India is a country of vast geographical expanse. In the north, it is bound by the lofty Himalayas. The Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south.
1. What is the total geographical area of India?
3.28 million square kilometres.
2. What is the extent of India from (i) Kashmir to Kanyakumari (ii) Arunachal Pradesh to Kachchh?
(i) 3200 kms, (ii) 2900 kms
3. Which line divides India into almost two equal halves?
The Tropic of Cancer (23 1/2°N) divides India into almost two equal halves.
4. What is a Peninsula?
A landmass surrounded on three sides by water bodies is known as peninsula.
5. Name two Southern neighbouring countries of India.
Two Southern neighbouring countries of India are: (i) Sri Lanka, and (ii) Maldives.
6. Which strait separates Sri Lanka from India?
The Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India.
7. Name the smallest Indian state in terms of area.
Goa is the smallest Indian state in terms of area.
8. What are alluvial Deposits?
Alluvial deposits are very fine soil brought by rivers and deposited in the river basins.
9. Which two Indian rivers form the largest delta in the world?
River Ganga and Brahmaputra forms the largest delta in the world.
10. Name the coastal plains of India.
The coastal plains of India are: (i) Western coastal plain, and (ii) Eastern coastal plain.
11. Where is the Southernmost point of India situated?
Indira Point is the Southernmost point of India, while Kanayakumari is situated at the Southernmost tip of the mainland of India.
12. Name the island neighbours of India?
Across the sea to the South, lie our island neighbours-Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait.
13. What is a Tributary?
Tributary is a river or stream which contributes its water to a main river by discharging it into the main river from either side.
14. Name the largest and smallest states of India in terms of area.
Largest state is Rajasthan; and Smallest state is Goa.
15. Name the West wards flowing rivers of India.
The rivers Narmada and Tapi are the only westward flowing rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea.
16. By what names do we know the second parallel range of the Himalayas?
The second parallel range of the Himalayas is known as the Himachal Himalayas or middle Himalayas.
17. What is the significance of the great longitudinal extent of India?
Due to the great longitudinal extent of about 29°, there is a wide difference in the local time of the two extremes of India.