Geographical Diversity of India – Condensed Notes

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• Chapter introduces India’s geographical diversity.
• Key questions: main physical features and their impact.

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• India = 7th-largest country, part of Asia; with neighbours forms the Indian Subcontinent.
• Five broad regions: great mountain zone, Ganga–Indus plains, desert region, southern peninsula, islands.
• Natural boundaries: Himalayas (N), Thar & Arabian Sea (W), Indian Ocean (S), Bay of Bengal (E).

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• India spans roughly 8^{\circ}–37^{\circ} \,\text{N} latitude, 68^{\circ}–97^{\circ} \,\text{E} longitude.
• Himalayas stretch \approx 2500 \text{ km}, act as a massive wall.

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• Many peaks exceed 8000 \text{ m} (the “Eight-Thousanders”).
• Melting snow feeds Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra ⇒ “Water Tower of Asia”.
• Cultural/religious significance; Gaumukh glacier = Ganga source.

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• Formation: Indian plate drifted north, collided with Eurasia \approx 50 \text{ million years} ago; still moves 5 \text{ cm/yr} ⇒ Himalayas rise 5 \text{ mm/yr}.
• ‘Himalaya’ = ‘abode of snow’.

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• Three Himalayan ranges:
– Himadri (Greater) – highest, perpetual snow, sparse habitation.
– Himachal (Lower) – moderate climate; hill stations.
– Shivalik (Outer) – lowest; dense forests; transition to plains.
• Traditional ‘kath-kuni’ houses: stone-wood, quake-resistant.

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• Great Himalayan National Park (UNESCO) preserves rich flora & fauna (snow leopard, Himalayan monal, etc.).

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• Ladakh = cold desert; winter < -30^{\circ}\text{C}; rugged moon-like terrain.
• Important species: yak, snow leopard, ibex.

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• Pangong Tso = saline lake.
• Gangetic Plains: extremely fertile; fed by Himalayan rivers; dense population; hydro-power potential.

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• Flat terrain ⇒ extensive road/rail networks.
• Multi-cropping, modern agriculture; rivers long used for trade.

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• Notable wildlife: tiger (Project Tiger), gharial, langur.
• Brahmaputra swells in summer due to Himalayan meltwater.

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• Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert): shifting sand-dune landscape; daytime heat, cold nights; low rainfall.
• National symbols: peacock, endangered gharial.

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• Thar spans Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana.
• Lifestyle adapted to aridity; Jaisalmer fort (UNESCO); camel culture (Pushkar Mela).

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• Scarce water ⇒ sand-scouring utensils; rain-water harvesting (taanka/kunds).
• Aravalli Hills (oldest \approx 2.5 \text{ billion yrs}); heights 300–900 \text{ m}; Mount Abu >1700 \text{ m}.

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• Aravallis curb eastward spread of Thar; rich in marble, granite, zinc, copper (ancient Zawar zinc mines).
• Historic forts: Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore.

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• Peninsular Plateau = ancient, triangular highland; flanked by Western & Eastern Ghats.
• Western Ghats (Sahyadri): higher, steep, many waterfalls; UNESCO site.
• Eastern Ghats: lower, discontinuous.

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• Deccan rivers: east-flowing Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi; west-flowing Narmada, Tapti.
• Mineral-rich; dense forests house tribal groups (Santhal, Gond, Bhil, etc.).

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• Western Ghats biodiversity: lion-tailed macaque, king cobra, insectivorous plants.
• Plateau supplies coal (fossil fuel, emits CO₂).

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• Coastline >7500 \text{ km}.
• West Coast (Gujarat→Kerala): short swift rivers form estuaries; major ports (e.g., Mumbai).

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• East Coast (Ganga delta→Kanyakumari): wide plains; major deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
• Important lagoons: Chilika, Pulicat.

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• Two main island groups:
– Lakshadweep: 36 coral islands, Arabian Sea.
– Andaman & Nicobar: >500 volcanic islands, Bay of Bengal; strategic location.
• Coral reefs, unique wildlife.

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• Barren Island = India’s only active volcano.
• Cellular Jail (Andamans) − freedom-struggle memorial.
• Sundarbans delta (Ganga–Brahmaputra): mangroves, Royal Bengal Tiger, UNESCO site.

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• Northeast hills (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia): heavy rainfall, lush forests, waterfalls; living-root bridges.

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• Mawlynnong − ‘cleanest village in Asia’; root-bridge craftsmanship.
• Key takeaways: India’s varied relief shapes soils, climate, biodiversity, culture & economy; geography influenced civilisation and unity.