciduous forests (b) Dry deciduous forests 2. Tropical Thorn Forests 3. Southern Montane Forests Types of Forests in Peninsular Plateau Tropical Tropical Thorn Southern Montane Deciduous Forests Forests Forests Moist Deciduous Dry Deciduous Forests Forests Moist Deciduous Forests Dry Deciduous Forests Tropical Thorn Forests Southern Montane Forests  Tropical Deciduous Forests These are the common natural forests in the Peninsular Plateau. Tropical Deciduous Forests are confined to the regions receiving 70 to 200 cm of annual rainfall. Types of Tropical Deciduous Forests Based on the availability of rainfall, there are of two types of Tropical Deciduous Forests. (a) Moist deciduous forests (b) Dry deciduous forests  Moist deciduous forests Found in areas receiving 100 to 200 cm annual rainfall Regions of moist deciduous forests in the Peninsular Plateau (a) The eastern slopes of the Western Ghats (b) The hills of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh (c) The Chota Nagpur region Trees in the moist deciduous forests (a) Teak (b) Sal (c) Shisham (d) Mouva (e) Sandalwood  Mouva tree Mouva tree Sal tree Sal tree  Dry deciduous forests Found in parts of Peninsular Plateau receiving 70 to 100 cm of annual rainfall. During summer these trees completely shed their leaves and the forests turn to grasslands having leafless trees. M Trees in Dry Deciduous Forests (a) Teak (b) Rosewood (c) Axle wood (d) Bamboos Rosewood Axle wood  Tropical Thorn Forests Found in the regions with high temperature and annual rainfall below 75 cm. Short trees are seen in Tropical Thorn Forests Trees and Plants in Tropical Thorn Forests (a) Acacia (b) Euphoria (c) Date palms (d) A few varieties of grass Regions of Tropical Thorn Forests in the Peninsular Plateau (a) The semi-arid regions of Maharashtra and Karnataka to the east of Western Ghats (b) The dry regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu  Shisham Acacia  Southern Montane Forests Regions of Southern Montane Forests in the Peninsular Plateau (a) The Western Ghats (b) Vindhya ranges (c) The Nilgiri Hills The places situated above 1500 metres have temperate vegetation. The places situated below 1500 metres have sub-tropical vegetation. The sub tropical vegetation along the Nilgiris, Palani, Anamalai are called as Shola forests. Shola forests  Types of natural vegetation in the Peninsular Plateau Natural Subdivision Features Rainfall Major States/Regions Vegetation Trees/Plants Moist Found in 100 to Teak Madhya Pradesh areas with Sal Chattisgarh Tropical Deciduous high rainfall 200 cm Chota Nagpur region Deciduous Forests Shisham Forests Dense Mouva Eastern slopes of the vegetation Sandalwood Western Ghats Dry Shed 70 to 100 Teak Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Deciduous leaves cm Rosewood Andhra Pradesh completely Axle wood Forests Telangana in summer Bamboos Tropical Southern Short trees Below 75 Acacia Maharashtra Thorny Euphoria Karnataka Thorn cm Andhra Pradesh Forests trees Date palms Northern Telangana A few varieties Tamil Nadu of grass Southern Found at Heavy Shola The Western Ghats Montane Shola altitudes Vindhya ranges above 1500 rainfall forests Forests forests metres The Nilgiri Hills  Soil Types in Peninsular Plateau The soils in the Peninsular Plateau (a) Black soil (b) Red soil (c) Laterite soil (d) Mountain forest soil  Soil Types in Peninsular Plateau Black Soil Red Soil Laterite Mountain Soil Soil Maharashtra Karnataka Maharashtra Western Ghats Madhya Pradesh Karnataka Eastern Ghats Telangana Western Ghats Tamil Nadu Rajmahal Hills Andhra Pradesh Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh Malwa Plateau Gujarat Odisha Vindhya Mountains Tamil Nadu Chattisgarh Satpura Mountains  Black Soil The northwestern part of the Deccan Plateau is a vast lava plateau. Black soils are formed here as a result of long- term weathering of lava rocks called basalt. States where Black Soil is found mainly (a) Maharashtra (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Karnataka (d) Telangana (e) Gujarat (f) Tamil Nadu (g) Andhra Pradesh Black soil is also known as Black Cotton Soil  Red Soil Red soil is formed by the weathering of very old crystalline metamorphic rocks of the Peninsular Plateau. Though it is called as red soil in general, it is also found in brown, grey and yellow colours. The red soil gets its colour due to the presence of iron in it.  Laterite Soil Laterite soil is formed as a result of leaching of minerals such as silica and lime from the soil at places experiencing alternating periods of heavy rain and drought. Regions of the Peninsular Plateau where Laterite Soil is mainly found (a) The Western Ghats (b) The Eastern Ghats (c) Rajmahal Hills (d) Malwa Plateau (e) Vindhya and Satpura Mountains With the help of fertilisation, the less fertile laterite soil is used for cultivating plantation crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and arecanut.  Mountain Soil Regions of the Peninsular Plateau where Mountain Soil is found (a) The Western Ghats (b) The Eastern Ghats Plantation Crops suitable for growing in the mountain soil of the Peninsular Plateau (a) Tea (b) coffee (c) spices (d) Tropical fruits in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala In accordance with the physiography and climate, there is a wide variety of regional soil types in Peninsular Plateau. Type of soil Formation Features Black soil Formed as a result of long- Best suited for cotton term weathering of lava rocks cultivation called basalt Generally very fertile Having water retaining capacity Red soil Formed by the weathering of Red coloured due to the very old crystalline metamorphic presence of iron rocks Also found in brown, grey and yellow colours. Laterite As a result of Less fertile leaching of minerals and Used for cultivation with soil weathering at places the help of fertilisation experiencing intermittent seasons of rain and drought Mountain Formed by the weathering and Suitable for the plantation erosion in the hilly regions crops soil  Agriculture in Peninsular Plateau Though the Peninsular Plateau is not as suitable for agriculture as the Northern plains are, a wide variety of crops are still cultivated here. Major Crops Cultivated in Peninsular Plateau (a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Cotton (d) Sugarcane (d) Tobacco (e) Plantation Crops like Tea and Coffee Major Crops in Peninsular Plateau Rice Plantation Tobacco Crops Sugarcane Cotton Wheat Coffee Tea  Wheat Cotton Sugarcane Unfavourable Factors for Agriculture in the Peninsular Plateau (a) Undulating topography (b) Fluvial eroded surface soil (c) Steep slopes (d) Thin top soil (e) Exposed rocks (f) A few scattered hills Plantation crops dominate in the Western Ghats. Tea and coffee plantations are common in the Nilgiris. Even paddy is cultivated here by making hill terraces.  Coffee The leading producer of coffee in India – Karnataka Karnataka owns about 59% of the coffee plantations and 71% of coffee production in India. Kerala, with 22% of production, stands second. Rich varieties of coffee cultivated in Karnataka and Kerala (a) Arabica (b) Robusta  Tea The tea plantations in the plateau are confined to the Nilgiri Hills and the Western Ghats regions in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. This region occupies 44% of the tea plantations and 25% of the total tea production in India.. Both tea plantations and allied industries, being labour-intensive, provide a lot of employment opportunities.  Sugarcane The Northern Plains dominates in the area of cultivation of sugarcane in India. But in India the most favourable condition for sugarcane cultivation is in the Deccan Plateau region. Favourable conditions for Sugar Cultivation in Peninsular Plateau (a) Black lava soil in the Deccan Plateau (b) Tropical climate and long crushing season (c) Comparatively high sucrose content in the tropical variety of sugarcane  Cotton Cotton is a Kharif crop. Cotton requires 7 frost free months during its early growing period. So in Peninsular India cotton cultivation begins in October and is harvested from January to May. Cotton requires 21 Degree Celsius to 30 Degree Celsius of temperature and 50 to 100 cm annual rainfall. But cotton is also cultivated in low rainfall areas with the help of irrigation. The black soil in the Deccan-Malwa Plateau regions is the most suited for cotton cultivation. The largest producer of cotton in India – Gujarat Maharashtra is the second largest producer.  Storehouse of Minerals Mineral resources in India are concentrated in the crystalline rock layers and the lower hilly tracts of Peninsular Plateau. Chota Nagpur Plateau is termed as the heartland of minerals. The Chota Nagpur–Odisha Plateau which spreads over Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, is the richest mineral belt in India. This region is rich in metallic and non-metallic minerals such as coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite and copper. Mineral zones of the Peninsular Plateau 1. Northeastern Plateau 2. Central Region 3. Southern Region 4. Southwestern Region 5. Northwestern Region  1. Northeastern Plateau Region The Chotanagpur–Odisha plateau region is the largest mineral belt. States in the Mineral Belt of Northeastern Plateau Region (a) Jharkhand (b) West Bengal (c) Odisha Mineral Found in Northeastern Plateau Region (a) Coal (b) Iron ore (c) Manganese (d) Mica (e) Bauxite (f) Copper  2. Central Plateau Region States in the Mineral Belt of Central Region (a) Chattisgarh (b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Maharashtra (e) Telangana Minerals found in the Central Region (a) Manganese (b) bauxite (c) Limestone (d) Marble (e) (f) Mica (g) Iron ore (h) Graphite  3. Southern Plateau Region States in the Mineral Belt of Southern Plateau Region (a) Karnataka (b) Tamil Nadu Minerals Found in the Southern Plateau Region (a) Iron ore (b)Bauxite (c) Lignite  4. Southwestern Region States in the Mineral Belt of Southwestern Plateau Region (a) Western Karnataka (b) Goa Minerals found in the Southwestern Region (a) Iron ore (b) clay  5. Northwestern Region Regions included in the Mineral Belt of Northwestern Plateau Region The Aravali range in Rajasthan and the adjoining parts of Gujarat Minerals found in the Northwestern Plateau Region (a) Copper (b) Lead (c) Zinc (d) Uranium (e) Mica Regions of Mineral Deposits in India Mineral zones in the Peninsular Plateau Mineral Zones States Included Major Minerals Northeastern Plateau Jharkhand Coal, Iron ore Region West Bengal Manganese Odisha Mica, Bauxite, Copper Central Region Chattisgarh Manganese, Bauxite Madhya Pradesh Limestone, Marble Telangana Coal, Mica Andhra Pradesh Iron ore, Graphite Maharashtra Southern Region Karnataka Iron ore, Bauxite, Lignite Tamil Nadu Southwestern Region Karnataka, Goa Iron ore, Clay Northwestern Rajasthan Copper, Lead, Zinc Region Gujarat Uranium, Mica  Location of major mining centres in the Peninsular Plateau In the state of In the state In the State of Chhattisgarh of Odisha Jharkhand Bastar Keonjhar and District Durg Koraput Singhbhum Dhanbad Sundergarh District District District District Districts Iron ore Iron ore Iron ore Iron ore Copper Coal Bauxite Bauxite Mica  Location of major mining centres in the Peninsular Plateau In the state of In the state of In the State of Karnataka Maharashtra Andhra Pradesh Bellary Nagpur Ratnagiri Visakhapatnam District Hutti District District District Region Iron ore Gold Coal Bauxite Iron ore Bauxite  Life in Peninsular Plateau The Peninsular Plateau is moderately populated. Earlier, human habitation in the Peninsular Plateau was limited due to non-arable topography and continental climate. Factors that attracted people to settle down in the Peninsular Plateau later (a) The beginning of mining activities (b) Development of road-rail network (c) Emergence of mineral- based industries (d) Scope of commercial agriculture based on irrigation (e) Technological possibilities Major cities in the Peninsular Plateau  Metropolitan cities in the Peninsular Plateau Bengaluru Hyderabad The capital of The capital of Karnataka, known as Telangana, known for the Silicon Valley of its technology sector India for its IT industry  Prepared by Soju Joseph–GHSS Sreepuram–Manakkadavu–Kannur