Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Table of contents
Introduction
India is the seventh largest country in the world with an area of more than 32.87 lakh sq. km. Its length in the north-south direction is 3,214 km and its width in the east-west direction is 2,933 km. It is natural to find physical, economic, social, and political diversities in such a large country. The major diversities are briefly described below.
1. Geological Diversities
Structurally, the whole of India is divided into three main regions. These three regions are completely different from each other and have their own distinct identities. Their brief description is as follows.
(a) Peninsular Plateau
The ancient plateau is located in the southern part of India, which is called the Southern Plateau. Being surrounded by sea in three directions, it is also called Peninsular Plateau. Geologists believe that it is the oldest block of the Indian subcontinent and is one of the main plates of the Earth’s crust called the Indian Plate. This flat high ground remained a solid and impassable block all the time. Therefore, it is often compared to a Hoarst.
The most important event in the structural history of the continental plateau occurred when the giant Aravalli Mountains were formed from the earthquakes that occurred in the Aravalli region in the ancient Vindhyan (Palaeozoic/ Vindhyan) Era. Today’s residual Aravalli hills are nothing compared to the vast Aravalli Mountain range of that time. Various factors of erosion have derelict it. Geologists believe that the Nallamalai Range in the south, probably developed in the same period in which the Aravalli mountains were formed.
After this event, the peninsular plateau remained free from tectonic activities for a long time. Because of the upward and downward movements related to the tensional forces of the earth, faulting and fracturing continued to take place which resulted in the emergence and subsidence in the region. Erosion processes continued to revive because of the emergence and subsidence. The evidence of such new emergence is seen in the hills of Patni and Nilgiris. On the other hand, the basins of the Godavari, Mahanadi, and Damodar basins and the basins of the Narmada and Tapi rivers also present evidence of emergence in this region.
(b) The Himalayan Mountains and their associated ranges
The Himalayan Mountains are young, folded mountains. Scholars think that about 70 million years ago in the Mesozoic, at the place of the present Himalayan Mountains, there was a huge geo-syncline called the Tethys Sea. To the north of this vast ocean was Angara land and to the south were local regions called Gondwanaland.
Many rivers from these physiographic regions deposited huge amounts of sediments in the Tethys Sea. Because of tectonic activities in Mesozoic Era, Gondwanaland and Ang Angara land came close to each other and the compression started in the deposited sediments in the Tethys Sea. Due to this compression, this sediment got folded and the present Himalayas were formed.
To the formation of the Himalayan Mountains, the theory of Plate Tectonic is being given more recognition these days. According to this theory, mountain-building events have been associated with the movement of plates. Therefore, the geosyncline theory has been replaced by the plate tectonic theory.
The Himalayan Mountain ranges were formed when the Indian Plate moved northwards and collided with the Eurasian Plate. The Tethys Sea started shrinking 65-70 million years before the Indian Plate moved northwards. About 30 to 60 million years ago, the Indian and Eurasian plates came very close to each other. About 20 to 30 million years ago, the Himalayan Mountains started to rise.
The geological diversities in India can be estimated from the fact that the world’s newest mountains- the Himalayas and the oldest mountain- Aravalli are in India only and both are very close to each other. Aravalli Mountains are at about two hundred kilometers from the hills of Shivalik.
(c) Plain of Indus-Ganga and Brahmaputra
This vast plain situated between the Himalayas in the north and the southern plateau in the south is also called the northern plain of India. This plain extends in a crescent-shaped form from the delta of the Indus River in the west to the delta of the Ganges River in the east. It is formed by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers.
It is mainly formed by the deposition of rivers originating from the Himalayas and some rivers flowing north from the southern plateau. After the formation of the Himalayas, a depression was formed between the Himalayan Mountains and the Southern Plateau, which was filled by the waters of the Tethys Sea. In course of time, the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries filled this trough (Tethys Sea) with their deposits and this vast plain was formed.
2. Diversities in Relief
India is a country with unparalleled diversity. The northern region is dominated by the towering Himalayan Mountains, which are home to numerous peaks exceeding 8,000 meters, such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Everest, and Kanchenjunga. These ranges are incredibly sharp, making them challenging to navigate for both humans and wind. Consequently, the presence of the Himalayas gives the Indian subcontinent its unique geographical identity.
On the opposite side of the Himalayas lies the northern plain, a vast, flat expanse with a maximum height of 300 meters above sea level. The watershed between the Ganga and Indus rivers is located near Ambala, and it is also a low-lying area. As one enters the plain of Punjab-Haryana from Uttar Pradesh, the watershed features become less apparent. The average gradient of the plain is only 20 cm per kilometre from Saharanpur to Kolkata, decreasing to 15 cm per kilometre from Varanasi to Kolkata.
Rivers originating from the Himalayas flow fast through the mountains, causing significant erosion. However, once they leave the mountainous region and enter the plains, their flow slows down, resulting in the deposition of fertile soil. As a result, this plain is one of the most productive and fertile regions in the world.
South of the northern plain is the peninsular plateau, one of the oldest parts of the world, where rivers have matured over time. The plateau is rich in minerals, and most of India’s minerals are found in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau. In contrast, the northern vast plain of India lacks minerals, and the Himalayan Mountain region has limited mineral deposits, primarily due to the rugged terrain and cold climate that make transportation and exploitation challenging.
3. Diversities of Climate
The climatic variations in India are clear from the following examples.
- In the Barmer region of Rajasthan, the day temperature in June ranges from 48°C to 50°C, whereas in Pahalgam or Gulmarg of Kashmir, the temperature remains only up to 22°C on the same day. At higher altitudes, the temperature is even less than the freezing point and the higher mountain regions of the Himalayas are always covered with snow.
- In December, the minimum temperature of Dewas and Kargil falls to 40°C at night. Whereas in Thiruvananthapuram or Chennai, the temperature ranges from 20 to 22° Celsius.
- The average annual rainfall of Mawsinaram is 1221 cm while the total annual rainfall of Jaisalmer is only 12 cm. At a place called Tura situated in the Garo hills, it rains as much in a day as it does not in Jaisalmer even in ten years.
- Rainfall every third or fifth day in July and August in the delta of Bengal and the coastal plains of Orissa.
- In coastal areas like Mumbai, the effect of season change is not much, while people living in Delhi and Agra have to endure the harshness of summer and winter.
- The rains in Kerala start in the first week of June while in western Rajasthan the rains start in the second week of July.
- North-western India receives winter rainfall from Western Disturbances while the coastal areas are affected by tropical cyclones that originate in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- There is a difference of only 45 minutes between day and night at Kanyakumari, while this difference increases to more than four hours in Kashmir.
4. Diversities in Vegetation
The diversity of vegetation in India reflects the variations in climate across the country. In areas with over 200 cm of annual rainfall, tropical evergreen forests thrive in rainfed regions. In areas with 100 to 200 meters of annual rainfall, tropical deciduous or monsoon forests are prevalent. However, in the arid desert of Rajasthan, only babul, kikar, and thorny bushes can survive.
In the Himalayan region, the effect of temperature on vegetation is more significant than that of rainfall. The vegetation changes with height due to decreasing temperatures. Therefore, a sequence from tropical to alpine vegetation regions can be observed in the Himalayas, depending on the altitude.
5. Diversities of Local Time
India extends from 68°7′ east longitude to 97°25′ east longitude and thus the longitudinal extent of India is about 30°. We know that the earth rotates 360 degrees on its axis in 24 hours. Thus, it takes 4 minutes to cross 1° of longitude. Hence the local time difference between Arunachal Pradesh and Saurashtra is 30 x 4 = 120 minutes i.e., two hours. Since Arunachal Pradesh is to the east of Saurashtra, the sunrise will take place there earlier. Thus, Saurashtra waits for the first rays of the sun when the sun rises high enough in the sky in Arunachal Pradesh.
6. Diversities in the Distribution of Population
Due to the diversity in the above physical elements, diversity is found in the distribution of the population. On the one hand, the deserts of Ladakh and Thar are almost human-less, on the other hand, the river valleys and deltas are densely populated. There are more human settlements in the plains than in the mountains. According to the 2011 census, the density of the population in Arunachal Pradesh (Arunachal Pradesh) is only 17 persons per square kilometer while in West Bengal the population is found to be 904 persons per square kilometer. Delhi has the highest population density of 9,340 persons per square kilometer.
7. Diversities in Social Elements
People of different castes, religions, languages , and communities live in different parts of India which are completely different from each other. There is considerable variation in the food, clothing, and customs of the people of different regions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, India’s vast area and diverse geography give it a unique identity. The country’s geological and relief diversities have played a significant role in shaping the Indian subcontinent’s landforms. Despite these diversities, India remains united in its rich cultural heritage, with diverse cultures, religions, and languages coexisting and enriching the country’s social fabric. India’s diversity has made it a land of immense beauty, cultural richness, and natural wonders, which continue to fascinate people from around the world.
You May Also Like
