The Northern Plains of India are one of the most fertile regions in the world. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
Answer:
Answer by Student
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The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely — the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries.
- They cover an area of about 7 lakh square kilometers and extend from Punjab in the west to Assam in the east. They are also known as the Indo-Gangetic Plains or the Great Plains of India.
- They are formed by the deposition of alluvial soil by the rivers that originate from the Himalayas and the Peninsular Plateau.
- They are very fertile and suitable for agriculture , producing more than 70% of India’s food grains such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute, etc.
- They are also rich in mineral resources , crisscrossed by many rivers , and home to many civilizations and cultures .
Detailed Answer by Teachoo
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The
Northern Plains
of India are a large flat landmass that lies between the
Himalayas
in the north and the
Peninsular Plateau
in the south.
- They cover an area of about 7 lakh square kilometers and extend from Punjab in the west to Assam in the east, covering the states of Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
- They have an average elevation of 200 meters above sea level and a gentle slope from west to east.
-
They are also known as the
Indo-Gangetic Plains
or the
Great Plains
of India.
-
They are formed by the deposition of
alluvial soil
by the rivers that originate from the Himalayas and the Peninsular Plateau.
- Alluvial soil is a type of soil that is formed by the accumulation of sediments carried by rivers over a long period of time.
- Alluvial soil is very fertile and suitable for agriculture as it contains various nutrients and minerals.
-
The Northern Plains can be divided into three sections based on the age and texture of the soil:
- The Bhabar is a narrow belt along the foothills of the Himalayas where coarse alluvium deposits form porous beds.
- The Tarai is a marshy region south of the Bhabar where streams reappear and create swamps and lakes.
-
The
Alluvial Plains
are further subdivided into Khadar (new alluvium) and Bhangar (old alluvium) based on their location from the river banks.
-
They are very
fertile and suitable for agriculture
, producing more than 70% of India’s food grains.
- The Northern Plains have a favorable climate for growing various crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute, etc.
- The Northern Plains also have a well-developed irrigation system that utilizes canal, tube well, and tank irrigation methods.
-
The Northern Plains have witnessed the success of green revolution that increased agricultural productivity and output through improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
-
They are also
rich in mineral resources,
crisscrossed by many rivers, and home to many civilizations and cultures.
- The Northern Plains have abundant mineral resources such as coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, etc. that support various industries such as steel, power, textiles, etc.
- The Northern Plains are crisscrossed by many rivers such as Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus, etc. that provide irrigation, transportation, and hydroelectricity to millions of people.
- The Northern Plains have witnessed many civilizations such as Harappa, Maurya, Gupta, Mughal, etc., empires such as British Raj, invasions such as Alexander’s conquests or Islamic invasions,and movements such as freedom struggle or green revolution that have shaped India’s heritage and diversity.
