Monday, February 28, 2011

Geography of India

This is my PowerPoint presentation of India's Geography.


You can see the slides by clicking the link below:


Geography of India Presentation


Here's the explanation for my presentation:


Physical Geography

Slide 1:  My project is on the geography of India including the climate and natural resources. 

Slide 2:  India is a large country that covers 1,269,219 square miles. India is approximately one third the size of the United States.  It extends from about 8 degrees to nearly 33 degrees North.  The southern half of India is shaped like a triangle and extends south into the Indian Ocean.  The Arabian Sea is to the west of India and the Bay of Bengal is on the east side.  To the Northwest, Pakistan borders India, and to the North and East are China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. 

Slide 3:  The highest elevation in India is the Himalayan Mountains in the north.  Central India is the next highest.  The northern plains and around the coast are the lowest elevation. 

Slide 4:  At the top of India, the Himalayas separate India from the rest of Asia.  The Himalayas are the tallest mountains in the world.  Not only are they the tallest, but they are also the youngest mountain range in the world.  They are about 1,500 miles long and 100 to 200 miles wide.  The tallest mountain in India is Kanchenjunga, which is 28,208 feet high. 

Slide 5:  To the south of the Himalayas are the northern plains.  They stretch from the south of the Himalayas toward central India and are about 1,500 miles long.  This area is a great place for growing crops, and it is the largest alluvial plain in the world.  An alluvial plain is land formed from soil left behind by rivers.  The Ganges River formed this alluvial plain. 

Slide 6:  The Ganges River is the most famous river in India with a length of 1,500 miles.  It is also known as "Ganga."  The Ganges starts high in the Himalayas and winds its way down to empty into the Bay of Bengal.  The delta is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world.  To Hindus, the river is sacred.  They bathe in the water to purify themselves. 

Slide 7:  The Thar Desert is located at the border of India and Pakistan.  It is in the Indian state of Rajasthan.  It is about 500 miles long and 300 miles wide. 

Slide 8:  Most of Central India is a plateau, known as the "Deccan Plateau."  It is covered mostly by thorn scrub forest and deciduous broad leaf forests.  Several major cities with important manufacturing, industrial, and agricultural processing centers are located on the plateau.  The plateau is bordered on the east and the west by the Ghats. The Ghats are heavily forested land where many animals such as elephants, monkeys, and other wildlife live.




Climate

Slide 9:  The wide variety of terrain in India creates various climates throughout the country.  As you can see on the map, a majority of India is subtropical or tropical.  There is some arid climate up by the Thar Desert, and a highland climate exists by the Himalayas.  There are six climate regions in India, but they all have three seasons: he cool season, the hot season, and the rainy season. 

Slide 10:  The cool season is usually from October to February.  In the Himalayan Mountains, during the cool season the foothills get a lot of snow.  It is cold and damp and the temperatures can drop well under freezing in some parts of the Himalayas.  In the Northern Plains during the winter, or cool season, the temperature during the day is moderately warm, but at night temperatures drop to around freezing.  Central and Southern India have milder winters, but evenings can be chilly.

 Slide 11:  The hot season is much shorter than the cool season and only lasts from March to June.  In the Thar Desert, temperatures can rise up to 123 degrees F!  In the Northern Plains temperatures can reach a scorching 115 degrees F.  Central India tends to have more moderate temperatures.  Southern India tends to be hot and humid.  However the coast benefits from cooling breezes, which makes it more pleasant. 

Slide 12:  The third season is the rainy season.  The rainy, or wet, season lasts from about June to September and affects all of India, but the rain falls most heavily in Northern India.  This is the most critical part of the year to India. 

Slide 13:  Seasonal winds cause the monsoons.  During the rainy season, the winds come from the southwest over the water which causes the monsoons.  During the rest of the year, the wind comes from the northeast providing drier weather.  The monsoons are welcome in India because they provide rain for the crops which is needed to supply the population with food.




Natural Resources

Slide 14:  An important natural resource in India is the land because of agriculture.   Agriculture is the primary source of income for approximately half of India.  Many crops are grown in the fertile area called the Gangetic Plain.  The Gangetic Plain can produce up to two or three harvests a year.  Some of the crops grown in India include rice, wheat, millet, cotton and maize.  India is also one of the world's largest producer of bananas.

Slide 15:  Here are some pictures of the popular crops in India.

 Slide 16:  The forests also contribute to India's natural resources.  About 21% of India is forest.  On the map, the light green areas are forests.   Because of a diverse climate, India's land has varied forests. 

Slide 17:  Trees that can be used commercially are teak, rosewood, bamboo, and sal.  These trees are used to make furniture and are used as a construction material. 

Slide 18:  Coal is a main mineral resource of India.  Coal deposits can be found in various places in India as shown on the map.  One of the largest coal mines in India is the Tata Coal Mine at west Bokaro.  India is also one of top producers of iron ore.  Other minerals found in India include manganese, copper, chromate, phosphate, rock apatite, gypsum, limestone, and mica.