Study Guides/Geography/Physiographic Divisions of India
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What are the 6 Physiographic Divisions of India?

India is a massive, geographically diverse country. To study its complex physical features systematically, geographers divide the entire landmass into 6 major Physiographic Divisions.

Question (Click to Flip)

What are the 6 physiographic divisions of India?

Answer

The six divisions are: (1) The Himalayas, (2) The Northern Plains, (3) The Peninsular Plateau, (4) The Indian Desert, (5) The Coastal Plains, and (6) The Islands.

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Key Facts

Youngest Division: Himalayan Mountains.

Oldest Division: Peninsular Plateau (part of ancient Gondwana land).

Most Fertile Division: Northern Plains (thick alluvial soil).

Smallest Division: Islands (Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory).

The 6 Divisions

  1. The Himalayan Mountains: The young, towering fold mountains in the north forming a massive protective wall. Home to the world's highest peaks.
  2. The Northern Plains: The vast, fertile Ganga-Brahmaputra plains formed by alluvial deposits. The most densely populated and agriculturally rich region.
  3. The Peninsular Plateau: The ancient, hard Deccan Plateau โ€” the oldest landmass in India, made of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks.
  4. The Indian Desert (Thar): The arid Thar Desert in Rajasthan, receiving very low rainfall.
  5. The Coastal Plains: Narrow strips of land between the peninsula and the sea โ€” the Western Ghats coast and Eastern Ghats coast.
  6. The Islands: Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea) and Andaman & Nicobar (Bay of Bengal).

Questions and Answers

What are the 6 physiographic divisions of India?+

The six divisions are: (1) The Himalayas, (2) The Northern Plains, (3) The Peninsular Plateau, (4) The Indian Desert, (5) The Coastal Plains, and (6) The Islands.

Which is the oldest physiographic division of India?+

The Peninsular Plateau is the oldest, formed from the ancient Gondwana supercontinent billions of years ago.

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