Question

Answer the following in paragraph:

Give a detailed account of the Great Northern Plains.

Answer 1

1. Formation:-
The Northern Plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river systems namely – The Indus, The Ganga, and The Brahmaputra along with their tributaries. This plain is formed of alluvial soil. The deposition of alluvium in a vast basis lying of the foothills of the Himalayas over millions of years formed this fertile plain.

2. Extension:-

It spread over an area of 7 lakh sq. km. The plain being about 2400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, is a densely populated physiographic division.

3. Importance:-

With a rich soil cave combined with an adequate water supply and favourable climate, it is agriculturally a very production past of India.

4. Important Features:-

1. In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases which results in the formation of riverine islands. Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River, is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world.
2. The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the deposition of silt. These channels are known as tributaries.
3. The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three sections. Punjab plains, Ganga plains, and Brahmaputra plains.
4. According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into four regions - Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar.

5. Punjab Plains:-

The Western part of the Northern plain is referred to as the Punjab plains formed by the Indus and its tributaries. The larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan Indus and its tributaries - The Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, and the Satluj originate in the Himalayas. This section of the plain is dominated by the doabs.

6. Ganga Plains:-

They extend between Ghagger and Teesta rivers. It is spread over the states of North India like Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, Partly Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

7. Brahmaputra plains:-

In the east of Ganga plains lies the Brahmaputra plains. They cover the areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the variations in relief features, the Northern plains can be divided into four regions.

8. Bhabar:-

The rivers after descending from the mountains deposit pebbles in a narrow belt of about 8 to 16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shivaliks. It is known as Bhabar. All the streams disappear in this Bhabar belt.

9. Terai:-

South of this belt, the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet swampy and marshy region known as ‘Terai’. This was a thickly forested region full of wildlife.

The Terai is wider in the eastern parts of the Great plains, especially in Brahmaputra valley due to heavy rainfall. In many states, the Terai forest has been cleared for cultivation.

10. Khadar:-

The newer younger deposits of the flood plains are called Khadar. They are renamed almost every year and so are fertile. Thus ideal for intensive agriculture. The Khadar tracts are enriched by fresh deposits of silt every year during rainy seasons. The Khadar land consists of sand, silt, clay, and mud. It is highly fertile soil.

11. Delta Plains:-

The deltaic plains is an extension of the Khadar land. It covers about 1.9 sq. km in the lower reaches of the Ganga River. It is an area of deposition as the river flows in this tract sluggishly. The deltaic plain consists mainly of old mud, new mud, and marsh. In the delta region, the uplands are called “chars”. While the marshy areas are called ‘Bils’.