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Knowledge in Geography
Deccan Plateau
Deccan PlateauLargest plateau in India; Lies to the south of the Narmada River; Shaped as inverted triangle.Surrounded by Satpura hills, Mahadeo hills, Maikala range, Amarkantak hills and Rajmahal hills i the north; Western Ghats in the west and the Eastern Ghats in the eastVolcanic in origin, made up of horizontal layers of solidified lava forming trap structure with step like appearanceSedimentary layers are also found in between the layers of solidified lava, making it inter-trapping in structureAverage elevation of Western Ghats is 900 – 1600 metres; compared to 600 metres of Eastern GhatsSlopes towards east and south and descends abruptly towards west making sahayadri rangesThe plateau is suitable for the cultivation of cotton; home to rich mineral resources & a source to generate hydroelectric power
Oisiki Bag
Western Ghats
Western GhatsFolded parts of Deccan PlateauAlso known as ShayadriesMore Continuous & higher than Eastern GhatsSeparated from coast by narrow coastal plainsRich watersheds give birth to large peninsular rivers like Godavari and KrishnaExtends from Tapi in North to Kanyakumari in south Important Passes (Rail Links)Thalghat → Mumbai —- KolkataBhorghat → Mumbai —- ChennaiPhalghat → Kochi ——– Chennai Important Hill RangesNilgiri Range (Highest peak → Doda Betta along ooty (Udhagmandalam) →TNHighest Peak of South India → Anaimudi From which 3 ranges radiates in 3 directions Cardmom Hills to south,Anamalai hills to northPalni to North East
Eastern Ghats
Eastern GhatsExtends from Odisha to North of Nilgiri hillsDiscontinuous & lower then Western GhatsDo not give birth to important rivers like western ghatsSeparated from coast by very wide coastal plainsGeologically older than western ghatsMahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri cut through this range to merge with Bay of BengalThe Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats meet in the Nilgiri hillsTelangana Plateau Part of deccan plateaulocated on north of river Krishna Karnataka Plateau South of deccan lava regionConsist of Bababudan hillsFamous for iron ores Dandakaranya Plateau Forms parts of Chhatisgarh & OdishaContains igneous & metamorphic rocks of Archaen periodRiver Indravati & Mahandi flows throuth this plateauLargely inhabited by Gond tribes Shillong PlateauPart of Peninsular Deccan PlateauMade of Garo, Khasi & Jaintia HillsWorld’s highest rainfall receiving point Mawsynram is situated here
Desert and Coastal areas
The Great Indian DesertExtends from the western margins of the Aravali HillsLuni is the only prominent riverThe Coastal regionsExcluding the islands, the mainland of India has 6,100 kms length of coastlineExtends from Kutch in Gujarat in the west to the Gangetic delta in the eastThe coast of India is divided into western coast and eastern coastal plains.The coastal regions of India are known for agriculture, trade, industrial centres, tourist centres, fishing and salt makingThey also provide important hinterlands for the ports
Western and Eastern coastal regions
Western Coastal PlainsLies between Western Ghats & Arabian sea from Gujrat in north to Kanyakumari in southNarrower & wetter than Eastern plainsDivided into Malabar coast, Kannada Coast, Konkan coast, Kanyakumari Coast, Kachchh and Kathiawad peninsulasKathiawar Coast → Kutch to Daman (Tapti, Narmada, Sabarmati & Mahi river deposit huge load of sediments in the Gulf of Cambay & form estuaries)Konkan Coast → Between Daman & GoaKannada Coast → Goa to CannanoreKanyakumari Coast → Cannanore to Cape CamorinMalabar Coast → Kannada + Kanyakumari Coast Important Ports → Mumbai, Marmagoa, Cochin, Mangalore, Nhava-Sheva and KandlaMarked with Lagoons → Ashtamudi & Vembanad called Kayals → Kerala Eastern coastal PlainsLies between Eastern Ghats & Bay of Bengal from Gangetic delta in north to Kanyakumari in southKnown as Land of Deltas viz. of Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri & GodavariBroader but drier than Western plainsConsists of following sub coastsUtkal coast → Deltaic plains of Ganga to Mahanadi delta (Famous Chilka lake is located in this plain)Andhra Coast → Utkal plains to Pulicat lake (Contains deltas of Godavari & Krishna Rivers, & famous Kolleru lake)Northern Circars → Utkal Coast + Andhra Coast (Between Mahanadi & Krishna)Coromandal Coast → Between Krishna & Kanyakumari (Consist of Kaveri Delta)Freshwater Kolleru Lake → Between Godavari & KrishnaMarked with Famous Lagoons → Chilka lake (Orissa) & Pulicat (Tamilnadu)Chilka Lake is the largest salt water lake in IndiaIt lies in the state of Odisha, to the south of the Mahanadi Delta
Indian Islands
Indian IslandsTotal 247 islands in India → 204 islands in Bay of Bengal and 43 in the Arabian SeaFew coral islands in the Gulf of Mannar alsoAndaman and Nicobar Islands in Bay of Bengal consist of hard volcanic rocksThe middle Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the largest islands of IndiaLakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea are formed by coralsThe southern – most point of India is in Nicobar Island, known as Indira PointFormerly Indira point was called Pigmalion Point, it is submerged now, after 2004 TsunamiAndaman & Nicobar IslandsLakshadweep IslandsVolcanic islands representing submarine volcanismRepresent the surfaces of submerged folds viz. extension of Himalaya, precisely Arakan yoma fold mountains of MyanmarFormed of Granite rocks & have high hills &l peaks for ex. Saddle peakEquatorial climate with tropical rain-forestsa union of coral islands, entirely different from A & N islandscomprises of large number of dead corals, fringing, barrier and atoll coral reefsHave calcium rich soils filled with organic limestoneHave scattered vegetation of palm species
Prominent Islands of India
Prominent Indian IslandsA & N IslandsContinuation of Arakan Yoma mountain range of MyanmarNicobarJust 147 km from Sumatra island (Indonesia)Saddle PeakHighest Peak of AndamanPamban IslandBetween India & SrilankaSalasetteGroup of 7 islands, known as Mumbai todayDiuFishing IslandNew Moore IslandDisputed site b/w India & BangladeshWheeler IslandMissile launching island in BOB → Near Odisha coastSriharikotaSplit Island → Rocket launching site in BOB in Andhra PradeshWellingtonNaval Station → KeralaSignificance of Indian Ocean for India Strategic significance → India overlooks some of the most important sea lanes viz. Suez Canal, Malacca StraitEconomic significance → Long coastline, 2.02 million sq km EEZ (Exclusive economic zone)Tourism Significance → Marine biodiversity and rich ecosystem with coral reefs, mangrovesLarge Fishing potential, Wave energy & Tidal energy potential, Zone of HydrocarbonsGeneration of south west Monsoon
River System of India – Indus River System
River System of India – Indus River SystemPrime Watershed of River Origin in IndiaHimalayas and Karakoram rangesVindhya, Satpura ranges and Chota Nagpur PlateauWestern GhatsRiver categories on the basis of their originHimalayan RiversDeccan RiversCoastal RiversRivers of the inland Drainage basinTop 5 largest rivers of India Ganga > Godavari > Krishna > Yamuna > BrahmaputraIndus River SystemIndusAncient name → SindhuOrigin → Bokharchu Glacier, Near MansarovarIn Tibet, Called Singi Khamban / Lion’s mouthEnters In India through Ladakh, flows only in J &KEnters Pak through hair pin bend of Nanga ParbatFinally Discharges in Arabian SeaFlows approx. ( 709 / 2880 ) Km in IndiaIndia uses 20 % of its water by Indo Pak water treaty of 1960Shyok Originates from Rimo GlacierKnown as river of deathflows through Ladakh in IndiaA tributary of the Indus RiverJhelumAncient name → VitastaOrigin → Verinag Spring (Kashmir)Tributary of Chenab, flows only in J &KFlows Northward to Wular LakeCut through gorge in Pir- Panjal range to reach Muzzafarabad (POK)ChenabAncient name → Akshani / IskmatiOrigin → Bara Lacha Pass (Himachal)Known as chandra-bhaga in HimachalChandra River → Water flowing south from the passBhaga River → Water Flowing north from the passFlows Northward & parallel to Pir –Panjal Range for some distanceCut through gorge in Pir – Panjal & Turns southwardLargest tributary of Indus, Flows through Himachal & J & KFamous Projects →Duhasti, Baglihar & Salal hydroelectric projectRaviAncient name → PurushniOrigin → Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass (Himachal)Tributary of ChenabSmallest of 5 riversFlows through Indo – Pak boundaryFlows northward b/w Pir – Panjal & Dhauladhar RangesCut a gorge through Dhauladhar range & flows southwardBeasAncient name → VipashaOrigin → Beas kund near Rohtang Pass, HimachalTributary of SatlujOnly river flowing entirely in IndiaRuns southward, Cut a deep gorge in Dhauladhar & turns west to meet Satluj near Harike (Punjab)Famous Project → Pong DamSutlujAncient name → ShatadruOrigin → Rakas lake, Tibet, near MansarovarEnter Himachal at Shipki La PassCollects water from Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum & Beas to join Indus near Mithalkot (Pak)Famous Projects → Naptha Jhakri Project & Bhakra Nagal Dam with Govind Sagar Reservoir
Ganga River System
Ganga River SystemGanga TributariesYamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Tons & PunpunGhaghara TributariesSarda & RaktiKosi TributariesArun, Tamur & Sun KoshiYamuna TributariesChambal, Sind, Betwa & KenChambal TributariesKali Sindh, Parvati & BanasRiver GangaOrigin → As Bhagirathi from Gangotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)Alakananda unites with Bhagirathi at Devprayag, Uttarakhand → Henceforth known as GangaPassing through Rishikesh, it debounches in plains of HaridwarFrom Haridwar, it flows Southward to reach Allahabad where it joins YamunaNear Rajmahal Hills, it turns southeast & bifurcate at Farraka into Hoogly (Kolkata) & Padma (BD)At Bangladesh, Ganga merges with Brahmputra (Known as Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Goalundo GhatsMixture is known as Padma River Then it merges with Meghna & finally falls in Bay of BengalMeghna → Known as Barack river in India Major tributaries → Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Tons & Punpun Major Tributaries of Ganga River SystemGhagharaOrigin →Bharchachungar Glacier (Rakas lake) near MansarovarJoins Ganga at ChhapraKnown as Manchu or Karnali in NepalKnown as Saryu or Ghaghra in UPPerennial riverMajor tributaries →Sarda & Rakti GandakOrigin → Sino – Nepal Boundary (Dhaulagiri range)Known as Kalyani in NepalMajor River of NepalJoins Ganga at Sonpur, BiharKosiOrigin → Gosainath peak (Tibet)Merges with river Ganga at Bhagalpur (Bihar)Consists of 7 streams & known as Saptakoshi in NepalMain stream → Arun, Tamur & Sun KoshiFormerly Known as Sorrow of BiharMajor Projects → Kusha DamSonOrigin → Amarkantak Plateau (Near north of origin of Narmada)Flows through Kaimur Range to meet Ganga at Patna GomtiOriginates from Gomat Taal / Fulhaar jheel – PilibhitA tributary of GangaYamunaOrigin → Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)Largest Tributary of GangaAfter cutting deep gorge across Shivalik, it enters into plains near TajewalaFlows southward up to Agra & then turns southeast to meet Ganga at AllahabadFamous tributaries →Chambal, Sind, Betwa & KenBetwaMajor Tributaries →Tributary of Yamuna, rises from Vindhya range, MPMajor Projects → Matatila dam & Rajghat damKen Rises from Kaimur hills in Satna (Madhya Pradesh), a tributary of YamunaFamous for its Shajar stone & Raneh waterfallsChambalOrigin → Vindhya Range (Mhow, MP)Passes through Kota & Dhaulpur (Rajasthan)Merge with Yamuna at Etawah (UP)forms boundary between Rajasthan & MPMajor tributaries →Kali Sindh, Parvati & BanasMain Power Projects → Gandhisagar, Rana Pratap Sagar & Jawahar SagarBanas Originate from eastern slopes of AravaliTributary of ChambalDamodar Origin → Eastern part of Chhota Nagpur PlateuMeets Hoogli at FaltaPower Projects →Talaiya, Maithan, Barakar & Panchet
Brahmaputra River System
Brahmaputra River SystemOrigin → Chemayungdung Glacier (Kailash Range, Tibet)In Tibet, known as TSANG – POIn China, known as YARLUNG ZANBOForms grand canyon in TibetTurns southward near Namcha – BarwaEnters Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang River at Sadiya, emerging from the mountainsJoined by Dibang river from the north & Lohit river from the south → Known as BrahamputraTurns at Dhubri to enter into BangladeshAfter joining Teesta, known as Jamuna in BDJoins Ganga & Megna → Merges to BOBForms many river island of which Majuli is world 2nd largest oneMajor tributaries → Dihang, Lohit, Subansiri, Teesta, Meghna (Barack in Assam), Manas TeestaMajor tributary of BrahmaputraRises from SikkimKnown as lifeline of SikkimLohitTributary of BrahmaputraFlows through Arunachal PradeshAlong with river Dihang merges into Brahmaputra, at Sadia town (Arunachal Pradesh)
Peninsular Rivers Systems
Peninsular Rivers flowing in Arabian Sea (East → West)Forms only EstuariesNo Delta → Due to Hard rocks & lack of DistributariesLuniSabarmatiMahiNarmadaTawaTapiLuniDesertic river, also known as the SagarmatiRises from the western slopes of the Aravalli Range near AjmerEnds in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in GujaratInspite of high salinity, it is a major river in regionServes as a primary source of irrigationSabarmatiRises from Dhebar lake in Aravalli Range of the Udaipur (Rajasthan)Flow Route: Udaipur →Gulf of Khambat →Arabian Sea via EstuaryMahiRises from Vindhya range (MP)flows through MP, Rajasthan & Gujrat & drains in Gulf of CambayFamous Projects → Banswara Dam & Kadana damNarmadaOrigin → Amarkantak, Shahdol, MPAlso known as Rewa RiverFlows through rift valley of Vindhya & SatpuraFlow Route: MP →Bharuch (Gujrat) → Gulf of Khambat (Gujrat) →Arabian Sea via EstuaryLongest among all east to west flowing riversKnown as Life line of MPForms Duandhar falls at JabalpurTributary → Hiran River, Tawa River, Kolar RiverAliabet → Largest Island in EstuaryFamous projects →Sardar Sarovar Dam, Maheshwar Dam, Indira Gandhi Sagar DamTawaRises in the Satpura Range of Betul (MP)Narmada’s longest tributaryTapiOrigin → Mahadev hills, Satpura range, Betul district, MPFlow Route: MP →Maharashtra → Gulf of Khambat or Cambay →Arabian Sea via EstuaryFamous projects → Kakrapar Dam & Ukai DamPeriyarRises from Western Ghats in KeralaFlows towards west & drains in Arabian Sea via an estuaryNote → JOG falls, made by Sharavati river in Karnataka is Highest in IndiaPeninsular Rivers flowing in Bay of Bengal ( West → East)MahanadiGodavariPengangaSabriWardhaIndravatiKrishnaTungabhadraBhimaKaveriPennerVaigai (Drains in Gulf of Mannar)MahanadiOrigin → Dandakaranya Hills, RaipurFlow Route: Chhattisgarh →Orissa → EGs → BOBFamous Project : Hirakund DamGodavariOrigin →Triambakeshwar Plateau, Nashik, WGsLargest Peninsular RiverKnown as Dakshina / Vriddha GangaFlow Route: Nashik → Andhra Pradesh →BOBFamous Tributaries → Penganga, Sabri, Wardha & IndravatiFamous Projects → Poochampad, Jayakwadi, PolavaramPengangaRises from Ajanta hills (Maharashtra)a tributary of River Wardha which finally merges into GodavariKrishnaOrigin → Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, WGsFlow Route: Maharashtra →Andhra Pradesh →BOBFamous Projects → Koyna, Tugrabhdra, Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar DamTungabhadraa major tributary of KrishnaRises from Western GhatsBhimaRises from Balaghat range (Maharashtra)Tributary of KrishnaKaveriOrigin → Brahamgiri hills, Karnataka, WGsFlow Route: Karnataka →Kaveripatnam (TN) →BOBPerrenial RiverForms Shivasundaram WaterfallsFamous projects →Krishnaraja sagar & MetturPenner Rises from KarnatakaFlows b/w Krishna & KaveriDrains into BOBVaigaiRises from Palni hills (TN)A seasonal river flows through TNDrains in Gulf of Mannar
Himalayan Drainage vs Peninsular Drainage
Himalayan Drainage vs Peninsular DrainageHimalayan DrainageAntecedent drainage i.e. Himalayan rivers are older than lesser Himalayas and ShiwaliksHimalayan rivers are older than the structures they cut acrossPerennial flowing River → fed by rain and melting glaciersGeologically young with long course of flowFlow through lose alluvial soils of northern plainsForm deep valley and gorges due to intensive erosionGenerate large quantities of sediment & cause annual flooding & form DeltasNature of river course is quiet changing, meandering , forming ox-bow lakes & high waterfallsHave deeper basins and large catchment areasPeninsular DrainageSuper-imposed drainage i.e. regional structures are older than the river valleys that cut through them.Nature of flow is seasonal i.e. majorly during south west monsoonGeologically older with shorter course of flowFlow through hard granitic soils of peninsular IndiaShallow graded valleys with little erosion.Forms shallow valleys, small waterfalls, deltas and estuaries