NCERT Chapter Summary: Physical Features of India

NCERT Chapter Summary: Physical Features of India

1. What does the geology of the peninsular plateau show?

The geology of the peninsular plateau shows that it constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the earth’s surface. It was supposed to be one of the most stable blocks.

2. Mention any one feature of Northern Plains of India.

The Northern plains of India are fertile alluvial plains formed by deposition of sediments by the rivers.

3. What is the composition of the peninsular plateau?

It is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently hills and wide valleys.

4. Name the major physical divisions of India.

The major physical divisions of India are - the Himalayan mountains, the Northern plains, the Peninsular plateau, the India desert, the Coastal plains, the Islands.

5. What is the extent of Himalayas?

The Himalayas stretch along the northern borders of India. The Himalayas spread out from Indus to Brahmaputra in a west-east direction.

6. In which part Himalayan altitudinal extent is greater?

The eastern-half of Himalayas have greater altitudinal extent than western-half.

7. Why is Himadri mountain range names so?

Himadri in Sanskrit means the abode of snow and the range is perpetually snowbound.

8. Mention the location of Mussoorie, Nainital and Ranikhet in India.

Mussoorie - Uttarakhand, Nainital - Uttarakhand, Ranikhet - Uttarakhand.

9. What do you mean by Lesser Himalayas?

Lesser Himalayas or Himachal are the mountain range located south of Himadri.

10. Name the three prominent sub-ranges of the Himachal Himalayas.

The sub-ranges are the Pir-Panjal, the Dhaula-Dhar and the Mahabharat.

11. Why are Shiwaliks more prone to earthquakes and landslides?

The Shiwaliks are more prone to earthquakes and landslides because they are made of unconsolidated because they are mmade of unconsolidated mud, sediments and rocks.

12. Name the longitudinal divisions of Himalayas: a. Between Indus and Satluj rivers. b. Between Kali and Tista rivers.

a. Between Indus and Satluj rivers the Himalayas’ division is known as the Punjab Himalayas or Kashmir and Himachal Himalayas.

b. Between Kali and Teesta rivers, the Himalayas’ division is known as the Nepal Himalayas.

13. Name the two rivers between which Kumaon and Assam Himalayas demarcated.

The Kumaon Himalayas is demarcated between the Satluj and the Kali rivers. The Assam Himalayas is demarcated between Tisat and Dihang rivers.

14. What do you mean by Purvachal?

Purvachal refers to sharp southward bent of Himalayas mountain beyond the Dihang gorge.

15. What is the location of the Purvachal?

Purvachal lies along the eastern edge of India and forms the border with Myanmar.

16. How does the purvachal composed of?

The Purvachal composed of strong sandstone i.e. sedimentary rocks.

17. Name the hills that make the Purvachal.

The Patkai hills, Naga hills, Manipur hills and Mizo hills make the Purvachal.

18. Name the major river systems of the Northern plains.

The three major river systems are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.

19. Mention the extent of Northern plains of India.

The Northern plains of India spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. It has a length of 2400 km and breadth of 240 to 320 km.

20. How are riverine islands formed? Give an example.

Riverine islands are formed by the rivers in their lower course. The rivers are involved in depositional work due to the gentle slope, low velocity and thus lead to the formation of a riverine island, e.g., Majuli island in Brahmaputra river (the largest inhabited riverine island in the world).

21. Explain the term distributary.

In the lower course rivers split into numerous channels due to the deposition of the silt. These numerous channels known as distributaries. e.g. Hooghly is the distributary of Ganga.

22. Mention the division of northern plains.

They are divided into three sections - Punjab plains, Ganga plains and Brahmaputra plains-according to the basis of rocks.

23. Which section of Northern plains is dominated by doabs?

Originating from Himalayas, the Indus River and its tributaries are dominated by doabs.

24. Mention the division of Northern plains on the basis of relief features.

The division includes bhabar, terai, bhangar and khaddar.

25. Give the composition of the peninsular plateau.

The peninsular plateau is composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. They were formed by the breaking and drifting of Gondwana land. 

26. Give two broad divisions of the peninsular plateau.

The two broad divisions of the peninsular plateau are the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.

27. Name the two mountain ranges by which the Vindhyan range is bounded on the south and on the northwest.

The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Satpura range on the south and the Aravalis on the northwest.

28. What do you mean by bundelkhand and baghelkhand?

The eastward extensions of the Central Highland is known as bundelkhand and baghelkhand.

29. Mention the location of Deccan Plateau.

Deccan Plateau is located in the south of the Narmada river. The Satpura range is in north while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range is its eastern extension.

30. Which two well-known rivers originate near the Mahadev hills?

The rivers originating near the Mahadev hills are the Narmada and the Son.

31. List down the extension of Deccan Plateau in northeast.

The extension are Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau and North Cachar hills.

32. Name the highest peak of the Western Ghats.

The Anai-Mudi with the height of 2,695 m is the highest peak of the Western Ghats.

33. Which is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats?

The Mahendragiri with the height of 1,501 m is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats.

34. Name the hills lies in the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.

The Shevroy and Javadi hills lie in the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.

35. Mention one distinct feature of Peninsular plateau.

The Deccan trap i.e. the black soil area is one of the distinct features of Peninsular Plateau.

36. How did the black soil form in Deccan Trap?

In Deccan Trap, rocks are of volcanic origin, thus the type of rocks is igneous and these are denuded over time resulted in formation of black soil.

37. What is the location of Satpura range in comparison with the Aravali?

The Satpura range lies to the south of the Aravali range.

38. Which is the only largest river in the Indian desert?

River Luni is the only largest river in the Indian desert.

39. What do you mean by Barchans? Where are they found?

Crescent-shaped dunes are known as Barchans. They are found in the Indian desert prominently near the Indo-Pakistan boundary.

40. List down the location of the western coast.

The western coast is a narrow plain sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.

41. Name the three divisions of the western coastal plains.

The three divisions of western coastal plains are the Konkan, the Kannada and the Malabar.

42. On which coastal plain does the deltas of the Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Kaveri formed?

On the eastern coastal plains, these deltas are formed. 

43. What is the Chilika lake?

It is a largest back water or salt water lake found in Odisha, south of the Mahanadi delta.

44. What was the earlier name of Lakshadweep?

They were known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive. In the year 1973 they were named as Lakshadweep.

45. Which island in the Lakshadweep islands group has a bird sanctuary?

The bird sanctuary is located in the Pitti Island.

46. In which habitat the coral polyps flourish?

Coral polyps flourish in a habitat consisting of shallow warm water, which does not have mud. This kind of habitat is found in Lakshadweep islands.

47. Which physical feature of India is known as granaries of the world?

The Northern plain of India is known as granaries of the world.