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Geography of India. India is located on a subcontinent in South Asia that juts into the Indian Ocean. A subcontinent is a large landmass that juts out from a continent (a large peninsula).
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Geography of India • India is located on a subcontinent in South Asia that juts into the Indian Ocean. • A subcontinent is a large landmass that juts out from a continent (a large peninsula). • Other countries located on the Indian subcontinent include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
The Northern Mountains • Towering, snow covered mountain ranges mark the northern border of the subcontinent, including the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas. • These mountains limited contact with other lands and helped India develop a distinct culture, yet the mountains were not a complete barrier. • Mountain passes, such as the Khyber Pass, served as routes for migration and invasions.
Mt. Everest Road through the Khyber Pass on Afghanistan - Pakistan boarder.
Geographic Zones • The Northern Plain lies just south of the mountains. • This fertile region is watered by mighty rivers, such as the Indus and Ganges (this region is also known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain) • These rivers and their tributaries carry melting snow from the mountains to the plains, making agriculture possible. • The Northern Plain was the birth place of India’s first civilization.
Geographic Zones • The Deccan Plateau is located south of the Northern Plain on the large triangular area surrounded by the Indian Ocean. • A plateau is a raised area of level land. • The Deccan is dry and arid, and as a result it is sparsely populated by nomadic peoples.
Geographic Zones • The coastal plains are found to the east and west of the Deccan. • They are separated from the Deccan by low-lying mountains called the Ghats • Regular rainfall and small rivers and streams make farming possible, but most people engage in fishing and trade.
The Monsoons • The climate of India is greatly affected by monsoons, or seasonal winds. • In October, the winter monsoon blows from the northeast, bringing a flow of hot dry air that withers the crops. • In late May or early June, the summer monsoon blows from the southwest, picking up moisture over the Indian Ocean, and drenching the land with daily down pours. • The people welcome the summer monsoon rains that are desperately needed to water crops. • If the rains are late, famine and starvation occur. If the rains are too heavy, rushing rivers unleash deadly floods.
