India has major physiographic features of the earth that includes mountains, plains, deserts, group of islands etc. India shows great and changing physical features and one of the ancient landmasses include the Peninsular Plateau. The recent landforms include the Himalayas and the Northern Plains. This article will provide you with a short detail of the major physical features of India class 9 chapter 2 along with some NCERT exercises.
Major Physiographic Divisions
The physical features of India class 9 are grouped under the following physiographic divisions:
- The Himalayan Mountains
- The Northern Plains
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Desert
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
Let’s discuss each of them in detail
The Himalayan Mountains
Himalayan mountains are stretched over the northern borders of India and these mountain ranges run in a west-east direction from the Indus to the Brahmaputra. The Himalayas consists of 3 parallel ranges.
- The northernmost range is known as the Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri. It is the most continuous range with an average height of 6,000 metres.
- The folds of the Great Himalayas are asymmetrical in nature. The core of this part of the Himalayas is composed of granite.
- The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
- Pir Panjal range forms the longest and the most important range.
- The outermost range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments.
- The longitudinal valley lying between the lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Some of the well-known Duns are Dehradun, Patli dun and Kotli duns.
The Northern Plain
The northern plain has been formed by the reciprocity of the 3 major river systems – the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
The Northern Plain is broadly divided into 3 sections as explained below:
- The Western part of the Northern Plain is referred to as the Punjab Plains. This plain is formed by the Indus and its tributaries – the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj.
- The Ganga plain extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It is spread over the states of North India, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- Brahmaputra plain lies in the state of Assam.
According to the variations in elevation points, the Northern plains can be divided into 4 regions.
- The rivers, after descending from the mountains, deposit pebbles parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks, which is known as bhabar. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt.
- The streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai.
- The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. It lies above the floodplains of the rivers and presents a terrace-like feature which is known as bhangar.
- The soil in the bhangar region contains calcareous deposits and is known as kankar. The newer, younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar. Khadar is best suitable for cultivation.
Difference between Khadar and Bhangar:
| Bhangar | Khadar |
| The soil in the bhangar region contains calcareous deposits, locally known as kankar. It is not fit for agriculture purposes. | The younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar. They are renewed almost every year and are very fertile thus, ideal for intensive agriculture. |
The Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular plateau is a tableland made up of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks and formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land. One of the distinct features of the Peninsular plateau is the black soil area known as Deccan Trap.
This plateau consists of 2 divisions:
- The Central Highlands: The part which lies to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
- The Deccan Plateau: It is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada.
Difference between Western ghats and Eastern ghats:
| Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
| The Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast. | The Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris in the South. |
| They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only. | They are discontinuous and irregular. They can be dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. |
| They are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–1600 metres. | Their average elevation is 600 metres. |
| Anamudi is the highest peak. | Mahendragiri with an elevation of 1,501 metres, is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. |
The Indian Desert
The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
- sandy plain covered with dunes.
- This region receives very scanty rainfall below 150 mm per year.
- It has a dry climate with low vegetation cover.
The Coastal Plains
A coastal plain is a flat, low-lying piece of land next to the ocean. It has 2 narrow strips of plain lands, which are respectively called Eastern Coastal Plain and Western Coastal Plain.
Eastern Coastal Plain
The Eastern Coastal Plains is a wide stretch of the landmass lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast. Rivers like the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri have formed extensive deltas on this coast. Lake Chilika is an important lagoon lake of India situated in Odisha.
Western Coastal Plain
The western coast is compressed between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is a narrow plain and consists of 3 sections as mentioned below:
- The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa)
- The central stretch is called the Kannad Plain
- The southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast
- The Islands
An island is a piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water from three sides. Lakshadweep Islands group is composed of small coral islands which were earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi.
The entire group of islands is divided into 2 broad categories:
- The Andaman in the north
- The Nicobar in the south
These physical features have played a very important role in the development of our country:
- The mountains are the major sources of water and forest wealth.
- The northern plains are the granaries of the country
- The plateau is a storehouse of minerals, which has played a prominent role in the industrialisation of India.
- The coastal region and island groups provide sites for fishing and port activities.
Ncert Solutions For Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 2
1.Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) A landmass bounded by the sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast (b) Island (c) Peninsula (d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called
(a) Himachal (b) Uttarakhand (c) Purvanchal (d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel (b) Konkan (c) Kannad (d) Northern Circar
Answer: (c)
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi (b) Kanchenjunga (c) Mahendragiri (d) Khasi
Answer: C
2.Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is bhabar?
The northern plains are generally described as a flat land having no variations or dissected relief features. According to variations, it can be further divided into 4 regions. The river descended from and deposited with pebbles in width lying parallel to Shiwaliks and this region is called Bhabar.
(ii) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south?
- The northernmost range is known as The Great or Inner Himalayas or Himadri.
- Himachal or Lesser Himalaya.
- Outer Himalayas or Shiwaliks.
(iii) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges?
The Malwa plateau lies between Aravali and Vindhya ranges.
(iv) Name the island group of India having a coral origin?
Lakshadweep Islands
3.Distinguish between (i) Bhangar and Khadar
Difference between Khadar and Bhangar:
| Bhangar | Khadar |
| The soil in the bhangar region contains calcareous deposits, locally known as kankar. It is not fit for agriculture purposes. | The younger deposits of the floodplains are called khadar. They are renewed almost every year and are very fertile thus, ideal for intensive agriculture. |
(ii) the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats
Difference between Western ghats and Eastern ghats:
| Western Ghats | Eastern Ghats |
| The Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast. | The Eastern Ghats stretch from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiris in the South. |
| They are continuous and can be crossed through passes only. | They are discontinuous and irregular. They can be dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. |
| They are higher than the Eastern Ghats. Their average elevation is 900–1600 metres. | Their average elevation is 600 metres. |
| Anamudi is the highest peak. | Mahendragiri with an elevation of 1,501 metres, is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. |
4.Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau
The major physiographic divisions of India are
1. The Himalayan Mountains
2. The Northern Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateau
4. The Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands
The Peninsular Plateau is one of the ancient landmasses and the most stable land blocks on the earth’s surface. The Himalayas and the northern plains are the most recent landforms. Geologically, the Himalayan mountains form an unstable zone. Himalaya represents a very youthful topography with high lofty peaks covered with snow throughout the year, deep valleys and fast-flowing rivers. The northern plains are formed of fresh alluvial deposits every year. The peninsular plateau is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with a gentle rise and plays a crucial role in the industrial development of India.
5. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
One of the recent landforms includes the Northern Plains. These are formed of the fresh alluvial every year and formed of the reciprocity of the three major Indian rivers like the Indus, the Ganga, The Brahmaputra along with the help of their tributaries.
The fresh deposit every year has made its land fertile and good for cultivation. It is broadly categorised into three sections i.e. western parts of the northern plains is said to be the Punjab Plains, the second one is the Ganga Plain spreads over Northern states like Delhi, UP, Haryana, Bihar etc.
The rivers originating from the mountains deposit pebbles around a narrow belt of width ranging from 8 to 16 Km. This belt is known as the Bhabar. Below this belt, streams reemerge and thus creates a swampy, wet area called terai. It is marshy and covered with thick forests.
6. Write short notes on the following.
(i) The Indian Desert
The Indian desert lies towards the western part of the Aravali Hills. It is an undulating sandy plain covered with dunes and receives scanty rainfall. It has an arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear during the rainy season. Luni is the only large river in this region that has its outflow in the Kutch area of Gujarat
(ii) The Central Highlands
The part of the Peninsular plateau which lies to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands. The Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east. The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The Chotanagpur plateau has an eastward extension drains by the Damodar river.
(iii) The Island groups of India
Lakshadweep group of islands is composed of small coral islands. Earlier they were known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi. Kavaratti Island is the administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep. This island group has a great diversity of flora and fauna and various other species. The Pitti island, which is uninhabited, has a bird sanctuary also.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an elongated chain of islands located in the Bay of Bengal extending from north to south. They are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories – The Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. It is believed that these islands are an elevated portion of submerged Himalayan mountains. There is a great diversity of flora and fauna in this group of islands too. These islands lie close to the equator and experience an equatorial climate and have thick forest cover with diverse species.
Conclusion
We have provided Ncert solutions along with a brief detail of the physical features of India class 9. The Ncert Solutions For Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 2 would help the students to clear the basic concepts and more insight into these topics. Stay tuned to Cbseguides.com for more updates.
