Geography's Influence on Indian Life: The Subcontinent, Rivers & Monsoons

1. India Geography’s affect on the Indian people The Indian subcontinent The physical regions of India The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus rivers The Indian Monsoon

2. The Indian Subcontinent • India is apart of a larger piece of land called the Indian “Subcontinent” • A landmass that is part of a continent but is geographically an independent entity • India is separated from Asia by the Himalaya and Hindu Kush Mountains • The Indian subcontinent is divided into three major physical regions • The Northern Mountains • The Indo- Gangetic Plain • The Deccan Plateau

3. The Northern Mountains • Himalayan Mountains • Tallest mountain range in the world • 20 mountains that are over 24,000 ft. high • Creates the majority of the northern border of India • Source of important rivers to India • Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers

4. The Northern Mountains • Hindu Kush • Named for their danger • Kush= Death • Extremely rugged • Like the Himalayas are a source of water for much needed rivers

5. Indo- Gangetic plain • Area that surrounds the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers • Best farmland in India • No coincidence that this is one of the two most densely populated areas in India • They farm rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, and tea

6. Ganges River • Begins in the Himalayas and flows 1500 miles directly through the Indo- Gangetic plain • Important for farming, trade, and transportation • Holiest river of Hinduism • Home to the Goddess Ganga • Hindus believe they must purify themselves in it • Travel down the sacred “Ghats” or steps • Bathe and drink water to wash away their sins • Ashes of the dead are scattered in the water

7. Ganges River • One of the most polluted rivers on earth • Raw sewage, industrial waste, dead animals and humans have poisoned the water • Toxic chemicals and bacteria • Dangerous to Hindus who bath in and drink it • Hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera are common • Many Hindus travel as far upstream as they can before purifying themselves • Cities like Varanasi get many bathers because of the relatively clean water • Less pollution

8. Indus River • Begins in the Himalayas and flows 1975 miles through the country of Pakistan • Formerly apart of India • Important to the development of the first cities and civilizations in India • Mohenjo- Daro and Harrapan civilizations • Important for farming, trade, and transportation • Today it the at the front lines of conflict between India and Pakistan • Fighting over the fertile cotton fields of Kashmir

9. Brahmaputra River • Begins in the Himalayas and flows 1100 miles through northern Indian the country of Bangladesh • Important for farming, trade, and transportation • Important to Hinduism like the Ganges • Represents one of the main gods of Hinduism called Vishnu • The river is credited with preserving all life along its banks

10. The Monsoon • India has two major seasons • Summer is hot and very wet • Winter is cool and very dry (still hot) • The climate is caused by the “Monsoon” • Seasonal winds • During summer the winds come from the Indian Ocean & bring large amounts of rain • During winter the winds come from the land and are dry

11. The Monsoon • Summer monsoon is essential for survival • Brings needed water for farming • But the heavy rains also cause great devastation • Flooding and “cyclones” are common • Violent storms like hurricanes • Eastern India and Bangladesh suffers great damage almost every year • Villages and farms are flooded and destroyed • Overflowing of rivers • Ganges and Brahmaputra