Question

Short note on northern plain

Answer 1

One of the most important physical divisions of India is the northern plain:

i. The Himalayan and the Peninsular Rivers have made up this vast undulating plain by depositing alluvial soil.

ii. This plain is the result of the interplay of three major river systems. They are the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmputra and their tributaries.

iii. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basin lying at the foot hills of the Himalayas over millions of years formed the most fertile plain in the world.

iv. It is spread over an area of 7 lakh s km. The plain is about 2400 km. long and 240 to 320 km. wide. It is the most densely populated physiographic division.

v. With a rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate it is agriculturally the most productive part of the country.

vi. This plain has been the centre of human settlements from ancient times.

vii. Numerous large cities have evolved on the banks of the rivers.

Answer 2

(a) The northern plains have been formed from the alluvium deposited by the mountain rivers.
(b) They are located between the Himalayan Rivers in the north and the Peninsular Plateau in the south.
(c) They turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops. This led to the development of the Indus river valley civilization.
(d) They are made up of deposits of alluvium and cover an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
(e) They are densely populated physiographic division of India and are believed to be highly productive in terms of agriculture.
(f) The North Indian plains have the Indus river system in the West and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system in the East.
(g) The first includes : Jhelum, Chenab, Rabi, Beas, Satluj. The Indus flows into the Arabian Sea.
The second includes Ganga, Brahamaputra which combines with Meghna at the point when it drains into the Bay of Bengal. They form the world's largest and fastest growing delta.
On the basis of difference of relief, they are divided into four parts—Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar. Indian Desert :
(a) They lie towards the western margins of the Aravalli Hills.
(b) It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
(c) This region receives very low rainfall below 150 mm per year.
(d) It has arid climate with low vegetation cover.
(e) Streams appear during the rainy season.
(f) Luni is the only river in this region.
(g) The Barchans cover larger areas but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo­Pakistan border.