Geographical Diversity of India
1. What is the Indian Subcontinent?
Answer:
The Indian Subcontinent is a region in Asia that includes India and its neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
2. Why are the Himalayas called the ‘Water Tower of Asia’?
Answer:
The Himalayas are called the ‘Water Tower of Asia’ because their melting snow feeds major rivers like the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra, providing water for millions of people.
3. What are the three main ranges of the Himalayas?
Answer:
The three main ranges are the Himadri (Greater Himalayas), Himachal (Lower Himalayas), and Shivalik Hills (Outer Himalayas).
4. What is unique about Ladakh’s landscape?
Answer:
Ladakh is a cold desert with rugged, rocky terrain, deep valleys, and lakes like Pangong Tso. It looks like the moon, so it’s called ‘moonland’.
5. How do rivers in the Gangetic Plains help people?
Answer:
Rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra make the soil fertile for farming, provide water for drinking and industries, and help generate electricity.
6. Why is the Thar Desert a natural barrier?
Answer:
The Thar Desert is a natural barrier because its harsh conditions, like high heat, cold nights, and lack of water, make it difficult for people and animals to cross.
7. What is the role of the Aravalli Hills in India’s geography?
Answer:
The Aravalli Hills stop the Thar Desert from spreading eastward and are rich in minerals like marble, granite, zinc, and copper.
8. What is a peninsula, and why is southern India called a peninsular plateau?
Answer:
A peninsula is land surrounded by water on three sides. Southern India is called a peninsular plateau because it is a flat, elevated land surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
9. Why are the Western Ghats important?
Answer:
The Western Ghats are important because they are home to many rivers, have rich biodiversity, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. What are deltas, and where are they found on India’s east coast?
Answer:
Deltas are landforms formed when rivers deposit sediments at their mouth. They are found on India’s east coast at the mouths of rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and Mahanadi.
11. What are the two major island groups of India?
Answer:
The two major island groups are Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
12. Why is the Sundarbans special?
Answer:
The Sundarbans is special because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the delta of the Ganga and Brahmaputra, and is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and unique mangroves.
13. What makes the Northeast hills of India unique?
Answer:
The Northeast hills, like the Garo, Khasi, and Jantia hills, are unique for their lush greenery, heavy rainfall, and living root bridges made by weaving tree roots.
14. How was the Himalayan mountain range formed?
Answer:
The Himalayas were formed when the Indian landmass collided with Eurasia about 50 million years ago, causing the land to crumple and rise like a wrinkled carpet.
15. How do people in the Thar Desert conserve water?
Answer:
People in the Thar Desert conserve water using methods like taanka or kunds, which are special systems to collect and store rainwater for drinking.
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