Physical
Features
India, with an area of 3.3 million sq.
km, is a subcontinent. The peninsula is separated from
mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The country lies between 8º4'
and 37º6' north of the Equator and is surrounded by the Bay of
Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian
Ocean to the south.
The Himalayas form the highest
mountain range in the world, extending 2,500 km over northern
India. Bounded by the Indus River in the west and the
Brahmaputra in the east, the three parallel ranges, the
Himadri, Himachal and Shivaliks have deep canyons gorged by
the rivers flowing into the Gangetic plain.
River System of India
The
rivers may be classified as follows: (a) the Himalayan, (b)
the Deccan, (c) the coastal and (d) the rivers of the inland
drainage basin. The Himalayan rivers are generally snow-fed
and flow throughout the year. During the monsoon months (June
to September), the Himalayas receive very heavy rainfall and
the rivers carry the maximum amount of water, causing frequent
floods. The Deccan rivers are generally rain-fed and,
therefore, fluctuate greatly in volume. A very large number of
them are non-perennial. The coastal rivers, especially on the
west coast, are short and have limited catchment areas. Most
of these are non-perennial as well. The rivers on the inland
drainage basin are few and ephemeral. They drain towards
individual basins or salt lakes like the Sambhar or are lost
in the sands, having no outlet to the sea.
Climate
The Himalayan range
in the north acts as the perfect meteorological barrier for
the whole country. Despite the country's size and its varied
relief, the seasonal rhythm of the monsoon is apparent
throughout. Although much of northern India lies beyond the
tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate
marked by relatively high temperatures and dry
winters.
Natural
Vegetation
The Himalayan region, which is rich
in vegetative life, possesses varieties that can be found
practically from the tropical to tundra regions. Only the
altitude influences the distribution of vegetation. In the
rest of the country, the type of vegetation is largely
determined by the amount of rainfall. Outside the Himalayan
region, the country can be divided into three major vegetation
regions: the tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen
forests, the tropical deciduous forests, and the thorn forests
and shrubs.
Land and People
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