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The Indo-Gangetic Plain, also known as the North Indian River Plain, is a fertile plain that runs through much of northern and eastern India, Pakistan, and Nepal’s southern lowlands. The region is named for the rivers Indus and Ganges and contains several important cities. In the north, the Himalayas, which feed the plain’s numerous rivers and provide the fertile alluvium deposited throughout the country by the two river systems, surround it.
Indo–Gangetic–Brahmaputra Plain Formation
The creation of the Indo-Gangetic plain is linked to that of the Himalayas.
A massive amount of silt was deposited in the Tethys Geosyncline by the rivers that flowed into the Tethys sea (before the Indian Plate clashed with the Eurasian Plate – continental drift, plate tectonics).
The Himalayas are made up of these sediments that were elevated, folded, and compressed when the Indian Plate moved northward.
The Indian Plate’s northern shift generated a trough to the south of the Himalayas.
Depositional Activity
The existing rivers altered course multiple times during the earliest stages of sediment upliftment, and each time they were renewed (perpetual youth stage of rivers).
Intense headward and vertical downcutting of the soft strata overlying the harder rock stratum is linked to rejuvenation.
In the beginning, headward erosion and vertical erosion of the river valley contributed to a large amount of conglomerates (detritus) (rock debris, silt, clay, etc.) that were carried downslope. Later, lateral erosion contributed to a large amount of conglomerates (detritus) (rock debris, silt, clay, etc.) that were carried downslope.
Headward erosion occurs when the origin of a stream channel is eroded, causing the origin to migrate away from the streamflow direction and lengthen the stream channel.
Importance of Indo-Gangetic Plains
The plains are a section of the flat Indo-Ganges trough, with elevations ranging from 500 feet (150 metres) south to 100 feet (30 metres) north. The Ganges is the plains’ main river. It receives water from several rivers that crisscross the region; the Son River divides the plains into two physio cultural divisions, the Ganges-Son Divide in the west and the Magadha-Anga Plain in the east. Rivers have switched their paths countless times throughout history. The plains have dense forests of sal (Shorea robusta), teak, Java plum, mahua, and jujube, and the soils are alluvial. The economy is dominated by agriculture, with rice, wheat, and oilseeds being the most important crops.
Irrigation, mainly from the Ganges River, is critical to agricultural operations. Mined minerals include copper, apatite, kyanite, and others. Textiles, sugar, paper, and vegetable oil are all produced by cottage enterprises.
Patna and Gaya both have educational institutions. Munger is home to a cigarette factory, whereas Jamalpur is home to the country’s largest railway engineering workshops. Bhagalpur is known for its tussah silk production. Roads, trains, and inland waterways are all well-developed in the region.
Formation of new rivers
Many new rivers were created due to the Himalayas rising and glaciers forming. More alluvium was supplied by these rivers, which, together with glacial erosion, accelerated the filling of the depression.
The Tethys sea began to recede as more and more sediments (conglomerates) accumulated.
With time, the depression was filled with alluvium, gravel, and rock debris (conglomerates), and the Tethys vanished, leaving a monotonous aggradational plain in its place.
Fluvial depositions created the Indo-Gangetic plain, which is a monotonous aggradational plain.
The creation of plains has also been aided by Upper Peninsular rivers, though to a lesser extent.
The depositional work of three major river systems, the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra, has become prominent in recent times (a few million years).
As a result, the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plain is sometimes known as the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plain.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain’s Importance
Half of India’s population lives in just one-fourth of the country’s area.
Fertile alluvial soils, a level terrain, slow-moving perennial rivers, and a pleasant climate make intensive farming possible.
Punjab, Haryana, and the western section of Uttar Pradesh have become India’s granary thanks to substantial irrigation.
Except for the Thar Desert, the entire plain has a well-connected network of roads and trains, allowing for large-scale industrialisation and urbanisation.
Tourism for the arts: There are numerous holy sites along the banks of sacred rivers such as the Ganga and the Yamuna that Hindus revere. Buddha and Mahavira faiths, as well as Bhakti and Sufism movements, flourished here.
Conclusion
In this guide, we learnt about the Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bihar. Also known as the North Indian River Plain, it is a fertile plain that covers much of northern and eastern India, Pakistan, and Nepal’s southern lowlands. The plain is named for the rivers Indus and Ganges and contains several important cities. Its formation is connected to the creation of the Himalayas. In the north, the Himalayas, which are the origin of the plain’s numerous rivers that provide the fertile alluvium deposited throughout the country by the two river systems, surround it. The plains have large forest areas of sal (Shorea robusta), teak, Java plum, mahua, and jujube, and the soils are alluvial. The economy in this region is dominated by agriculture, with rice, wheat, and oilseeds being the most important crops.
