Geographical Diversity of India Class 7 Notes Social Science Chapter 1 Free PDF

1. The Mountain Zone (The Himalayas)

2. The Plains of the Ganga and Indus

3. The Desert Region (The Thar Desert)

4. The Southern Peninsula

5. The Islands

• These regions create varied climates and lifestyles, with some areas having fertile plains for farming and others being arid deserts or cold mountains. The geographical features like mountains, rivers, deserts, and coasts help shape daily life, farming practices, and even festivals across India.
• India’s natural boundaries—The Himalayas to the north, The Thar Desert and Arabian Sea to the west, The Indian Ocean to the south, and The Bay of Bengal to the east—help define the country’s physical limits and contribute to the diverse ecosystems and cultures within it. This variety deeply affects how people live, farm, travel, and celebrate

The Himalayas

The Cold Desert of India

• It gets very little rainfall, with rocky terrain, deep valleys, and lakes like Pangong Tso, a salty lake.
• The landscape, called moonland, looks like the moon due to its rugged, eroded rocks formed when India collided with Eurasia.
• Despite harsh conditions, Ladakh has unique wildlife like snow leopards, ibex, and Tibetan antelopes.
• Yaks are vital for the people, used for milk, meat, wool, dung, and transport.
• The Ladakhi people live simply and celebrate colorful festivals like Losar and Hemis Festival.
• The region has ancient monasteries and a unique culture.

The Gangetic Plains

The Great Indian Desert or Thar Desert

• It has golden sand dunes, rugged terrain, and a wide-open sky, with dunes rising up to 150 meters formed by wind.
• Daytime temperatures are very high, and nights are cold, with little water available.
• People have adapted with special food, clothing, and lifestyles, like using camels for transport, seen at events like the Pushkar Mela.
• Jaisalmer, the Golden City, has a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Jaisalmer Fort.
• Water is scarce, so women travel long distances to fetch it, and utensils are cleaned with sand to save water.
• Rainwater harvesting systems like taanka or kunds store water for drinking.

The Aravalli Hills

• Their highest peak, Mount Abu, is over 1700 meters, but most hills are 300–900 meters high.
• They act as a natural barrier, stopping the Thar Desert from spreading eastward.
• The Aravallis are rich in minerals like marble, granite, zinc, and copper. Ancient mines at Zawar show India mastered zinc extraction over 800 years ago.
• Historic forts like Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, and Ranthambore are located here, built in the hills for protection.

The Peninsular Plateau

• It is a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides: the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
• It is bordered by the Western Ghats (taller, with waterfalls) and Eastern Ghats (lower, broken hills).
• The Deccan Plateau lies between these ranges, a vast flat highland.
• Rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, and Tapti flow across it, supporting farming, industries, and hydroelectric power.
• The plateau tilts eastward, so most rivers flow toward the Bay of Bengal, except Narmada and Tapti, which flow to the Arabian Sea.
• It is rich in minerals, forests, and fertile land, vital for India’s economy.
• Dense forests are home to tribal communities like Santhal, Gond, Baiga, Bhil, and Korku, who have unique traditions tied to nature.
• Waterfalls on the plateau, like those at Periyakanal, attract tourists and support hydroelectric power.
• The Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with rich biodiversity, including the lion-tailed macaque and insectivorous plants.

Let's Revise: How do the rivers of the Peninsular Plateau flow, and why?

India’s Amazing Coastlines

• Deltas are triangular landforms formed when rivers deposit sediments at their mouths, making the land fertile.

• Rivers from the Western Ghats form estuaries, with the Narmada and Tapti being the largest.
• It has ports and cities like Mumbai, India’s financial center, active for thousands of years.

West flowing rivers
The East Coast 

• It has wide plains and deltas from rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, ideal for farming.
• Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake (a lagoon) are important water bodies.

East Flowing Rivers

Let's Revise: How is the West Coast of India different from the East Coast?

Indian Islands

• An archipelago of 36 coral islands near Kerala, not all inhabited.
• Supports fishing and environmental protection.

• Over 500 volcanic islands, divided into Andaman and Nicobar groups.
• Home to coral reefs, beaches, jungles, and ancient tribes.
• Barren Island has India’s only active volcano, which sometimes erupts.
• Their location is strategically important, with a naval dock nearby.

The Delta in West Bengal and the Sundarbans

• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a unique mix of river, sea, and land.
• The delta has mangroves and is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and other species.

The Hills of the Northeast

• Known for lush greenery, heavy rainfall, and waterfalls like the Seven Sisters Waterfalls.
• The region has some of the highest rainfall in the world, supporting forests, wildlife, and fertile land.
• Mawlynnong Village in the East Khasi Hills is called the cleanest village in Asia, famous for its living root bridges made by weaving tree roots.
• The Shad Suk Mynsiem festival celebrates nature and is held by the Khasi people.

Let's Revise 

Q: What makes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands special?

Points to Remember

• India as a Mini-Continent:
  India is often referred to as a mini-continent due to its diverse geographical features, which include:

1. Himalayas

2. Plains

3. Deserts

4. Plateaus

5. Coasts

6. Islands

• The Himalayas – The Water Tower of Asia:
  The Himalayas are often called the ‘Water Tower of Asia’ because they feed major rivers like the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra, providing water for millions of people in the region.

• The Gangetic Plains – Fertility and Population:

• The Gangetic Plains are incredibly fertile, supporting a large portion of India’s population. The rivers in these plains are crucial for:

  • Agriculture

  • Transport

  • Trade

• Adapted Lifestyles in the Thar Desert:
  In the Thar Desert, people have developed unique adapted lifestyles to survive harsh conditions. One such adaptation is rainwater harvesting to save water, which is a scarce resource in the region.

• The Aravalli Hills – Natural Barrier and Rich Minerals:
  The Aravalli Hills prevent the Thar Desert from expanding further. They are also rich in minerals, including marble, granite, zinc, and copper, which have supported mining activities for centuries.

• Peninsular Plateau – Surrounded by Water:
  

• The Peninsular Plateau is surrounded by water on three sides:

  • Arabian Sea (west)

  • Bay of Bengal (east)

  • Indian Ocean (south)
    It is bordered by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, and the rivers flowing through this region support farming and hydroelectric power generation.

• India’s Coastline – Fertile Deltas and Important Ports:
  India’s coastline, stretching over 7,500 km, is dotted with fertile deltas and important ports, which are crucial for trade and economic activities.

• Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Unique Wildlife and Coral Reefs:

  1. Lakshadweep: A coral island group located near Kerala, known for its marine resources and environmental protection efforts.

  2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Famous for their unique wildlife, coral reefs, and volcanic activity, these islands are an important part of India’s biodiversity.

• The Sundarbans – UNESCO World Heritage Site:
  The Sundarbans are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their mangroves and the Royal Bengal Tiger. This unique delta region, located in the lower Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, is a biodiversity hotspot.

• The Northeast Hills – Heavy Rainfall and Living Root Bridges:
  The Northeast hills of India, part of the Meghalaya Plateau, experience some of the highest rainfall in the world.
  This region is also known for its living root bridges, a unique feature created by weaving tree roots over time.

Difficult Words

• Subcontinent: A large part of a continent, like India and its neighbors.
• Landforms: Natural features of the Earth, like mountains, plains, and plateaus.
• Biodiversity: The variety of plants and animals in an area.
• Tributaries: Smaller rivers that flow into a larger river.
• Glacier: A large mass of ice that moves slowly.
• Plateau: A flat, elevated landform with steep slopes.
• Peninsula: Land surrounded by water on three sides.
• Estuaries: Areas where rivers meet the sea, mixing fresh and saltwater.
• Deltas: Triangular landforms formed by river sediments at the mouth.
• Archipelago: A group of islands.
• Mangroves: Trees that grow in coastal areas with roots in water.