RBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Physical Features of India

These comprehensive RBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Physical Features of India will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 9 Social Science Notes Geography Chapter 2 Physical Features of India

→ Every type of landfonns are found in our country; e.g.- mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus and islands, etc.

→ India is a vast landmass. It has been constructed during various geological periods which have affected its elevations.

→ Plate tectonic theory is the accepted principle of the construction of physical shapes.

→ The major geographical features or geographical divisions of India are as follows:
(i) The Himalayan mountain range: It is located in the northern part of India. It is the highest mountain range in the world.
(a) The chain located in the northern-most part is called the Great or Inner Himalayas or the Himadri.
(b) The range lying to the south of the Himadri is known as Himachal or lesser Himalaya.
(c) The outer-most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks.

(ii) The Northern Plain: The northern plain of India has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely - the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sq.km, and is a densely populated physiographic division. This plain is formed of alluvial soil and it is agriculturally a very productive part of India.

(iii) The Peninsular Plateau: It is situated to the south of the plain of North. The Peninsular plateau is a tableland composed of the old crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. This plateau consists of two broad divisions:
(a) The Central Highlands: The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river, covering a major area of the Malwa plateau, is known as the Central Highlands.
(b) The Deccan Plateau: The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats mark the western and the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau respectively.

(iv) The Indian Desert: The Indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills. It is called the Thar Desert’. It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dimes. This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year. Luni is the only large river in this region. 

(v) The Coastal Plains: The Peninsular plateau is flanked by stretch of narrow coastal strips, known as the Coastal Plains. They can be divided into two parts:
(a) Western Coastal Plains: It is running along the Arabian Sea on the west
and the Bay of Bengal on the east. The northern part of the western coastal plains is called the Konkan (Mumbai - Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain, while the southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast,
(b) Eastern Coastal Plains: The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.

(vi) The Islands: Apart from the mainland of India, there are two islands. They are:
(a) The Lakshadweep Islands and
(b) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Lakshadweep Islands group lies close to the Malabar coast of Kerala whereas Andaman and Nicobar islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.

→ Rivers Island: Majuli Island, located in the Brahmaputra River, is the largest river island in the world. People live here. All the above mentioned geographical departments of India are complementary to each other and they make the country rich in natural resources.