G.K. of World Geography for Civil ...static.upscportal.com/files/upsc2012/igp/csat-paper1/Geography-G.K... · intense like hot blast Harmattan Dry and dusty wind of ... laden wind

G.K. of World Geography

Additional Materials for G.S. (Pre) 2012 ExaminationG.K. of World GeographyClick Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy

http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012


For any Query & Guidance Call Our Course Coordinator at 011 - 45151781, 65023618

© WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

Candidate are advised to lo-cate these given informationin Atlas thoroughly.

G.K. of World Geography for CivilServices Preliminary Examination -

2012



http://www.UPSCPORTAL.COM







GEOGRAPHY

LOCAL WINDS

AFRICA (WARM)

Name Characteristics Place of OccurrenceBerg Warm, dry in winter From plateau of South Africa to coastCape Doctor A storng wind from plateau to southern coast or South Africa also called “The Table

Cloth” as it is responsible for a sheet of cloud over table mountainChili A Sirocco wind dry and very warm From TunisiaGibli (Ghibli) An extreme form of Sirocco Very Tunisia

intense like hot blastHarmattan Dry and dusty wind of winter. From Sahara (mali & Niger) to Gulf of

Provide relief from moist heat in GuineaGuinea

Khamsin A hot south sirocco/simoom North Africa and Arabian Peninsula fromassociated with heat wave and Egypt to Mediterranean seadust storm

Leveche A sirocco type wind Morocco to South Mediterranean SpainSimoom Hot and dry wind of Asiatic and Experienced in Summer in North Sahara,

African deserts Israel, Jordan, Syira & Arabian DesertSirocco A hot and dry wind when leaning Blow from sahara to sicly and south Italy.

Africa Levech - SpainVery humid when reaching Italy. Leste - MoroccoCauses Blood rain in Ital which in Calima - Canary Islandthe rain mixed with red sand (Africa & Europe)

AFRICA (COLD)

Papagayo Violent North east cold wind Nicaragua Island, Costarica andGulf of Papagayo.

ASIA (WARM)Typhoons A small intense tropical storm China SeaCyclones A small tropical low pressure system Indian OceanShamal Warm and dry wind Mesopotamia and Pursian Gulf

Yamo Warm and dry winds JapanBaguio Tropical Storm Philippine Islands

ASIA (COLD)

Purga Snow laden cold winds From Russian TundraAUSTRALIA (WARM)










Willy Willies Intense tropical storm North-West Australian Coast

Brick fielder Hot and dry wind From Victoria desert (Australia)Blows in Summer

Nowwester Warm, dry and gusty winds New ZealandDescending from high mountains

EUROPE (WARM)

Fohn It ascends over southern slope of alps Switzerland Similar winds areand descends down the northern scope. Samoon - Perisa

Wind becomes warm and dry. Norwester - NewzelandDuring winter it raises temp of Berg - South AfricaSwitzerland and helps in Agriculture. Santa Ana - California

Chinook - North AmericaZonda - Argentina

Solano Hot and oppressive Eastern or south Coast of South East Spain.eastern wind

Marin Most warm south East wind in spring A cross the coast of southern France.and autumn

Almwind A local name for fohn type wind tatra mountain in Poland.

EUROPE (COLD)Tramontana A cold dry North or North East wind Western Mediterranean

Mistral Strong Cold dry north west or From Massif central france to Mediterraneannorthern wind sea (Lower Phone vally)

Bora Cold, dry, North easterly wind Along eastern shore of Adriatic sea.

Bise Extremely cold wind in winter Switzerland

Poniente Cool, Western wind Bring dry On coast of Corsica and Mediterraneanweather France

NORTH AMERICA (WARM)Hurricane An intense tropical storm Tropical latitudes of west Indies Maxico

Tornado More intense and localized L.P. Whirls Mississippi Basin (U.S.A.)occurring both on land and sea.Also called twister in U.S.A.

Black roller Very strong and dust laden wind Great plains of North America

Chinook During winderDue to L.P. in Great plains of NorthAmerica winds blow from westcrossing the Rocky mountain.When descends, it becomes dry dryand warm and raises the temp andhelps agriculture

Santa Ana Warm and dry local winds Southern California (U.S.A.)










Resembles chinook

Tehuantepecer Northerly Strong wind Southern Mexico Northern CentralAmreica

SOUTH AMERICA (WARM)Zonda Warm and dry wind From Andean Valley to plains of Argentina

SOUNT AMERICA (COLD)Pampero Cold wind From Pampas of South America (Argentina)Friagem A cold strong wind Campos of Brazil and in East Bolivia

OTHER LOCAL WINDS

Blizzard Violent & extremely cold wind laden Arctic and Antarctic, Siberia, Canada,with dry snow U.S.A. Called Northern in U.S.A. Called

Buran is SiberiaBrave West A nautical term for winds of the sounther Hemisphere blowing from a west NorthWinds West direction over the ocean between latitudes 400S and 650S and 650S.

Cat’s Paw A term used by Yatchmen for a high breeze or puff of wind affecting a small area.

Gyre A closed circulatory system or cell occurring in each of major ocean basins between200N to 300S to 300S.










THE TROPIC OF CAPRICORN PASSES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES,• BRAZIL • CORAL SEA ISLANDS TERRITORY (AUSTRALIA)• PARAGUARY • AUSTRALIA• ARGENTINA • MADAGASCAR• CHILE • MOZAMBIQUE• FRENCH PLOYNESIA • SOUTH AFRICA• TONGA • BOTSWANA• FIJI • BOTSWANA• COOK ISLANDS (NEW ZEALAND • NAMIBIA• NEW CALEDONIA (FRANCE)TOP 10 TALLEST MOUNTAINSMountain Height (mts/ft) Country RangeMount Everest 8850m (29035ft) Nepal/Tibet HimalayaK2 (Mt. Godwin Austin) 8611m (28250ft) Pak/China KarakoramKangchenjungag 8586m (28169ft) India/Nepal HimalayaLhotse 8501m (27920ft) Nepal/Tibet HimalayaMakalu I 8462m (27655ft) Nepal/Tibet HimalayaCho Oyu 8201m (26906ft) Nepal/Tibet HimalayaDhaulagiri I 8167m (27794ft) Nepal HimalayaNanga Parbat 8125m (26658ft) Pakistan Himalaya

Annapurna I 8091m (26545ft) Nepal HimalayaThe dormant volcano Mauna Kea (on the Big Island of Hawaii) could be considered the tallest mountainin the world. If you measure it from its base in the Hawaiian Trough (3,300 fathoms deep) to its summitof 13,796 feet, it reaches a height of 33,476 feet.TALLEST MOUNTAINS (ON EACH CONTINENT)• Mount Everest 8850m (29035ft) Asia• Aconcagua 6959m (22831ft) S. America• Mount McKinley 6194m (20320ft) N. America• Mount Kilimanjaro 5963m (19563ft) Africa• Mount Elbrus 5633m (18481ft) Europe• Puncak Jaya 4884m (16023ft) Oceania• Vinson Massif 4897m (16066ft) AntarcticaLOWEST SURFACE POINTS (BELOW SEA LEVEL, ON EACH CONTINENT)• Dead Sea, Asia - 409 meters• Lake Assal, Africa - 156 meters

GEOGRAPHY










• Death Vallyey, North America - 86 meters• Valdes Peninsula, South America - 40 meters• Caspian Sea, Europe - 28 meters• Lake Eyre, Australia - 16 meters• Antarctica (ice covered) - 2,538 metersLIST OF MOUNTAINS BY CONTINENT:EUROPE• Albanian mountains• Ben Nevis - highest mountain in Great Britain• Mont Blanc - France, highest mountain of Western Europe• Mount Circeo - Italy• Eiger[?] - Alps, Switzerland• Mount Elbrus - Russia, highest mountain of Europe• Etna - volcano on Sicily, Italy• Galdhopiggen - highest poknt in Norway• Haltitunturi - highest point in Finland• Hekla - Iceland volcano• Man Tor - England• Montserrat - Spain• Mount Korab - highest point in Albania• Montserrat - Spain• Monunt Olympus - legendary home of the Greek gods• Mount Parnassus - Greece• Mount Pilatus - Alps near Lucerne• Scafell Pike - highest point in England• Schlern - Dolomites, Sough Tyroil, Italy• Mount Vesuvius - famous Italian voleanoASIA• Adam’s Peak - Sri Lanka• Annapurna• Mount Apo - highest point in Philippines• Baitou Mountain - highest point of Changbai Mountains• Belukha - Russia, highest, peask in Altai Mountains• Doi Inthanon, highest peak in Thailand• Mount Everest - Himalayas, Nepal, highest mountain in the world• Mount Fuji - famous Japanese volcano• K2 - Pakistan, world’s second highest, but a tougher climb than Everest, Part of the Himalayas range• Kanchanjunga - Nepal - Sikkim border, third highest mountain in the world• Klyuchevskaya Sopka - Russian volcano• Mount Kinabalu - Sabah (Borneo), Malaysia• Lenin Peak - Russia• Lhotse• Muztag










• Mount Tambora - IndonesiaNORTH AMERICA• Mount Baker - Cascades, Washington• Mount Hood - Cascades, Oregon• Mount Jackson - Oregon• Mt. Katahdin - at north end of the Appalachian Trail• Mauna Loa - Hawaii• Mount Logan - highest mountain of Canada• Mount McKinley (Denali) - highest mountain in North America• Mount mitchell - highest mountain of the Appalachians• Mount Monadnock - New Hampshire• Pikes Peak - Colorado• Popocatepetl - Mexico• Mount Rainier - Washington• Mount Saint Helens - volcano in the United States• Mount Shasta - California• Three Sisters - Oregon• Mount Waddington - highest mountain in the Coast Mountains range of British Columbia, Canada• Mount Washington - highest peak in northeastern United States, worst weather in the world• Mount Whitney - highest mountain in Sierra NevadaSOUTH AMERICA• A concagua - Argentina, highest mountain of South AmericaAFRICA• Cameroon Mountain• Mount Elgon• Mount Kenya• Mount Kilimanjaro - Tanzania, highest mountain of Africa• Mount Sinai - mountain in Egypt where Moses traditionally received the Ten Commandments• Mount Stanley - Ruwenzori Range• Table Mountain - Capetown, South AfricaOCEANIA• Carstensz Pyramid - New Guinea• Mount Cook - New Zealand• Mount Kosciuszko - highest mountain in Australia• Mount Ruapehu - New ZealandANTARCTICA• Mount Albert Markham (4,282m)• Mount Erebus• Mount Fridtjof Nansen• Mount Terror










• Vinson Massif, highest mountain in AntarcticaMARS• Olympus Mons - largest known mountain in Solar SystemHOTTEST, COLDEST, DRIEST, WESTTEST• Hottest Place Dalol, Denakil Depression, Ethiopia, annual average temperature (93.20F, 340C)• Coldest Place Plateau Station, Antarctica, annual average temperature 56.70C)• Wettest Place Mawsynram, Assam, India, annual average rainfall (11,873mm, 467.4”)• Driest Place Atacama Desert, Chile, imperceptible rainfall on a yearly basisDRIEST DRIEST INHABITED PLACES (RAIN FALL IN INCHES PER YEAR)• Aswan, Egypt 0.02”• Luxor, Egypt 0.03”• Arica Desert, Chile 0.04”• Ica, Peru 0.1”• Antofagasta, Chile 0.2”• El Minya, Egypt 0.2”• Asyut, Egypt 0.2”WETTEST INHABITED PLACES (RAIN FALL IN INCHES PER YEAR)• Buenaventira, Colombia 267”• Monrovia, Liberia 202”• Pagp Pago, American Samoa 198”• Moulein, Burma Myanmar 192”• Lae, Papua New Guinea 183”• Baguio, Philippines 180”• Sylhet, Bangladesh 178”










No. Bridge Span [m] Location Country1 Akashi-Kaikyo 1991 Kobe-Naruto Japan2 Xihoumen 1650 Zhoushan Island China3 Great Belt East 1624 Korsor Denmark4 Gwangyng 1545 Myodo-Gwangyang Korea

5 Runyang South 1490 Zhenjiang China

No. Bridge Span [m] Location Country1 Sutong 1088 Suzhou-Nantong China2 Stonecutters 1018 Hong Kong China3 Edong 926 Hubei China4 Tatara 890 Onomichi-Imabari Japan

5 Pont de Normandie 856 Le Havre France

INDIA - FAMOUS BRIDGESThe Howrah Bridge spans the Hooghly River, linking Howrah to Kolkata, India - the busiest cantileverbridge in the world.• Bandra-Worli Sea Link - Mumbai• Coronation Bridge - West Bengal• DND Flyway - Delhi-U.P. Border• Ellis Bridge - Ahmedabad• Godavari Bridge - Rajahmundu (Andhra Pradesh)• Golden Bridge - Mumbai• Howrah Bridge, the world’s Busiest

cantilever bridge in the world - Kolkata• Jubilee Bridge - Naihati (West Bengal)• Kolia Bhomora Setu - Tezpur (Assam)• Mahatma Gandhi Setu - Patna (Bihar)• Nehru Bridge - Ahmedabad• Pamban Bridge - Rameshwaram• Ponte de Linhares - Panaji (Goa)• Vashi Bridge - Mumbai• Vidyasagar Setu - Kolkata (West Bengal)• Vivekananda Setu - Kolkata (West Bengal)MAJOR ISLANDS (by size)

GEOGRAPHY










• Australia, (7,617,930 sq km) is widely considered part of a continental landmass, not officially anisland. But without doubt it is the largest island on the planet, and when combined with Oceania, thesmallets continent on Earth.

• Greebkabd (2,175,600 sq km)• New Guinea (729,500 sq km)• Borneo (725,500 sq km)• Madagascar (587,000 sq km)• Baffin (507,500 sq km)• Sumatra (427,300 sq km)• Honshu (227,400 sq km)• Victoria (217,300 sq km)• Ellesmere (196,200 sq km)• Celebes (178,650 sq km)• New Zealand (south) (151,000 sq km)• Java (126,700 sq km)• New Zealand (north) (114,000 sq km)• Newfoundland (108,900 sq km)

RANK OF COUNTRIES BY RAILWAY LENGTH

LIST OF ZOOS IN INDIA: CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY OF INDIA (CZA) IS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OFALL ZOOS IN INDIA

• Allen Forest Zoo, Kanpur

• Locknow Zoo, Lucknow

• Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad

• Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam

• Jijamta Udyaan, Mumbai

• Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur Zoo), Chennai

• Alipore Zoological Gardens, Kolkata

• Mysore Zoo, Karnataka

• Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling

Country Railway length(km)

European Union 209,895United States 226,612Russia 84,158People’s Republic of China 77,966India 63,327Canada 57,042

Australia 38,550

Argentina 33,753Germany 33,897France 29,488Brazil 29,487Mexico 26,662South Africa 24,487Ukraine 21,891Japan 23,474

Poland 19,419










• Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Junagadh, Gujarat

• Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

• Parassinikkadavu Snake Park

• Nandankanan zoo, Orissa

• Guwahati Zoo, Assam

• Marble Palace zoo, Kolkata

• Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna

• Trivandrum Zoo, Trivandrum

List of Ramsar Sites in IndiaName Area (km2)Ashtamudi Wetland, Kerala 614

Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa 650

Bhoj Wetland, Madhya Pradesh 32

Chandertal Wetland, Himachal Pradesh 49

Chilika Lake, Orissa 1165

Deepor Beel, Assam 40

East Calcutta Wetlands, West Bengal 125

Harike Lake, Punjab 41

Hokera Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir 13.75

Kanjli, Punjab 1.83

Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan 28.73

Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh 901

Loktak Lake, Manipur 266

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu 385

Pong Dam Lake, Himachal Pradesh 156.62

Renuka Wetland, Himachal Pradesh .2

Ropar, Punjab 13.65

Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura 2.4

Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan 240

Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala 3.73

Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, Jammu and Kashmir 3.5

Tsomoriri, Jammu and Kashmir 120

Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora stretch), Urrar Pradesh 265.9

Vembanad-Kol Wetland, Kerala 1512.5

Wular Lake, Jammu and Kashmir 189










Top 10 Largest Storage Dams in the WorldRank No. Name of Dam Country

1 Owen Falls Uganda2 Kariba Zimbabawe/Zambia3 Bratsk USSR4 Aswan, High Egypt5 Akosombo Ghana6 Daniel Johnson Canada7 Guri (Raul Leoni) Venezuela8 Krasnoyarsk USSR9 Bennett W.A.C. Canada10 Zeya USSR










POLITICAL BOUNDARIESR RIO GRANDE - Mexico and USAR AMUR - China and RussiaR LIMPOPO - South Africa and Botswana; South Africa and ZimbabweR ZAMBEZI - Zambia and ZimbabweR ORANGE - S. Africa and NamibiaR MEKONG -Cambodia and Thailand, MyanmarR SALWEEN - Myanmar and ThailandR DANUBE - Romania and Bulgaria, YugoslaviaR URUGUAY - Uruguay and BrazilR PARANA - Paraguay and Argentina, BrazilR ODER - Germany and PolandDURAND LINE - Afghanistan and PakistanHINDENBERG LINE - Germany and Poland (after 1st world war)MACHMOHAN LINE - India and ChinaMAGINOT LINE - France and GermanyODER NIESSE LINE - Poland and GermanyRADCLIFFE LINE - India and Pakistan38TH PARALLEL - North and South Korea49TH PARALLEL - USA and Canada16TH PARALLEL - Namibia and Angola17TH PARALLEL - North and South Vietnam

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE NATURAL WORLD1. The Grand Canyon, Colorado river, Arizona (USA)2. Rio de Janeiro harbour3. Iguassu Falls, Argentina4. Yosemite valley and the giant sequoias of California5. Mount Everest6. The Nile river, Egypt7. The northern lights, especially from northern Canada and AlaskaList of isthmuses• The Isthmus of Panama - the most famous isthmus. Connects North America and South America.• The Isthmus of Corinth in Greece - the first isthmus to bear that name• The Isthmus of Dubrovnik - today’s Stradun, (main center street), which connected Lause and Dub

into a single city unit

GEOGRAPHY










• The Isthmus of Suez - the isthus between North Africa and Southwest Asia, in Egypt where the SuezCanal is located

• The Isthmus of Kra, which joins the Malay Peninsula with mainland Asia• The Isthmus of Avalon in Canada - separates the main island of Newfoundland from the Peninsula of

Avalon (where the capital, St. John’s, is located)• The Isthmus of Chignecto - connects the mainland portion of Nova Scotia with North America• The Isthmus of Tehuntepec - connects Yucatan and Central America with the rest of Mexico• the Isthmus of Perekop between Crimea and Ukraine mainland.• the Kerelian Isthmus between Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.• the Madison Isthmus, between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona in Madison, WisconsinFaiths........

India WorldReligion Indian population (%) Religion world population (%)Hindus - 82.5% Christianity - 33.50%Muslims - 11.5% Islam - 18.00%Christians - 2.3% Hinduism - 13.50%Sikhs - 2.00% Buddhism - 6.00%Buddhists - 0.80% Judaism - .40%Jains - 0.40% Shintoism - .10%

Others - 5.50%

LANGUAGES MOST SOPKEN IN THE WORLDRanking by Language Number Where spoken natively by more than 5% of thenumber of speakers population (in order of population, down to

native 20,000 speakers)speakers

1 Chinese/ 1,205m People’s Republic of China, Republic of ChinaMandarin (1999) (Taiwan), Malaysia, Singapore

2 Spanish 322.3m Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, United(1995) States, Venzuela, Peru, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador,

Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras,Gautemala, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Puerto Rico,CostaRica, Uruguay, Panama, Andorra, Gibraltar

3 English 309.4m United States, United Kingdom, Canada,(1984) Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland,

Singapore, Malaysia, Bermuda, Belize, NorthernMariana Islands, The Bahamas, Guam, CaymanIslands, The Philippines, Gibraltar, India,Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Hong Kong,Zimbabwe

4 Arabic 206m (1999) Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Sudan Saudi Arabia,Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan,Mauritania, Palestinian territories, Isreal,Oman, United Arab Emirates, Chad, Kuwait,Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Somalia, WesternSahara










5 Hindi 180.8m India, Fiji, Singapore(1991)(Kharibolidialect only)

6 Portugues 177.5m Brazil, Portugal(1998)

7 Bengali 171m (1994) Bangladesh, India8 Russian 145m (2000) Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhastan, Uzbekistan

Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Israel, MoldovaAzerbaijan, Georgia, Estonia, LithuaniaTurkmenistan

9 Japanese 122m (1985) Japan

10 Standard 95.4m (1994) Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein

German

11 Javanese 75.5m (1989) Indonesia, Suriname

12 Telugu 69.7m (1997) India

13 Marathi 68m (1997) India

14 Vietnamese 67.4m (1999) Vietnam

15 Korean 67m (1986) Korea

Name Location CountryOJOS DEL SALADO ANDES ARGENTINA-CHILEGAULLATIRI ANDES CHILECOTOPAXI ANDES EQUADORTUPUNGATITO ANDES CHILELASCAR ANDES CHILEPOPOCATEPETI ALTIPLANDO de MAXICO MEXICONEVADO del RUIZ ANDES COLOMBIASANGAY ANDES EQUADORKLYUCHEVSKAYA SREDINNY KHREBET USSARSOPLEA Kanchatka peninsulaPURACE ANDES COLOMBIAWRANGELL WRANGELL MTS. ALASKATAJUMULCO GUATEMALA GUATEMALAMAUNA LOA HAWAII USATACANA SIERRA MADRE GUATEMALACAMEROON MT. MONARCH CAMEROONFUEGO SIERRA MADRE GUATEMALAEREBUS ROSS ISLAND ANTARCTICARINDJANI LOMBOK INDONESIA

PICO de TEIDE TENERIEF CANARY ISLAND SPAIN










SEMERU JAVA INDONESIANYIRAGONGO VIRUNGA ZAIREKORYAKSKAYA KAMACHATKA PENINSULA USSRIRAZU JAVA INDONESIAMOUNT SPURR ALASKA RANGE USAMOUNT ETNA SICILY ITALYAGUNG BALI INDONESIAKILAUEA HAWAII USASTROMBOLI ISLAND LIPARI MEDITERRANEANSURTSEY OFF SE ISLAND ICELAND

ANA KRAKATOA ISLAND (NEW) INDONESIA










Largest cities in the world ranked by land area (1 to 25)

Rank City/Urban area Country Population Land area Dinsity (people(in sqKm) per sqKm)

1 New York Metro USA 17,800,000 8,683 2,050

2 Tokyo/Yokohama Japan 33,200,000 6,993 4,750

3 Chicago USA 8,308,000 5,498 1,500

4 Atlanta USA 3,500,000 5,083 700

5 Philadelphia USA 5,149,000 4,661 1,100

6 Boston USA 4,032,000 4,497 900

7 Los Angeles USA 11,789,000 4,320 2,750

8 Dallas/Fort Worth USA 4,146,000 3,644 1,150

9 Houston USA 3,823,000 3,355 1,150

10 Detroit USA 3,903,000 3,267 1,200

11 Washington USA 3,934,000 2,996 1,300

12 Miami USA 4,919,000 2,891 1,700

13 Nagoya Japan 9,000,000 2,875 3,150

14 Paris France 9,645,000 2,723 3,550

15 Essen/Dusseldorf Germany 7,350,000 2,642 2,800

16 Oska/Kobe/Kyoto Japan 16,425,000 2,564 6,400

17 Seattle USA 2,712,000 2,470 1,100

18 Johannesburg/East South 6,000,000 2,396 2,500

Rand Africa

19 Minneapolis/St. USA 2,389,000 2,316 1,050

Paul

20 San Jaun Puerto Rico 2,217,000 2,309 950

21 Buenos Aires Argentina 11,200,000 2,266 4,950

22 Pittsburgh USA 1,753,000 2,208 800

23 Moscow Russia 10,500,000 2,150 4,900

24 St. Louis USA 2,078,000 2,147 950

25 Melbourne Australia 3,162,000 2,080 1,500

GEOGRAPHY










TOP 10 COUNTRIES BY POPULATION FORECAST FOR YEAR 2050 (in million)

1. India 1620

2. China 14703. United States 4044. Indonesia 3385. Nigeria 3046. Pakistan 2687. Brazil 2078. Bangladesh 2059. Russia 11810. Japan 101

Largest citis and urban areas in 2006 (1 to 20)Rank City/Urban area Country Population

in 2006(million)

1 Tokyo Japan 35.53

2 Mexico City Mexico 19.24

3 Mumbai (Bombay) India 18.84

4 New York USA 18.65

5 Sao Paulo Brazil 18.61

6 Delhi India 16.00

7 Calcutta India 14.57

8 Jakarta Indonesia 13.67

9 Buenos Aires Argentina 13.52

10 Dhaka Bangladesh 13.09

11 Shanghai China 12.63

12 Los Angeles USA 12.22

13 Karachi Pakistan 12.20

14 Lagos Nigeria 11.70

15 Rio de Janeiro Brazil 11.62

16 Osaka, Kobe Japan 11.32

17 Cairo Egypt 11.29

18 Beijing China 10.85

19 Moscow Russia 10.82

20 Metro Manila Philippines 10.80










Top teh largest cities of world (population) 2010Rank City/Urban area Country Population

in 2006(million)

1 Karanchi Pakistan 15,500,000

2 Sanghai China 14,900,000

3 Mumbai India 13,900,000

4 Beijing China 12,460,000

5 Delhi India 12,100,000

6 Beunosaires Argentina 11,655,000

7 Manila Philipines 11,550,000

8 Seoul South Korea 11,153,000

9 Sau Paulo Brazil 11.038,000

10 Mascow Russia 10,524,000

Cities/Urban Agglomerations with population above one million - 2001

S.No. Name of PercentageMillion Plus of SlumMunicipal population to

Corporations1 2 6

1 Delhi 18.7

2 Kolkata 35.5

3 Chennai 18.9

4 Bangalore 10.0

5 Hyderabad 17.2

6 Ahmadabad 13.5

7 Pune 19.4

8 Surat 20.9

9 Kanpur 14.4

10 Jaipur 15.9

11 Lucknow 35.9

12 Nagpur 35.9

13 Patna 0.3

14 Indore 17.7

15 Vadodara 14.2

16 Bhopal 8.7

17 Coimbatore NA

18 Ludhiana 22.5

19 Kocchi NA

20 Visakhapatnam NA

21 Agra 9.5

22 Varanasi 12.6

23 Madurai NA

24 Meerut 44.1

25 Nashik 12.9

26 Jabalpur NA

27 Jamshedpur NA

28 Asansol NA

29 Dhanbad NA

30 Faridabad 46.5

31 Allahabad NA

32 Amritsar NA

33 Vijayawada NA

34 Rajkot NA










Smallest and Biggest CountriesS.No. Biggest Nations Biggest Nations Smallest Smallest Nations

(Area Wise) Population Nations (Area Population Wise)Wise) Wise)

1 Russia China Vatican City Vatican City2 Canada India Monaco Tuvalu3 China USA Nauru Nauru4 USA Indonesia Tuvalu Palau5 Brazil Brazil San Marino San Marino6 Australia Pakistan Liechtenstein Monaco7 India Russia Marshall Islands Liechtenstein8 Argentina Bangladesh Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis9 Kazakhastan Japan Maldives Antigua and Barbados

10 Sudan Nigeria Malta Dominica

India Cities in list of top 100 most populated cities of world (India blog)Rank in top 100 Cities Population

3rd Mumbai 18,042,0009th Culcuatta 12,900,00014th Delhi 11,680,00031th Hyderabad 6,833,00032th Chennai 6,639,00039th Bangaluru 5,544,00057th Ahmadabad 4,154,00077th Pune 3,485,000

Eight Indian cities are expected to present in top 100 listCARRIBEAN SEA COUNTRIES

• Antigua & Barbuda • Dominica • St. Barthelemy• Anguilla • Dominican Republic • St. Eustatias• Netherlands Antilles • Grenada • St Christopher and Nevis• Bahamas • Guadeloupe • Trinidad and tobago• Bonaire • Haiti • Turks and Caicos Islands• British Virgin Islands • Jamaica • Turks and Caicos Islands• Cayman Islands • Montserrat • US Virgin Islands• Cuba • Puerto Rico• Curacao • Saba

CASPIAN SEA COUNTRIES• Azerbaijan • Iran• Kazakhstan • Russia• Turkmenistan










BALTIC SEA COUNTRIES• Estonia • Poland• Finland • Russia• Germany • Sweden• Latvia • Denmark• Lithuania

MEDITERRANEAN SEA COUNTRIESStates have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. They are:• Europe (from west to east): Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and

Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and the European part of Turkey.• Asia (from north to south: Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Asian part of Egypt.• Africa (from east to west: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.RED SEA COUNTRIESNORTHERN SHORE:• Egypt• Israel• JordanWESTERN SHORE:• Egypt• Sudan• EritreaEASTERN SHORE:• Saudi Arabia• YemenSOUTHERN SHORE:• Somalia• Djibouti• EritreaTHE TROPIC OF CANCER PASSES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES (GOING EAST):1. United States of America (Hawaii) - misses every island, passing between Nihoa and Necker

island2. Mexico3. Bahamas4. Wester Sahara (claimed by Morocco)5. Mauritania6. Mali7. Algeria8. Niger9. Libya10. Chad - North - most point is defined by Tropic of Cancer11. Egypt12. Saudi Arabia13. United Arab Emirates14. Oman15. India16. Bangladesh17. Myanmar18. People’s Republic of China










Arctic Ocean• East Greenland Current• Norwegian Current• Beaufort Gyre (water or ice

flow)• Transpolar Drift (water or

ice flow)Atlantic Ocean• Agulhas Current• Angola Current• Antilles Current• Azores Current• Baffin Island Current• Benguela current• Brazil Current• Canary Current• Cape Horn Current• Caribbean Current• East Greenland Current• East Iceland Current• Falkland Current• Florida Current• Guiana Current• Guinea Current• Gulf Stream• Irminger Current• Labrador Current• Lomonosov current (a deep

current)• Loop Current• North Atlantic Current• North Atlantic Drift• North Brazil Current• North Equatorial Current• North Equatorial Counter

Current• Norwegian Current

• Portugal Current• Slope/Shelf Edge Current• Sllpe Jet Current• South Atlantic Current• South Equatorial Current• Spitsbergen current• Subtropical Counter Current• West Greenland Current• West Wind Drift

Pacific Ocean• Alaska Current• Aleutian Current• California Current• Cromwell Current (a deep

current)• East Australian Current• Equatorial Counter Current• Humboldt Current (or Peru

Current)• Kamchatka Current• Kuroshio Current (or Japan

Current, Kuro Siwo)• Mindanao Current• North Equatorial Current• North Pacific Current (or

North Pacific Drift)• Oyashio Current (or Oya

Siwo)• South Equatorial Current• West Wind Drit

Indian Ocean• Agulhas Current• East Madagascar Current• Equatorial Counter Current• Indonesian Through-flow• Leeuwin Current• Mazambique Current• Somali Current• South Australian Counter

Current• South Equatorial Current• Southwest and Northeast

Monsoon Drift (or IndianMonsoon Current)

• West Australian Current• West Wind DriftSouthern Ocean• Antarctic Circumpolar

Current• Weddell Gyre• Tasman Outflow

GEOGRAPHY










List of World’s Largest Dams1. Three Gorges, China2. Syncrude Tailings, Canada3. Chapeton, Argentina4. Pati, Argentina5. New Cornelia Tailings, USA6. Tarbela, Pakistan8. Fort Peck, Montana9. Lower Usuma, Nigeria10. Cipasang, Indonesia

World’s Highest DamsOrder Name River Country Height

(meters)1 Rogun Vakhsh Tadjikistan 3352 Nurek Vakhsh Tadjikistan 3003 Xiaowan Lancang china 2925 Inguri Inguri Georgia 2726 Vajont Vajont Italy 2627 Manuel M. Torrest (Chicoasen) Grijalva Mexico 2618 Tehri Bhagirathi India 2619 Alvaro Oberegon (El Gallinero) Tenasco Mexico 26010 Mauvoisin Drance de Bangnes Switzerland 25011 Alberto Lleras C. Guavio Colombia 243

Shifting Cultivation of the WorldShifting Cultivation Region

A. Ray Vietnam and LaosB. Tavy Eastern AfricaC. Maole Zaire River ValleyD. Fang Equatorial African CountriesE. Logan West AfricaF. Konul or Komile MexicoG. Milpa Yucatan and GautemalaH. Ichali GwadeloopI. Mitya Central American CountriesJ. Conuca Venezuela

GEOGRAPHY










K. Roca BrazilL. Chetemini Zambia, ZimbabweM. Kainging PhillippinesN. Tungya MyanmarO. Chenna Sri LankaP. Ledng Java and MalaysiaQ. Tamrai ThailandR. Humah Indonesia

Shifting Cultivation of IndiaShifting Cultivation Region

A. Jhoom North EastB. Bewar & Dehiyar Bundelkhand Division (M.P.)C. Deepa Bastar Distt. (M.P.)D. Jora and erka South Indian StatesE. Walra SE RajasthanF. Podu Andhra PradeshG. Kumari Western GhatsH. Kaman, Binga Dhavi Kaman, Binga, DhaviI. Khole Himalayan RegionJ. Chhimata (Shifting Ag. on slope by Bhil) Bhil areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, M.P., and

DAJAI (Shifting Ag. on plain by Bhil) MaharashtraK. KAPIL Areas of Bhutia in UttaranchalL. Upraun Terrace farming without

irrigation by Bhutia.M. Talab Terrace farming with irrigation by Bhutia.N. Karil Jhum cultivation by Bhutia

TRIBES OF INDIARajasthan Mavs, Rawats, Meenas, Bhils, Garaysias, Sahriya, Bairat,

Koli, Sansi (Baratpur), Bishnoi, Rabari, Meghyal.U.P. Bhotia, Tharus, Khasa, Bhoksa, Manzhi, Bidbol, Bhotia, Koria,

Raajis, Khwad, Korwas, Charas, Poarus, Bajars, Kharandhars,Tharu, Raji and Jaunsari

Himachal Pradesh Balti, Dogra, Changpa, BorokpaAndman - Nicobars Anges, Jarwas, Onges, North Sentineles, Andomonese

Nicobaris, ShopanesMaharashtra Halba, ChodhraAndhra Pradesh Sunali, Andh, Malas, Madrabhujingas, Bhagatas, Yenadi,

Yerukalas, Gadbas, Koyas, Sarvas, Khond, Kolamis Nayakpods,Yandis, Chenchus, Kondadoras

Madhya Pradesh Arkh, Gond, Gondi










Tamil Nadu Lingadikaris, Irulas, Toda, Kota, BadagKarnataka Bedar, Toda, Hakkipikki, Sholaga, Jenukurba, KaduOrissa Bondo, Poraja, Buunja, Bagata, Chenchu, Dharua, Holva

Jatapa, JuangKerala Todas, Godabas, Frulas, Sumalis, Malapatram, Uralis aniyan,

Muthuwan, Sholiga, Malkurvan.Gujarat Todia, Bhils, Daafars, Kolis, Rebaris, Dubla, Vaddalis, Patelias.West Bengal, Bihar, Sikkim Lepchas, Munda, Bhuias, Karwas, Malpahadia, Birja, Asus,

Sangak, Ho, Birhars, Oraon, Maler, pantarom.Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Akas, Daflas, Miris, Gurung, Apatames, along, Riong, Notias,Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Chakmas, Minpongs, Paasis, Padam, Paangis, Mishmi,Mizoram, Tripura Digaaris, Mezos, Chulkota, Keljis, Khomtis, Singpos,

Rangpoans, Konyaks, Rengmas, Sema, Chong, Santam,Kabui, Kachcha, Tungkul, Kukis, Lushais, Lakher, China,Khasi, Garo, Mikir, Golang, Abhore, Khampetis, etc.

MAJOR TRIBAL GROUPS OF THE WORLDAborgines - Australia Papuans - New GuineaBantus - Negroes Pygmies - Congo (Zaira) basinBedouins - Arabs Red Indians - North AmericanBerbers - Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia Samoyeds - Asiatic Tundra - northernBindibu - western Australlian TundraEskimo - Canada, Greenland Tartars - SiberiaGaucho - Nomads of Uruguay, Veddas - Sri LankaArgentina, Yakuts - Tundra region of RussiaHamites - North West Africa Bushmen - Kalahari desertKirghiz - Steppes of Africa Inuits)Eskimos) - Canadian TundraKikuyu - Kenya, east Africa Hausas - NigeriaLapps - Tundra region Mormons - Utah (USA)Maori - New Zealand Semangs - MalaysiaMasais - East Africa

IMPORTANT BOUNDARY LINES OF WORLDCountries

A. Hidenburg Germany-PolandB. Mejino Germany-FranceC. Manerham Russia-FinlandD. Sigfried Germany-FranceE. Oderniers Germany-PolandF. Maginot Germany-FranceG. 17th Parallel N&S VietnamH. 38th Parallel N&S KoreaI. Durand Pak-AfghanistanJ. Macmohan India-ChinaK. Red Cliff Indo-PakL. LoC India-Pak










Main GlaciersRegion Length (Km)

1. Siachen Laddakh 722. Hisper Karakoram 61

3. Batura Karakoram 58

4. Khurdopin Karakoram 42

5. Birjirev Karokoram 396. Yazgil Karakoram 29

7. Mohilaz Karakoram 29

8. Baltora Laddakh 58

9. Remo Laddakh 4010. Punmeh Laddakh 27

11. Hinarchi NW Kashmir 27

12. Minapin NW Kashmie 27

13. Barchi NW Kashmir 2714. Gangotri Kumaon 26

15. Milam Kumaon 19

16. Kaidarnath Kumaon 14

17. Kanchanjunga Sikkim 16

LIST OF NAMED GALAXIESGalaxy Origin of NameMilky Way Galaxy This is our galaxy, it is named after the nebulosity in the night

sky that marks the densest concentration of stars of our galaxyin the sky, which appears to blur together into a faint glow, calledthe Milky Way.

Andromeda commonly just Andromeda, this, called the Andromeda Galaxy,Andromeda Nebula, Great Andromeda Nebula, Andromeda SpiralNebula, and such, has been traditionally called Andromeda, afterthe constellation in which it lies.

Cartwheel Galaxy This galaxy is named after a cartwheel, because its visualappearance is similar to that of a spoked cartwheel.

Hoag’s Object This is named after Art Hoag, who discovered this ring galaxy.Larg Magellanic Cloud This is named after Ferdinand Magellan

Small Magellanic Cloud This ia named after Fedinand Magellan

Mayall’s Object This is named after Nicholas U. Mayall, of the Lick Observatory,who discovered it.

Pinwhell Galaxy

Sombrero Galaxy This is named after the sombrero hat, as it looks like one.

Sunflower Galaxy

Tadpole Galaxy The name comes from the resemblance of the galaxy to a tadpole.










IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN RANGES OF INDIA• Aravalli Ranges: It is a range of mountains in western India running approximately 300 miles from

northeast to southwest across Rajasthan state. The approximate age of the Arawallis range is 670million years.

• The northern end of the range continues as isolated hills and rocky ridges into Haryana state,ending near Delhi. The highest peak is Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu (Rajasthan). Rising to 5653 feet,it lies near the southwestern extremity of the range, close to the border with the Gujrat District. Thecity of Ajmer with its lake lies on the south slope of the range in Rajasthan.

• The Aravalli Range is the eroded stub of a range of ancient folded mountains. The range rose in aPrecambrian event called the Aravalli-Delhi orogen. The range joins two of the ancient segmentsthat make up the Indian craton, the Marwar segment to the northewst of the range, and theBundelkhand segment to the southeast

• Anaimalai Hills: The Anaimalai Hills is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Naduand Kerala states of South India. The name “Anaimalai” derives from the Tamil word ‘Anai’ meaningelephant and ‘Malai’ meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill.

• The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, 2,695 metres (8,842 ft), located in the Idukkidistrict of Kerala. It is the highest peak in India, south of the Himalayas.

• The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, is under considerationby the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

• Anamalai hills are known for their abundant wildlife. Eravkulam National Park, Chinnar WildlifeSanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjacent The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuaryand National Park in these hills are well known for elephants.

• Cardamom Hills: The Cardamom Hills are located in south-central Kerala, India. Their name comesfrom the cardamom grown in the hill’s cool regions, which also grow pepper and coffee.

• At a hight of height of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft.) the highest peak in the range is Anamudi, which isthe highest point in southern India.

• The Eastern Ghats: The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains along India’s easterncoast. The Eastern Ghats run from West Bengal state in the north, through Orissa and AndhraPradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south. They are eroded and cut through by the four major rivers ofsouthern India, the Godvari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Kaveri.

• The mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau lies to the west of therange, between the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The coastal plains lies between the easternGhats and the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats. As with theWestern Ghats, these mountain ranges also have their local names, e.g. the Velkonda Range ofAndhra Pradesh.

• At their southern end, the Eastern ghats from several ranges of low hills. The southernmost of theEastern Ghats are the low Sirumalai and Karanthamalai hills of southern Tamil Nadu. North of theKaveri river are higher Kollimalai, Pachaimalai, Shevaroy (Servaroyan), Kalrayan Hills, Chitteri,Palamalai, and Mettur Hills in northern Tamil Nadu State.

GEOGRAPHY










• The hill station of Yercaud is located in the Shevaroy Hills (Tamil Nadu), The dilgini Hills, which runeast from the Western Ghats to the Kavri river, forms a forested ecologial corridor that connects theEastern and Western Ghats, and allows the second-larrgest wild elephant population in India torange between the South Eastern Ghats, the Biligiri and Nilgiri hills, and the South Western Ghats.

• The Velikonda range eventually descends to the coastal plain in northern Nellore district, while theNallamalla range continues to the Krishna River.

• Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats and have a complex geologica history, related to theassembly and breakup of tghe ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwanasupercontinent.

• Garo Hills: The Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India. Shillong, the capitalof Meghalaya, is located in the this range. It is one of the wettest places in the world.

• The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion. Garo Hills comprises 3 districts.Tura is the largest town which is also centrally located to other popular game/wild life sanctuariesin the district such as Balpakram and Nokrek, natural caves (the Siju cave being one of the longestin Asia).

• The Himalayas: The Himalayas are a mountain range in Asia separating the Indian subcontinentfrom the Tibetan Plateau. By extension, it is also the name of the massive mountain system whichincludes the Himalaya proper, the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and a host of monor ranges extendingfrom the Pamir Knot.

• The Himalayas stretch across six nations: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.They are the source of three of the world’s major river systems, the Indust basin, the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin and the Yangtze basin.

• The Himalayas run, west to east, from the Indus river valley to the Brahmaputra river valley, therebyforming an arc 2,400 km long, which varies in width from 400 km in the western Kashmir to 150 kmin the Arunachal Pradesh region.

• The Himalaya chain consists of the three parallel ranges, with the northern-most range known asthe Great or Inner Himalayas.

• Khasi Hills: The Khasi Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in Meghalaya, India, and is part of thepatkai range and of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.

• The region is inhabited mainly by tribal Khasi dwellers, which are traditionally in varioujschieftainships, petty states known as the Khasi Hills States. One of its capitals, Cherrapunji, is theworlds wettest place.

• Jaintia Hills: Jaintia Hills is an administrative district in the state of Meghalaya in India. Thepresent district was created in 22 February 1972 and occupies an area of 3819 km2. The district ispart of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.

• Lushaii Hills: The Lushai Hills (or Mizo Hills) are part of the Patkai range in Mizoram and partiallyin Tripura, India. The hills are for the most part covered with dense bamboo jungle and rankundergrowth; but in the eastern portion, owing probably to a smaller rainfall, open grass-coveredslopes are found, with groves of oak and pine interspersed with rhododendrons.

• Naga Hills: Naga hills, reaching a height of around 3825 meters, lie on the border of India andMyanmar. These hills are part of a complex mountain system, and the parts of the mountain rangesinside the Indian state of Nagaland are called Naga hills.

• The hills, due to their complexity and position from a barrier between India and the former Burma.Extending northerly this rock formation and frontier known as Arakan Yoma’ reaches 12,552 feet.

• Nilgiris: The Nilgiri or literally Blue Mountains”, often refrred to as the Nilgiri Hills, are a range ofmountains spanning the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. The Nilgiris District of










tamil Nadu lies within these mountains.

• They are part of the larger Western Ghats mountain chain making up the western edge of theDeccan Plateau. The highest point in these mountains is the mountain of Doddabetta, about 4 kmeast south east from Udhagamandalam, with a height of 2,637 metres (8,652 ft.)

• Purvanchal Range: The Purvanchal range is an eastward extension of the Himalayas in the north-eastern region of India. It comprises of the Patkai hills, the Manipur hills, the Mizo hills and theNaga hills. It is a densely forested area, mainly composed of strong sandstones.

• Satpura Range: The Satpura Range is a range of hills in central India. The range rises in easternGujarat state near the Arabian Sea coast, running east through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradeshto Chhattisgarh. The range paralles the Vindhya Range to the north, and these two east-west rangesdivide the Indo-Gangetic plain of northern India from the Deccan Plateau to the south.

• The Narmada River runs in the depression between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, and drainingthe northern slope of the Satpura range and running west towards the Arabian Sea. The Tapti Riverdrains the southern slopes of the western end of the Satpura Range.

• The Godavari River and its tributaries drain the Deccan plateau, which lies south of the central andeastern portions of the range, and the Mahanadi River drains the easternmost portion of the range.

• The Godavari and Mahandi rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal. At its eastern end, the Satpura rangemeets the hills of the Chota Nagpur Plateau.

• The eastern portion of the range receives more rainfall than the western portion, and the easternrange, together with the Eastern Ghats, constritute the Eastern highlands moist deciduous forestsecoregion.

• The seasonally dry western portion of the range, together with the Narmada valley and the westernVindhya Range, are within the Narmada valley dry deciduous forests ecoregion.

• Shiwalik Hills: The Siwalik Hills also known as the Siwalik mountains and sometimes called ChuriaHills or Outer Himalaya are the southernmost and geologically youngest east-west mountain chainof the Himalayan System.

• The Siwalik Hills crest at 900 to1,200 meters and have many sub-ranges. They extend 1,600 kmfrom the Teesta River in Sikkim westward through Nepal and Uttarakhand, continuing into Kashmir.The Mohan Pass is the principal pass accessing the Siwalik Hills from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradeshto Dehra and the hill station of Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.

• The Siwalik Hills are chiefly composed of sandstone and conglomerate formations which are thesolidified detritus of the great range in their rear, but often poorly consolidated.

• North of the Siwalik belt lies a higher range, the 1,500-3,000 meter Mahabharat Lekh (Range) alsoknown as the Lesser Himalaya. In many places the two ranges are adjacent, in others valleys 10-20km wide separate them. These valleys are called Duns or Doons in India (as in, for example, theDoon Valley) which includes Dehradun, as also Patli Dun and Kothri Dun, both in Corbett NationalPark in Uttarakhand, and also Pinjore Dun in Himachal Pradesh.

• The permeamble sediments and poorly-developed soils of the Siwalik hills do not retain water betweenstorms and are unsuited to agriculture.

• Vindhyan Range: The Vindhya Range is a range of older rounded mountains and hills in the west-central Indian subcontinent (similar in size, ruggedness, and nature geographically to the AppalachianMountains), which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India (the Indo-Gangetic plain) and Southern India.

• The western end of the range rises in the state of Gujarat at the eastern side of the Gujarat peninsula,near the border with the modern states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Reaching the sub-continentproper, the range runs east and north nearly to the Ganges River at Mirzapur. The area to the north










and west of the range ana arid and inhospitable, located in the shadow of both the Vindhya and thehigher Aravalli range to the south blocking the prevailing winds.

• The southern slopes of the range are drained by the Narmada River, which proceeds westward to theArabian Sea in the wide valley betwen the Vindhya Range and the parallel Satpura Range farther tothe south. The northern slopes of the range are drained by tributaries of the Ganges, including theKali Sindh, Parbati, Betwa, and Ken. The Son, a tributary of the Ganges, drains the southern slopesof the range at its eastern end.

• The Vindhyan tableland is a plateau that lies to the north of the central part of the range. The citiesof Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, and Indore lie on the tableland, which raises higher thanthe Indo-Gangetic plain to its north.

• Western Ghats: The Western Ghats (Sahyadri mountains) are a mountain range in the west ofpeninsular India. They run north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separatethe plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea.

• The range starts near the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra, south of the Tapti River, and runsapproximately 1600 km through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Keralaending at Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. About sixty percent of theWestern Ghats are located in the state of Karnataka.

• These hills cover 60,000 km2 and form the catchment area for a complex of river systems that drainalmost 40% of Indoa. The average elevation is around 1,200 meters. The area is one of the world’eitht “Hottest biodiversity hotspots” and has over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammalspecies, 508 bird species and 179 amphibian species. At least 325 globally threatened species occurin the Western Ghats.

• The Western Ghats of Maharashtra spread from the Satpura Range to the north, and continue southpast Goa to Karnataka. The major hill range of the sector is Sayadhri range, which is home to thehill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchagani.

• The Biligirirangans southeast of Mysore in Karnataka, meet the Shevaroys (Servarayan range) andTirumala range farther east, linking the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats. This range is alsoknown as the Sahyadri mountains in Maharashtra and Karnataka, Nilagiri malai in Tamilnadu,and Sahya Parvatam in Kerala.

• Smaller ranges, including the Cardamom Hills and the Nilgiri Hills with Doddabetta being the highestpeak at 2,670 meteres (8,606 ft), are in northwestern Tamil Nadu. In the southern part of the rangein the Anaimalai Hills, in western Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Ana Mudi 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) is thehighest peak in India, south of the Himalayas. Chembra Peak 2,100 meters (6,890 ft), BanasuraPeak 2,073 metres (6,801 ft), Vellarimala 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) and Agasthya mala 1,868 metres(6,129 ft) are also in Kerala.

• The Western Ghats in Kerala is home to many tea and coffee plantations. The major gaps in therange are the Goa gap, between the Maharashtra and Karnataka sections, and the Palghat Gap onthe Tamil Nadu/Kerala border between the Nilgiri Hills and the Anaimalai Hills.

• The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is known as Desh, while the eastern foothills ofcentral Karnataka state is known as the Malnad region. The largest city within the mountains isthe city of Pune, in the Desh region on the eastern edge of the range. The Biligirirangan Hills lies atthe confluence of the western and Eastern Ghats.










LIST OF INDIAN STATES (AREAWISE)

GEOGRAPHY

Rank State or union Area (km2)territory

1 Rajasthan 342,2362 Madhya Pradesh 308,1443 Maharashtra 307,7134 Andhra Pradesh 260,0685 Uttar Pradesh 238,5666 Jammu and Kashmir 222,2367 Gujarat 196,0248 Karnataka 191,7969 Orissa 155,70710 Chhattisgarh 135,19411 Tamil Nadu 130,05812 Bihar 94,16413 West Bengal 88,75214 Arunachal Pradesh 83,74315 Jharkhand 79,70016 Assam 78,48317 Himachal Pradesh 55,67318 Uttarkhand 53,566

19 Punjab 50,36220 Haryana 44,21221 Kerla 38,56322 Meghalaya 22,42323 Manipur 22,32724 Mizoram 21,08125 Nagaland 16,57926 Tripura 10,49227 Andaman and 8,249

Nicobar Islands28 Sikkim 7,09629 Goa 3,70230 Delhi 1,48331 Punducherry 49232 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 49133 Chandigarh 14434 Daman and Diu 12235 Lakshadweep 32

Total India 3,287,240

Top beaches of world• Anguilla, Caribbean• Anse Source D’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles• Barcelona, Spain• Black’s Beach, San Diego, California• Bondi Beach Sydney, Australia• Bora Bora, French Polynesia• Clifton Beach Cape Town, South Africa• Fernando de Noronha, Brazil• Forte Dei Marmi, Italy• Harbour Island, Bahamas• Horseshoe Bay - Bahamas• Ibiza Spain• Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil• Duta Beach Bali

BEACHES OF WORLD• Larvotto Beach, Monte Carlo, Monaco• Margarita Island, Venezuela• Maroma Beach, Yucatan, Mexico• Mykonos Island Beach, Aegean Sea• Oahu, Honolulu• Palm Beach - Aruba, World’s top Beaches• Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece• Pink Sands Beach, Harbor Island, the

Bahamas• Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii• South Beach, Miami, Florida• St Barts Beach• St Tropez France• Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia• Tulum Beach - Cancun










Beaches in Malaysia• Datai Beach, Langkawi Island• Long Beach• Pantai Teluk Belanga• Redang Island• Tioman Island• Turtle Beach & Golden Beach

Beaches in Philippines• Honda Bay• Malapascua Island• White Beach• Bantayan Island• Muelle Bay• Puraran Beach• Alon BeachBeaches in Hawaii• Kannapali Beach, Hawaii• Kapalua Beach, Hawaii• Lanikai Beach, Hawaii• Oahu and Maui Beach, Hawaii• Palauea Beach, hawaii• Poipu Beach, Hawaii• Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii• Sunset Beach, Hawaii• Wailea Beach, Hawaii

Beaches in Thailand• Hat Farang Beach• Khao Lak Beach• Ko Lanta Beach• Ko Tarutao Beach• Phi Phi Island• Phuket Island Beaches• West Railay Beach KrabiBeaches in Vietnam• China Beach• Mui Ne Beach• Nha Trang Beach• Hon Chong Beach• Bai Tam, Phu Quoc Island

Beaches in America• Clearwater Beach• Cumberland Island• East Hampton Beach• Laguna Beach• Little Palm Island

• Naples• Newport Beach• Shi Shi Beach• South Beach• Trunk Bay Beach• Ofu Beach• Poipu Beach• Punalu’u Beach• hawaii Beaches

BEACHES OF INDIADaman and Diu• Devka & Jampore Beach• Nagoa Beach

Beaches in Kerala• Bekal Beach• Kovalam Beach• Varkala Beach• Charai - Ernahulum

Beaches in Orissa• Puri Beach

Beaches in Tamil Nadu• Covelong Beach• Elliots Beach• Kanyakumari Beach• Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu• Marina Beach• Rameshwaram

Beaches in Goa• Anjuna Beach• Arambol Beach• Ashvem Beach• Baga Beach• Calangute Beach• Benaulim Beach• Cavelosim Beach• Chapora Beach• Condolim Beach• Bogmolo Beach• Dona Paula Beach• Miramar Beach• Pololem Beach• Vagator & Chapora Beaches• Varca Beach










TUNNELS OF THE WORLD1. Seikan Tunnel, 53.85 km (33.5 miles), Japan2. Rakko Tunnel, 16.25 km (10.1 miles), Japan3. Channel Tunnel, 50.45 km (31.3 miles), United Kingdom & France4. Monte Santomarco, 15.04 km (9.3 miles), Italy5. Schlern/Sciliar Tunnel, 13.16 km (8.2 miles), Italy6. Delaware Aqueduct, 137 km (85 miles), New York, USA7. Quabbin Aqueduct, 39.6 km (24.6 miles), United States8. Medvedkovo to Bittsevsky Park (Line 6 of Moscow Metro), 37.6 km (23.4 miles), Russia9. Taihang Tunnel (Shijiazhuang to Taiyuan line), 27.84 km (17.3 miles), China10. Iwate to Iwate to Ichinohe Tunnel, 25.81 km (16 miles), Japan

TALLEST TOWERS OF THE WORLDStructure Country City height Height Year

(metres) (feet) HuiltBurj Khalifa United Arab Dubai 828 2,717 2009

Emirates

KVLY-TV mast United States Balanchard, North 628.8 2,063 1963Dakota

Guangzhou TV & China Guangzhou 610 2,001 2009Sightseeing TowerCN Tower Canada Toronto 553.3 1,815 1976

BREN Tower United States Nevada Test Site 462 1,516 1962

TOP 10 LARGEST DAMS OF THE WORLD1. THREE GORGES - CHINA2. SYNCRUDE TAILINGS - CANADA3. ASWAN DAM - EGYPT4. FORT PECK - UNITED STATES5. TARBELA - PAKISTAN6. MANGLA DAM - PAKISTAN7. ATATURK DAM - TURKEY8. VERZASCA DAM - SWITZERLAND9. NAGARJUNA SAGAR - INDIA10. SRISAILAM DAM - INDIA










Types of MineralsMetallic Minerals• Contain metal• Iron ore, copper, manganese, nickle• Subdivided into

• Ferrous Minerals• Have iron content• Iron ore, manganes, chromite, pyrite, tungsten, nickle, cobalt.

• Non ferrous Minerals• Do not have iron content• Gold, silver, copper, Iead, bauxite, tin, magnesium

No Metallic Minerals• Do not contain mineral• Limestone, nitrate, potash, dolomite, mica, gypsum.• Coal and petroleum. Mineral fuels.

IRON ORE• Magnetite (Black ore)• Haematite (Red ore/Natural ore)

Distribution of Iron Ore• Major Producers : Former USSR, China, Australia, Brazil, United States of America and India.• Largest Producer: 40% of reserves found here in erstwhile USSR.

• Iron Ore Resume - 9,500 to 10,000 crore tonnes.• Kryvoy Rog Region - 50% iron extracted from here.• Outer area, Kerch Peninsula, western Azerbaijan.

• Ural region: Yekaterinburg, Nizhmny Tygil, Mgni to gorsk, Kuzbas region• Siberia: Krasnoyrsk, Angara hh 4y

• USA: Great lakes region and Alabama stage.• Great lakes: Mesabi, marquette, menominee, vermillion, gobebic, Guyana.

• South America (Brazil)-Minas Gerais• Mesabi: 70% of total ore production.

• Alabama - Red Mountains, Brimingham.• Europe: W\Sweden

• Krishna and Gallivare (Northern Sweden)

GEOGRAPHY










• Dennemora (Southern Sweden)• Most of its exported.

• Australia - Western Australia (Hemersek Basin)• Pilbara region, largest producer• Mt. Goldsworthy (Whale back), Mt. Tom Price, Mt. Newman, Tailoring Peak,

Koolanooka, Koolyanobing.• Production - slightly over 80 crore Metric Tonnes.

IRON IN INDIAOres mainly consist of hematite and magnetite.• Heamatite - 68% metal content• Magnetite - 60%- Iron ore reserves : 13000 million tonnes- Bailadila mines in Bastar developed with Japanese collaboration.- Major Quality reserves

• Singhbhum in Bihar• Keonjhar, Bonai and Mayurbhanj in Orissa• Madhya Pradesh - Raipur, Burg, Baster• Andhra Pradesh• Tamil Nadu - Salem, Tiruchirapalli• Karnataka - Chikmanglur, Belari districts.Hamatite Ore: M.P., Jharkhand, Orissa, Goa, KarnatakaMagnetite Ore: Western Coast of Karnataka.Specialized Exporting Ports

• Vishakhapatnam, Marma Goa, Paradip, Calcutta, Manglore.Manganese in India

Reserves• 167 million tonnes• Main Reserve, Karnataka, followed by

• Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa.Bauxite

- Ore of aluminium- Wide industrial use, aeroplane industry

• Machine tools• Electricals• Utensils• Construction• Packing materials• Furniture

Distribution of Bauxite- Australia: Occupies first place in bauxite mining.










• Weipa, east of Gulf of Carpentaria• Arnhem, western side of Gulf of Carpentaria

- Fuinea, Namaica- Sussaim, Yugoslavia- USA, Arkansas Georgia, Alabama

Distribution in India- Major Reserves

• 2462 million tonnes• Concentration in East Coast Bauxite deposits of Orissa, northern Andhra Pradesh.• Madhya Pradesh (Amar Kantak Area); Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand (Bagru Hills)

Orissa- Annual capacity, 800,00 tonnes of alumina.- 225,000 tonnes of aluminium.

Mica- Major Producer: 90% of world’s mica produced by India.

• 60% of international mica trade by India.• Brazil, Competition to trade.

- Distribution• Hazaribagh, Gaya, Munger district of Bihar (Chotanagpur Plateau)• Nellore district (Andhra Pradesh)• Bhilwara district (Rajasthan)

- ReservesState Reserves

Andhra Pradesh 93,000tonnesBihar 13,000tonnesRajasthan 16,000tonnes

Copper- Ores: Cuprite, Malechite,

Calchocite, LoveiteDistribution of Copper• Chile, Chuquicamata, EleTementa, Potrerillos, Bradne.• United States, Arizone (largest copper producing state)

• Largest Mine - Binghara in Uttah.• Zaire and Zambia

• katanga district of Saire (main)• 9.4 per cent of total world copper production.

• Canada: Ontario and Quebec.










Distribution of Copper in India• Singhbhum (Bihar)

• Balaghat (madhya Pradesh) Jhunhunu and Alwar (Rajasthan)• Khamman district (Andhra Pradesh), Chitradurga, Hasan district (Karnataka), Sikkim.

Reserves• 416.8 million tonnes.

GoldDistribution in India

• Kolar mines (world’s deepest), Karnataka• Hutti Mines (Raichur district), Karnataka• Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh.• Placer deposits in Subarnrekha River.Reserves• 66700 kg of cold content

Chromite- An oxide of iron and chromium.- Reserves

• Concentrated in Orissa, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra. Andhra Pradesh, Manipur.• Orissa, is the largest producer

• Found in Keonjhar, Cuttack and Dhenkanal districts.• Karnataka, second largest producer

• Mysore and Hassan distrists.Lead

- Occur as a cubic sulphide known as gelena.• Founde in veins of Limestones, calcaerons slates and sandtones.Reserves• Tamil Nadu is the largest producer

• North Arcot Ambedkar and South Arcot Vallahar.• Rajasthan

• Udaipur, Dungarpur, Alwar.Coal

- Found in seams in sedimentary rocks.- Mostly formed during carboniferous period.- Three types of coal:

• Anthracite, 90% carbon, free of impurities.• Bituminous, 70% to 90% carbon.• Lignite, 45% to 70% carbon content.World Distribution• China, leading coal producer

• coal mining areas found in the north.










• Datong (Tolung) in Shansi province, Huo-Lin-He (Hu-Lin-Ho) in Inner Mongolia, Huainanand Huaibai in Anhin, Yanzhon in Shandong (Shantung) Peninsula, Xuzhon (Suchon) inJiangsu (Kiangsu), Livpanshin in Guizhou (Kwechow), Pindingshan in Henan, Kailuan inHegei province.

• United States of America• Western Pennsylvania to Alabama.• Kentueky and Western Virginia.• Illionois, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico.

• Donetsk Basin (Ukraine), Kuznetsk (Russia), Karaganda (Kazakhstan)• Europe:

• Franco-Belgian coalfields, campine-Limbung coalfields, the Ruhr, Saar, Silesia,Saxony, Pilsen coalfields.

• Australia• New South weales, Queensland, Western Australia

COAL IN INDIA- 98% of coal deposits belong to the Gondwana Age.

• ¾ of coal deposits located in Damodar River Valley.• Gondwana coal free from moisture by contains sulphur and phosphorus in small quantities.

• Anthracite and Bituminus• Found in Orissa, Jharkhand, M.P., West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.

• Tertairy coal are of younger age and are found in the extra-peninsular part of the country.• Example: Mikir - Assam

• Maslong• Langrin

• Namchick - Nampuck - A.P.• Neivelli - Tamil Nadu• Lignite

Distribution• Raniganj, Jharia, Giridih, Bokaro, Karanpura.• Large coalfields, Singreni in Andhra Pradesh Talcher in Orissa, Chanda in Maharashtra.

Reserves and Production• Proven coal reserves, 206, 239.5 million tonnes.

• Major states like Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh MaharashtraConsumption

• I Power Sector• II Steel Industry• III Cement Industry

Mineral Oil- Generally found in the dome like structures of semimentary rocks.- Distribution

• North America, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas state.










• South America• Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• Caucasia• Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.• Found in North of Caspian Sea and Sakhalin Islands.

• West Asia• Iraw, Saudi Arbia, Kuwait, Iran, United. Arab Emirates, Quatar, Balmair.• 50% of total reserves of crude oil lies in this region.

• South East Asia• Indonesia occupied an important place.

• Central Sumalia, Java and Kalimantan.• Europe

• North Sea, shared by United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germanyand Netherlands

Distribution in IndiaMajor Oil Fields

• North East India• Assam - Digboi, Naharkatia, Moran Hygrijan, Rudrasagar, Sibsagar.• Oilfields in Assam are inccessible and distantly located.

• Western indiaGujarat

• Ankaleshwar• Lunej• Ahmedabad

Offshore• Mumbai High• Bassein - located south of Mumbai High• Alibet-at Aliabet island in the gulf of Khambhat about 45 km off Bhavnagar.

• Potential oil bearing area, over a million square ksm.• Northern plains in Ganga - Brahmaputra valley.• Coastal strips with off shore continental shelf• Plains of Gujarat• Thar Desert• Area around Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• Bombay High 115 km off Mumbai coast, is the richest oilfield of India.• Sagar Samrat, first mobile off-shore drilling platform was bought from Japan.• Off shore, of the deltaic coasts of Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi.










Oil Refineries in India• 14 refineries• Shore Based refineries

• Trombay (Mumbai)• Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai,

• Vishakhapatnam.• Four Inland Refineries, close to oilfields

• Assam - Digboi• Guwahati• Bongai gaon• Gujarat - Koyali

• Located near markets• Barauni, Bihar• Mathura, Uttar Pradesh• Panipat, Haryana

Natural Gas• 3/4th of total gas production from Mumbai High• Other producers - Gujarat, Assam, T.N. Tripura.

URANIUMDistribution

• Canada and United States of America• Lake Atara• Port Radium of lake Great Bear.

• South Africa, Australia, Zaire, Malagasy former Czechoslovakia, Germany, Spain, Sweden.Distribution in India

• Singhbhum - Jharkhand• Gaya, district of Bihar• Udaipur, Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.• Nellor district of Andhra Pradesh.• Palghat district ofg Kerala.

Thorium• Major source

• Thorianite, allanite monazite• Main producer

• Sri Lanka, Malagasy• Major ore

• Monazite• Reserves found in Brazil, Australia Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Coastal part of India.• Montana, North and Sough Carolina, Florida states of United States of America










GEOGRAPHY

Trans HimalayasRanges Peaks Glacier Plateau/PlainKarakoram (also called K2 - (Highest) (Godwin • Siachern 75 km (North (From North to SouthKrishnagiri Range Austin) Hidden Peak Valley)- 2nd largest in Between Kara koram and

(Gaser brum I, II) world Karakoram range Saskar RangeBroad Peak (Masherbrum) • Fedchenko 74 km Lingzi Tang Plain

(South Western Pamir) Lokzhung mt.

Forms Kailash ranges Mt. Kailash • Hispar 62 km (Tributary Aksai Chin

(in Tibbet) off shoot of Hunza River)of Ladakh Soda PlainLadakh • Biafo 59 km (Brabloh Valley)

-3rd largest in world inKarakoram range

Zoskar Nanga Parbat • Batura 58 km (Hunza)• Baltoro 58 km (Braldoh Valley)• Chogo Lungma 50 Km (Rakaposhi Range)• Khurdopla 47 (ShingshallValley)Khumbu - Mount Everest

Himadri (Greater Himalaya)- Snow covered Peaks, Passes, and glaciers - Inner most and lofties mountainFormation Extension Glaciers Peaks PassesMountain with - Indus to Brahmaputra Gangotri-30 km Mt. Everest Kashmirgranite (kumaon)Core - Av. Ht. 6100 Milan - 20 km 8850 - Burzil

(Kumaon) - Zozila - Only western entry to

Rongbuk - 52 km Ladakh(Northern side of Kanchanguga H.P.Mt Everest) (8598) - Bara Lacha-laZemu - 25 km Makalu - Shipkila-Sutlej(Sikkim) Valley

Core flanked by Dhaulagiri - Tibet Road(8172) Connect Shimla

TibetMatamorphosed Nanga Parbhat Sikkim

(8126) - Nathula GangtokAsymmetrical fold Annapurna Jelpla via Chumbi(Sttep in south and (8078) Arunachalgentle slope in (8078) -Mohan pass (Siwanorth direction) lik hills










Himachal (Lesser Himalaya)

Formation Extension Ranges Passes Valleys Hills StationAlgonkian Width 60-80m • Pir Panjal • Pir panjal V. of Kashmir • Chakratato (Kashmir, • Banihal Between Pir • MussoorieEocene Av. Ht. 1000 Between (Jammu Panjal & Himadri • NainitalComposed of 4500 mt. Jhelum Srinagar Kangra Valley • RanikhetHighly and Beas). Road) (Betweencompressess • Dhualdhar Dhauladhar toand altered South of R. Beas.

Strike Valley)• Mussoorie Kullu Valley• Nag Tibba Ravi• Mahabharat Transverse(Nepal) Valley

SHIWALIK (OUTER)

Formation Extension Hills/Ranges ValleysMid Miocene to J&K to Arunachal Jammu Hills Jammu (Duns-Flat bettamed strikelower pleistocene pradesh Dhang Rang Valley separating if from

Dhundwa Rangw Lesser Himalaya)Churia Ghati Hills

Tertiary Width-50 km in H.P Dafla Dehradun valley - UttranchalSediments 15 km. in A.P. Miri Udhampur

Height: 600 to 1500 Abor Kotlimt. Mishmi

KotaPatiChukhamba

(Duars: Dun Type valleyin EastenParts)










GEOGRAPHY

SOILMajor Soil Types of India

- According to Indian council of Agricultural Research- ALLUVIAL SOIL

• 43 per cent land area.• Northern plains, Gujarat Plains, eastern coastal plains, deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari,

Krishna and Kaveri.• River deposits of fine particles of alluvium.• Varying proportion of sand, silt and clay.• Division according to age.• Bangar - Old alluvium.• Khadar New alluvium.• Bhabar - New alluvium, boulder, pebbles• Tarai - New alluvium.• New Alluvium - Khadar• Very fertile• Contain adequate Potash, phosphoric acid and lime• Deficient in organic and nitrogenous content

- BLACK SOIL• Also called Regu and chernozems.• Ideal for growing cotron, therefore called cotton soils.• Cover plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malina and southern Madhya Pradesh,

extending eastwards along Godavari and Krishna valleys.• Made of extremely fine, clayer material.• Good capacity to hold water• Rich in calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, potash and lime.• Poor in phosphoric content.• Black colour due to presence of iron and alluminium.

- RED SOIL• Developed on old crystalline rocks under moderate to heavy rainfaill conditions.• Chotangpur Plateau, Orissa, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, the Nilgiri and Tamil

Nadu Plateaus, Konkan coast of Maharashtra.










• Loamy in deep depressions• Deficient in phosphoric acid, organic matter and nitrogenous material.

- LATERITE OR LATERITIC SOIL• Result of intense leaching owing to heavy tropical rains.• Higher reaches of Sahyadris, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Lower lands in Maharashtra,

Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam.• Poor in humus (organic matter), nitrogen, soluble salts.

- FOREST SOIL• Found in forest regions of Himalayas, Western and Eastern Ghats and some parts of

Peninsular India. (Andaman and Nicobar)• Rich in organic matter.• Deficient in Potash, Phosphorus and lime.

- ARID AND DESERT SOIL• North western India - Arravallis in Rajasthan, Western Rajasthan, parts of Haryana,

Punjab and Gujarat.• Rich in phosphates, poor in nitrogen.

- ALKALINE SOILS• Reh, Kellar or Ussar soils• Arid/semi arid soils which have saline and alkaline efferevescenses mainly of soidum,

calcium and magnesium.• Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar• Can be reclaimed by application of Gypsum.

- PEATY OR OTHER ORGANIC SALTS• Contains high amoutn of organic matter and soluble salts.• Deficient in phosphorous and potash.• Kottayam and Tamil Nadu, Coastal areas of Orissa West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Central

and northern Bihar and Almora district of Uttaranchal.MAJOR VEGETATION TYPES OF INDIA

- Based largely on annual rainfal, four board categories commonly identified.1. Evergreen Broadleaved forests occupy areas reciveing over 2000 mm annual rainfall.2. Deciduous Broadleaved trees associated with areas of 1000 to 2000 mm rainfall.3. Dry deciduous broadleaved forests and open thorny scrubland occupy areas with 500 to

1000 mm annual rainfall.4. Throny scrubs and bushes are found in the semideserts and deserts receiving less

than 500mm annual precipitation.- 17 major vegetation types may be recognized within these broad ranges:

1. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests- Areas receiving over 2500 mm annual rainfall.- Western Ghats (1500 and 4500 feet), parts of Assam, Annamalai Hills, Coorg and

Andaman-nicobar Islands, Manipur.2. Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests

• Western coast from Bombay to Kerala, Assam and Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, WestBengal, Nagaland.










3. Tropical Moist Deciduous Type• Widely spaced, broadleaved trees like, ebony, Padauk, Semul• Areas having adequate precipitation of 1000 to 2000 mm annually.• A variation covers a large part of Orissa, Chota Nagpur Plateau, South Bihar, Eastern

Madhya Pradesh, Submontane Terai areas in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.• Sal is a typical tree.

4. Tropical Dry Deciduous Types• Covers Ganga Plains, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu.• Sal, Sandal, Shisham, Batinwood, Teak, Khari• Mysore major producer of Teak and sandal trees.

5. Tropical Throny and Tropical Desert Type• Areas receiving rainfall less than 500mm annually.• Pakistan border, western Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat States.• Broadleaved, deciduous thorny bushes, widespread wsith heaights ranging from 3 to 5

feet.• In desert conditions - shrinking in size of bushes, thorny and widely spaced vegetation.

6. Tropical Dry Evergreen• Goastal region of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (Southern Part).• Rainfall is less than 2000mm annually.

7. Sub-Tropical Wet Type• Spotty, Chinging to high attitudes (between 3000-5000 feet attitude.)• Shillong Plateau, Nilgiri Hills, Himalayas, Palni hills, Higher parts of Mahabaleshwar,

Satpura, Maikal range, Mt. Abu, Baster Highlands.• Oak, beech and Ash trees.

8. Sub Tropical Pine Type• On drier but higher altitudes.• Oak is an example.• Naga Hills, Khasi Hills, Parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur

9 Sub tropical dry type• Spotty areas in west Himalayan foothills, altitude 1500 to 5000 feet.• Acacia (ccwy) and scrubby trees.

10. Wet Temperate Type• Altitudes 3000 to 5500 feet• Areas experiencing rainfall over 1250 mm.• Nilgiri and Annamalai Hills.• Magnolias, Lamels, Rhododendrono.

11. Moist Temperate Variety• Inner Himalayas, Kashmir, Sikkim.• Conifers like deodars and junipers.

12. Himalayan Dry Temperate• Confierous forest with xerophytic shrubs• Olive, Deodar, Chilgoza, Oak, Ash, maple,










• Found in Inner dry range of Himalays, Ladakh, Lehul, Chamba, Kinnaur, Garhwal,Sikkim.

13. Alpine Type• Lying beyond 11,500 feet altitude in Himalaya.• Shrubby forest of first, jumpers, bnikes and rhododendorons.

14. Tidal Forest• Mangroves swamps in Ganga Brahmaputra delta, Mahanali, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri

delta.• hardwood palms, Sundri (Heriteera); Agra, Rhizophora, Serew pines.

15. Hilly or Upland Grasses• Usually found above 1000 meters in the Himalayan region, between the shifting snow

line and tree line.• Extensive grasscover occurs on the slopes of Nilgiris and other south Indian Hills.

16. Low land Grasses• Plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam.

17. Riverain Grasses• Northern India, known as Bhabar pastures.• (Kuttunad-lowest region of India below sea level-2.2m).




Documents

G.K. of World Geography for Civil ...static.upscportal.com/files/upsc2012/igp/csat-paper1/Geography-G.K... · intense like hot blast Harmattan Dry and dusty wind of ... laden wind