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Our Country India

Key points related to India: Location, Physical Division of India, The Great Indian Desert, Island groups, etc.

The land of India is part of the continent of Asia. As the 7th largest country in the world, the Indian subcontinent stands apart from the rest of Asia. It covers an area of 32,87,263 sq.km, extending from snow-capped Himalayan heights in the north to the tropical rainforests in the south. Our country India constitutes a distinct geographical entity that can be divided into three geomorphic provinces- the Himalayas, the Indian Peninsula, and the Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains. Most of India forms a peninsula, which means it is surrounded by sea on three sides- the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Key points related to India

  • India occupies a large part of the south Asian subcontinent

  • The distance of North to South in India which stretches from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is approximately 3,200 km, while the distance of East to West which extends from Arunachal Pradesh to Kutch is around 2,900 km

  • The southern part of India is called Peninsula because it is surrounded by seas from three sides

  • The Majestic Mountain Ranges and Peaks, the Great Indian Desert, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, and the Coastal Areas and Islands are the five prominent landforms of India

  • Major part of India has a tropical monsoon climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters

  • Our country India shares its border with seven nations- China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan ,and Afghanistan in the North and North-West, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the East

Location

  • India is divided by the Tropic of Cancer in two equal parts called hemispheres- the Southern and the Northern. As our country India is situated north of the equator, it is in the northern hemisphere. Also, since Asia is situated entirely in the Eastern Hemisphere, so India also lies in the Eastern Hemisphere

  • India’s mainland stretches  between latitudes 8°4’N and 37°6’N and 68°7’E and 97°25’E longitudes

  • Longitudinal extent of India is about 30°, which has an impact on the duration of day and night as one moves from south to north

  • The longitude of 82°50’E  has been accepted for the Indian’s Standard Timeline

Physical Division of India

On the basis of physical features, India is divided into 6 physiographic divisions: the Himalayan Mountains, the Northern Plains, the Great Indian Desert, the Peninsular Plateau, the Coastal Plains and Islands.

  • Himalayan Mountains: These mountains are divided into 3 main geographical entities, the Himadri (northernmost), the Shivaliks (outermost), and the Himachal (lesser Himalaya). Physiographically, Himalayan region starts from the foothills of Shivaliks in the south and extends up to the Tibetan plateau in the north. Some of the highest mountains in the world are found in this region
  • Northern Plains: These plains are the youngest physiographic features in India and are known as granaries of India. They lie to the South of the Himalayas and are highly fertile due to the deposition of alluvial soil brought by the Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganga and their tributaries. Also, these plains are agriculturally very productive, due to the favourable climate, rich soil, and availability of water supply. Hence, this physiographic division of India is very good for growing crops and is densely populated
  • The Great Indian Desert: Famously known as the Thar Desert is located in the northwestern part of the country. Lying partly in the Rajasthan state of India and partially in the Sindh and Punjab part of Pakistan, it forms a natural boundary between the two countries. Despite having an extreme climate, the Great Indian Desert is used to produce fertilizers and has valuable reserves of minerals such as phosphorite and feldspar
  • Peninsular Plateau: Peninsular plateau is triangular in shape with its base situated at the southern edge of the northern plains. It is considered to be one of the oldest landforms on earth. One of the major physiographic elements of the Peninsular is the Aravalli range. Narmada and Tapi rivers flow through Vindhyas and Satpura ranges from east to west in a rift. The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadris marks the western edge of the Deccan plateau which is the biggest part of the Peninsular region.
  • The Coastal Plains and Islands: These are the predominant bodies in Indian geography. Coastal plains and islands of India are famous for agriculture, fishing, salt-making, industrial manufacturing, tourism etc.  Our country India has two coastal plains that are either surrounded or connected to the sea. The plains along the shores of Bay of Bengal are called Eastern coastal plains, and the plains along the shores of Arabian sea are known as Western coastal plains. Also, India has about 1200 islands. The two prominent groups of islands are Lakshadweep Island (Coral islands) which is  situated in the Arabian Sea, and the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands that lie at the southeast of the Central India region in the Bay of Bengal

Conclusion

India is a country of vast geographical expanse. Southern part of India is surrounded by the ocean on three sides and in the north it is bounded by mighty mountains. India shares its land boundaries with seven countries: China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar. Our country India is located in the northern hemisphere. Because of its different physical features India boasts three climatic subtypes- tropical monsoon climate, tropical wet and dry climate. The geographical location of India provides vast diversity in climatic conditions. The relief features of Indian landmass can be divided Into following  types: a) The Himalayas. b) The Indo Gangetic plain c) The peninsular plateau d) The coastal plains e) The desert f) The Islands.