Physical Features of India

Q38. What are the features of lesser Himalayas?
Or
Describe the features of Himachal or lesser Himalayas.

Ans. The range lying to the south of the Himadri forms the most rugged mountain system and is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.

Features

                          i.        The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.

                         ii.        The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 metres and the average width is of 50 Km.

                        iii.        The Pir Panjal range is the longest and the most important range.

                        iv.        This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. This region is well known for its hill stations.

Q39. Discuss the main features of the Purvachal ranges of the Himalayas.
Or
Give main characteristics of Purvanchal.
Or
Which part of India is called Purvachal?

Ans. The Brahmaputra marks the eastern most boundary of the Himalayas. Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas bend sharply to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India. They are known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains.

Characteristics

                         i.        These hills running through the north-eastern states are mostly composed of strong sandstones which are sedimentary rocks.

                        ii.        Covered with dense forests, they mostly run as parallel ranges and valleys.

                       iii.        The Purvachal comprises the Patkai hills, the Naga hills, Manipur hills and the Mizo hills.

Q40. Describe how the Himalayas were formed.

Ans. Formation of Himalayas

                         i.        The Gondwana land included India, Australia, South Africa, South America and Antarctica as one single land mass.

                        ii.        The convectional currents split the crust into a number of pieces, thus leading to the drifting of the Indo-Australian plate after being separated from the Gondwana land, towards north.

                       iii.        The northward drift resulted in the collision of the plate with the much larger Eurasian Plate.

                       iv.        Due to this collision, the sedimentary rocks which were accumulated in the geosyncline known as the Tethys were folded to form the mountain system of western Asia and Himalaya.

Q41. What are Shiwaliks? Mention any two characteristics of it.
Or
What are Characteristics of Shiwaliks?
Or
Explain the three major features of the Shiwaliks.

Ans. The outer most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks.

Features

                         i.        They extend over a width of 10-50 Km and have an altitude varying between 900 and 1100 metres.

                        ii.        These ranges are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the main Himalayan ranges located farther north.

                       iii.        These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium.

                       iv.        The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns.

Q42. Differentiate between western and eastern coastal plains.

Ans. Difference between western and eastern coastal plains

Q43. Write a short note on Coastal Plains.
Or
Describe any three features of coastal plains of India.

Ans. Coastal Plains

                        i.        The Peninsular plateau is flanked by stretch of narrow coastal strips, running along the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.

                       ii.        The western coast, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a narrow plain. It consists of three sections. The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain while the southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast.

                       iii.        The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast. Large rivers such as the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri have formed extensive delta on this coast. Lake Chilika is an important feature along the eastern coast.