India Geography

Definitions Sub-continent Large landmass that juts out from a continent

monsoon Strong, seasonal winds that blow across a region or continent for months at a time at certain times of the year

Cools heat of summer Varies in location Comes between June and Sept

plateau Flat land with higher elevation than a plain

tributary Small river that flows into a larger river

Himalaya Mountains Highest mountain range in world Located along India’s northern border Mt. Everest- world highest mountain Name means “home of the snows” Always covered by snow and ice Glacier (Ice fields) waters feed the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Rivers

Buddhist Monastery in Himalayan Mts. 8

Indus River Originates in Tibet, north of India Flows thru Pakistan and empties into Arabian Sea Receives water from Himalaya, and Hindu Kush Mtns. Carries deposits and makes fertile farmland Fish and shrimp live in the river

Deccan Plateau Southern part of India between the Eastern and Western Ghat Mountains Plateau is at 1500 ft. below sea level Fairly flat with hardened lava beds-600 million yrs old Hillier parts have thin forests

Ganges River Originates in the Himalaya Mountains and goes for 1500 miles Joined by the Brahmaputra River where it empties into the Bay of Bengal Sediment carried downstream from mountains During rainy season river floods-crops grown there Sacred river

Ganges River Festival 12

Eastern and Western Ghats Long mountain chains near India coast Form a V when seen from above Deccan Plateau stretches between 2 ranges Western Ghats higher and wetter than the Eastern range

Brahmaputra River Originates in the Himalayan Mountains 1800 miles - longest river in modern day India Joins Ganges River in present day Bangladesh- where they meet land very fertile

Hindu Kush Located NW of India in present-day Afghanistan Form fierce barrier between countries One of the world’s highest mountain ranges Permanent snow and ice Khyber Pass 28 mile long gap between mountains- traders and invaders used the pass

Thar Desert Also know as Great Indian Desert Straddles the border between the India and Pakistan and flanked by Indus and Sutlej River valleys Mostly sand and very hot in summer Very little rain Sparse plant life

What is this? A petrified bagel A heavy bracelet A form of money An ancient toilet seat

Indus Bracelets

Early Settlement In India 1st people in India settled by the RIVERS Scientists believe that there were ancient rivers like the Sarasvati River that runs thru the Thar Desert Farming settlements in Indus-Sarasvati region as early as 6500 B.C.E. By 2500 B.C.E. walled settlements near the Indus River

Mohenjodaro Ancient Indian Civilization on Indus River from about 2700-1900 BCE Means “Place of the Dead 40,000 people once lived here 2 parts Citadel or fort Houses and workshops