Geography of India
Class Discussion: In what ways would you describe India’s geography?
Physical Geography of India
India is a SUBCONTINENT, which is a large
landmass that is like a continent, only smaller.
The subcontinent includes present-day Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal, and most of Pakistan.
Bhutan
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nepal
India
http://safeshare.tv/v/ss564a3978115be
Geographers think the kite-shaped Indian
subcontinent used to be a separate land. It inched
north until it hit Asia. The collision pushed up
mountains where the two lands met.
http://safeshare.tv/w/yPJcazHxyB
What that
collision
created so
many millions
of years ago is
still growing.
Inch by inch,
year by year.
The mountains
are one of the
most aweinspiring
features of
planet Earth.
https://safeshare.tv/x/ss5845e77f12567
Mountains
Those high mountains tower over the northern borders of
India. They form several mountain ranges including the Hindu Kush
and the Himalayas. In the southwest and southeast are the Western
and Eastern Ghats ranges. LABEL THE RANGES ON YOUR MAP.
HINDU KUSH:
A large
mountain range that
separates India from Western
Asia. It covers 60,000 square
miles.
HIMALAYAS:
The world’s largest
mountain range. It covers 420,000
square miles. The 10 tallest
mountains on Earth are located
here, including Mt. Everest
(29,029ft)
WESTERN GHATS:
This range stretches
almost 1000 miles along
the western portion of
the land mass.
EASTERN GHATS:
Similar
to the Western Ghats, this
range stretches roughly 1000
miles.
Waterways
In addition to tall mountains, the subcontinent has several great rivers. These include the
Ganges and the Indus Rivers.
Like other rivers you have studied, these two rivers carry water for irrigation. The deposited silt
made the land very fertile. The first Indian civilization was located near the Indus River valley.
INDUS RIVER
1,976 miles
GANGES RIVER
1,596 miles
The Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal surround India. Ancient
Indians sailed these waters to other ancient lands, such as Mesopotamia.
This travel helped encourage trade.
LABEL THE WATERWAYS
http://safeshare.tv/v/ss5649ed0dbed5e
Climate
The tall mountains help block cold north winds from reaching much of
India. As a result, temperatures are generally warm there. In addition, a
seasonal winds called, MONSOONS, shape India’s climate. Because of the
monsoon, India has a dry season in the winter a rainy season in the summer.
India’s summer monsoon provides rain for India’s crops. But these rains
can also cause severe floods.
INFERENCE QUESTION: Would people living throughout ancient India have been protected
from outside invaders? Explain your answer.