Deccan Trap

What do you understand by Deccan Trap? Describes its characteristics. (CSE 1995)

Deccan Trap is a thick sequence (3200 metres) of late cretaceous basaltic lava flows that cover about 500000 sq. km. of peninsular India. Due to erosion this basaltic lava soil has been eroded step wise which is often termed as Deccan trap.

This Deccan trap is widely prevalent in Deccan plateau, covering Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Karnataka parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Its thickness is not uniform rather it is somewhere deep and somewhere shallow depending on the surface whether flat or sloppy.

· It is largely called Black soil or regur soil. Owing to high proportion of clay content, they are sticky when wet and consequently difficult to plough. They develop under semi-arid conditions in the areas covered with basalt. · Deccan trap are lava country, here humus is almost absent in the soil and the black color of the soil due to the present of titanium salt. They are rich in lime. · The soil is moisture retentive and very productive especially in the low lands and in the river valleys where it is deep and clayey. · In the high hills and on the slopes. These soils are generally thin, sandy and poor. Potash and nitrogen, so essential for rich plant growth and phosphorus which essential for grain crops, are not adequately present in these soils.

Read more about Deccan Trap:

http://www.mantleplumes.org/Deccan.html

Rivers.......

Peninsular Rivers

Describe the major characteristics of the rivers of Peninsular India. (CSE 2003) Numerous rivers traversing the Indian Peninsula are older than the Himalayan Rivers and embody the following major characteristics: · The sources of the Peninsular Rivers lie in the plateaus and low hills devoid of snow; therefore, most of the rivers are seasonal. · Most of these rivers can be said to have reached a mature state of development, presenting a senile topography. · These rivers flow through open and graded shallow valleys with low gradients and little erosion. · The Peninsular Rivers are either superimposed or at places rejuvenated (represented by small waterfalls), giving birth to radial, trellis or rectangular drainage patterns. · These rivers mostly have smaller courses and small basins. · These are devoid of meanders because of hard rock and non-alluvial character of the plateau. · The impermeable hard rock limits the groundwater recharge in the aquifers of peninsular rivers. · These rivers are although suitable for power generation in their upper reaches but have limited use in irrigation and navigation.

Why have the rivers of the peninsular India well-defined rigid channels in sharp contrast to the Himalayan Rivers? (CSE 1995) Ø Indian rivers can be categorized into two broad categories i.e. Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers. Ø Himalayan rivers have their origin in high Himalayan mountain and gradually coming down on plains and debouching themselves into Bay of Bengal. Ø This is not the case with the Peninsular Rivers. These rivers have their origin in Western Ghats which about 2000 metres above sea level thus not too high vis-à-vis to their Himalayan counterpart. Secondly the Peninsular Plateau over which peninsular rivers flows are hard, rigid and not sandy, alluvial in nature as in the North India. Thus, here two features do not give too much scope, to change their river course. Surface in this region are made of the rocks like Gneiss, metamorphic features. Thus, the Peninsular rivers like Godavari River, Krishna, Vaigai etc. have their well defined rigid channels in sharp contrast to Himalayan Rivers. Ø Peninsular Rivers flowing through Western Ghats, does not find enough scope to carry enough alluvial soil or sediments to let it spread over at the surface of the Plateau. This factor also reduces the chances of non-well defined rigid channels.

INDIAN OCEAN

What is the importance of Indian Ocean for India? (CSE 1999)

Mention the advantages which India enjoys being at the head of the Indian Ocean. (CSE 1996)

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian subcontinent; on the west by East Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, by Antarctica). It is the only ocean to be named after a country, i.e., India.

1.The Indian Ocean

2.Bathymetric map of the Indian Ocean

India is situated at the North middle of the Indian Ocean. It makes three boundaries of India and delivers it many benefits in economic, climatic and strategic fields.

ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES · In the South Sri Lanka is neighboring the tip of the India. In the South-east, countries like Malaysia, Indonesia etc. are situated. India has developed sea-route trade along with these countries since historical period. · The major routes connecting east and west part of the world pass through Indian Ocean and India is a mid-destination for these routes. · After the opening of Suez-canal, the way to Europe has become more convenient through the Indian Ocean increasing to the benefits of India. · Trade routes to America, Africa and Europe pass through the Indian Ocean, this makes Indian position significant.

CLIMATE ADVANTAGE

· It keeps the climate of the southern India moderate and gives most of the rain India through the south-west monsoon.

· Providing a long sea coast, the Indian Ocean delivers, advantage of fishing, coastal vegetation etc.

STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE · It covers and protects three boundaries of India, reducing the huge cost of protection. · It prevents confrontation with neighboring countries which exist with land-boundary connected countries like Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.