GEOGRAPHY (PAR T-II)
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CONTENTS Sl. No.
TOPICS
Pg . No.
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
1.
Physiography Physiography of India................ India..................... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ......... .... 7
2.
Climate of India..... India ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 16
3.
Soils of India ........... ................ .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........ 19
4.
Natural Natural Vegetation Vegetation ........... ................. ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 22
5.
Flora and Fauna. .......... ................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 25
6.
Agriculture Agriculture ........... ................. ........... ........... ............ ............ ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........ 29
7.
Irrigation Irrigation...... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ............ ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ .......... .... 35
8.
Animal Husbandry Husbandry & Fisheries Fisheries .......... ................ ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ....... 39
9.
Minerals Minerals in India ........... ................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... .... 44
10.
Industries Industries in India India...... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ....... .. 48
11.
Energy Resources ........... ................ ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........ ... 57
12.
Transport Transport & Communication Communication..... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... .......... .... 63 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
13. 13.
Asia Asia .......................................................... ......................................................................................................... ............................................... 69
14. 14.
Afri Africa ca ........................................................ ...................................................................................................... .............................................. 77
15. 15.
Europ Europe e ................................................................ .................................................................................................... .................................... 81
16. 16.
Aust Austra rali lia a ............................................................. ................................................................................................. .................................... 90
17. 17.
Angl Angloo-Am Amer eric ica. a. ............................................................ ...................................................................................... .......................... 94
18. 18.
South South Amer America ica ............................................................. ..................................................................................... ........................ 100 100
19. 19.
Middle Middle Amer America ica............................................................. ................................................................................... ...................... 103 103
20. 20.
Antarct Antarctica ica or 'Terra 'Terra Australi Australis s ............................................................ .............................................................. 106 106
21. 21.
Misce Miscella llane neous....................................................................................... ous....................................................................................... 108 108
22. 22.
World World Facts. Facts. ....................................................... ......................................................................................... .................................. 112 112
CONTENTS Sl. No.
TOPICS
Pg . No.
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
1.
Physiography Physiography of India................ India..................... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ......... .... 7
2.
Climate of India..... India ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 16
3.
Soils of India ........... ................ .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........ 19
4.
Natural Natural Vegetation Vegetation ........... ................. ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 22
5.
Flora and Fauna. .......... ................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ..... 25
6.
Agriculture Agriculture ........... ................. ........... ........... ............ ............ ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........ 29
7.
Irrigation Irrigation...... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ............ ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ .......... .... 35
8.
Animal Husbandry Husbandry & Fisheries Fisheries .......... ................ ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ....... 39
9.
Minerals Minerals in India ........... ................ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... .......... .... 44
10.
Industries Industries in India India...... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ....... .. 48
11.
Energy Resources ........... ................ ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........ ... 57
12.
Transport Transport & Communication Communication..... ........... ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... ............ ........... ........... .......... .... 63 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
13. 13.
Asia Asia .......................................................... ......................................................................................................... ............................................... 69
14. 14.
Afri Africa ca ........................................................ ...................................................................................................... .............................................. 77
15. 15.
Europ Europe e ................................................................ .................................................................................................... .................................... 81
16. 16.
Aust Austra rali lia a ............................................................. ................................................................................................. .................................... 90
17. 17.
Angl Angloo-Am Amer eric ica. a. ............................................................ ...................................................................................... .......................... 94
18. 18.
South South Amer America ica ............................................................. ..................................................................................... ........................ 100 100
19. 19.
Middle Middle Amer America ica............................................................. ................................................................................... ...................... 103 103
20. 20.
Antarct Antarctica ica or 'Terra 'Terra Australi Australis s ............................................................ .............................................................. 106 106
21. 21.
Misce Miscella llane neous....................................................................................... ous....................................................................................... 108 108
22. 22.
World World Facts. Facts. ....................................................... ......................................................................................... .................................. 112 112
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
PHY SIOGRAPHY SIOGRAPHY
CHRONICLE
OF INDIA
IAS ACADEMY A CIVIL SERVICES CHRONICLE INITIATIVE
India is the seventh largest and second most Northern Mountains populous country in the world. Its area is 2.4% of the total world area but about 16% of the entire The mountain ranges and plateaus of the human races reside in its fold. In population, only north Kashmir, the Himalayas and the hill ranges the mainland china exceeds that of India. of Nagaland, East Assam, Manipur and Mizoram India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and from a conspicuous mountain system bordering Bhutan form the well-defined realm of south Asia the country in the North. often referred to as the Indian sub-continent. HIMALAYAS Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere (i) The Greater Himalayas/Himadri/ Inner (tropical zone), the Indian mainland extends Himalayas: They comprise the northern most between the latitude - 8°4' N to 37 °6’N and ranges having an average height of 6000 m with longitude - 68°7' E to 97°25’E. The southernmost breadth ranging from 120 to 190 km. Conforming point in the Indian territory, the Indira Point, is the syntaxial bend to the underlying rocks, it is situated at 6 °30' north in the Andaman and an asymmetrical mountain throwing very few Nicobar islands. The tropic of cancer passes spurs southward. through the centre of India. Important peaks of this system include Mt. India covers an area of 3,287 sq. Km. and Everest (8,848 m) at Kathmandu in Nepal, measures about 3,214 km. from north to south and Kanchanjunga (8,598 m), Dhaulagiri (8,172 m) about 2,933 Km east to west. The total length of Nanda Devi (7,817m) Nanga Parbat (8,126m). the mainland coastland is nearly 6,200 km and Important passes are Bara Lacha La and Shipki La (in Himachal Pradesh), Thaga La Niti Pass and land frontier about 15,200 km. Lipulekh (Uttarakhand); Nathu La and Jelep La, The boundary line between India and China (Sikkim); and Burzil pass and Zojila pass is called the McMahon line. To the north-west, (Kashmir). India, shares a boundary mainly with Pakistan (ii) The Lesser/ Middle Himalayas: They and to the east with Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Indian Ocean lies in the south. In the south, have an average height of about 3,500 to 5,000 on the eastern side, the Gulf of Mannar and the metres and average width of 60 to 80 km. It Palk Strait separate India from Sri Lanka. The extends in the North of Siwalik range. Important Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of ranges include the Dhauladhar, the Pir Panjal and Bengal and the Lakshadweep islands in the the Musoorie range. Hills and resorts are Shimla, Musoorie, Nainital, Almora, Darjeeling etc. Arabian Sea are parts of the Indian territory. (iii) The Outer Himalayas/Shiwaliks: They India’s relief is marked by a great variety. are the foothills running parallel to the India can be divided into five major Himalayas. Average height is 1,000 to 1,500 physiographic units: metres. It is a chain of low-lying hills formed through fluvial deposits like sand, clay and 1. The Northern Mountains pebbles. Dehradun valley; Udhampur and Kotli 2. The Great Northern Plains valleys have developed into good human 3. The Peninsular Plateau. settlements. 4. The Coastal Plains
Siwalik or Outer Himalayas is a hogback structure formed of river born deposits in the
latest phase of Himalayas uplift in Middle Miocene to lower Pleistocene age. It descends northwards to flat-floored structured valleys called “Duns”. It is covered with thick tropical wet deciduous forests in the east. TRANS-HIMALAYAS
They comprise Karakoram and the Kailash mountain systems. Mt. K 2 (Godwin Austin 8,611m) which is now in Pakistan occupied Kashmir is located in the Karakoram. Another important peak is Hidden Peak (8,068m). The Siachen glacier (72km) - largest in India is situated in Nubra valley in this region. Other glaciers are Baltoro (60 km), Biafo (60 km) and Hispar (62 km). PURVANCHAL OR EASTERN HILLS
After crossing the Dihang gorge in the east, the Himalayas bend towards South forming a series of hills with a north-south direction, convex side facing the west. These hills are made up of sedimentary rocks and are highly dissected. Their heights vary from 500m to 3,000m. The ‘Patkai Bum’ forms the boundary between India (Arunachal Pradesh) and Burma. Further South is the Naga Hills, boundary between Nagaland and which forms Burma. Saramati (3,826m) is the highest peak. Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mikir, Dapha, Mini and Abor are other important hills of the north-eastern region. Mawsynram with maximum rainfall in the world is located on the Khasi hills in Meghalaya. REGIONAL DIVISIONS OF HIMALAYA
Region wise, the Himalayas are divided into; (a) The Kashmir Himalayas (b) The Punjab Himalayas (c) The Kumaon Himalayas (d) The Central Himalayas (e) The Eastern Himalayas The Kashmir Himalayas cover an area of 3, 50,000 sq. km. Main subdivisions are Karakoram range in north, Ladakh plateau, the Valley of Kashmir and the Pir Panjal range. Banihal is an important pass. The Punjab Himalay as have important passes like Zojila, Rohtang and Bara Lacha La. Kangra, Lahul and Spiti Valleys are known for their scenic beauty.
The Kumaon Himalay as have important peaks like Nanda Devi; Badrinath Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri are located here. The Central Himalayas extend from river Kali to river Tista. Important peaks are Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Mt. Everest and Kanchanjunga. This range is known as the Sikkim Himalaya in Sikkim; Darjeeling Himalaya in West Bengal, and Bhutan Himalaya in Bhutan. Indian Glaciers Jammu and Kashmir Siachen Glacier Nubra Chong Kumdan Himachal Pradesh Bara Shigri Chandra Chandra Nahan Bhaga Mukkila Sonapani
Gora
Sikkim Zemu Glacier Uttarakhand Gangotri Milam Namik Sona Assam & Nepal
Perad
Rathong
Parbati and Dudhon
Drang Drung Bhadal the ady of eylong Beas Kund
Lonak
Kalabaland
Meola
PanchchuliPindari Ralam Kafni Sunderdhunga Chemayungdung Khumbu (l00 km)
Passes
Niti Pass Dharma Pass Thal Ghat Pass Bhorghat Pass Nanaghat Pass Palghat
... ... ... ... ... ...
Pir Panjal Banihal
... ...
Bolan
...
Khyber Gomal Mala Nathu La Jelep La
... ... ... ...
Zaskar Range Zaskar Range Sahyadri Sahyadri Sahyadri Between Nilgiris & Annamalai Pir Panjal Range Main gateway to the valley of Kashmir from the plains of India Between Kirthar and Sulaiman Range North of Sulaiman Range North of Kirthar Zaskar Range Sikkim Himalaya Sikkim Himalaya
its boundary in the north-west, Rajmahal Hills in the north and north-east. South of about 22 0N latitude, the Sahyadris (Western Ghats) and the The great plains are an aggradational surface Eastern Ghats form the western and eastern of great extent formed after the Himalayas. These boundaries respectively. are formed by the Indus, the Ganga and On the basis of variation in relief, further Brahmaputra rivers. The Great Plains stretch in the east-west direction between the Himalayas divisions of the Peninsular Plateau may be made in the north and the peninsular plateau in the as follows: south. Width varies from 500 km in Punjab(a) The Aravalli Range: It is one of the oldest Rajasthan to 200 km. in Bihar. It covers an area of fold mountains of the world. The highest peak is over 7 lakh sq. km. Important characteristics Gurushikhar (1,722m) in Mount Abu Hills. The include - Bhabar (unsorted sediments), Terai Delhi Ridge marks the northern end of the range. (Marshy tract) Bhangar (older alluvium) and Khadar (newer alluvium) (b) The Central Plateau: It consists of Plateau of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Average The Great Northern plains consist of the height is 250-300m. The Malwa Plateau in following regions: Madhya Pradesh lies in the north of Vindhyas. (a) The Punjab-Haryana Plains: They are The Plateau is largely broken. The Chambal drained by the tributaries of river Indus, Ravi, ravine is an important feature. The area between Beas and Satluj. These plains are flat with an the Yamuna and Vindhyan Plateau is called average elevation of 200 to 240 metres. These Bundelkhand Plateau. It lies in the east of Maikal fertile plains include the Bari Doab (between Ravi ranges and south of river Son. Important rivers and Beas rivers) and Bist Doab (between Beas and of the region are the Rihand and Son. Satluj) (c) The Vindhya Range: It is an escarpment (b) The Rajasthan Plains: They cover an area running in east-west direction. Kaimur Hills form of 1.75 lakh sq. km. in Rajasthan and its adjoining its eastern portion. states. It includes the Marusthali of Thar desert (d) The Satpura Range: It lies between and bagar tract west of the Aravallis. The region Narmada and Tapti (Tapi) valleys latitudinally. is one of the dry river beds (Saraswati) and The plateau is formed of lava. The highest point shifting sand dunes. River Luni is an inland of Satpura range is Dhupgarh in Panchmarhi drainage river. Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana (1,350m). The eastern part of the range is Maikal and Pachbhadra are the salt lakes of this region. Plateau. (c) The Ganga Plains : The Ganga plains of (e) The Eastern Plateau and the Chhotanagpur U.P., Bihar and West Bengal occupy an area of 3.57 lakh sq. km. Important rivers of this region Plateau: East of the Maikal Hills lies the are the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Gandak, the Son Baghelkhand Plateau. South of the Baghelkhand and the Kosi. The Bengal basin is mainly is Chhattisgarh Basin. Further south is Bastar Plateau or Dandakaranya. composed of the Ganga delta. The Chotanagpur Plateau lies in the east of (d)The Brahmaputra Plains: It contains alluvial deposits of the Brahmaputra and its Baghelkhand Plateau. It has an average height of tributaries the Subansiri, Dibang and the Lohit. 700m. It has a radial drainage. The Damodar river It is a flood prone area because the slope of the originates near Tori in Palamau. Damodar valley valley is too gentle to drain away the large volume project is located here. The Chotanagpur Plateau ends in Rajmahal Hills. of rainfall in monsoon season.
Great Northern Plains
Peninsular Plateau The Peninsular plateau, which covers an area of about 16 lakh sq. km., is the largest physiographic division of the country. It has
(f) The Kathiawar and Kutch Peninsula: They have an Archaean structure but are surfaced by tertiary rocks. It tapers into the Arabian Sea. (g) The Deccan Plateau: It is located within the Satpura-Mahadeo-Maikal ranges in the north, the Eastern Ghats in the East and the Western
