Class 6 Geography Chapter 6 Notes - Our Country India

Introduction

• India is a large country with a diverse geography. It's bordered by the Himalayas in the north and surrounded by water on three sides: the Arabian Sea (west), the Bay of Bengal (east), and the Indian Ocean (south). 
• It spans about 3.28 million square kilometres with a length of 3,200 km north to south and 2,900 km east to west. 
• India's landscape includes mountains, deserts, plains, plateaus, and coastlines. 
• Despite its variety in climate, plants, animals, languages, and cultures, India is united by common traditions. 
• With over 120 crore people, it is the second most populous country after China.

Peninsula: A peninsula is land surrounded by water on three sides.

Locational Setting

• India is in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Latitude and Longitude:
  North to South: From 8°4'N to 37°6'N.
  East to West: From 68°7'E to 97°25'E.
• Tropic of Cancer: Passes almost through the middle of India (23°30'N).
• India is in both the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres.
  
• Time Difference:
  Due to its wide east-to-west stretch of about 29°, there’s a significant time difference between the far eastern (Arunachal Pradesh) and far western (Gujarat) parts of India. The local time can differ by about two hours between these extreme points. Time changes by four minutes for each degree of longitude.
• Indian Standard Time (IST):
  The standard time for the entire country is based on the longitude 82°30'E. This is known as the Standard Meridian of India.

Did You Know?

Large countries with wide east-to-west spans, like the USA and Canada, have multiple time zones (7 and 6, respectively). Russia has 11 time zones.

India’s Neighbours  

Countries Sharing Land Boundaries with India:

1. Pakistan
2. China
3. Nepal
4. Bhutan
5. Bangladesh
6. Myanmar
7. Afghanistan (partly, through the region of Jammu and Kashmir)

Countries without Ocean or Sea Access:

• Nepal
• Bhutan
• Afghanistan (although it is landlocked, it does have a small border with the Indian Ocean via Pakistan)

Island Neighbors:

• Sri Lanka: Separated from India by the Palk Strait (a narrow stretch of water).
• Maldives: Located to the south of India in the Indian Ocean.

Political and Administrative Divisions

• India is a large country divided into 28 states and 8 Union Territories for administrative purposes. 
• The states are primarily organized based on the languages spoken in those regions. 
• Delhi serves as the national capital.

Physical Divisions

1. Himalayas

• Location: The Himalayas form the northern border of India.
• Features: This region is known for its tall, snow-capped mountains.
• Three Main Ranges:
  • Great Himalaya (Himadri): This is the northernmost range, home to the world’s highest peaks.
  • Middle Himalaya (Himachal): Situated south of the Great Himalaya, it is famous for its popular hill stations. Examples include Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling, Nainital, and Mussoorie.
  • Shiwalik: The southernmost range of the Himalayas.

2. Northern Plains

• Location: These plains are situated south of the Himalayas.
• Features: The Northern Plains are characterized by flat and level terrain, making them ideal for agriculture.
• Formation: They are formed by alluvial deposits brought by rivers.
• Major Rivers: The main rivers include the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries.
• Significance: The fertility of this land, due to the river deposits, supports a high population density.

3. Great Indian Desert

• Location: Found in the western part of India.
• Features: This desert is known for its dry, hot, and sandy environment with minimal vegetation.

4. Peninsular Plateau

• Shape: The Peninsular Plateau is triangular in shape.
• Features: The region has uneven relief with various hill ranges and valleys.
• Important Ranges:
  • Aravali Hills: One of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, located on the northwest side of the plateau.
  • Vindhyas and Satpuras: These are significant ranges with the rivers Narmada and Tapi flowing through them.
• Rivers: The Narmada and Tapi rivers flow westward into the Arabian Sea.
• Borders: The plateau is bordered by the Western Ghats (Sahyadris) on the west and the Eastern Ghats on the east.
• Minerals: The plateau is rich in minerals, such as coal and iron ore.

5. Coastal Plains

• Western Coastal Plain: This plain is narrow and lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
• Eastern Coastal Plain: This plain is broader, situated between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
• Rivers: Major rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri drain into the Bay of Bengal, creating fertile deltas.
• Delta: The Sunderban Delta is formed where the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal.

Coral Islands

• Lakshadweep Islands: Located off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea, these islands are formed from coral reefs.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: These islands lie southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.
  Coral Islands

Tsunami 2004

• The tsunami in 2004 affected the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were hit by a huge sea wave caused by an underwater earthquake.
• The response included evacuation, relief efforts, and rebuilding to address the damage caused by the tsunami.
  Tsunami