S.

Topic Page
No. No.

1. The Earth In The Solar System 2

2. Global Latitudes And Longitudes

4
3. Motions Of The Earth 7

4. Maps 10

5. Major Domaines Of The Earth 13

6. Major Landforms Of The Earth 16

7. Our Country India 18

8. India-Climate Vegetation And Wildife 20

Click the page no. to reach the following chapter/page*

1
 Chapter 1 Notes
The Earth In The Solar System
Overview
At night the whole sky is filled with tiny shining objects some are bright, others
dim. They all appear to be twinkling. A full moon occurs once in about a month’s
time called Full moon night or Poornima. A fortnight later, you cannot see the
moon at all, which is called New moon night or Amavasya.
Celestial bodies – The sun, the moon and all those objects shining in the night
sky are called celestial bodies. Some celestial bodies are very big and hot. They
are made up of gases.
Stars – Stars are celestial bodies which have their own heat and light, which they
emit in large amounts. The sun is a star.
Constellations: In the night sky, various patterns are formed by different groups
of stars called constellations. Ursa Major or Big Bear is one such constellation.
One of the most easily recognisable constellations is the Saptarishi (Saptaseven,
rishi-sages). It is a group of seven stars that forms a part of Ursa Major
Constellation.
In ancient times, people used to determine directions during the night with the
help of stars. The North star indicates the north direction. It is also called the Pole
Star. It always remains in the same position in the sky.
Planets – Planets are celestial bodies that do not have their own heat and light.
They are lit by the light of the stars. The word ‘planet’ comes from the Greek word
“Planetai” which means ‘wanderers’.
The earth on which we live is a planet. It gets all its heat and light from the sun.
The moon that we see in the sky is a satellite. It is a companion of our earth and
moves around it. Like our earth, there are seven other planets that get heat and
light from the sun. Some of them have their moons too.

The Solar System

The sun, eight planets, satellites and some other celestial bodies known as
asteroids and meteoroids form the solar system.
The Sun
The sun is in the centre of the solar system. It is huge and made up of extremely
hot gases. It provides the pulling force that binds the solar system. The sun is the
ultimate source of heat and light for the solar system. The sun is about 150
million km away from earth.
Planets

2
There are eight planets in our solar system. In order of their distance from the
sun, they are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
All the eight planets of the solar system move around the sun in fixed paths.
These paths are called orbits. Mercury is nearest to the sun. It takes only about 88
days to complete one round along its orbit. Venus is considered as ‘Earth’s-twin’
because its size and shape are very much similar to that of the earth. Till recently
(August 2006), Pluto was also considered a planet. However, in a meeting of the
International Astronomical Union, a decision was taken that Pluto, like other
celestial objects (Ceres, 2003 UB313) discovered in recent past may be called
‘dwarf planets.”
The Earth
The earth is the third nearest planet to the sun. In size, it is the fifth-largest planet.
It is slightly flattened at the poles. The Earth shape is described as a Geoid.
Conditions favourable to support life are probably found only on the earth. It has
water and air, which are very essential for survival. The air has life-supporting
gases like oxygen. From the outer space, the earth appears blue because its two-
thirds surface is covered by water. It is also called a blue planet.
The Moon
Moon is the earth’s satellite. Its diameter is only one-quarter that of the earth. It
appear so big because it is nearer to our planet than other celestial bodies. It is
about 3,84,400 km away from us. The moon moves around the earth in about 27
days. It takes exactly the same time to complete one spin. As a result, only one
side of the moon is visible to us on the earth. The moon does not have conditions
favourable for life. It has mountains, plains and depressions on its surface. These
cast shadows on the moon’s surface.
Asteroids
Asteroids are tiny bodies that move around the sun. They are found between the
orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Scientists are of the view that asteroids are parts of a
planet, which exploded many years back.
Meteoroids
The small pieces of rocks, which move around the sun are called meteoroids.
Sometimes, these meteoroids come near the earth and tend to drop upon it.
During this process due to friction with the air, they get heated up and burn. It
causes a flash of light. Sometimes, a meteor without being completely burnt falls
on the earth and creates a hollow.
A cluster of millions of stars is called the Milky Way galaxy. Our solar system is a
part of this galaxy. In ancient India, it was imagined to be a river of light flowing in
the sky. Thus, it was named Akash Ganga.
Galaxy – A galaxy is a huge system of billions of stars, and clouds of dust and
gases. There are millions of such galaxies that make the Universe.

3
 Chapter 2 Notes
Global Latitudes And Longitudes
Overview
Globes are of various sizes and types such as big ones, small pocket globes, and
globe-like balloons. The globe is not fixed and can be rotated the same way as a
topspin or a potter’s wheel is rotated. On the globe, countries, continents and
oceans are shown in their correct size.
A needle is fixed through the globe in a tilted manner, which is called its axis.
Two points on the globe through which the needle passes are two poles – North
Pole and South Pole.
The globe can be moved around this needle from west to east just as the earth
moves. But, there is a major difference. The real earth moves around its axis,
which is an imaginary line. Another imaginary line running on the globe divides it
into two equal parts. This line is known as the equator. The northern half of the
earth is known as the Northern Hemisphere and the southern half is known as the
Southern Hemisphere. They are both equal halves.
The equator is an imaginary circular line to locate places on the earth. All parallel
circles from the equator up to the poles are called parallels of latitudes. Latitudes
are measured in degrees.
The equator represents the zero degree latitude. Since the distance from the
equator to either of the poles is one-fourth of a circle round the earth, it will
measure ¼th of 360 degrees, i.e. 90°. Thus, 90 degrees north latitude marks the
North Pole and 90 degrees south latitude marks the South Pole.
All parallels north of the equator are called ‘north latitudes.’ Similarly all parallels
south of the equator are called ‘south latitudes.’ The value of each latitude is,
indicated by the letter ‘N’ or ‘S’.

Important Parallels of Latitude

There are four important parallels of latitudes

1. Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) in the Northern Hemisphere.

2. Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. Arctic Circle at 66½° north of the equator.
4. Antarctic Circle at 66½° south of the equator.

Heat Zones of the Earth

Torrid Zones – The mid-day sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all
latitudes in between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This area,
therefore, receives the maximum heat and is called the Torrid Zone.

4
Temperate Zones – The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude
beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The angle of the sun’s
rays goes on decreasing towards the poles. As such, the areas bounded by the
Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Tropic
of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, have moderate
temperatures. These are called Temperate Zones.
Frigid Zones – Areas lying between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole in the
Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole in the Southern
Hemisphere are very cold. It is because here the sun does not rise much above
the horizon. Therefore, its rays are always slanting and provide less heat. These
are called Frigid Zones.

What are Longitudes?

Meridians of longitude are drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole and are at
right angles to the Equator. The distances between meridians of longitude are
measured in degrees of longitude. Each degree is further divided into minutes,
and minutes into seconds.
Prime Meridian is an imaginary line on Earth that passes north to south through
the Greenwich Observatory in London, England. The prime meridian divides
Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. The prime
meridian is at 0° (0 degrees) longitude. The longitude of a place is followed by the
letter E for the east and W for the west.

Longitude and Time

The best means of measuring time is by the movement of the earth, the moon and
the planets. When the Prime Meridian of Greenwich has the sun at the highest
point in the sky, all the places along this meridian will have mid-day or noon. As
the earth rotates from west to east, those places east of Greenwich will be ahead
of Greenwich time and those to the west will be behind it.
The rate of difference can be calculated as follows. The earth rotates 360° in
about 24 hours, which means 15° an hour or 1° in four minutes. Thus, when it is
12 noon at Greenwich, the time at 15° east of Greenwich will be 15 × 4 = 60
minutes, i.e., 1 hour ahead of Greenwich time, which means 1 p.m. But at 15° west
of Greenwich, the time will be behind Greenwich time by one hour, i.e., it will be
11.00 a.m. Similarly, at 180°, it will be midnight when it is 12 noon at Greenwich.

Why do we have Standard Time?

The local time of places, which are on different meridians are bound to differ. In
India, for instance, there will be a difference of about 1 hour and 45 minutes in the
local times of Dwarka in Gujarat and Dibrugarh in Assam. It is, therefore,
necessary to adopt the local time of some central meridian of a country as the
standard time for the country. In India, the longitude of 82½° E (82° 30’E) is
treated as the standard meridian. The local time at this meridian is taken as the

5
standard time for the whole country. It is known as the Indian Standard Time
(IST).

6
 Chapter 3 Notes
Motions Of The Earth
Overview
The Earth has two types of motions, rotation and revolution.
Rotation – It is the movement of the earth on its axis.
Revolution – The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is
called Revolution.
Orbital Plane – The axis of the earth, which is an imaginary line, makes an angle
of 66½° with its orbital plane. The plane formed by the orbit is known as the
orbital plane.
The earth receives light from the sun and due to its spherical shape, only half of it
gets light from the sun at a time. The portion facing the sun experiences day
while the other half, away from the sun, experiences night.
Illumination – The circle that divides the day from night on the globe is called the
circle of illumination. The earth takes about 24 hours to complete one rotation
around its axis. The period of rotation is known as the earth day.
The second motion of the earth around the sun in its orbit is called revolution. It
takes 365¼ days (one year) to revolve around the sun. A year consists of 365
days and we ignore six hours for the sake of convenience. Six hours saved every
year are added to make one day (24 hours) over a span of four years. This surplus
day is added to the month of February. Thus every fourth year, February is of 29
days instead of 28 days. Such a year with 366 days is called a leap year.
A year is divided into summer, winter, spring and autumn seasons. Seasons
change due to the change in the position of the earth around the sun.
The areas near the poles receive less heat as the rays of the sun are slanting. The
North Pole is inclined towards the sun and the places beyond the Arctic Circle
experience continuous daylight for about six months. Since a large portion of the
Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions
north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night at these places occur
on 21st June.
At this time in the Southern Hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed. It is
winter season there. The nights are longer than the days. This position of the
earth is called the Summer Solstice. On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn
receives direct rays of the sun as the South Pole tilts towards it. As the sun’s rays
fall vertically at the Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S), a larger portion of the Southern
Hemisphere gets light. Therefore, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere with
longer days and shorter nights.

7
The reverse happens in the Northern Hemisphere. This position of the earth is
called the Winter Solstice. On 21st March and September 23rd, direct rays of the
sun fall on the equator. At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the
sun; so, the whole earth experiences equal days and equal nights. This is called
an equinox. On 23rd September, it is autumn season in the Northern Hemisphere
and spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.
The opposite is the case on 21st March when it is spring in the Northern
Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

Overview
Map – A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it
drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.
Atlas – When many maps are put together we get an Atlas. Atlases are of various
sizes, measurements drawn on different scales.
They are of different types of maps. Some of them are described below.
Physical Maps
Maps showing natural features of the earth such as mountains, plateaus, plains,
rivers, oceans etc., are called physical or relief maps.
Political Maps
Maps showing cities, towns and villages, and different countries and states of the
world with their boundaries are called political maps.
Thematic Maps
Some maps that focus on specific information; such as road maps, rainfall maps,
maps showing distribution of forests, industries etc., are known as thematic
maps.
There are three Components of Maps – distance, direction and symbol.
Distance
Scale is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance
shown on the map. Scale is very important on any map. If you know the scale,
you will be able to calculate the distance between any two places on a map. When
large areas like continents or countries are to be shown on paper, then we use a
small scale. It is called a small scale map. When a small area like your village or
town is to be shown on paper, then we use a large scale that is 5 cm. It is called a
large scale map.

Direction
There are four major directions, North, South, East and West. They are called
cardinal points. Other four intermediate directions are north-east (NE), southeast
(SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW). We can find out the direction of a

8
place with the help of a compass. It is an instrument used to find out main
directions. Its magnetic needle always points towards north-south direction.

Symbols
It is the third important component of a map. It is not possible to draw on a map
the actual shape and size of different features such as buildings, roads, etc. So,
they are shown by using certain letters, shades, colours, pictures and lines.
These symbols give a lot of information in a limited space. Maps have a universal
language that can be understood by all. There is an international agreement
regarding the use of these symbols. These are called conventional symbols.
Various colours are used for the same purpose. For example, generally blue is
used for showing water bodies, brown for mountain, yellow for plateau and green
is used for plains.

Sketch
A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to
scale. Sometimes a rough drawing is required of an area to tell where a particular
place is located with respect to other places. Such a rough drawing is drawn
without scale and is called a sketch map.

Plan
A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale. A large-scale map gives a lot
of information, but there are certain things, which we may sometimes want to
know, for example the length and breadth of a room, which can’t be shown in a
map. At that time, we can refer drawings drawn to scale called a plan.

9
 Chapter 4 Notes
Maps
Overview
Lithosphere – The solid portion of the earth on which we live is called the
Lithosphere.
Atmosphere – The gaseous layers that surround the earth, where oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases are found.
Hydrosphere – The earth’s surface surrounded by water is called the
Hydrosphere. The Hydrosphere comprises water in all its forms, that is, ice, water
and water vapour.
Biosphere – The Biosphere is the narrow zone where we find land, water and air
together, which contains all forms of life.

Lithosphere
The solid portion of the earth is called the Lithosphere. It comprises the rocks of
the earth’s crust and the thin layers of soil that contain nutrient elements, which
sustain organisms. There are two main divisions of the earth’s surface. The large
land masses are known as the continents and the huge water bodies are called
the ocean basins. All the oceans of the world are connected with one another.
The level of seawater remains the same everywhere. Elevation of land is
measured from the level of the sea, which is taken as zero.
Continents
There are seven major continents separated by large water bodies. These
continents are – Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia
and Antarctica.
Asia is the largest continent. It covers about one-third of the total land area of the
earth. The continent lies in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer passes
through this continent. Asia is separated from Europe by the Ural mountains in
the west. The combined landmass of Europe and Asia is called Eurasia.
Europe is much smaller than Asia. The continent lies to the west of Asia. The
Arctic Circle passes through it. It is bound by water bodies on three sides.
Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia. The Equator or 0° latitude runs
almost through the middle of the continent. A large part of Africa lies in the
Northern Hemisphere. The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, is
located in Africa. The continent is bound on all sides by oceans and seas.
North America is the third largest continent of the world. It is linked to South
America by a very narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama. The

10
continent lies completely in the Northern and Western Hemisphere. Three oceans
surround this continent.
South America lies mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. The Andes, the world’s
longest mountain range, runs through its length from north to south. South
America has the world’s largest river, the Amazon.
Australia is the smallest continent that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It
is surrounded on all sides by the oceans and seas. It is called an island continent.
Antarctica, completely in the Southern Hemisphere, is a huge continent. The
South Pole lies almost at the centre of this continent. As it is located in the South
Polar Region, it is permanently covered with thick ice sheets.

Hydrosphere
The earth is called the blue planet. More than 71% of the earth is covered with
water and 29% is with land. Hydrosphere consists of water in all its forms. More
than 97% of the Earth’s water is found in the oceans and is too salty for human
use. A large proportion of the rest of the water is in the form of ice sheets and
glaciers or under the ground and a very small percentage is available as
freshwater for human use.
Oceans
Oceans are a major part of the hydrosphere. They are all interconnected. The
three chief movements of ocean waters are the waves, the tides and the ocean
currents. The five major oceans are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the
Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean. It is spread over one-third of the earth.
Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the earth, lies in the Pacific Ocean. The
Pacific Ocean is almost circular in shape. Asia, Australia, North and South
Americas surround it.
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean in the world. It is ‘S’ shaped. It is
flanked by the North and South Americas on the western side, and Europe and
Africa on the eastern side. The coastline of the Atlantic Ocean is highly indented.
This irregular and indented coastline provides an ideal location for natural
harbours and ports. From the point of view of commerce, it is the busiest Ocean.
The Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country, that is, India. The
shape of the ocean is almost triangular. In the north, it is bound by Asia, in the
west by Africa and in the east by Australia.
The Southern Ocean encircles the continent of Antarctica and extends northward
to 60 degrees south latitude.
The Arctic Ocean is located within the Arctic Circle and surrounds the North Pole.
It is connected with the Pacific Ocean by a narrow stretch of shallow water known
as Berring strait. It is bound by the northern coasts of North America and Eurasia.

11
Atmosphere
The earth is surrounded by a layer of gas called the atmosphere. It provides us
with the air we breathe and protects us from the harmful effects of sun’s rays.
The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on composition, temperature
and other properties. These layers starting from earth’s surface are called the
troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere and the
exosphere.
The atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, which make up
about 99% of clean, dry air. Nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21% and other gases like
carbon dioxide, argon and others comprise 1% by volume.
Oxygen is the breath of life while nitrogen helps in the growth of living
organisms. Carbon dioxide, though present in a minute amount, is important as it
absorbs heat radiated by the earth, thereby keeping the planet warm. It is also
essential for the growth of plants.
The density of the atmosphere varies with height. It is maximum at sea level and
decreases rapidly as we go up. The temperature also decreases as we go
upwards. The atmosphere exerts pressure on the earth. Air moves from high
pressure to low pressure. Moving air is known as wind.

Biosphere – The Domain of Life

The biosphere is the narrow zone of contact between the land, water and air. It is
in this zone that life, that is unique to this planet, exists. There are several
species of organisms that vary in size from microbes and bacteria to huge
mammals. All the living organisms including humans are linked to each other and
to the biosphere for survival. The organisms in the biosphere are broadly divided
into the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom.
The three domains of the earth interact with each other and affect each other in
some way or the other. For example, cutting of forests for fulfilling our needs of
wood, or clearing land for agriculture may lead to fast removal of soil from
slopes. Similarly, earth’s surface may be changed due to natural calamities like
earthquakes.
Discharge of waste material into lakes and rivers makes the water unsuitable for
human use. It also damages other forms of life. Emissions from industries,
thermal power plants and vehicles, pollute the air. Carbon dioxide (CO 2) is an
important constituent of air. But increase in the amount of CO 2 leads to increase
in global temperatures. This is termed as global warming.

12
 Chapter 5 Notes
Major Domaines Of The Earth
Overview
The earth has an infinite variety of landforms. These landforms are a result of two
processes. Within the earth, a continuous movement is taking place. The first or
the internal process leads to the upliftment and sinking of the earth’s surface at
several places. The second, or the external process is the continuous wearing
down and rebuilding of the land surface. The wearing away of the earth’s surface
is called erosion. The surface is being lowered by the process of erosion and
rebuilt by the process of deposition. These two processes are carried out by
running water, ice and wind.

Mountains
A mountain is any natural elevation of the earth’s surface. It may have a small
summit and a broad base. It is considerably higher than the surrounding area.
Some mountains are even higher than the clouds. The climate becomes colder
when we go higher. In some mountains, there are permanently frozen rivers of
ice. They are called glaciers. There are some mountains deep under the sea.
Owing to harsh climate, less people live in the mountain areas. Since the slopes
are steep, less land is available for farming.
Mountains may be arranged in a line known as range. The Himalayas, the Alps
and the Andes are mountain ranges of Asia, Europe and South America,
respectively. Mountains vary in their heights and shape.
There are three types of mountains- Fold Mountains, Block Mountains and the
Volcanic Mountains. The Himalayan Mountains and the Alps are young fold
mountains with rugged relief and high conical peaks. The Aravali range in India is
one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world. The Appalachians in North
America and the Ural mountains in Russia have rounded features and low
elevation. They are very old fold mountains.
Block Mountains are created when large areas are broken and displaced
vertically. The uplifted blocks are termed as horsts and the lowered blocks are
called graben. The Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain in Europe are examples
of such mountain systems.
Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic activity. Mt.Kilimanjaro in Africa
and Mt.Fujiyama in Japan are examples of such mountains. Mountains are very
useful. They are a storehouse of water. Many rivers have their source in the
glaciers in the mountains. Reservoirs are made and the water is harnessed for the
use of people.
Water from the mountains is also used for irrigation and generation of hydro-
electricity. The river valleys and terraces are ideal for cultivation of crops.

13
Mountains have a rich variety of flora and fauna. The forests provide fuel, fodder,
shelter and other products like gum, raisins, etc.

Plateaus
A plateau is an elevated flat land. It is a flat-topped tableland standing above the
surrounding area. A plateau may have one or more sides with steep slopes. The
height of plateaus often varies from a few hundred metres to several thousand
metres. Plateaus, like mountains, may be young or old. The Deccan plateau in
India is one of the oldest plateaus. The East African Plateau in Kenya, Tanzania
and Uganda and the Western plateau of Australia are other examples. The Tibet
plateau (Figure 5.1, p.31) is the highest plateau in the world with a height of 4,000
to 6,000 metres above the mean sea level.
Plateaus are very useful because they are rich in mineral deposits. As a result,
many of the mining areas in the world are located in the plateau areas. The
African plateau is famous for gold and diamond mining. In India huge reserves of
iron, coal and manganese are found in the Chhotanagpur plateau. In the plateau
areas, there may be several waterfalls as the river falls from a great height. In
India, the Hundru falls in the Chhotanagpur plateau on the river Subarnarekha
and the Jog falls in Karnataka are examples of such waterfalls. The lava plateaus
are rich in black soil that are fertile and good for cultivation. Many plateaus have
scenic spots and are of great attraction to tourists.

Plains
Plains are large stretches of flat land, not more than 200 metres above mean sea
level. Some plains are extremely level and others may be slightly rolling and
undulating. Most of the plains are formed by rivers and their tributaries. The
rivers flow down the slopes of mountains and erode them. They carry forward the
eroded material. Then they deposit their load consisting of stones, sand and silt
along their courses and in their valleys. It is from these deposits that plains are
formed.
Plains are very fertile, which makes it easier for construction of transport
purposes. These plains are very thickly-populated regions of the world. Some of
the largest plains made by the rivers are found in Asia and North America. For
example, in Asia, these plains are formed by the Ganga and the Brahmaputra in
India and the Yangtze in China.
Plains are the most useful areas for human habitation. There is great
concentration of people as more flat land is available for building houses, as well
as for cultivation. Because of fertile soils, the land is highly productive for
cultivation. In India too, the Indo-Gangetic plains are the most densely populated
regions of the country.

Landforms and the People

14
Humans have been living on different kinds of landforms in different ways. Life is
difficult in mountainous areas. Plains provide much better conditions. It is easier
to grow crops, build a house or a road in a plain than a mountain. Natural
calamities such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms and floods cause
widespread destruction. Quite often we use land for wasteful purposes, for
example constructing houses on fertile land. Similarly, we throw garbage on land
or in water making them dirty.

Chapter 6 Notes

15
 Major Landforms Of The Earth

Overview
India is a country of vast geographical expanse bounded by the lofty Himalayas,
Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. India has an area of about
3.28 million sq. km. The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is
about 3,200 km. And the east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh is
about 2,900 km.
The lofty mountains, the Great Indian Desert, the Northern Plains, the uneven
plateau surface and the coasts and islands present a diversity of landforms.
There is a great variety in the climate, vegetation, wildlife as well as in the
language and culture. India has a population of more than one hundred twenty
crores since the year 2011. It is the second-most populous country of the world
after China.

Locational Setting
India is located in the northern hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’N)
passes almost halfway through the country. From south to north, mainland of
India extends between 8°4’N and 37°6’N latitudes. From west to east, India
extends between 68°7’E and 97°25’E longitudes. Due to great longitudinal extent
of about 29°, there could be wide differences in local time of places located at two
extreme points of India. As such, the difference between these two points would
be of about two hours.

India’s Neighbours
There are seven countries that share land boundaries with India.

Political and Administrative Divisions

India is a vast country divided into 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Telangana
became the 29th state of India on 2 June 2014. It was previously a part of Andhra
Pradesh. Delhi is the national capital. The states have been formed mainly on the
basis of languages.

Physical Divisions
India has diversity of physical features such as mountains, plateaus, plains,
coasts and islands. Himalaya mean ‘the abode of snow’. The Himalayan
mountains are divided into three main parallel ranges. The northernmost is the
Great Himalaya or Himadri. The world’s highest peaks are located in this range.
Middle Himalaya or Himachal lies to the south of Himadri.

16
The Northern Indian plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. They are generally
level and flat. These are formed by the alluvial deposits laid down by the rivers–
the Indus, the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and their tributaries. These river plains
provide fertile land for cultivation. That is the reason for high concentration of
population in these plains.
In the western part of India lies the Great Indian desert, dry, hot and sandy stretch
of land. To the south of northern plains lies the Peninsular plateau. This is a
region with numerous hill ranges and valleys. Aravalli hills, one of the oldest
ranges of the world, border it on the north-west side. The Vindhyas and the
Satpuras are the important ranges. The rivers Narmada and Tapi flow through
these ranges. These are west-flowing rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The
Western Ghats or Sahyadri’s border the plateau in the west and the Eastern
Ghats provide the eastern boundary. The plateau is rich in minerals like coal and
iron-ore. To the West of the Western Ghats and the East of Eastern Ghats lie the
Coastal plains. The western coastal plains are very narrow. The eastern Coastal
plains are much broader. There are a number of east flowing rivers. The rivers
Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri drain into the Bay of Bengal. These
rivers have formed fertile deltas at their mouth. The Sunderban delta is formed
where the Ganga and Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal.
Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea. These are coral islands
located off the coast of Kerala. The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands lie to the
southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.

Chapter 7 Notes
17
 Our Country India
Overview
India is a country of vast geographical expanse bounded by the lofty Himalayas,
Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. India has an area of about
3.28 million sq. km. The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is
about 3,200 km. And the east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh is
about 2,900 km.
The lofty mountains, the Great Indian Desert, the Northern Plains, the uneven
plateau surface and the coasts and islands present a diversity of landforms.
There is a great variety in the climate, vegetation, wildlife as well as in the
language and culture. India has a population of more than one hundred twenty
crores since the year 2011. It is the second-most populous country of the world
after China.

Locational Setting
India is located in the northern hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’N)
passes almost halfway through the country. From south to north, mainland of
India extends between 8°4’N and 37°6’N latitudes. From west to east, India
extends between 68°7’E and 97°25’E longitudes. Due to great longitudinal extent
of about 29°, there could be wide differences in local time of places located at two
extreme points of India. As such, the difference between these two points would
be of about two hours.

India’s Neighbours
There are seven countries that share land boundaries with India.

Political and Administrative Divisions

India is a vast country divided into 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Telangana
became the 29th state of India on 2 June 2014. It was previously a part of Andhra
Pradesh. Delhi is the national capital. The states have been formed mainly on the
basis of languages.

Physical Divisions
India has diversity of physical features such as mountains, plateaus, plains,
coasts and islands. Himalaya mean ‘the abode of snow’. The Himalayan
mountains are divided into three main parallel ranges. The northernmost is the
Great Himalaya or Himadri. The world’s highest peaks are located in this range.
Middle Himalaya or Himachal lies to the south of Himadri.
The Northern Indian plains lie to the south of the Himalayas. They are generally
level and flat. These are formed by the alluvial deposits laid down by the rivers–

18
the Indus, the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and their tributaries. These river plains
provide fertile land for cultivation. That is the reason for high concentration of
population in these plains.
In the western part of India lies the Great Indian desert, dry, hot and sandy stretch
of land. To the south of northern plains lies the Peninsular plateau. This is a
region with numerous hill ranges and valleys. Aravalli hills, one of the oldest
ranges of the world, border it on the north-west side. The Vindhyas and the
Satpuras are the important ranges. The rivers Narmada and Tapi flow through
these ranges. These are west-flowing rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The
Western Ghats or Sahyadri’s border the plateau in the west and the Eastern
Ghats provide the eastern boundary. The plateau is rich in minerals like coal and
iron-ore. To the West of the Western Ghats and the East of Eastern Ghats lie the
Coastal plains. The western coastal plains are very narrow. The eastern Coastal
plains are much broader. There are a number of east flowing rivers. The rivers
Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri drain into the Bay of Bengal. These
rivers have formed fertile deltas at their mouth. The Sunderban delta is formed
where the Ganga and Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal.
Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea. These are coral islands
located off the coast of Kerala. The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands lie to the
southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.

Chapter 8 Notes
India-Climate Vegetation And Wildife

19
The major seasons recognised in India are:

1. Cold Weather Season (Winter) December to February

2. Hot Weather Season (Summer) March to May
3. Southwest Monsoon Season (Rainy) June to September
4. Season of Retreating Monsoon (Autumn) October and November

Cold Weather Season or Winter

During the winter season, the sun rays do not fall directly in the region. As a
result, the temperatures are quite low in northern India.

Hot Weather Season or Summer

In the hot weather season sun rays more or less directly fall in this region. The
temperature becomes very high. Hot and dry winds called loo, blow during the
day.

South-West Monsoon Season or Rainy Season

This season is marked by the onset and advance of monsoon. The winds blow
from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land. They carry moisture with
them. When these winds strike the mountain barriers, rainfall occurs.

Season of Retreating Monsoon or Autumn

Winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of Bengal. This season is called
the retreating monsoons. The southern parts of India, particularly Tamil Nadu and
Andhra Pradesh receive rainfall in this season.
The climate is about the average weather condition, which has been measured
over many years. The climate of India has broadly been described as Monsoon
type.
Monsoon is taken from the Arabic word ‘mausim’, which means seasons. Due to
India’s location in the tropical region, most of the rain is brought by monsoon
winds. Agriculture in India is dependent on rains. Good monsoons mean
adequate rain and a bountiful crop. The climate of a place is affected by its
location, altitude, distance from the sea, and relief. Therefore, we experience
regional differences in the climate of India.

Natural Vegetation
We see a variety of plant life in our surroundings like small plants called bushes
and shrubs like cactus and flowering plants etc. Besides there are many tall trees,
some with many branches and leaves like neem, mango or some, which stand

20
with few leaves such as palm. The grasses, shrubs and trees, which grow on their
own without interference or help from human beings are called natural
vegetation. Different types of natural vegetation are dependent on different
climatic conditions, among which the amount of rainfall is very important. Due to
varied climatic conditions, India has a wide range of natural vegetation.

Why are Forests Necessary?

Forests are very useful and perform various functions. Plants release oxygen that
we breathe and absorb carbon dioxide. The roots of the plants bind the soil; thus,
they control soil erosion. Forests provide us with timber for furniture, fuelwood,
fodder, medicinal plants and herbs, lac, honey, gum, etc.
Forests are the natural habitat of wildlife. Natural vegetation has been destroyed
to a large extent because of the reckless cutting of trees.

Wildlife
Forests are home to a variety of species of animals and a large variety of reptiles,
amphibians, mammals, birds, insects and worms which dwell in the forest. The tiger is
our national animal. It is found in various parts of the country. Gir forest in Gujarat is the
home of Asiatic lions. Elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses roam in the forests of
Assam. Elephants are also found in Kerala and Karnataka. Camels and wild asses are
found in the Great Indian desert and the Rann of Kuchchh respectively.
The peacock is our national bird. Other common birds are parrots, pigeons, mynah,
geese, bulbul and ducks. There are several bird sanctuaries which have been created to
give birds their natural habitat.
There are several hundreds of species of snakes found in India. Cobras and kraits are
important among them. Due to the cutting of forests and hunting, several species of
wildlife of India are declining rapidly. Many species have already become extinct. In order
to protect them many national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves have been set
up. The Government has also started Project Tiger and Project Elephant to protect these
animals.

21