Class 6 Geography Chapter 6 Question Answers - Our Country India

Q1. Name the seven countries that share boundaries with India.

Ans: The seven countries that share land boundaries with India are:

• Sri Lanka
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• China
• Bhutan
• Myanmar
• Nepal

Q2. Define the term delta. Give one example of delta.

Ans: A delta is a landform created at the mouth of a river, where it meets an ocean or sea. Deltas form from the deposition of sediment carried by the river as it flows out.

The term "delta" was coined by the ancient historian Herodotus for the Nile River delta, due to its resemblance to the Greek letter Delta (Δ). The world's largest delta is the Sundarbans delta, formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal.

Q3. Name the major physical divisions of India.

Ans: India has four major physical divisions:

• The Great Himalayas
• The Northern Plains
• The Peninsular Plateau
• The Coastal Plains and Islands

Q4. What are Coral Islands?

Ans: Coral Islands are formed from the skeletons of tiny marine animals called polyps. When these living polyps die, their skeletons remain, and new polyps grow on top. This process continues, causing the structure to rise and eventually form coral islands. An example of a coral island is the Lakshadweep Islands, located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala.

Q5. Name the three seas which surround the Indian peninsula.

Ans: The Indian peninsula is bordered by:

• Arabian Sea to the west
• Bay of Bengal to the east
• Indian Ocean to the south

Q6. Why is Lakshadweep known as coral island?

Ans: Lakshadweep islands are situated in the Arabian Sea and are known as coral islands due to their unique formation process:

• Coral islands are created from the remains of tiny marine animals called polyps.
• When these polyps die, their skeletons remain.
• New polyps grow on top of these hard skeletons, gradually building up the island.

This continuous growth results in the formation of coral islands like Lakshadweep.

Q7. How has Suez Canal affected the trade and commerce of India in the world?

Ans: India is strategically connected to South West Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope. The Suez Canal serves as an international trade highway, offering significant advantages to India by:

• Facilitating faster shipping routes between the East and West.
• Enhancing trade opportunities with various regions.
• Reducing travel time and costs for maritime trade.

This connectivity plays a vital role in boosting India's global trade and commerce.

Q8. By what names do we know the second parallel range of Himalayas?

Ans: The second parallel range of the Himalayas is known as the Himachal Himalayas or the Middle Himalayas.

Q9. What is the significance of the great longitudinal extent of India?

Ans: The great longitudinal extent of India, approximately 29°, leads to significant differences in local time across the country. Key points include:

• The local time varies widely between the eastern and western extremes of India.
• This difference can be about two hours between locations like Arunachal Pradesh in the east and Gujarat in the west.
• Local time changes by four minutes for each degree of longitude.
• The Indian Standard Time is based on the longitude of 82°30'E, which serves as the country's standard meridian.

Q10. Why are northern plains very fertile?

Ans: The northern plains are highly fertile due to their formation from alluvial deposits. These deposits consist of fine soil brought by rivers, which creates rich agricultural land.

• The alluvium is formed by rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
• This soil is ideal for cultivation, supporting a high population density.
• The fertile land is a result of continuous sedimentation from these rivers.

Q11. Name some of the union territories of India.

Ans: Some of the union territories of India are as follows:

• Pondicherry
• Daman and Diu
• Chandigarh
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Lakshadweep
• Delhi

Q12. Why is India said to be a country of vast expanse?

Ans: India is a country of vast geographical expanse, covering approximately 3.28 million sq. km. Its dimensions are:

• North-south extent: About 3,200 km from Ladakh to Kanyakumari.
• East-west extent: About 2,900 km from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh.

The country features a variety of landforms, including:

• Lofty mountains
• The Great Indian Desert
• The Northern Plains
• An uneven plateau surface
• Coasts and islands

This diversity leads to a wide range of climates, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as rich cultural and linguistic variety. India, with a population of over 1.2 billion, is the second most populous country after China.

Q13. Discuss the locational setting of India.

Ans: India is situated in the northern hemisphere, with the Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) running almost through its centre. The country's geographical coordinates are:

• Latitude: 8°04'N to 37°06'N (south to north)
• Longitude: 68°07'E to 97°25'E (west to east)

This extensive longitudinal range of about 29° results in significant differences in local time across the country. India is bordered by:

• The Himalayas to the north
• The Arabian Sea to the west
• The Bay of Bengal to the east
• The Indian Ocean to the south

With an area of approximately 3.28 million sq. km, India spans:

• 3,200 km from Ladakh to Kanyakumari (north-south)
• 2,900 km from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh (east-west)

This vast land features diverse landscapes, including mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, coasts, and islands, contributing to a rich variety of climate, vegetation, and wildlife.

Q14. Write short notes on Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.

Ans: The Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers create the world's largest delta, known as the Sundarbans delta. Key features include:

• It is the fastest growing delta.
• It is the most fertile delta.
• It has a triangular shape.

This delta forms where the rivers meet the Bay of Bengal.

Q15. Write a short note on Peninsular plateau

Ans: The Peninsular Plateau is located south of the northern plains and has a triangular shape. Key features include:

• Numerous hill ranges and valleys.
• Rugged and uneven terrain.
• Bordered by the Aravali Hills to the north-west.
• Includes significant ranges like the Vindhyas and Satpuras.
• Home to rivers such as the Narmada and Tapi, which flow westward into the Arabian Sea.
• Encircled by the Western Ghats on the west and the Eastern Ghats on the east.
• Rich in minerals like coal and iron ore.

Q16. Name some of the states on the western coast of India.

Ans: The states on the western coast of India include:

• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Goa
• Karnataka
• Kerala

Q17. Name some of the newly formed states of India.

Ans: Some of the newly formed states in India include:

• Chhattisgarh
• Uttarakhand
• Jharkhand
• Telangana

Q18. Write the name of state in front of each capital:

Ans: 1. Itanagar - Arunachal Pradesh

2. Imphal - Manipur

3. Aizawl - Mizoram

4. Agartala - Tripura

Q19. How did people of Andaman survived the 2004 Tsunami?

Ans: The isolated tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands survived the tsunami on December 26, 2004, due to their deep understanding of the ocean's behaviour, developed over many years. Key survival actions included:

• Evacuating their coastal settlements when the water receded.
• Establishing temporary camps in the forests of Little Andaman.

This knowledge and preparedness helped them navigate the disaster effectively.

Q20. Why does the Sun rise two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat?

Ans: The Sun rises about two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat due to the following reasons:

• The local time changes by approximately four minutes for every degree of longitude.
• India has a longitudinal difference of about 29 degrees from east to west.
• This results in a time difference of roughly two hours between these two regions.

Thus, the Sun appears to rise earlier in the east compared to the west.