Class 9th
Geography
CHAPTER-2
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
Introduction
• India has a great landmass which is formed during different geological periods.
• Besides geological formations, a number of Processes such as weathering, erosion and deposition.
Major Physiographic Divisions
(a) The Himalayan Mountains (b) The Northern Plains
(c) The Peninsular Plateau (d) The Indian Desert
(e) The Coastal Plains (f) The Islands
The Himalayan mountains
• The Himalayas are one of the loftiest and the most rugged mountain barriers.
• These are young and structurally folded mountains, that run in the from Indus to the Brahmaputra.
• The Himalaya's length is 2,400 km, and the width varies from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Longitudinally, the Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges-
(a) The Greater Himalayas or Himadri
(b) The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal
(c) The Shivalik.
The Himadri
• The innermost ranges of the Himalayas are called the Great Himalayas or ‘Himadri’.
• It consists of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres.
• The core of this part of the Himalayas is composed of granite.
The Himachal
• This range lies to the south of the Himadri.
• The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
• The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 meters and the average height width is 50 Km.
• Pir Panjal range is the longest and the most important range.
• The famous valleys of this range are the Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh.
The Shivaliks
• These are the outermost ranges of the Himalayas.
• The height varies between 900 and 1100 metres, while the width is between 10 to 50 km.
• The valleys lying between Himachal and Shiwaliks are known as Duns.
The Himalayas can also be divided from west to east
• Lying between Indus and Satluj – Punjab Himalayas, also called Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya
• Lying between Satluj and Kali – Kumaon Himalayas
• Lying between Kali and Teesta – Nepal Himalayas
• Lying between Teesta and Dihang – Assam Himalayas
• The Himalayas running in the northeast region of India are called Purvanchal or Eastern hills.
• The Purvanchal consists of various hills such as the Patkai Hills, the Naga Hills, the Manipur Hills and the Mizo
Hills.
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Geography
CHAPTER-2
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA
Introduction
• India has a great landmass which is formed during different geological periods.
• Besides geological formations, a number of Processes such as weathering, erosion and deposition.
Major Physiographic Divisions
(a) The Himalayan Mountains (b) The Northern Plains
(c) The Peninsular Plateau (d) The Indian Desert
(e) The Coastal Plains (f) The Islands
The Himalayan mountains
• The Himalayas are one of the loftiest and the most rugged mountain barriers.
• These are young and structurally folded mountains, that run in the from Indus to the Brahmaputra.
• The Himalaya's length is 2,400 km, and the width varies from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Longitudinally, the Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges-
(a) The Greater Himalayas or Himadri
(b) The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal
(c) The Shivalik.
The Himadri
• The innermost ranges of the Himalayas are called the Great Himalayas or ‘Himadri’.
• It consists of the loftiest peaks with an average height of 6,000 metres.
• The core of this part of the Himalayas is composed of granite.
The Himachal
• This range lies to the south of the Himadri.
• The ranges are mainly composed of highly compressed and altered rocks.
• The altitude varies between 3,700 and 4,500 meters and the average height width is 50 Km.
• Pir Panjal range is the longest and the most important range.
• The famous valleys of this range are the Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu valley in Himachal Pradesh.
The Shivaliks
• These are the outermost ranges of the Himalayas.
• The height varies between 900 and 1100 metres, while the width is between 10 to 50 km.
• The valleys lying between Himachal and Shiwaliks are known as Duns.
The Himalayas can also be divided from west to east
• Lying between Indus and Satluj – Punjab Himalayas, also called Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya
• Lying between Satluj and Kali – Kumaon Himalayas
• Lying between Kali and Teesta – Nepal Himalayas
• Lying between Teesta and Dihang – Assam Himalayas
• The Himalayas running in the northeast region of India are called Purvanchal or Eastern hills.
• The Purvanchal consists of various hills such as the Patkai Hills, the Naga Hills, the Manipur Hills and the Mizo
Hills.
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