Indian Physical Geography: Structure and Geographical Position
Recap of the Previous Lecture
- We looked at the origin of the Indian Peninsula and its division into physical categories.
- Three main categories: Himalayas, Northern Plains, and Peninsular Block.
- In the Himalayan section, after the breakup of Pangaea, the part of Gondwana land collides with the Eurasian plate, forming the Himalayas.
Formation of the Himalayas
- Parts include Trans Himalaya, Greater Himalaya, Middle Himalaya, and Shivalik.
- Himalayas formed from the uplift of marine sediments of the Tethys Sea.
Formation of the Northern Plains
- Formation of the foredeep region from the sediments of rivers emerging from the Himalayas and those from the Peninsular Block.
- Classification of Northern Plains: Bhabar, Terai, and Alluvial Plains.
- Bhabar: Area made of large stones, where rivers become invisible.
- Terai: Sandy and swampy area, water re-emerges.
Expansion of Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plains
- Main rivers: Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
- Delta formation: Sundarbans Delta is the largest in the world.
- Besides deltas, physical formations created by rivers such as sand bars, meanders, and oxbow lakes.
Expansion of the Peninsular Plate
- Ancient Peninsular Block: Aravalli, Vindhya, Satpura Range, and Western & Eastern Ghats.
- Classification: North Central Highlands, South Central Highlands, Eastern Plateau, Deccan Plateau.
- North Central Highlands: Aravalli, Baghelkhand,
- South Central Highlands: Vindhya, Malwa Plateau.
- Eastern Plateau: Chota Nagpur Plateau, Meghalaya Plateau.
- Deccan Plateau: Satpura Range, Maharashtra Range.
Other Aspects of Geography
- Parts along river banks, like ribben.
- Increasing climatic and geological changes.
Key Points
- History and development of different parts of the geographical structure.
- Importance of major rivers and their catchment areas.
- Geological features of Peninsular India.
- Ecological impact and variation of geographical features.
Next Session
- Detailed study of geomorphology along with Peninsular Plateau and Coastal areas.
These notes will be concise and useful for upcoming exams.