Chapter 9. Physiography of India Textbook Solutions

NIOS Social Science Class 10 Chapter 9 Solutions

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.1

1. Look at the map 9.2 and answer the following questions.

(i) Find out the names of two countries lying to the eastern side of India.

(ii) Mention the names of two seas located on the eastern and western side of India.

(iii) Which country is connected to India by the Palk Strait?

(iv) Write the names of two countries having a common border with India.

Ans:

(i) Bangladesh, Myanmar.
(ii) Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
(iii) Sri Lanka.
(iv) Pakistan, Bhutan.

INTEXT QUESTION 9.2

1. Look at the map 9.3 and answer the following questions.

(i) Write the names of two States of South India.

(ii) Mention the names of two states sharing international boundaries.

(iii) Write the names of two countries sharing their boundaries with Sikkim.

(iv) Write the names of two union territories along the Arabian Sea.

Ans:

(i) Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
(ii) Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh.
(iii) Nepal, Bhutan.
(iv) Daman and Diu, Dadar Nagar Haveli.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.3

1. Write the names of the three ranges of the Himalayas.

Ans: The Himadari, The Himachal, and the Siwalik.

2. Look at the map (Fig. 9.5) and find out.

(i) In which state Nanga Parbat and Nanda Devi are located?

Ans: Jammu and Kashmir.

(ii) Say Yes or No.

(a) Mt. Everest is located in India………………………

Ans: No

(b) Shipki-La pass is located in Siwalik Range……………

Ans: No

(c) Mansarover lake is located in Kailash Range…………

Ans: Yes

3. Mention the names of the countries in which the Greater Himalayas are situated.

Ans: India, Nepal, Bhutan.

4. Identify two Purvanchal hills.

Ans: Patkoi, Mizo Hills

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.4

1. Answer the following questions briefly (not more than two sentences)

(i) How was Deccan Trap formed?

Ans: Due to a volcanic eruption.

(ii) State any two economic activities of coastal plains.

Ans: (i) Agriculture (ii) fishing (iii) trade and commerce (any two)

(iii) Why do Andaman and Nicobar Islands attract more tourists?

Ans: Because Islands have developed attractive tourist activities such as underwater and water sports.

(iv) Write the names of the rivers which help to form the western plain.

Ans: Satluj, Beas, Ravi

INTEXT QUESTION 9.5

Answer the following questions:

1. Mention the name of two tributaries joining Ganga from the north.

Ans: Gandak, Kosi.

2. Which lake is located near Mahanadi?

Ans: Chilka

3. Write the names of the states drained by river Godavari.

Ans: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

4. Which river is tributary of Tunghabhadra?

Ans: Krishna.

TERMINAL EXERCISES

1. Explain the location and extent of India.

Ans: The Indian mainland extends between 8°4′ North and 37°6′ North latitudes and from 68°7′ East and 97°25′ East longitudes. Thus, the latitudinal and the North-south extent is 3214 km and the east-west extent is 2933 km. India accounts for 2.42% of the total world land area.

2. Describe any three characteristics of the Indian Desert.

Ans:

The Thar Desert is the ninth-largest in the world.
It spreads over the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
This region has semi-arid and arid weather conditions.
It receives less than 150 mm of rainfall per year.
The vegetation cover is low with thorny bushes.
Luni is the main river in this area. All other streams appear only at the time of rainfall otherwise, they disappear into the sand.

3. Explain any two points each about the three parallel ranges of Himalayas.

Ans:

(a) The Greater Himalayas or Himadari

The Greater Himalayas comprise the northernmost ranges and peaks. It has an average height of 6000 metres and a width of between 120 to 190 Kms.
It is the most continuous range.
It is snowbound and many glaciers descend from this range.
It has high peaks like Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Nanga Parbat, etc., having a height of more than 8000 metres.
Mt. Everest (8848 m) is the highest peak in the world, and Kanchenjunga is the highest peak of the Himalaya in India.
High Mountain passes also exist in this range, namely, Bara Lacha-La, Shipki-La, Nathu-La, Zoji-La, Bomidi-La, etc. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers originate from the Himalayas.

(b) The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal:

The altitude of this range lies between 1000 and 4500 metres, and the average width is 50 KM.
The Prominent ranges in this are Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar, and the Mahabharata ranges.
It comprises many famous hill stations like Shimla, Dalhousie, Darjeeling, Chakrata, Mussoorie, Nainital, etc.
It also comprises famous valleys like Kashmir, Kullu, Kangra, etc.

It is the outermost range of the Himalayas.
The altitude varies between 900 and 1100 meters, and the width lies between 10 and 50 KM.
They have low hills like the Jammu Hills, etc.
The valleys lying between the Siwalik and Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) are called ‘Duns’ like Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun.

4. Differentiate between Himalayan and Peninsular drainage systems by giving any four differences in each.

Ans:

Himalayan River System

They are perennial rivers originating from glaciers.
Rivers form valleys through the process of erosion.
The rivers are ideal for irrigation purposes as they pass through plain, fertile tracts.
These rivers have meandering courses that shift over time.

Peninsular River System

Seasonal and dependent on rainfall.
Rivers are shallow and border.
Rivers are ideal for hydroelectric power.
Less meandering and follows the same path, but broader.

5. Give reasons:-

(i) Northern plains have fertile alluvial soil.

(ii) Indian desert has very less vegetation cover.

Ans:

(i) This plain is very fertile due to alluvial sediments brought by the rivers from the Himalayas.
(ii) This region has semi-arid and arid weather conditions. It receives less than 150 mm of rainfall per year. This is why the Indian desert has very little vegetation cover.