INDIA - LOCATION, STRUCTURE
AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
INDIA'S GEOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW
Land Area and Coastline
India spans 3.28 million sq. km, covering 2.4% of the worlds total area.
With a coastline of 6,100 km on the mainland and 7,517 km including island
groups (Andaman & Nikobar, Lakshadweep), Insia has the longest coastline
among Indian Ocean littoral countries.
Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast.
Fig : Geographical Extent
Geographical Extent :
Latitudinal Extent : From 6°8’N (Knyakumari) to 37°6’N (Ladakh), Approx ~
3,200 km.
Longitudinal Extend : From 68°7’E(Gujrat) to 97°25’E (Arunachal Pradesh),
covering about 2,900 km.
Key Geographic Points :
Southernmost Mainland Point ; Kanyakumari
Northern Point : Indira Col
Southern Point (Indian Union) : Indira Point
1
, Neighbouring countries
Land neighbours: India shares land borders with Pkistan and Afghanistan
(through the Weaken Corridor) in the northwest; China, Nepal, and Bhutan in
the north; and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, followed by China &
Pakistan.
Island Neighbours:
Sri Lanka: Separated by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
Maldives: Separated from the Lakshadweep Islands by the East Dedree
Channel.
Significant Latitudes and Longitudes
Tropic of Cancer(23°27’N): Passes through 8 Indian states:
1. Gujarat
2. Rajasthan
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Chattisgarh
5. Jarkhand
6. West Bengal
7. Tripura
8. Mijoram
Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E)
This longitude defines the Indian Standard Time (IST), ensuring uniform time
across the country.
It crosses the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh
And Andra Pradesh.
Climate Zones
1. Tropical Zone: Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, this area expiences a
genarally warmer climate.
2. Subtropical Zone: Northern India lies in this zone, expierencing more varied
seasonal temperature changes than the tropical zone.
STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and part of a larger entity
including the Australian plate, fragmented and shifted northwards, leading to the
development of the following geological divisions of India.
2
, Major Geological Divisions of India
A. The Himalayan Mountain System:
Young old mountains.
Formed by collision of: 1. Indian Plate
2. Eurasian Plate
Three Parallel Ranges:
1. Greater Himalayan (Himadri)
Average height: 6000 m
Contains highest speaks: Mount Everest
Kanchanjunga
Permanent slow cover
Source of major rivers
2. Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)
Height: 1500-4500 m
Shimla
Important Hill stations:
Mussoorie
Nainital
Composed of sedimentary & metamorphic rocks
3. Outer Himalayas (Shiwalik)
Lowest range
Unconsolidated sediments
Known for Duns (Valleys)
Rivers originating: Indus
Ganga
Bramhaputra
B. Indo-Ganga-Bramhaoutra Plains:
Formed by alluvial deposits
Flat & fertile
Devided into: 1. Bhabar
2. Terai
3. Bhangar
4. Khadar
Highest population density
Major agriculture region
C. Peninsular Plateau:
Oldest physiographic devision
Made of ignous & metophornic period
Stable since Cambrian period
Rift valleys: Narmada & Tapi
Block mountains:
3
AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
INDIA'S GEOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW
Land Area and Coastline
India spans 3.28 million sq. km, covering 2.4% of the worlds total area.
With a coastline of 6,100 km on the mainland and 7,517 km including island
groups (Andaman & Nikobar, Lakshadweep), Insia has the longest coastline
among Indian Ocean littoral countries.
Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast.
Fig : Geographical Extent
Geographical Extent :
Latitudinal Extent : From 6°8’N (Knyakumari) to 37°6’N (Ladakh), Approx ~
3,200 km.
Longitudinal Extend : From 68°7’E(Gujrat) to 97°25’E (Arunachal Pradesh),
covering about 2,900 km.
Key Geographic Points :
Southernmost Mainland Point ; Kanyakumari
Northern Point : Indira Col
Southern Point (Indian Union) : Indira Point
1
, Neighbouring countries
Land neighbours: India shares land borders with Pkistan and Afghanistan
(through the Weaken Corridor) in the northwest; China, Nepal, and Bhutan in
the north; and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh, followed by China &
Pakistan.
Island Neighbours:
Sri Lanka: Separated by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.
Maldives: Separated from the Lakshadweep Islands by the East Dedree
Channel.
Significant Latitudes and Longitudes
Tropic of Cancer(23°27’N): Passes through 8 Indian states:
1. Gujarat
2. Rajasthan
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Chattisgarh
5. Jarkhand
6. West Bengal
7. Tripura
8. Mijoram
Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E)
This longitude defines the Indian Standard Time (IST), ensuring uniform time
across the country.
It crosses the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh
And Andra Pradesh.
Climate Zones
1. Tropical Zone: Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, this area expiences a
genarally warmer climate.
2. Subtropical Zone: Northern India lies in this zone, expierencing more varied
seasonal temperature changes than the tropical zone.
STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
The Indian plate, once located south of the equator and part of a larger entity
including the Australian plate, fragmented and shifted northwards, leading to the
development of the following geological divisions of India.
2
, Major Geological Divisions of India
A. The Himalayan Mountain System:
Young old mountains.
Formed by collision of: 1. Indian Plate
2. Eurasian Plate
Three Parallel Ranges:
1. Greater Himalayan (Himadri)
Average height: 6000 m
Contains highest speaks: Mount Everest
Kanchanjunga
Permanent slow cover
Source of major rivers
2. Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)
Height: 1500-4500 m
Shimla
Important Hill stations:
Mussoorie
Nainital
Composed of sedimentary & metamorphic rocks
3. Outer Himalayas (Shiwalik)
Lowest range
Unconsolidated sediments
Known for Duns (Valleys)
Rivers originating: Indus
Ganga
Bramhaputra
B. Indo-Ganga-Bramhaoutra Plains:
Formed by alluvial deposits
Flat & fertile
Devided into: 1. Bhabar
2. Terai
3. Bhangar
4. Khadar
Highest population density
Major agriculture region
C. Peninsular Plateau:
Oldest physiographic devision
Made of ignous & metophornic period
Stable since Cambrian period
Rift valleys: Narmada & Tapi
Block mountains:
3
