Structure and PhysiographyClass 11 India Physical Environment NCERT Solutions
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Q11. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the water bodies separates the Andaman from the Nicobar?
(a)
11° Channel
(b)
Gulf of Mannar
(c)
10° Channel
(d)
Andaman Sea
Solution
(c) 10° Channel
The chapter states that the entire group of islands in the Bay of Bengal is divided into two broad categories: the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. It explicitly mentions, "They are separated by a waterbody which is called the Ten degree channel."
Q21. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(ii) On which of the following hill range is the 'Dodabeta' peak situated?
(a)
Nilgiri hills
(b)
Anaimalai hills
(c)
Cardamom hills
(d)
Nallamala hills
Solution
(a) Nilgiri hills
According to the text, 'Anaimudi' (2,695 m) is the highest peak of the Peninsular plateau and is located on the Anaimalai hills. The text then states that this is "followed by Dodabetta (2,637 m) on the Nilgiri hills." The Eastern and Western Ghats also meet at the Nilgiri hills.
Q12. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) If a person is to travel to Lakshadweep, from which coastal plain does he prefer and why?
Solution
A person travelling to Lakshadweep should prefer the Malabar Coast, which is part of the western coastal plain. The text states that the Lakshadweep islands are located 220-440 km off the Kerala coast. The Malabar Coast is the name for the coastal plain in Kerala, making it the closest and most convenient point of departure from the Indian mainland.
Q22. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(ii) Where in India will you find a cold desert? Name some important ranges of this region.
Solution
India's cold desert is located in the northern part of the Himalayan mountains, in the region of Ladakh. While the text does not explicitly name the cold desert, the physical map of India provided in the chapter (Figure 2.2) shows important mountain ranges in this region, which include the Karakoram, Ladakh, and Zaskar ranges.
Q32. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(iii) Why is the western coastal plain is devoid of any delta?
Solution
The western coastal plain is devoid of deltas because it is a narrow, submerged coast. The rivers flowing west from the Western Ghats are short and swift. Their high velocity does not allow for the deposition of sediments at their mouths. Instead of forming deltas, they form estuaries before entering the Arabian Sea.
Q13. Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.
(i) Make a comparison of the island groups of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Solution
The two major island groups of India show significant differences based on their origin, size, and topography.
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Origin: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal are tectonic and volcanic in origin, considered an elevated portion of submarine mountains. In contrast, the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are entirely of coral origin.
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Size and Number: The Bay of Bengal group is larger, consisting of about 572 islands and islets. The Arabian Sea group is much smaller, with approximately 36 islands.
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Topography: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are hilly with prominent peaks like Saddle Peak and Mount Thuiller. The Lakshadweep Islands are flat, low-lying atolls that barely rise above sea level.
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Vegetation: Due to higher rainfall, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands support dense, equatorial-type vegetation. The vegetation on the coral islands of Lakshadweep is comparatively sparse.
Q23. Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.
(ii) What are the important geomorphological features found in the river valley plains?
Solution
The river valley plains, particularly the Northern Plains of India, exhibit distinct geomorphological features formed by alluvial deposits. From north to south, these are:
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Bhabar: A narrow belt at the foothills of the Shiwaliks where rivers deposit heavy rocks and boulders, and streams often disappear underground.
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Tarai: A marshy and swampy belt south of the Bhabar where the underground streams re-emerge. It is characterized by lush natural vegetation.
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Alluvial Plains: These are divided into Bhangar (older alluvium, forming terraces) and Khadar (newer alluvium, found in the floodplains).
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Fluvial Landforms: In the mature stage, the plains feature erosional and depositional landforms such as meanders, oxbow lakes, sand bars, and braided channels.
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Deltas: At their mouths, the rivers form some of the largest deltas in the world, like the Sunderbans delta, by depositing fine sediments.
Q33. Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.
(iii) If you move from Badrinath to Sunderbans delta along the course of the river Ganga, what major geomorphological features will you come across?
Solution
A journey along the river Ganga from Badrinath to the Sunderbans delta would showcase the river's transition through its three stages—youthful, mature, and old.
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Youthful Stage (Himalayas): Near its source at Badrinath, the Ganga is a fast-flowing river in its youthful stage. The landscape is dominated by features of vertical erosion, such as steep V-shaped valleys, deep gorges, rapids, and waterfalls.
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Mature Stage (Northern Plains): As the river descends onto the plains, its velocity decreases. It first forms the Bhabar belt by depositing coarse materials. Further south, it flows through the Tarai region. Across the vast plains, the river enters its mature stage, characterized by depositional features like wide meanders, oxbow lakes, sand bars, and a broad floodplain of Khadar and Bhangar deposits.
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Old Stage (Delta): Upon reaching West Bengal, the river becomes extremely sluggish and enters its old stage. It splits into numerous distributaries and deposits vast quantities of silt, forming the massive and fertile Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, also known as the Sunderbans, before meeting the Bay of Bengal.
Q1Project/Activity
(i) Make a list of major Himalayan peaks from the west to the east with the help of an atlas.
Solution
As per an atlas, some of the major Himalayan peaks arranged from west to east are:
- Nanga Parbat (in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir region)
- K2 (Godwin-Austen) (in the Karakoram range)
- Nanda Devi (Uttarakhand, India)
- Dhaulagiri (Nepal)
- Annapurna (Nepal)
- Mount Everest (Nepal-Tibet border)
- Makalu (Nepal-Tibet border)
- Kanchenjunga (Sikkim, India-Nepal border)
- Namcha Barwa (Tibet, near the border with Arunachal Pradesh, India)
Q2Project/Activity
(ii) Identify the major landforms of your state and analyse the major economic activity practised by the people in each landform.
Solution
This answer is subjective and will vary depending on the state. Below is an example for the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Major Landforms in Uttar Pradesh:
- The Gangetic Plain: This is the most dominant landform, covering the majority of the state. It is a vast, flat, and fertile alluvial plain formed by the Ganga and its tributaries like the Yamuna, Ghaghara, and Gomti. The plain can be subdivided into the Bhangar (older alluvium) and Khadar (newer alluvium) regions.
- The Terai Region: A belt of marshy grasslands and forests in the northern part of the state, south of the Shiwalik foothills.
- The Peninsular Plateau: The southern part of the state (Bundelkhand region) is an extension of the Peninsular plateau, characterized by hard, ancient rocks and a more rugged, undulating topography.
Major Economic Activities:
- In the Gangetic Plain: The fertile alluvial soil and abundant water supply make this region the agricultural heartland of India. The primary economic activity is intensive agriculture, with major crops being wheat, rice, sugarcane, and potatoes. This region is densely populated and hosts major industrial cities like Kanpur (leather, textiles) and Lucknow (services, manufacturing).
- In the Terai Region: Agriculture is also significant here, especially rice and sugarcane cultivation. This region is also known for its forests and wildlife, supporting activities like timber production and eco-tourism (e.g., Dudhwa National Park).
- In the Peninsular Plateau (Bundelkhand): The land is less fertile and water is scarcer. Economic activities include cultivation of drought-resistant crops like pulses and oilseeds, animal husbandry, and quarrying for stone and minerals.