Geography Quiz: Introduction: Location, Area and boundaries of India | 26 June, 2021

The Andaman Islands are divided into three main islands i.e., North, Middle and South. Duncan passage separates Little Andaman from South Andaman.

• The Great Andaman group of islands in the north is separated by the Ten Degree Channel from the Nicobar group in the south. Among the Nicobar Islands, the Great Nicobar is the largest.
• It is the southernmost island and is very close to Sumatra Island of Indonesia. The Car Nicobar is the northernmost.

• Some of the islands are fringed with coral reefs. Many of them are covered with thick forests.
• Most of the islands are mountainous. Saddle peak (737 m) in North Andaman is the highest peak.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment

Sikkim is a land of dramatic contours. Rugged mountains, deep valleys and dense forests consort with raging rivers, lakes and waterfalls to create a visual feast.

• The state has the steepest rise in altitude over the shortest distance and has within its 7,096 sq. kms the entire climatic range, from tropical to temperate to alpine.
• Located between these towering mountain ranges are passes like Nathu-la, Jelep-la, Cho-la and many others which were at one time important corridors of passage between Sikkim and Tibet.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment

The Indian Standard Meridian passes through mostly 5 states which are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment

India has a land frontier of 15,106.7 km. The total length of the coastline of India is 7,516.6 km.  India shares its border with seven countries namely Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

• Arunachal Pradesh shares border with Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
• West Bengal shares border with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

• Sikkim shares border with Bhutan, China and Nepal.
• Nagaland is a mountainous state in northeast India, bordering Myanmar.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment

Zoji La: Zoji La is a high mountain pass located in the Kargil district of Ladakh.

• The pass links Leh and Srinagar and provides an important link between Union Territories of Ladakh and Kashmir.
• In 2018, the Zojila tunnel project was launched.
• The tunnel is Asia’s longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.

Banihal Pass: It is in Jammu & Kashmir. The National Highway No.1A that links Srinagar to Jammu goes through it. Satluj River flows through Shipki La (Pass).

Nathu La: It is in Sikkim. It gives way to Tibet from Darjeeling and Chumbi Valley. The Chumbi River flows through this pass.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment and ICSE – X Total Geography

Anamudi is a mountain located in the Indian state of Kerala.

• It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres.
• Its parental hills are Anaimalai hills.

• Doda beta is the highest peak of nilgiri hills while Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of Aravali Range located in Rajasthan.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment and ICSE – X Total Geography

Source: Oriental Blackswan Atlas

Port Blair is located on South Andaman Island. 

Source: Oxford Atlas 

Lake Manasa sarovar is relatively round in shape with the circumference of 88 km (54.7 mi).

• Its depth reaches a maximum depth of 90 m (300 ft) and its surface area is 320 km2 (123.6 sq mi).
• It is connected to nearby Lake Rakshastal by the natural Ganga Chhu channel.
• Lake Manasarovar is near the source of the Sutlej, which the easternmost large tributary of the Indus, is nearby are the sources of the Brahmaputra River, the Indus River, and the Ghaghara, an important tributary of the Ganges.

Source: ICSE – X Total Geography

The term monsoon has been derived from the Arabic word mausin or from the Malayan word monsin meaning ‘season’.

Monsoons are seasonal winds (Rhythmic wind movements – Periodic Winds) which reverse their direction with the change of season.

Factors affecting monsoon in India-

• The differential heating of the landmass of Asia and the Indian Ocean.

• The existence of the Himalayan ranges and the Tibetan Plateau.
• The occurrence of heavy-light snow over the Tibetan Plateau.
• The existence and circulation of the upper air jet stream in the troposphere.
• Changes in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean have been known to have an inverse relationship with the Indian summer monsoon rainfall. This means if there is a cold phase in the Atlantic, it can bring more rainfall to India and vice versa.

Source: NCERT – XI India Physical Environment