Notes Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India Class 7 Social Science

Introduction

• India is the seventh-largest country in the world and part of Asia.
• It forms the Indian Subcontinent with countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
• India’s geography is diverse, with mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus, and islands.
• Quote by Sri Aurobindo: India’s geography gives it a unique national character.
• Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, described India from space as “Sāre jahān se achchha” (better than the whole world).

India’s Five Main Geographical Regions

• Great Mountain Zone (Himalayas)
• Plains of Ganga and Indus (Northern Plains)
• Desert Region (Thar Desert)
• Southern Peninsula (Peninsular Plateau)
• Islands (Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar)

1. The Himalayas

• Location: Northern India, stretching across six countries (India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan).
• Length: About 2,500 km, acting like a massive wall.
• Altitude: Many peaks are over 8,000 meters, called the “Eight Thousanders.”
• Highest Peak: Mount Everest (world’s tallest mountain).
• Importance:
• Acts as a natural barrier protecting India.
• Snowmelt feeds major rivers like Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra, called the “Water Tower of Asia”.
• Sacred to many cultures; home to temples and monasteries.
• Gaumukh: Source of the Bhagirathi River (a Ganga tributary) at the Gangotri Glacier, a sacred trekking destination.
• Formation:
• 50 million years ago, India (part of Gondwana) collided with Eurasia, crumpling land to form the Himalayas.
• India still moves north slowly (5 cm/year), making the Himalayas grow taller (5 mm/year).
• Three Ranges:
• Himadri (Greater Himalayas): Highest, snow-covered, rugged, few settlements, home to peaks like Everest and Kanchenjunga.
• Himachal (Lower Himalayas): Moderate climate, rich biodiversity, hill stations like Shimla, Darjeeling, Nainital.
• Shivalik Hills (Outer Himalayas): Lowest, with forests and wildlife, a transition to the plains.
• Unique Features:
• Kath-kuni houses in the western Himalayas use stone and wood to stay warm and resist mild earthquakes.
• Great Himalayan National Park (Himachal Pradesh): A UNESCO World Heritage Site with diverse flora and fauna.
• Word Meaning: Himalaya = “Hima” (snow) + “Ālaya” (abode) = Abode of Snow.

2. The Cold Desert: Ladakh

• Location: Northern India, a cold desert with temperatures below -30°C in winter.
• Features:
• Rugged terrain, deep valleys, and lakes like Pangong Tso (salty lake due to minerals).
• Looks like the moon, called “Moonland” due to eroded, folded rocks from the India-Eurasia collision.
• Wildlife: Snow leopards, ibex, Tibetan antelopes.
• People: Ladakhi people lead simple lives; region has ancient monasteries and festivals like Losar and Hemis.
• Yaks: Important for milk, meat, wool, dung, and transport.

3. The Gangetic Plains (Northern Plains)

• Location: South of the Himalayas, a vast, fertile region.
• Rivers: Fed by Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, which bring minerals for fertile soil.
• Importance:
• Ideal for agriculture (e.g., multi-cropping in Uttar Pradesh, paddy fields in West Bengal).
• Supports a large population.
• Rivers used for drinking water, farming, industry, and hydroelectricity.
• Historical trade and travel routes (e.g., along Ganga and Brahmaputra).
• Transport: Flat land allows extensive road and railway networks.
• Wildlife: Home to tigers, gharials (endangered), grey langurs, and peacocks (India’s national bird).
• Brahmaputra: Named “son of Brahma,” grows bigger in summer due to snowmelt.
• Project Tiger: Helps protect tigers from extinction.

4. The Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert)

• Location: Western India, covering Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana.
• Features:
• Golden sand dunes (up to 150 meters high), formed by wind.
• Harsh conditions: Very hot days, cold nights, little water.
• Acts as a natural barrier due to tough terrain.
• Adaptations:
• People adjust food, clothing, and lifestyle to the desert.
• Water scarcity: Women travel long distances to fetch water; utensils cleaned with sand to save water.
• Rainwater harvesting (e.g., taanka or kunds) stores water for drinking.
• Jaisalmer: Called the “Golden City,” home to a UNESCO World Heritage fort.
• Pushkar Mela: Camel trading festival at the desert’s edge.

5. The Aravalli Hills

• Location: Northwestern India, spanning Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat.
• Age: Among the oldest mountains (2.5 billion years old).
• Height: Mostly 300–900 meters; highest peak is Mount Abu (over 1,700 meters).
• Importance:
• Acts as a barrier, stopping the Thar Desert from spreading eastward.
• Rich in minerals like marble, granite, zinc, copper.
• Ancient zinc mines at Zawar show India’s early expertise in zinc extraction.
• Forts: Historic forts like Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore built in the hills for defense.

6. The Peninsular Plateau

• Location: Central and southern India, a triangular plateau surrounded by water on three sides (Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean).
• Features:
• A very old land formation with flat highlands.
• Bordered by Western Ghats (taller, with waterfalls) and Eastern Ghats (lower, broken hills).
• Deccan Plateau: Lies between the Ghats, with rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri (east-flowing) and Narmada, Tapti (west-flowing).
• Importance:
• Rich in minerals, forests, fertile land, vital for India’s economy.
• Rivers support farming, industries, hydroelectric power.
• Home to tribal communities (e.g., Santhal, Gond, Baiga, Bhil, Korku) with unique traditions.
• Western Ghats:
• UNESCO World Heritage Site with rich biodiversity.
• Northern part called Sahyadri Hills.
• Home to lion-tailed macaques, king cobras, insectivorous plants.
• Waterfalls: Form on uneven plateau surfaces, used for tourism, irrigation, and hydroelectricity.
• Coal Mines: Found in the plateau, but coal use contributes to global warming.

7. India’s Coastlines

• Length: Over 7,500 km, with beaches, cliffs, forests, and coral reefs.
• West Coast:
• Stretches from Gujarat to Kerala (via Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka).
• Rivers from Western Ghats form estuaries (e.g., Narmada, Tapti).
• Features coves, creeks, and ports like Mumbai (India’s financial center).
• East Coast:
• Lies between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal, from Ganga delta to Kanyakumari.
• Has wide plains and deltas (e.g., Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri).
• Includes water bodies like Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake (a lagoon).
• Deltas: Formed when rivers deposit sediments, creating fertile land for farming.

8. Indian Islands

• Two Major Groups:
• Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea):
• 36 coral islands near Kerala’s Malabar coast.
• Supports fishing and environmental protection.
• Andaman and Nicobar (Bay of Bengal):
• Over 500 volcanic islands, divided into Andaman and Nicobar groups.
• Home to unique wildlife, coral reefs, and ancient tribes.
• Barren Island: India’s only active volcano.
• Cellular Jail: Historical prison for freedom fighters.
• Importance: Act as India’s ocean outposts for security and resource exploration.

9. The Sundarbans

• Location: Delta of Ganga, Brahmaputra, and tributaries in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh.
• Features:
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site with mangroves, rivers, and sea.
• Home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and other species.

10. Hills of the Northeast

• Location: Part of the Meghalaya Plateau (Garo, Khasi, Jantia Hills).
• Features:
• Lush greenery, heavy rainfall (among the highest in the world), waterfalls (e.g., Seven Sisters Waterfalls).
• Rich in forests, wildlife, and fertile land.
• Mawlynnong Village (East Khasi Hills):
• Known as Asia’s cleanest village.
• Famous for living root bridges (made by weaving tree roots) and eco-friendly practices.