Physical Features of India Class 9 Notes: CBSE Geography Chapter 2 (Contemporary India)

India is a vast country with diverse landforms, including the lofty Himalayan range, the fertile northern plains, coastal plains in the east and west coasts of India, the Peninsular plateau in the south, and two groups of islands in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, respectively. Earth scientists have sought to explain the formation of physical features using several theories, one of which is the "Theory of Plate Tectonics."

Formation of the Landscape based on the Theory of Plate Tectonics

The ‘Theory of Plate Tectonics’ explains that the upper part of the Earth which is known as the crust has been formed out of seven major, and some minor plates. The movements of the plates result in the building up of movements within the plates leading to folding, faulting, and volcanic activity. The movements of plates are into three types:

1. A convergent boundary is one in which the plates move towards one other.

2. A divergent boundary is one in which the plates move away from each other.

3. When two plates encounter, they may either collide or disintegrate, or one may slip under the other to form a transform boundary.

Over millions of years, the movements of these plates have altered the size and position of the continents, influencing the evolution of India's current landform features. The majority of volcanoes and earthquakes in the world occur along plate margins, however, some do occur within the plates.

The peninsular part of India is made up of one of the world's oldest landmasses, Gondwana land. It was formerly a unified landmass made up of India, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Antarctica, but it later drifted apart due to conventional currents.

Physical Features of India and Their Characteristics

India's physical characteristics are classified into the following physiographic divisions:

The Himalayan Mountains

• The Himalayan Mountains stretch over India's northern boundaries. These mountain ranges run west-east from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.

• The Himalayas are young mountains that are the loftiest and one of the most rugged mountain barriers in the world.

• The Himalayas span approximately 2400 km and vary in width from 400 km to 150 km from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.

• In terms of longitudinal extent, the Himalayas have three parallel ranges, namely:

• Greater Himalayas or the Himadri: The northernmost range is known as the Himadri or Inner or Great Himalayas It is the most continuous range, consisting of the highest peaks with an average elevation of 6000 metres. The core of this Himalayan region is made of granite and is asymmetrical.

• Lesser Himalayas or the Himachal: The rugged mountain region to the south of the Himadri is known as the Lesser Himalayas or Himachal. The altitude of this mountain range varies between 3700 and 4500 metres whereas the average width is 50 kilometres. It includes ranges like Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar, and Mahabharat, of which the Pir Panjal range forms the longest and the most important range. 

• The Shiwaliks: The outermost range of the Himalayas is known as the Shiwaliks whose altitude varies between 900 and 1100 metres and extends over a width of 10-50 kilometres. The term "Duns" refers to the longitudinal valley that spans between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks. Some of the well-known Duns are Dehradun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.

• The Himalayas have also been divided into regions from west to east:

• The Himalayan region between the Indus and the Sutlej has traditionally been referred to as the Punjab Himalaya, but it is also known as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya from west to east.

• The Kumaon Himalayas are the Himalayas between the Satluj and Kali rivers.

• The Nepal Himalayas are defined by the Kali and Teesta rivers.

• Assam Himalayas refers to the area between the Tista and Dihang rivers.

The Himalayas curve sharply to the south beyond the Dihang Gorge and spread along India's eastern border, known as the Purvanchal, or Eastern Hills and Mountains. Purvanchal comprises the Patkai, Naga, Manipur, and Mizo hills. 

The Northern Plains

• The northern plain was determined by the interplay of India's three major river systems, namely the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, as well as their tributaries.

• The northern plain expands over an area of about 7 lakh sq. km. which is 2400 km long and 240-320 km broad.  

• It comprises alluvial soil deposits which are formed at the basin lying at the foothills of the Himalayas. They are fertile and densely populated because of their favourable climate and agricultural productivity.  

• It is broadly divided into three sections, namely:

• The Punjab Plains are the westernmost section of the Northern Plain. The Indus and its tributaries, the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj, comprise this plain.

• The Ganga Plain is situated between the Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It is spread across North India, including Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal.

• The Brahmaputra Plain lies to the east of the Ganga Plain in the state of Assam. 

• The Northern Plains can be separated into four regions based on the variations in relief features.

• The rivers deposit pebbles in a narrow belt 8 to 16 km wide that runs parallel to the Shiwaliks' slopes, after descending from the mountains. This is known as Babar.

• Streams and rivers re-emerge, forming the terai, a damp, swampy, and marshy region.

• The majority of the northern plain is made up of older alluvium. It is located above the floodplains of the rivers and has a terrace-like feature known as bhangar.

• Kankar is the name given to the soil in the Bhangar region, which comprises calcareous deposits.

• Khadar refers to the floodplains' newer, younger deposits.

The Peninsular Plateau

• The Peninsular Plateau is a tableland, it is made up of ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. It was formed as a result of the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land. The black soil area known as Deccan Trap is one of the Peninsular plateau's distinguishing features.

• This plateau consists of two broad divisions-

• The Central Highlands: This division lies to the north of the Narmada River and encompasses a large portion of the Malwa plateau. The central highlands are bounded on the northwest by the Aravalli range and on the south by the Vindhya range. The Central Highlands are wider in the west as compared to the east. The Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand are the plateau's eastward extensions. The Chhota Nagpur Plateau denotes the farther eastward extension drained by the Damodar River.

• The Deccan Plateau: It is a triangular landmass to the south of the Narmada River. The Plateau is also evident in the northeast, where it is known as the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong Plateau, and North Cachar Hills. In the north, the Satpura range flanks its broad base, while the Mahadev, Kaimur Hills, and Maikal ranges comprise its eastern extensions.

• The Deccan Plateau's western and eastern edges are marked by the Western and Eastern Ghats, respectively.

• The Western Ghats are higher in elevation than the Eastern Ghats. The highest peak in the Western Ghats is Anaimudi, which stands at 2695 metres, and the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is Mahendragiri, which stands at 1501 metres.

The Indian Desert

• Near the western margins of the Aravalli Hills, the Indian Desert is an undulating sandy plain covered with dunes.

• Large areas of the Indian Desert near Pakistan are covered in crescent-shaped dunes known as barchans. 

• This region receives about 150 mm of rain annually. 

• The Luni River is the only large river in this region, owing to the arid climate and low vegetation cover.

The Coastal Plains

• A coastal plain is a low-lying, flat area of land that is adjacent to the ocean. 

• Two narrow strips of plain lands are found to the west and east of the peninsular plateau, which is known as the Western Coastal Plain and Eastern Coastal Plain, respectively.

• The Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea form a barrier along the western coast. It is a narrow plain divided into three sections. 

• The northern part of the west coast is called the Konkan, from Mumbai – Goa. The Kannad Plain is the central stretch, and the Malabar Coast is the southern stretch.

• The Eastern Coastal Plains is a large area of landmass that stretches between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The northern part is known as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.

• On the east coast, large rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri have formed extensive deltas. Lake Chilika is a significant feature on the east coast.

The Islands

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands are two groups of islands in India. These islands lie close to the equator and have an equatorial climate and a dense forest cover.

• In the Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep Islands group lies near Kerala. The Lakshadweep Islands were once known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindive. The administrative headquarters of Lakshadweep is located on Kavaratti Island. The flora and fauna of this island group are extremely diverse.

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an island group in the Bay of Bengal. These islands are a ridge of submarine mountains. The entire group of islands is divided into two broad categories i.e. the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south.

India's regions complement one another, making the country's natural resources more abundant. Mountains serve as a source of both forests and water. The plains provide grain. Minerals are abundant in plateaus whereas coastal areas are important for fishing and port development.

The Important Physiographic Division of India

The physical features of the India map will showcase the various important divisions of India. In this section, you will learn about the physical features of India Class 9 that are categorised under the following physiographic divisions:

• The Himalayan Mountains.

• The Northern Plains.

• The Peninsular Plateau.

• The Indian Desert.

• The Coastal Plains.

• The Islands.

Things to Learn about the Himalayan Mountains

• The Himalayan Mountains are stretched over the northern borders of India. From the Indus to the Brahmaputra, these mountain ranges run in the west-east direction. Also, in its longitudinal extent, it has three parallel ranges which have been discussed in Geography Class 9 Chapter 2 notes.

• The three parallel ranges are the Great or Inner Himalayas which are also known as Himadri, Himachal or Lesser Himalaya, and Shiwaliks. Below are the detailed descriptions of these ranges that you might require for the Physical Features of India project.

• Himadri is the northernmost range. It has the loftiest peaks and is regarded as the most continuous mountain range. It has an average height of 6,000 metres. The folds of Himadri are asymmetrical and the core of this section of Himalayas is composed of granite.

• To the south of Himadri is the most rugged mountain system which is regarded as the lesser Himalaya or Himachal. It is also important to know that the Pir Panjal range is regarded as the most important and longest range. 

• Lastly, the outermost Himalayan range is known as Shiwaliks which are composed of unconsolidated sediments. The longitudinal valley that lies between Himachal and Shiwaliks is known as Duns. The most popular Duns are Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.

Practise Questions and Answers

1. What are the major physiographic divisions of India?

Ans: The major physiographic divisions of India are as follows:

• The Great Himalayas

• The Northern Plains

• The Peninsular Plateau 

• The Coastal Plains, namely the Western and Eastern Coastal plains

• The Islands 

2. How were the Himalayas formed?

Ans: The Himalayas were formed by the collision of India and Eurasian tectonic plates. The northern margin of the Indian plate was pushed beneath the Eurasian plate, causing the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau to rise. The Himalayas were formed by the uplift of the Tethys, a geosyncline accumulation of sedimentary rocks.

3. Differentiate between Bhangar and Khadar.

Ans: The differences between  Bhangar and Khadar are:

4. Differentiate between converging and diverging tectonic plates.

Ans: The difference between converging and diverging tectonic plates are:

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Importance of Class 9 Geography Chapter 2 Physical Features of India Revision Notes

• Revision notes condense large amounts of information into key points, making it easier to review essential concepts quickly.

• They highlight important topics and key details, helping you focus on what is most relevant and reducing the time spent on less critical material.

• By summarising and organising information, revision notes help reinforce learning and improve memory retention of the material.

• They provide a structured way to revisit and consolidate knowledge before exams, ensuring you can review all key points systematically.

• Revision notes serve as a quick reference guide during study sessions, allowing you to find and review important information without having to go through textbooks or lengthy notes.

Tips for Learning the Class 9 Geography Chapter 2 Physical Features of India

• Study maps and diagrams of India’s landforms, such as the Himalayas, Northern Plains, and the Peninsular Plateau. Visual aids help you understand and remember the geographic layout better.

• Focus on the major physical features like the Himalayas, the Northern Plains, and the Thar Desert. Learn their characteristics, formation, and significance.

• Connect each landform with its impact on climate, agriculture, and human settlement. For example, understand how the Himalayas influence the monsoon and how the Northern Plains support agriculture.

• Create summaries for each physical feature covered in the chapter. Highlight important details such as location, size, and unique characteristics.

• Regularly revisit your notes and summaries to reinforce your understanding. Practice answering questions related to the physical features to test your knowledge.

Conclusion

Chapter 2 Physical Features of India, provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse landforms that shape India’s landscape. By studying the Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, desert regions, and coastal plains, you gain insight into how these features influence the country’s climate, agriculture, and human activities. Understanding these physical features is important as they play a significant role in shaping the environmental and economic aspects of India. With the help of clear and organised notes, you can grasp these concepts effectively, making your exam preparation more manageable and your overall understanding of India’s geography better.

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