Peninsular Plateau
The biggest natural land area in India is called the Peninsular Upland. It’s shaped like a lopsided triangle and mostly sits between 600 to 900 meters above the ocean level. On its outer edges, you’ll find the Delhi Ridge in the northwest (which is kind of an extension of the Aravallis), the Raj Mahal Hills in the east, the Gir Range to the west, and the Cardamom Hills in the south. Towards the northeast, it continues as the Shillong and Karbi-Anglong plateau.
This area is part of India’s oldest and most steady land, shaped by the breaking and shifting of the Gondwana landmass. It’s made up of old rocks like crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
The Peninsular India has several plateaus, such as the Hazaribagh, Palamu, Ranchi, Malwa, Coimbatore, and Karnataka plateaus. Over time, these plateaus have experienced changes due to rising and sinking, along with cracks and fractures in the Earth’s crust. This has changed the landscape, making the northwest rugged with canyons and deep valleys like the Chambal, Bhind, and Morena valleys.
One unique thing about this area is the Deccan Trap, where you find dark soil because of volcanic activity. This soil, known as black soil, has formed from igneous rocks wearing down over time.
Based on its landscape, the Peninsular Plateau can be divided into three main parts:
- Central Highlands: These are a significant part of the Malwa plateau, located north of the Narmada river. It’s surrounded by the Vindhyan range and the Aravallis on both sides. The Satpura range borders the Vindhyan range in the south.
- Deccan Plateau: This triangular piece of land lies south of the Narmada River. It’s bounded by the Satpura range in the north and includes hills like the Mahadev, Kaimur Hills, and Maikal range. The Deccan Plateau slopes gently to the east but is higher in the west. It continues northeast, known as the Meghalaya Plateau, North Cachar Hills, and Karbi-Anglong Plateau. It’s separated from the Chotanagpur Plateau by a fault.
- North-Eastern Plateau: This area is an extension of the main peninsular plateau. It was likely formed by a significant fault between the Meghalaya plateau and the Rajmahal hills due to the movement of the Indian plate during the Himalayan formation. This led to the separation of plateaus in Meghalaya and Karbi-Anglong from the main block. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hills are parts of the Meghalaya plateau, named after the local ethnic groups living there. Similarly, the Assamese Karbi Anglong highlands show a similar pattern.
Physiography of India| Class 11 Geography Notes
Class 11 Geography Physiography of India Notes: Geography Class 11 Notes is a crucial subject in the Social Science curriculum that requires students to have a thorough understanding of the Earth, its physical features, and human activities.
The subject demands a strong foundation in conceptual knowledge and an ability to analyze and interpret geographical data. These notes provide a comprehensive summary of the key topics, aiding students in better comprehension of the subject matter.
All the important topics have been compiled in CBSE Notes Class 11 Geography Physiography of India.
Physiography of India| Class 11 Geography Notes
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