Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity Notes Part 2
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India Notes PDF (Part 2)
Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India Notes Part 2
The Aravalli Hills : -
➨ The Aravalli Hills are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world.
➨ They are approximately 2.5 billion years old.
➨ The Aravalli range has many peaks and ridges.
➨ Mount Abu is the highest peak of the Aravallis, rising above 1700
metres.
➨ Most hills of the Aravalli range are between 300 and 900 metres high.
➨ The Aravallis extend through the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and
Gujarat.
➨ The Aravalli Hills play an important role in shaping the geography and
climate of northwestern India.
➨ They act as a natural barrier and prevent the Thar Desert from expanding
further eastward.
➨ The Aravallis are rich in minerals such as marble, granite, zinc and
copper.
➨ Mining activities in the Aravalli region have supported construction and
industries for centuries.
➨ The ancient mines of Zawar show that Indians mastered zinc extraction
more than eight centuries ago.
➨ Many historic forts are located in the Aravalli region, including
Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranthambore Fort.
➨ The hills provided natural protection to these forts against enemies.
The Peninsular Plateau : -
➣ A plateau is a
raised landform with a more or less flat surface and often has steep slopes on
its sides.
➣ India has
several plateaus, but the most important one is the Peninsular Plateau located
in the middle and southern parts of India.
➣ The Peninsular
Plateau is one of the oldest land formations of India.
➣ It is called a peninsular plateau because it is
surrounded by water on three sides by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian
Ocean.
➣ The plateau is
bordered by two mountain ranges, the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
➣ The Western
Ghats are higher and extend along the western coast like a wall.
➣ The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall during the
monsoon and have many beautiful waterfalls.
➣ The Western
Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their rich biodiversity and
natural beauty.
➣ The northern
part of the Western Ghats is also known as the Sahyadri Hills.
➣ The Eastern Ghats are lower and are made up of broken
hills along the eastern coast.
➣ The area
between the Western and Eastern Ghats is called the Deccan Plateau.
➣ The Deccan
Plateau is a vast region of flat highlands.
➣ Important
rivers flowing through the plateau include the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.
➣ These rivers
provide water for agriculture, industries and hydroelectric power generation.
➣ The Peninsular
Plateau is rich in minerals, forests and fertile land, making it important for
India’s economy.
➣ The plateau
slopes slightly towards the east, so many rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal.
➣ East-flowing
rivers include Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi.
➣ West-flowing
rivers like Narmada and Tapti drain into the Arabian Sea.
➣ The dense
forests of the plateau are home to many tribal communities.
➣ Important
tribal groups include Santhal, Gond, Baiga, Bhil and Korku.
➣ These tribal
communities have unique languages, traditions and lifestyles closely connected
with nature.
➣ Plateaus have
many waterfalls because rivers flow over uneven rocky surfaces.
➣ Waterfalls
attract tourists and help in irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
➣ The plateau
region is also rich in resources like coal, which is used for electricity
production.
India’s Amazing Coastlines : -
➣ India has a
coastline of more than 7500 km.
➣ The Indian
coastline includes beautiful beaches, rocky cliffs, forests and coral reefs.
➣ Some beaches
have golden sand, while some coastal areas have black rocks and thick forests.
➣ India’s coastline is divided into the Western Coast and Eastern Coast.
The West Coast of India : -
➣ The West Coast
extends from Gujarat to Kerala.
➣ It passes
through the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
➣ Most rivers on
the west coast originate from the Western Ghats.
➣ These rivers
flow quickly and form estuaries near the coast.
➣ The coastline
has features such as coves, creeks and estuaries.
➣ The Narmada
and Tapti rivers form the largest estuaries on the west coast.
➣ The West Coast
has many important ports and cities.
➣ Cities along
the west coast have been centres of trade and economic activities for thousands
of years.
➣ Mumbai is
located on the west coast and is an important financial centre of India.
The East Coast of India : -
➣ The East Coast
lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
➣ It stretches
from the Ganga Delta to Kanyakumari.
➣ The eastern
coastal plains are wider than the western coastal plains.
➣ Major rivers
like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri form large deltas on the east
coast.
➣ A delta is a
landform formed when rivers deposit sediments near their mouth.
➣ River deltas are usually triangular or fan-shaped and
are very fertile.
➣ The fertile
deltas of the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi rivers are ideal for
agriculture.
➣ Important
water bodies on the east coast include Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake.
➣ Pulicat Lake
is a lagoon, which is a water body separated from the sea by a natural barrier.
Indian Islands : -
➣ The Indian
Islands are groups of islands located in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay
of Bengal.
➣ These islands
are an important part of India’s territory.
➣ India has two
major island groups:
➣ Lakshadweep
Islands in the Arabian Sea.
➣ Andaman and
Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
➣ The Indian
Islands are known for their beautiful beaches, coral reefs, unique wildlife and
volcanoes.
➣ Several
ancient tribal communities have lived on these islands for thousands of years.
Lakshadweep Islands -
➣ The
Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea near the Malabar Coast of
Kerala.
➣ Lakshadweep is
an archipelago, which means a group of islands.
➣ It consists of
36 islands, most of which are formed from coral deposits.
➣ All islands of
Lakshadweep are not inhabited by people.
➣ The islands
are famous for their beautiful coral reefs, beaches and marine life.
➣ India controls
a large marine area around Lakshadweep, which helps in fishing, resource
exploration and environmental protection.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands -
➣ The Andaman
and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.
➣ This
archipelago consists of more than 500 large and small islands.
➣ These islands
are mainly of volcanic origin.
➣ They are
divided into two groups:
i. Andaman Islands
ii. Nicobar Islands
➣ The location
of these islands is strategically important because they act as outposts of
India in the ocean.
➣ They help
India to monitor and protect its surrounding ocean areas.
➣ The islands
have rich biodiversity with many types of plants and animals.
➣ They are
famous for their forests, coral reefs and unique wildlife.
Historical Importance of Andaman Islands : -
➣The Andaman Islands have great historical importance
in India’s freedom struggle.
➣ Many freedom fighters were imprisoned there during
British rule.
➣ They were kept in a famous prison complex called the
Cellular Jail.
➣ The Cellular Jail has been preserved as a reminder of
the sacrifices made by freedom fighters for India’s independence.
The Delta in West Bengal and the Sundarbans : -
➣ The Sundarbans are located in the delta region of the
Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
➣ The Sundarbans are situated in the eastern part of
India near the Bay of Bengal.
➣ This delta has a unique combination of river, sea and
land ecosystems.
➣ The Sundarbans delta is shared by India and
Bangladesh.
➣ About half of the Sundarbans lies in India and the
remaining part lies in Bangladesh.
➣ The Sundarbans are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
➣ The region is famous for its dense mangrove forests.
➣ The Sundarbans are home to many species of plants and
animals.
➣ The Royal Bengal Tiger is one of the most famous
animals found in the Sundarbans.
➣ The mangrove forests protect the coastal areas from
storms and help maintain ecological balance.
The Hills of the Northeast : -
➣ The hills of the Northeast are located in the
northeastern part of India.
➣ The important hill ranges include the Garo Hills,
Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills.
➣ These hills are part of the Meghalaya Plateau.
➣ The region is known for its lush green forests, heavy
rainfall and beautiful waterfalls.
➣ Meghalaya receives some of the highest rainfall in
the world.
➣The high rainfall supports rich forests, unique
wildlife and fertile land.
➣ The region has many tribal communities with their own
cultures and traditions.
➣ The Khasi people celebrate festivals such as Shad Suk
Mynsiem to show gratitude towards nature.
➣ Meghalaya is famous for its beautiful living root
bridges, which are made by weaving the roots of trees over many years.
➣ These natural bridges show the traditional knowledge
and harmony of people with nature.
Mawlynnong Village : -
➣ Mawlynnong Village is located in the East Khasi Hills
of Meghalaya.
➣ It is famous as the “cleanest village in Asia”.
➣ The village is known for its cleanliness, bamboo
dustbins and eco-friendly lifestyle.
➣ The people of Mawlynnong follow sustainable practices
to protect the environment.
➣ The village is also famous for its unique living root
bridges.
Importance of India’s Geographical Diversity : -
➣ India has a wide variety of geographical features,
from the snow-covered Himalayas to the hot Thar Desert.
➣ The fertile plains of India are nourished by many
rivers.
➣ The Peninsular Plateau lies between the Arabian Sea
and the Bay of Bengal.
➣ Different geographical regions provide different
types of soil, plants, animals and economic opportunities.
➣ India’s diverse geography has helped develop a rich
variety of cultures and traditions.
➣ These geographical features have played an important
role in shaping Indian civilisation and human life.