Geography
Chapter 1 India: Location, Relief and Drainage
I. Choose the correct answer
1. The north-south extent of India is:
(a) 2,500km
(b) 292,933 km
(c) 3,214km
(d) 2,814km
2. ……… River is known as ‘Sorrow of Bihar’.
(a) Narmada
(b) Godavari
(c) Kosi
(d) Damodar
3. A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as ………
(a) Coast
(b) Island
(c) Peninsula
(d) Strait
4. The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separates India from:
(a) Goa
(b) West Bengal
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) Maldives
5. The highest peak in South India is …………
(a) Ooty
(b) Kodaikanal
(c) Anaimudi
(d) Jindhagada
6. ___________Plains are formed by the older alluviums.
(a) Bhabar
(b) Tarai
(c) Bhangar
(d) Khadar
7. Pulicat Lake is located between the states of ………….
(a) West Bengal and Odisha
(b) Karnataka and Kerala
(c) Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
(d) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
II. Match the following
Answer:
A. (iii)
B. (i)
C. (v)
D. (ii)
E. (iv)
III. Give Reasons
1. Himalayas are called young fold mountains.
Answer:
The Himalayas are called young fold mountains, because they
have been formed only few million years ago.
High pointed peaks and parallel ranges are the features of young
fold mountains. Since the Himalayas have these features they are
called young fold mountains.
2. North Indian Rivers are perennial.
Answer:
Most of the North Indian Rivers have water throughout the year.
These rivers receive water from rain as well as from melted snow
from the lofty mountains. So, they are called Perennial Rivers.
3. South Indian Rivers are east flowing.
The Peninsular Rivers are called South Indian Rivers. Since the
peninsular plateau is generally sloping eastwards, the rivers
originating from the Western Ghats flow in the east direction and
drain into the Bay of Bengal.
4. West flowing rivers do not form deltas.
Length of the West flowing river is very small. As it travels for
shorter distances, it carries very less sediments. These sediments
are not sufficient enough to create deltas.
IV. Distinguish between the following
1. Himalayan rivers and Peninsular Rivers.
Answer:
Himalayan Rivers Peninsular Rivers
Originate from the Originate from Western
Himalayas. Ghats.
Perennial in nature. Non-perennial in nature.
Long and Wide. Short and narrow.
Middle and Lower courses Not useful for navigation.
are navigable.
Unsuitable for hydropower Suitable for hydro-power
generation. generation
2. Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Answer:
Western Ghats Eastern Ghats
Western Ghats forms the Eastern Ghats form the
Western edge of the Eastern edge of the
peninsular plateau. peninsular plateau.
It runs parallel to the It runs parallel to the Bay
Arabian sea coast. of Bengal coast.
They are continuous range. They are not continuous
because they are
dissected by east flowing
rivers.
Anaimudi is the highest Mahendragiri is the highest
peak. peak.
The northern part is called Eastern Ghats are called
Sahyadris. Poorvadri.
3. Western Coastal Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains.
Answer:
Western Coastal plains Eastern Coastal plains
Lies between Western Ghats Lies between Eastern Ghats
and Arabian Sea. and the Bay of Bengal.
It extends from Rann of Kutch It stretches along the states
in the North to Kanyakumari in of West Bengal, Odisha,
the South. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu.
Dotted with sandy beaches, Has regular shoreline and
lagoons and estuary. composed of alluvial
deposits.
It is known as Konkan plains in Northern part (Mahanadi-
the North Kanara in the middle Krishna) called as Northern
and Malabar in the South. circars and Southern part
(Krishna-Kaveri) is called
Coromandal coast.
V. Answer in brief
1. Name the neighbouring countries of India.
Answer:
The neighbouring countries of India are
Pakistan in the West,
Afghanistan in the North-West,
China, Nepal and Bhutan in the North
Bangladesh and Myanmar in the East and
Srilanka in the South.
2. Give the importance of IST.
Answer:
To avoid the confusion of time in different states of India, one
meridian is taken to have a uniform time for a whole country.
Therefore 80° 30′ E has been chosen as the Standard Meridian of
India which is almost passing from the centre of India.
3. Write a short note on Deccan Plateau.
Answer:
Deccan plateau is the largest part of the peninsular plateau.
It is roughly triangular in shape.
It covers an area of 7 lakh sq km.
The height ranges from 500 to 1000m above sea level.
It extends from Rajmahal hills on the East to Kanyakumari in the
South. Satpura range in the West to Kanyakumari in the South.
Bordered by Western Ghats on the West and Eastern ghats on the
East.
3. State the west-flowing rivers of India.
Answer:
The west-flowing rivers of India are
Narmada
Tapti
Mahi and
Sabarmathi.
4. Write a brief note on the island group of Lakshadweep.
Answer:
The Lakshadweep islands of India are located off the West coast of
India.
These islands are of coral origin.
It covers an area of 32 sq km and consists of 27 islands.
Kavaratti is the administrative capital of Lakshadweep.
Earlier it had three divisions namely Laccadives, Minicoy and
Aminidivi and was named as Lakshadweep in 1973.
“Pitt Island” of this group has a bird sanctuary and it is uninhabited.
VI. Answer in a paragraph
1. Explain the divisions of the Northern Mountains and its
importance to India.
Answer:
Northern mountains are the youngest and the loftiest mountain
chains in the world.
It stretches for a distance of2500km from the Indus gorge in the
West to Brahmaputra gorge in the East.
The major divisions of the Northern mountains are:
The Trans Himalayas
Himalayas
Eastern or Purvanchal hills
(i) The Trans Himalayas:
It lies in Jammu and Kashmir and Tibetian plateau.
It is also known as Western Himalayas. As its areal extent is more
in Tibet, it is also known as Tibetean Himalayas.
The rocks of this region are of Thethys sediments and contain
fossils bearing marine sediments.
The prominent ranges of this division are Zaskar, Ladakh, Kailash
and Karakoram.
(ii) The Himalayas:
It is formed by the uplifted compression of the Thethys sea due to
tectonic forces.
It has three parallel ranges.
(a) The Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
(b) The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)
(c) The Outer Himalayas (Siwaliks)
(a) The Greater Himalayas or Himadri:
The most continuous range.
Almost all the lofty peaks of the Himalayas are located in this range.
Eg: Mt. Everest (8,848m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586m).
It is the region of permanent snow cover.
It has many glaciers like Gangothri, Yamunothri and Siachen.
(b) The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal:
It is the middle range of Himalayas.
Made up of rocks like slate, limestone and quartzite.
Important ranges pir panjal, Dhauladhar and Mahabharat.
Familiar for hill stations – Shimla, Mussourie Nainital, Almora,
Ranikhet and Daijeeling.
(c) The Outer Himalayas or Siwaliks:
It is the most discontinuous range dissected by the Himalayan
rivers.
The longitudinal valleys found between the Siwaliks and the
Himachal are called Duns in the West and Duars in the East. Eg:
Dehradun.
This range is ideal for the development of settlements.
(iii) The Eastern Himalayas or Purvanchal Hills:
They are the Eastern off shoots of Himalayas.
Most of these hills are located along the border of India and
Myanmar.
Some of the important hills are Patkai Bum, Naga hills, Manipur
hills, Mizo hills, Garo hills, Khasi hills and Jaintia hills.
Collectively known as Purvanchal hills.
Importance:
Forms as the natural barrier to the Sub continent.
Source for many perennial rivers such as Indus, Ganges and
Brahmaputra.
Paradise of tourists due to its natural beauty.
Renowned for rich bio-diversity.
Many hill stations and Pilgrim centres like Amamath, Kedamath,
Badrinath and Vaishnavidevi temple are located.
Natural climatic barrier prevents the cold winds from Central Asia.
Blocks the South west monsoon winds and causes heavy rainfall to
North India.
2. Give an account on the major peninsular rivers of India.
Answer:
The rivers in South India are called the Peninsular Rivers.
Most of these rivers originate from the Western Ghats.
These rivers are seasonal and are mainly fed by rain.
Based on the direction of flow, the Peninsular Rivers are divided
into East flowing rivers and West flowing rivers.
East flowing rivers:
Mahanadi:
Originates near Sihawa in Raipur district of Chattisgarh.
Flows through Odisha, Jharkand, Chattisgarh (851 km in
length)
Major tributaries: Seonath, Telen, Sandur and lb.
Distributaries: Paika, Birupa, Chitartala, Genguti and Nun.
These distributaries form the Delta of Mahanadhi, one of the
largest deltas in India.
This river flows into Bay of Bengal.
Godavari:
It is the longest river (1,465km) among the peninsular rivers
covers 3.13 lakh km2 area.
Originates in Nasik district of Maharashtra.
Flows through the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
ends into Bay of Bengal.
Major distributaries: Puma, Penganga, Pranitha, Indravathi, Tal
and Salami.
Distributaries: Near Rajahmundry divides into two channels.
Vasishta and Gautami and form one of the largest delta.
Fresh water lake: Kolleru is located in the deltaic region of
Godavari.
Krishna:
It is the second longest peninsular river (1400 km) covers 2.58
lakh sq km area.
Originates from a spring in Mahabaleshwar in the Western
ghats of Maharashtra.
Flows through Andhra Pradesh.
Major tributaries: Bhima, Peddavagu, Musi, Koyna and
Thungabhadra.
Joins in Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladevi.
Kaveri:
Originates at Talakaveri – Kudagu hills of Karnataka (800km).
It is also known as Dakshin Ganga or Ganga of the South.
Main Tributaries: Hemavathi, Kabini, Bhavani, Arkavathy,
Amaravathi, Harangi etc.
Distributary – Coleroon
Sacred lslands made by river Kaveri:
Sriranagpattinam(Kamataka) Srirangam (TamilNadu)
Waterfalls – Sivasamudram.
Enters TamilNadu through Hoghenekkal Falls (Dharmapuri).
Drains into Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar.
West Flowing Rivers:
(i) Narmadha:
Origin: Araarkantak Plateau (Madhya Pradesh)
Length: 1312 km covers an area of 98,796 sq km.
Forms 27 km long estuary.
Largest among the West flowing rivers.
Tributaries: Burhner, Halon, Heran, Banjar, Dudhi, Shakkar, Tawa,
Barna, Kolar.
States benefited: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.
Ends into Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay.
(ii) Tapti:
Rises near Multani in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
Length: 724 km. Covers an area of 65,145 sq km.
Tributaries: Vaki, Gomai, Arunnavati, Aner, Nesu, Buray, Panjhra
and Bori.
Outfalls into the Arabian Sea through Gulf of Cambay.
States: Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Since all these rivers flow in the plateau region they are swift and
are useful for hydro power generation.
3. Give a detailed account on the basin of the Ganga.
Answer:
The Ganga River system is the largest drainage system of India.
It extends over an area of 8, 61,404 sq km.
The Ganga plain is the most densely populated place in India and
many towns are developed on the banks of this river.
The river Ganga originates as Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier
in Uttar Khasi District of Uttarkhand state, at an elevation of 7,010
m.
The length of the river Ganga is about 2,525 km.
Its major tributaries from the north are Gomti, Gandak, Kosi and
Ghaghra and from south, Yamuna (largest tributary of Ganga), Son,
Chambal etc.
The river Ganga is known as the River Padma in Bangladesh.
The combined river of Ganga and Brahmaputra creates the World’s
largest delta known as Sundarbans in Bangladesh before joining the
Bay of Bengal.
VII. Map exercises
Mark the following on the outline map of India
Question 1.
Major mountain ranges – Karakoram,Ladakh, Zaskar, Aravaili, Western
Ghats,Eastern Ghats.
Answer:
Question2.
Major rivers – Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti,
Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri
Answer:
Question 3.
Major plateaus – Malwa, Chotanagpur, Deccan.
Answer:
