Physical Features of India

Physical Features of India

The Northern Plain

• The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely– the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. 
• This plain is formed of alluvial soil. Due to this, it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.
• In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands. Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
• The largest part of the northern plain is formed of older alluvium. They lie above the flood plains of the rivers and present a terrace like feature. This part is known as bhangar. The soil in this region contains calcareous deposits locally known as kankar. The newer, younger deposits of the flood plains are called khadar.

The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections:

a) Punjab Plains - Formed by the Indus and its tributaries, The Indus and its tributaries–the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj originate in the Himalaya. This section of the plain is dominated by the doabs.

b) The Ganga plain - Extends between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers.

c) Brahmaputra plain - Particularly in Assam. 

The Peninsular Plateau 

• Composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. It was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the Gondwana land and thus, making it a part of the oldest landmass. The plateau has broad and shallow valleys and rounded hills.
• This plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
• The eastward extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension, drained by the Damodar river.
• The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Satpura range flanks its broad base in the north while the Mahadev, the Kaimur hills and the Maikal range form its eastern extensions.

• Three Prominent hill ranges from the west to east are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills..
• The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively. 
• The Aravali Hills lie on the western and northwestern margins of the peninsular plateau. These are highly eroded hills and are found as broken hills. They extend from Gujarat to Delhi in a southwest-northeast direction.

The Indian Desert

• The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
• It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year. 
• It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear during the rainy season. 
• Luni is the only large river in this region.
• Barchans (crescent shaped dunes) cover larger areas but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan boundary.