8 Physical Features of India

1
8 Physical Features of India

• Brahmaputra River
• Ganges River
• Indus River
• Deccan Plateau
• Ghats (East and West)
• Himalaya Mountains
• Hindu Kush Mountains
• Thar Desert

2
Brahmaputra River

• Begins in Himalayas
• Monsoons cause it to flood every summer
• Sediment from the mountains provides rich soil
  for farming
• Ends in the Ganges River
• Description
• The Brahmaputra River begins in the Himalayas. It
  joins the Ganges on the plains and makes the land
  on the plains fertile.

3
Ganges River

• Begins in Himalayas
• Flows across most of northern India
• Sediment from the mountains into the Ganges
  provides the richest soil in the world
• Ends in the Bay of Bengal (then the Indian Ocean)
• Description
• The Ganges River begins in the Himalayas. It
  leaves sediment on the northern plains, making
  that area fertile.

4
Indus River

• Begins in Himalayas
• Snow melt from the Hindu Kush also adds to this
  river
• Sediment from the mountains provides rich soil
  for farming
• Ends in the Arabian Sea (then the Indian Ocean)
• Description
• The Indus River begins in the Himalayas and
  empties into the Arabian Sea. It deposits
  sediment in the Indus River valley. It is also a
  source of water for farming.

5
Deccan Plateau

• Fairly dry with thin forest
• Water provided by summer monsoon
• This provides rich soil for farming
• Has black, yellow, and red soil. Black soil is
  good for growing crops, yellow and red are
  missing nutrients
• Description
• The Deccan Plateau is a flat area between two
  mountain ranges in southern India. The plateau is
  fairly dry, but is watered by monsoons. Some of
  the land is fertile.

6
Western and Eastern Ghats

• Chain of mountains along Indias coast
• Defined by steep slopes and narrow valleys
• Thick forest and plenty of rain
• Rivers flow through the ghats, but are not safe
  to travel
• Description
• The Eastern and Western Ghats are long mountain
  ranges near Indias coasts. The Western Ghats are
  high and very wet while the Eastern Ghats are
  lower and not so wet.

7
Himalaya Mountains

• Contains the worlds tallest mountain- Everest
  (5.5 miles high)
• Provides a natural border from the rest of Asia
• The glaciers of the Himalayas feed Indias main
  rivers
• Fierce storms, earthquakes, and landslides occur
  each year
• Description
• The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in
  the world. The highest peaks are always covered
  in snow.

8
Hindu Kush Mountains

• Natural Border between India and Afghanistan
• Much of Hindu Kush is uninhabited
• There is only one way through the Hindu Kush
  Khyber Pass
• Description
• The Hindu Kush are high mountains that form a
  barrier between India and Afghanistan. The Khyber
  Pass through these mountains connects central
  Asia to India.

9
Thar Desert

• Mostly sand and stone
• Temperatures can reach 120 degrees
• Occasionally, a monsoon will provide some water
• Though humans do not live there, a variety of
  animals do. (45 kinds of reptiles, birds,
  gazelles)
• Description
• The Thar Desert is a hot area of sand and stones
  with little water. It is a home for lizards,
  snakes, gazelles, and birds.