Physiography of India - Part 5

PHYSIOGRAPHY OF INDIA - PART 5

REGION 3: KUMAON & HIMACHAL
•    Narrow Longitudinal Valleys called DUNES between Shiwaliks and Middle Himalayas, for example Dehradun, Kothridun (Kumaon Himalayas), Patlidun (All in Uttranchal)
•    Covers the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand
•    Highly Forested (HP-24%, Uttarakhand > 60%)
•    National Parks: Valley of Flowers, Jim Corbett, Nanda Devi (All in Uttranchal); Great Himalayan & Pin Valley (in HP)
•    Tribes: Gaddis (H.P.), Bhotias (Garhwal & Kumaon)
•    Peaks: Nanda Devi, Kamet.
•    Pilgrimage: Gangotari, Yamunotari, Badrinath, Kedarnath
•    Tourism: Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Dehra Dun, Mussorie, Nainital
•   HEPs: Naptha Jakri (Satluj in H.P.), Tehri (Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand), Thein (Ravi in H.P.)

REGION 4, 5, 16: EASTERN HIMALAYAS, PURVANCHAL, MEGHALAYA PLATEAU
•    Younger, bolder and steeper than Western Himalayas with abrupt rise
•    Protruding of hard peninsular rocks into Eurasian plate, therefore syntaxial (knee like) bending. Himalayas turn to north-south direction over here
•    Distinction between parallel ranges is lost here, therefore Narrower than Western
Himalayas
•    Important Ranges/ hills:-
1.    Dafla, Miri, Abor and Mishmi in E.Himalayas
2.    Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Barail, Rengma, Mikir in Purvanchal
3.    Garo, Khasi, Jaintia in Meghalya Plateau
•    Peaks – Kanchenjunga (8598m), Namcha Barwa (7756m)
•    Rivers: Dihang, Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Surma (All tributaries of Brahmputra)
•    Passes – Diphu Pass (Tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar), Bomdila, Nathu la, Jelepla
•    Lakes – Loktak ( Manipur with floating island)
•    HEP – Loktak Lake HEP
•    Mynsynram receives more than 1000 cm rainfall annually.
•    Highly Forested (Arunachal Pradesh > 94%)
•    National Parks: Namdapha, Keibul Lamjao, Dampa, Nokrek.
•    Agriculture: Jhum (Shifting) Cultivation, Rice in Surma Valley
•    Population density of Tripura > 300 persons/ sq. km because deltaic plains of Bangladesh extend here.
•    Tribes – Garo, Khasi & Jantia (Meghalaya); Kuki (Manipur), Nagas, Lushai (Mizoram); Chakmas (Tripura), Abors (A.P.); Lepchas (Sikkim)
•    Literacy – Low in Arunachal. High in Tripura and Mizoram

REGION 12 – ARAVALLI REGION/ HILLS
•    Fold mountain- Highly dissected, denuded, a Relic mountain. Av. Elevation 800-900 m
•    Senile stage of landform development. Older than Himalayas
•    Broader in south as compared to north.
•    Elevation goes on decreasing from south to north, quite pronounced in Udaipur. Gurusikar
(in south): highest peak near Mt. Abu.

•    Extends from Delhi Ridge to Ahmedabad from N-E direction to S-W direction.
•    North of Ajmer, divide into several parallel ranges separated by longitudinal valleys: Delhi ridge and Ambala ridge.
•    Acts as Gangetic water divide.
•    Nakki Lake: Mt. Abu – famous for tourism
•    Rivers: Luni and its small tributaries flow westward, and Banas and its feeders flow eastward
•    Aravallis are parallel to SW monsoon and fall in the zone of subsidence; therefore, scanty rainfall & low humidity. High seasonal variation in rainfall
•    Rain fall: Southern side faces more rainfall (broader)
•    Vegetation– southern side– moist and dry deciduous to dry deciduous and thorny in north. Western face fairly rainy and forested. North of Ajmer– devoid of forest cover

REGION 13: CENTRAL VINDHYAN UPLANDS
•    Location: Aravallis in west, Vindhayan Range in south & plains in north.
•    Vindhyan Range continues as Bhander and Kaimur hills in east. Forms watershed between Ganga system & Southern rivers
•    Malwa plateau rolls down to north & finally merges with Gangetic Plains. Highly dissected by river valleys of Tributaries of Chambal: Sind, Betwa & Ken, therefore forming Badlands
•    Majority of it lies in M.P.
•    Tribes: Bhils, Kol, Gond

REGION 14: KHANDESH & SATPURA – MAIKALA RANGE
•    Satpuras are Fold Mountains. Known by different names at different sections. From west to east, it names as Rajpipla, Gawligarh and Mahadeo Hills
•    Mahadeo Hills forms the highest portion. Dhupgarh Peak (1350m) near Panchmarhi
(hill station) in M.P. is highest peak of Satpuras. Tapi rises from here.
•    Maikala Range/ Amarkantak Plateau: Wet Forested Region is the source of many rivers
like Narmada, Son, Mahanadi, and Wainganga.
•    Rivers:
      o    Narmada & Tapi – west flowing
      o    Son – biggest Tributary of Ganga from south
      o    Wainganga – major tributary of Godavari
•    Highly forested area with national parks: Pench, Kanha, and Satpura.