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Class: IX (A & B) Year: 2016-17
Subject: Geography
NAME: ___________________________________
Topic: Physiographic divisions of India
Worksheet – 2
Date: __________________
Q A. Answer the following questions either in one word or in one sentence.
1. What is Gondwana land?
Ans. The Gondwana land is the southern part of the super continent Pangea and included
Peninsular India, Australia, South Africa, South America and Antarctica.
2. What is Pangea?
Ans. Pangea was the super continent, existing before the various continents were formed due
to the movements of tectonic plates. It has northern Angara land and southern Godwana Land.
3. What is Angara Land?
Ans. Angara land is the northern part of the super continent Pangea and has much larger
Eurasian plate and North American plate.
4. Name the young mountains found in India.
Ans. The Himalayas.
5. Name the old or ancient mountains found in India.
Ans. Aravalli hills.
6. Name the ancient / oldest landmass found in India.
Ans. Peninsular Plateau.
7. Name the recent landforms formed in India.
Ans. The Himalayas and the Northern Plains.
8. What type of rocks are found in the Peninsular Plateau?
Ans. The igneous and metamorphic rocks.
9. Name the continuous range of Himalayas.
Ans. The Himadri, also known as the Great or the Inner Himalayas.
10.Name a few glaciers located in the Great Himalayas.
Ans. The Siachen, the Gangotri and theYamunotri .
11.Name the highest Himalayan peak in India.
Ans. The Kanchenjunga in Sikkim. Some others are Nanga Parbat in Jammu & Kashmir
, Nanda Devi in Uttaranchal, Kamet in Uttaranchaland Namcha Barwa .
12. Name the highest peak of Himalayas.
Ans. The highest Himalayan peak is Mt. Everest which is in Nepal. Some other peaks in
Nepal are Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Gurla Mandhata.
13.Name the most rugged mountain range of India.
Ans. The Himachal or the Lesser Himalayas.
14.Name the Himalayan range famous for hill stations and valleys.
Ans. The Himachal or lesser Himalayas has the Kashmir valley, the Kangra valley and the
Kullu valley and the hill stations as Shimla, Manali, Dharmshala, Nainital, Musoorie,
Ranikhet etc.
15.Name the important ranges of the Great Himalayas or the Himadri.
Ans. The Ladhakh, Kailas and the Zaskar Range.
16. Name the important ranges of the lesser Himalayas or the Himachal.
Ans. The Pir Panjal range, the Dhaula Dhar and the Mahbharat Range.
17.Name the outer most range of Himalayas.
Ans. The Shiwaliks.
18.Name the Himalayan range covered with gravel and alluvium.
Ans. The Shiwaliks.
19.Name the Himalayan range having Duns.
Ans. The Shiwaliks.
20.What are duns?
Ans. The longitudinal valley lying between the Lesser Himalayas ( Himachal) and the
Shiwaliks are known as duns. Eg. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, Patli Dun.
21.How are the Himalayas formed? / Why Himalayas are called the young fold mountains?
Ans.
1. The Himalayas are formed due to the movements of plate tectonics.
2. A large part of the oldest landmass, the Gondwana land, drifted northwards towards the
Eurasian plate.
3. This large part called the Indo-Australian plate collided with the Eurasian plate.
4. Due to the collision the sedimentary rocks which were accumulated in the Tethys Sea,
folded to become the mountain system of Himalayas.
5. As compared to the world geography, Himalayas are called the young fold mountains
as they have been formed recently.
6. We can say such because Himalayas have recent topography like high peaks, deep
valleys and fast flowing rivers.
22.Write the characteristics of Himalayas.
Ans.
1. The Himalayan Mountains are the youngest mountains in the world.
2. They have recent topography (geography) : high peaks, deep valleys and fast flowing
rivers.
3. They are the Fold Mountains.
4. They run along the northern border of India.
5. They are in an arc shape.
6. They are 2400mts long.
7. Their width is 400 km in Kashmir and 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.
8. They are the highest and the most rugged mountain in the world.
9. The altitudinal variation is greater in the eastern part than in the western part.
23.Name the longitudinal divisions of Himalayas.
Ans. 1.The Greater Himalayas ( Himadri or the Inner Himalayas)
2. The Lesser Himalayas ( Himachal)
3. The Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks)
24.Name the regional divisions of Himalayas.
Ans. 1. Punjab Himalayas – between Indus and Satluj rivers ( Punjab Himalayas is also
divided into Kashmir Himalayas and Himachal Himalayas.
2. Kumaon Himalayas – between Satluj and Kali rivers.
3. Nepal Himalayas – between Kali and Tista rivers.
4. Assam Himalayas – between Tista and Dihang rivers.
5. Purvachal or Eastern hills – beyond Dihang George and bordered by Bhrahmaputra
river.
25.Explain the longitudinal divisions of Himalayas.
Ans. The longitudinal divisions of Himalayas are :
1. The Greater Himalayas ( Himadri or the Inner Himalayas)
a. It is the most continuous range.
b. It contains all prominent Himalayan peaks as Kanchanjunga, Everest Nanda Devi etc.
c. It has an average height of 6000 mts.
d. It’s important ranges – Zaskar, Kailas and Ladakh
e. The range is perennially snow covered.
f. It has igneous and metamorphic rocks.
2. The Lesser Himalayas ( Himachal)
a. It is the most rugged (uneven) mountain range.
b. The range has highly compressed or altered rocks.
c. It has an average height of 3700-4500 mts.
d. It has many hill stations like Mussoorie, Shimla, Manali, Ranikhet and Nainital.
e. It also has valleys like the Kashmir, the Kangra and the Kullu.
f. It’s important ranges - Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar and the Mahabharat.
g. The range is covered with snoe ony in winter.
h. It has sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
3. The Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks)
a. These are composed of unconsolidated (split up) sediments of the Himalayan rivers.
b. It has an average height of 900-1100 mts.
c. It has longitudinal valleys between the Himachal and the Shiwaliks known as dunes.
d. These valleys are covered with thick gravel and alluvium.
e. Examples of such dunes : Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun.
26.Name the important hills of Purvachal.
Ans. The Purvachal has – Patkai hills in Arunachal Pradesh,
- Naga hills in Nagaland,
- Manipur hills in Manipur,
- Mizo hills in Mizorum and
27.Write a short note on Purvachal.
Ans.
1. The mountains beyond the Dihang George and bordered by Bhrahmaputra River are called
the Purvachal.
2. They are medium in height.
3. They are composed of sediments and sandstone.
4. They are covered with dense forests.
5. They have :
a. Patkai Bum and the Naga hills in north
b. The Mizo hills in the south
c. The Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia hills from west to east.
28. Name the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
Ans. Majauli in the Bhrahmaputra river.
29.What is a doab?
Ans. The land between two rivers is known as doab. It is predominant in between the various
tributaries of Indus – the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj.
30.What is a tributary?
Ans. A tributary is a small river joining a bigger river. Eg. Indus and its 5 tributaries.
Ganga and its tributatries : Yamuna, Son, Ghaghra, Gandak etc.
31. What are distributaries?
Ans. A river in its lower course splits into various channels due to deposition of silts. These
channels are called distributaries.
Eg. Ganga and its distributaries: Hoogly in West Bengal,
Padma in Bangla Desh
etc._____________________________
32.Name the various divisions of the Northern Plains on the basis of the location.
Ans. The Northern Plains has been divided into three divisions :
1. The Indus plain or the Punjab plain drained by the Indus and its tributatries. Has Punjab
and major part is in Pakistan.
2. The Ganga Plain – land between the Ghaggar and the Teesta rivers and drained by the
Ganga and the tributaries as well as the distributaries of Ganga. Has Uttarakhand,
Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
3. The Brahmaputra plain – drained by Brahmapura river and in India is mainly in Assam.
33.Where is Dhudhwa National Park?
Ans. In terai region of the Northern Plains.
34.Name the regions of the Northern plains based on the relief features?
Ans. On the basis of the relief features, the Northern Plains are divided into four belts:
1. Bhabar : a. The 8-16 km wide narrow belt of pebbles lying parallel to the slopes of the
Shiwaliks is called bhabar belt.
b. It is less fertile.
c. All the rivers disappear in this region.
2. Terai :
a. The belt next to bhabar is wet, swampy and marshy and is called terai belt.
b. The rivers reappear in this region.
c. Earlier it was a dense forested area, known for its wild life.
d. The area had been cleared to rehabilitate the refugees from Pakistan.
e. Dhudhwa National Park is in this region.
3. Bhangar : a. The part of the Northern Plain, lying above the flood plains of rivers and
forms a terrace like feature is called the bhangar belt.
b. It forms the largest part of the Northern Plains.
c. It is formed of older alluvium.
d. The soil contains calcareous deposits called kankar.
4. Khadar : a. The last belt of the Northern Plain which is made of the younger deposits of
the flood plain is called the khadar belt.
b. It is formed of younger alluvium.
c. It is renewed every year.
d. It is very fertile and suitable for intensive agriculture.
35.What is the Peninsular Plateau made of?
Ans. The Peninsular Plateau is made of old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
36.How was the Peninsular Plateau formed?
Ans. The Peninsular Plateau was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana
land.
37.Name the divisions of the Peninsular Plateau.
Ans. The Peninsular Plateau is divided into 2 parts : the Central Highlands and the Deccan
Plateau.
38.Write a short note on the Central Highlands.
Ans. 1. The Central Highlands is a part of the Peninsular Plateau that lies to the north of
river Narmada.
2. It covers a large part of the Malwa Plateau.
3. It is bounded by Aravali on the north and Vindyan range on the south.
4. It is wider in the west and narrower in the east.
5. The rivers flowing in the region are the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken.
6. The eastward extension is known as Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand plateau.
7. It extends eastward further and the part is known as the Plateau of Chotta Nagpur.
8. Damodar River flows in the plateau of Chotta Nagpur.
9. The Plateau of Chotta Nagpur is rich in the mineral resources and consists of states
of Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha.
39.Write a short note on the Deccan Plateau.
Ans. 1. The Deccan Plateau is a part of the Peninsular Plateau that lies to the south of the
Narmada River.
2. It is triangular in shape.
3. It is higher towards west while lower towards east.
4. It has Satpura range to its north, while the Mahadev hills, the Kaimur hills and the
Maikal range to its eastern side.
5. It has an extension in the northeast and is known as Meghalaya, Karbi0-Anglong
Plateau and Chachar hills.
6. The important ranges in the northeast are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia hills.
7. The Western and the Eastern Ghats lie to the western and eastern edges of the
Deccan Plateau.
40.Write a comparative study of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
Ans.
Western Ghats
Eastern Ghats
1. They are at the western edge of the
They are at the eastern edge of the
Deccan Plateau.
Deccan Plateau.
2. The average height is 900-1600 mts.
The average height is 600 mts.
3. They are continuous in nature and
They are discontinuous in nature and are
can be crossed through passes only
dissected by many rivers such as Krishna,
e.g. Thai, Bhor and Pal Ghats.
Godavari, Mahanadi and Kaveri.
4. The highest peak is Anai Mudi.
The highest peak is Mahendragiri.
5. Is divided into Sahyadri in north
It is divided into Nallamala hills in north
and Nilgiri, Anaimalai and Cardamom
and Palkonda range and Javada Hills in
hills in south.
South.
6. It receives more rainfall.
It receives less rainfall.
7. Many peninsular rivers arise from
No rivers arise from here.
western ghats.
8. It has evergreen to deciduous forests.
It has scrub vegetation due to overgrazing
and deforestation.
41.Explain the characteristics of the Indian Desert.
Ans. 1. It lies towards the western margins of the Aravali hills.
2. It is an undulating (rising and falling) sandy plain having sand dunes.
3. The region receives very low rainfall ( less than 150 mm / year)
4. It has arid (dry) climate with very little of vegetation.
5. Streams appear only during the rainy season.
6. Luni is the only river in the region.
7. Barchans ( crescent shaped sand dunes) are seen near Jaisalmer.
8. Longitudinal sand dunes are seen near the Indo-Pak border.
42. Differentiate the Western Coastal plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains.
Ans.
Western Coastal plains
Eastern Coastal Plains
1. These lie between the Western Ghats
These lie between the Eastern Ghats
and the Arabian Sea.
and the Bay of Bengal.
2. It consists of three regions:
It consists of two regions:
*Konkan Plain (Maharashtra-Goa),
* the Northern Circar (West Bengal, Odisha
*Kannad Plain (central stretch –Karnataka)
and certain part of Andhra Pradesh)
*Malabar Plain (Kerala)
* the Coromondal Coast (certain part of
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu)
3. It is narrower.
It is broader.
4. It has many estuaries in north and has
Many deltas are formed here and has
lagoons in Kerala only
the largest salt water lake – Lake Chilka
in Odisha.
5. It has many good harbours as the coast
it has smooth coast and is therefore
is rocky and broken.
unfit for making ports.
6. Major Crop – Spices.
Major Crop – Rice.
7. It consists of the western border of
It consists of the eastern border of
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka
West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and
and Kerala.
Tamil Nadu.
8. It is not fertile except the Malabar Coast.
It is very fertile due to alluvial deposits
of rivers.
9. Major ports- Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagoa,
Major ports- Haldia, Paradeep, Chennai,
Mangalore & Kochi.
Tuticorin & Vishakhapatnam.
43.Differentiate the Andaman & Nicobar and the Lakshadweep islands.
Ans. Lakshadweep islands
Andaman & Nicobar islands
1. Lies in the Arabian Sea.
Lies in the Bay of Bengal.
2. They are in the south-west direction to India.
They are in the south-east direction to
India.
3. They are smaller in size.
They are bigger in size.
4. They are coral in nature.
They are believed to be the elevated
portion of submerged mountains.
5. Kavaratti is the administrative headquarters
Port Blair is the administrative headquarters
6. Pitti island ( has bird sanctuary) is
Barren island (active volcano) is
uninhabited.
uninhabited.
7. Earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy and It has two major groups – Andaman &
Amindive.
Nicobar.
44.What are corals? Explain with examples.
Ans. 1. Coral polyps are the short-lived microscopic organisms.
2. They grow in shallow, mud-free and warm water.
3. They secrete calcium carbonate that forms their outer skeleton.
4. This secretion forms coral deposits in the form of reefs.
5. The reefs are of 3 types; barrier reef, fringed reef and atolls.
Ex. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia, the fringed reef of Lakshadweep islands and
atolls are circular or horse-shaped reefs.
45.Explain the theory of Plate Tectonics.
Ans. According to this theory the earth’s crust earlier was a super continent called Pangea.
It gradually divided into seven major and several minor plates due to the internal and external
forces.
These plates keep on moving very slowly and cause the folding or faulting of land and
volcanic activity.
The movements of the plate can be of three types :
Convergent Boundary: Plates come towards each other. ( also called folding movement)
Divergent Boundary: Plates move away from each other. ( also called faulting movement)
Transform Boundary: While coming together, plates may collide or slide under each other.
46.Differentiate the Convergent Plates and Divergent Plates. / Distinguish between the
Converging and Diverging tectonic plates.
Ans.
Convergent Plates
Divergent Plates
1. Plates move closer to each other.
Plates move away from each other.
2. Plates may collide or slide under
Plates may drift away from each other
each other.
creating a gap.
3.May results into activities like earthquake. May results into activities like volcano.
4. eg. Formation of Himalayas
eg. Formation of Great Atlantic Drift
47.Distinguish between Bhabar and Terai.
Ans.
Bhabar
1. Lies south to the Shiwaliks.
2. The belt has pebbles or kankar.
3. The rivers or streams disappear here.
4. The vegetation is very less.
5. The area has less population.
48.Distinguish between Bhangar and Khadar.
Ans.
Bhangar
1. Lies south to the Terai belt.
Terai
Lies south to the Bhabar belt.
The belt has wet, swampy & marshy region.
The rivers or streams reappear here.
The vegetation is dense and vivid wild
life is found.
The forest area has been cleared to
rehabilitate the refugees from Pakistan.
Khadar
Lies south to the Khadar belt.
2. Presents a terrace like feature and has kankar.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The belt has older alluvium.
Lies above the flood plains of rivers.
It is less fertile.
Not suitable for the agriculture.
Formed due to the deposition of fine
sediments.
The belt has younger alluvium.
It is renewed every year.
It is more fertile.
Suitable for the agriculture.
49.Distinguish between the Himalayan region and the Peninsular region.
Ans.
Himalayan region
Peninsular region
1. Has the highest mountain system.
Is the oldest landmass of India.
2. Is the young fold mountains of mainly
Has the old igneous and metamorphic
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
rocks.
3. The mountain peaks here are pointed .
The mountain peaks here are rounded due
to erosion.
4. The region has a little of mineral resources.
The region is the store house of minerals.
5. Rivers are perennial.
The rivers are seasonal and rain fed.
6. There are many hill stations – Shimla,
There are a few hill stations – Ooty and
Mussoorie, Manali, Ranikhet, Nainital etc.
Kodaikanal.
7. Major rivers : Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra
Major rivers : Narmada, Tapi, Krishna,
and their tributaries and distributaries
Kaveri and Godavari
50.Distinguish between the Himalayan peaks and the Peninsular peaks.
Ans.
Himalayan peaks
Peninsular peaks
1. Located in the Himalayan region.
Located in the Peninsular region.
2. Maximum height – 8000mts
Maximum height – 3000mts
Average height – 6000mts.
3. Always snow covered.
Never covered with snow.
4. Pointed peaks due to recent formation.
Rounded peaks due to erosion, being
older.
5. Major mountain peaks are :
Major mountain peaks are :
Kanchenjunga, Everest, Nanda Devi,
Anai Mudi, Doda Beta, Mahendragiri,
Naga Parbat, Kamet etc.
Malaygiri etc.
6. The highest peak : Mt. Everest
The highest peak : Anai Mudi
51.The land of India has a varied physical contrast. Write a short note explaining the
statement with examples. / India is a country with major physiographic divisions and
unity in diversity. Explain. / “The land of India displays great physical variations.”
Justify the statement.
Ans. The land of India displays great physical variations as :
1. The Peninsular Plateau is one of the ancient landmasses on the earth while Himalayas and
the Northern Plains are the most recent ones.
2. The Himalayan Mountains form an unstable zone and is earthquake prone while the
Peninsular Plateau is the most stable zone.
3. The Himalayas has young topography with high peaks, deep valleys and fast flowing
rivers while the Plateau has rounded hills and broad valleys.
4. The Himalayas has sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
5. The Northern Plains are formed of alluvial deposits.
6. The Peninsular Plateau has igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Thus, it has been rightly said that the landmass of India has a great contrast from north to
south. Also, India is not only diverse in the landforms but it has a variety of people,
numerous languages, multiple customs and traditions and several religions and cases.
Despite of such variations, still it is one country and stands for unity in diversity.
52.“Each physiographic region of India complements the other and makes the country
richer in its natural resources.” Justify this statement with five examples. / How are the
physiographic divisions of India complementary to each other? / “The diverse physical
features of India are of universe value.” Justify the statement by giving the suitable
examples.
Ans.
1. All the major physiographic divisions of India are complementary to each other. They are
even interdependent.
2. The Northern Mountains are the major source of the water and forest wealth.
3. The Northern Plains are the granaries of the country. They provide the base of the early
civilization.
4. The Plateau is the store house of the minerals. The minerals are necessary for the
industrialization.
5. The Coastal region and the islands provide sites for fishing and the port activities.
6. The Desert area is the store house of solar and wind energy
7. Thus, they all present the immense possibility of the development. It is a fact that no part of
our country would be able to grow to its maximum without the support of the other.