Luminous Self-glowing

Not self-glowing, but can reflect light

Non-Luminous
from other sources

Asteroids small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun

Earth’s natural satellite
Meteoroids enters Earth’s atmosphere and burn up
Non-Luminous / Meteors in Mesosphere

Radii - 1.74 x 10^6 km CELESTIAL Comet

Small icy dirt balls that orbit the Sun,
Origin of BODIES burn upon reaching Sun
Time taken by light to reach Earth -
1.26sec. UNIVERSE Group of stars
Moon Constellation Largest - Hydra
Distance b/w Earth & Moon = 3,84,000
km
Urja Major - Sapta Rishi
Earth’s gravity = 6 times Moon's gravity
Rigel - Brightest star in Orion Constellation
Rotation = Revolution = 27.3 days (same)
Stars Sirius (Dog Star) - Brightest star in night sky
Only one side of the Moon is visible (far
Closest star to Earth - Sun
side)
Distance: 150 million km (1.5 x 10^8 km)

only star in our solar system Closest star to Sun - Proxima Centuri

powerhouse of solar system

Solar System
Composed of Hydrogen (73%), Helium
(25%) and other metals

Carries 99% mass of our solar system

Nebular Theory -
Approx 109 times Earth size Sun
Origin of 1755 - by
Light takes 8min. 30sec. to reach Earth SOLAR SYSTEM Immanuel Kant
Speed of light - 3 lakh km/sec 1796 - modified
by Laplace
Temperature at surface = 5800 K/5600 C

Temperature at centre = 15.7 million K

Outer layer - CORONA

 Farthest planet

known as - Ice Giant Mercury

Atmosphere has Hydrogen, Helium
Closest planet to Sun
Bluish in colour due to Methane Neptune
Smallest planet in solar system
Discovered by Johann Galle and Urbain
Le Verrier in 1846 Diameter: 4900 km
(only planet found by Mathematical
Predictions) Fastest planet
takes 88 days to complete revolution
Has 14 satellites
famous moon - Triton Planet with no satellite

Green Planet (Methane)

Discovered by William Herschel in 1781 Hottest planet in solar system

Jupiter > Saturn > Uranus > Neptune > Earth >
Known as - Ice Giant Venus > Mars > Mercury Brightest planet in Solar System
known as - Evening Star & Morning Star
Atmosphere has Hydrogen, Helium,
Water, Ammonia, Methane Uranus Venus No satellite

Coldest planet known as - Earth’s Twin (similar mass &

size)
tilted 98 degree at its axis Saturn
known as - Rolling/Lopsided Planet Earth Rotates clockwise

Rotates clockwise like Venus Second largest planet

only planet to give support to life
Has bright & concentric rings made of
known as - Blue Planet (70% water)
tiny rocks, gas, dust, ice
Planets
one satellite - Moon
least dense planet

Mars Densest in the entire solar system

Largest satellite - Titan
Jupiter
1655 - Huygenes (discover Saturn’s rings)
Known as - Red Planet (Iron Oxide (FeO))
1675 - Cassini (discovered Cassini Largest planet
divisions) shortest rotation (10 hours) 2nd smallest planet

Atmosphere has Hydrogen, Helium, other Two satellite - Phobos & Deimos
gases
Largest Volcano & tallest mountain -
Third brightest after Moon & Venus Olympus Mons

Largest satellites - Lo, Europa, Callisto

& Ganymede (largest among all)
(all discovered by Galileo)

Has unclear ring around it

 by Radioactive dating
invented by Ernst Rutherford (1905)
divides horizontally
Equator
Northern & Southern Hemisphere Uranium-lead dating method (oldest
Division Age rocks)
divides vertically
Prime Meridian
Eastern & Western Hemisphere Potassium-argon method

Types of Dating Rubidium-strontium method

Axial - 23.5 degree
Inclination Radiocarbon dating method
Orbital - 66.5 degree

When nearest to Sun Chlorine-36 dating method

Perihelion
January 3rd (14,75,00,000 km) Carbon-dating (C ) (latest rocks)

When farthest from Sun Geoid or Oblate Spheroid

Aphelion
Distance
(a little flat from top and bottom)
July 4 (15,25,00,000 km) from the Sun
towards the axis of rotation or centre
when moon is closest to Earth Perigee Shape Centripetal Force
of curvature (inside)

When moon is farthest from Earth Apogee directed away from the centre of the
Centrifugal Force
circle
Earth
around the Sun in Elliptical orbit
Radius
One revolution - 365days 6hr. 9min. 9sec.
Rotation - spinning on its own axis
Orbital speed: 29.8 km/sec Revolution One rotation - 23hr. 56mins. 4sec. Equatorial Radius: 6378 km

Max orbital speed: Mercury Polar Radius: 6357 km

Rotation West to East Direction
Min orbital speed: Neptune Mean Radius: 6371 km
Rotational Speed is maximum at
Equator & minimum at Poles
 Imaginary vertical lines form North to
South

Angular Distance of a plane from Prime

Meridian

Distance from each longitude varies

from poles towards equator

Least distance at poles - 0 km

Maximum distance at equator - 111.32
km
Longitude
Total longitudes: 360

All longitudes divide Earth into 2 equal

parts

Passes through 8 countries -

Prime Meridian - 0 degree
UK, France, Spain, Algeria, Mali,
(passes from Greenwich, London)
Burkina Faso, Togo & Ghana

International Date Line - 180 degree

(Zig-Zag line)

Latitude & Longitude Latitude

Imaginary horizontal lines from East to

Lunar Solar Eclipse West

Angular Distance of a place from the

Solstice & Equinox equator

Distance b/w each latitude is same

1 degree of latitude = 111 km (approx)

Total latitudes - 181

Largest - Equator
Smallest - Poles
Super Moon - during Lunar Eclipse + Perigee Moon (North & South)
(appears bigger)

Summer Solstice - continuous Sun rays on North Pole for 6 months

Winter Solstice - continuous Sun rays on South Pole for 6 months
Equinox - direct Sun rays fall on the Equator
 Temperature - indirect source made of Silica & Aluminium layer (SiAl)

Volcanoes and rock - direct source Thickness - 5-70 km

Method
Meteorites - indirect source land part of crust

Earthquakes - indirect source Crust Continental Crust 30 km (thick/lighter)

made of Granitic rock

water part of crust

Oceanic Crust 5 km (thick/denser)

made of Basaltic rock

made of Silica & Magnesium (SiMa)

Thickness - 2900 km

Mantle Top layer - Solid form

Upper Mantle
division
Lower Mantle

Asthenosphere semi-molten form

made of Nickel & Iron (NiFe)
Earthquake
Core Inner Core Solid form - 2200 km
division
Liquid form - 1300 km
Outer Core
(shows magnetic properties)

Tectonic plates Earth’s Interior Discontinuity

measure magnitude

Magnitude - 0-10 Richter Scale

It is a limitless scale
Scales to measure
measure intensity
Mercalli Scale
Magnitude - 1-11

7 Major + few minor plates

Major plates marked in red & Minor plates marked in blue

Crust + Upper solid part of Mantle

Lithosphere Thickness - 10-200 km

Asthenosphere is not part of Lithosphere

 formed when magma

Igneous Rock cools and solidifies

when water is too warm, corals will expel the
algae (Zooxanthellae) living in their tissues
Intrusive - solidifies inside
causing the corals to turn completely white Types
sea organisms, known as Rainforest of Sea Extrusive - solidifies outside

Exists in symbiotic relationship with Sediments are broken, transported & deposited
Zooxanthellae algae
Coral bleaching They exists in layers/strata
exists in colony
In sedimentary compaction takes place -
Saline water Lithifaction
(cannot survive in fresh water)
Corals Rock Sedimentary Rock Fossils are found in it
Sunlight
Favourable conditions Formed mechanically
eg: Sandstone, limestone and shale
Clear water
Formed organically
Temperature Types
eg: chalk, limestone, coal
(between 30-35 C)
by Alfred Wegener, in 1912 Formed chemically
Great Barrier Reef, Australia eg: Limestone, halite
Barrier Reef
due to Tidal force & Polar fleeing force (largest)
formed by recrystallisation & reorganisation of
due to development of convection cells Continental drift materials within the original rocks

Jig Saw fit Igneous + Sedimentray (in Pressure, Volume &

Metamorphic RocK
Temperature)
Fossils deposits Evidences
Continents Thermal formed by sudden temperature change
Placer deposits
Continents & oceans Types
Dynamic formed without any chemical change

Cinder

most viscous lava Composite

low viscosity lava Shield Volcano Rock Cycle

most explosive lava
Caldera
collapses on itself
Oceans
 Rainfall is a precipitation

Hail big size

rain bearing
small size Weather phenomenon
black/dark grey coloured Nimbus Sleet
Frozen & refozen drops Lowest layer of the atmosphere
opaque to sunlight Low level Rainfall
occurs when surface of Earth Poles - 8 km
layered clouds Stratus Convectional Height
is heated up by the Sun
Equator - 18 km
flat base, cotton wool shaped
Clouds Orographic rainfall caused due to mountain
4000-7000 m Cumulus Tropopause divide Troposphere & Stratosphere
Cyclonic due to cyclone
does not rain generally decreases with altitude
High level
High altitude Troposphere Temperature
Lapse Rate
165m - 1 degree C
Feathery appearance Cirrus 1km - 6.5 degree C

does not cause rain

(78%) Nitrogen, (21%) Oxygen, (0.9%) Argon,
water vapour present in atmosphere Composition of gases
(0.036%) Carbon dioxide, Helium

actual amount of water vapour present in Tropospheric Ozone is bad for our environment
Absolute Humidity
atmosphere
Conduction - layer that’s near to Earth will
% of moisture present in atmosphere heat through conduction (also vertical)
compared to its full capacity
Relative Humidity Humidity
Convection - Vertically transfer of heat after
temperature at which saturation occurs Dew Point Atmosphere heats up due to
conduction

moisture that forms as a result of Advection - Horizontal transfer of heat

Dew
condensation eg: loo is a result of advection
Stratosphere
Big particles Fog Condensation
no solid surface needed, water vapour
condenses around hygroscopic particles Water
Small particles Mist Ozone layer is seen here which protects from

deposition of white crystals Frost (97.2%) Saline water

Atmosphere harmful UV rays

Coldest layer atmosphere Ozone layer seen b/w 30-35 km

Ice gaps/glaciers (2%)
68.7% of total fresh water Mesosphere Meteorites end here Temperature increases with altitude/moving
upwards
Ground water (0.68%) Temperature decrease with altitude
30.1% of total fresh water Jet planes fly in this layer

Lakes (0.4%) (2.8%) Fresh wate Ozone day - 16th Sept. 1987
Hottest layer
Atmosphere Stratopause divides Stratosphere & Mesosphere
Temperature increases with altitude
Rivers
known as Ionosphere layer (presence of Ions)
Thermosphere its Reflects Radiowaves
water (liquid) - water vapour (gas) Evaporation

boundary b/w the Earth’s atmosphere and

water vapour (gas) - water (liquid) Condensation Water Cycle Karman line
Exosphere (100km)
weather condition where something falling
Precipitation lines connecting the points having same
from sky (like - rain, snow, hail ) Isotherm
temperature
 usually seen in places where rock is soft (Dolomite/Limestone)

Changes in the configuration of Earth

Land build/elevate Endogenic forces

Geomorphic process Erosion Exogenic forces

by Groundwater
if Endogenic > Exogenic Himalayas continuously increasing

if Exogenic > Endogenic Aravalis continuously decreasing

pressure within the earth, also known as

internal forces
pools, sink holes, dolines, lapies, uvalas, limestones Erosional
Radioactive decay
Stalactite, Stalagmite, Pillars Depositional Energy from
Primordial heat

kind of process that move/elevate/build up

Endogenic forces the process of Earth

Orogenic process through which mountains are built

Diastrophism Epeirogenic other changes except mountain build up

Erosional: cliff, caves,
stack , arch Earthquake shaking of Earth
Depositional: beaches, by Sea Waves Landforms Changes
Plate tectonics
dunes, bars, barrier, spits
Volcano openings/vents where lava or magma erupts

due to Exogenic forces, causes wearing and

Exogenic Processes
tearing

Gradation wearing down of relief features of Earth

Collectively Exogenic forces are called

Exogenic forces Denudation

Exogenic Agents running water, wind, waves, ground water

Ultimately sources of energy for all exogenic

forces - Sun

by Wind Action of elements of weather and climate

Erosional: Pediplain, Playas, Mushroom

Geomorphology over Earth Materials

rock, Pedestal rocks In-situ process

Depositional: Sand Dunes (Barchan/Seif) erosion or disintegration of rocks, building

Chemical
materials, etc.

Weathering Types Physical/Mechanical disintegration without chemical change

Biological caused by movement of plants and animals

by River process when large, curved plates or slabs of

Effect Exfoliation rocks are stripped away from the outer
surface of a rock mass
Youth stage - V-shaped valley, Gorges, Canyon, Waterfalls, Rapids, entrenched meander
Mature stage - Meanders weathering is not a pre-requisite for Mass
Old - Ox-bow lakes, delta, levees, flood plain Movement, it aids the Mass Movement

V-shaped valley, Gorges, Canyon, Waterfalls, Pothole, Main force involved - Gravity
Erosional features
Plunge pools, River terraces
Creep slow downslope movement of particles
flood plains, Delta, ox bow lakes, meanders, Alluvial fans Depositional features Landforms
slow progressive movement of mass down a
Mass Movement Solifluction
slope

Landslide

Avalanche
Types
Earthflow
by Glacier
Cirque, Ridges/Arête, Horn, Hanging Valley, Glacial Valley Erosional Mud flow

Moraine, Eskers, Drumlins, Outwash plains Depositional

 Pressure difference causes
wind

Warm air rises - Low pressure

Cold air sink - High pressure

High pressure - Low pressure

Large Sea Surface temperature

Coriolis force
Favourable conditions Cyclone
Small variation in vertical wind speed

Pre-existing weak LP area

During cyclone, Cumulonimbus clouds

are formed & causes heavy rain &
thunderstorms

Cyclone at High Latitudes are caused

due to Frontogenesis

Land & Sea breeze

Local wind

Wind

Geostrophic winds

winds that blow parallel to isobars Isobars

line connecting the points having same

pressure
 Weather short term

Climate long term (Roughly 30 years data is taken)

Climate by Koeppen, in 1918

Empirical Climatic Classification

Benguela, Peru, Greenland, Oyashio, Labrador,

Falkland, West Australian Drift, Canary & Cold Ocean Current
California

Heating by Sun
Ocean Currents
Wind

Density different Reasons of origination

Coriolis force

Coastline of continents

Surface - 10%
Types
Deep Sea - 90%

Creates foggy conditions: worse for Warm ocean current + cold ocean current
Harbouring = Best fishing zones

Max. desert seen on Western side of the

continent Effects

Cold ocean current - creates desert

 Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West 9 States
Bengal

Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman &

4 UTs
Diu, Puducherry

UTs - Andaman and Nicobar (1912 km)

Longest coastline Coastal Boundary
State - Gujarat (1214 km)

4,096.7 km (longest) Goa Shortest coastline

Border - Radcliffe Line Total: 7516.6 km

Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura & West Mainland: 6100 km

Bangladesh
Bengal

BSF

3,488 km

Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,

Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh
India

Expention
China

ITBP (under Ministry of Home Affairs)

3,323 km
Facts

Gujarat, Rajasthan & Punjab Pakistan Boundries India was part of Gondwanaland
BSF
India in terms of area is in the 7th position
1,751 km
India occupies 2.4% of total world’s land area Pass through 8 states
Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal &
Uttarakhand
Nepal Facts Indian Population is 17% world’s total Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
population Tropic of Cancer Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura
& Mizoram
SSB (under Ministry of Home Affairs)
State sharing boundary with maximum no. of Uttar Pradesh =
state 8 states + 1 UT (Delhi) capital cities of these 8 States are above -
1,643 km
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Myanmar Aizawl, Mizoram
Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur & Mizoram Sikkim (West Bengal) Agartal,aTripura
State sharing boundary with least no. of
states
699 km Meghalaya (Assam)

West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim & Arunachal Sikkim (Nepal, Bhutan, China)
Bhutan
Pradesh
States sharing boundary with 3 countries Arunachal (Bhutan, China, Myanmar)
SSB (under Ministry of Home Affairs)
West Bengal (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh)
106 km (least)
Afghanistan 1 UT that shares boundary with 3 countries Ladakh (Pakistan, China, Afghanistan)
Ladakh

by Palk Strait Sri Lanka

 Eg -
Andes Mt. Range (South America) Young fold mountains Northern Mountains
Alps Mt. Range (Europe) Core made up of Granitic rock
(formation: million of years ago)
Rockies Mt. Range (North America)
Northern Plains 3 mountain ranges
Eg - Peninsular Plateau highest peak - K2 / Godwin Austin (8611 m)
Ural Mt. Range (separates Europe and Asia) Old fold mountains Physiographic world’s second highest peak
Appalachians (North America)
Aravalli (India)
(formed billion years ago) Divisions The Great Indian Desert
Karakoram Range Siachen

Eg -
types of Mountains Coastal Plains
Baltoro
Trans Himalayas Glaciers
Vosges Mountain (Germany) Block Mountains
Caucasus Mountains Group of Islands Hisper

Diafo
Eg -
Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa)
Mount Stromboli (light house of Ladakh Shyok river flows b/w Karakoram and Ladakh
Mediterranean) Volcanic Mountains
Mount Fujiyama(Japan) Zanskar Indus flow b/w Ladakh and Zanskar
Mount Ojas del Salado (Chile-Argentina border)
Mount Cotopaxi (Ecuador) Known as Himadri / Inner Himalayas
Tribe - Bhotia
Himachal/Uttarakhand Himalayas Western most point Nanga Parvat
Summer grasslands - Bugyal
Eastern most point Namcha Barwa
Mt. Kanchenjunga
Himalayas Great Himalayas Avg. height: 6000 m
Tribe: Lepcha/Bhutia tribe Darjeeling & Sikkim Himachal
Mt. Everest (8848 m, highest in the world)
Absence of Shiwalik - Duars
Mt. Kanchenjunga (Sikkim): Highest in India
Himalayan Range (8598 m)
jhumming cultivation practiced
Others Highest Peaks Nanda Devi: highest peak in Uttarakhand
Important peaks - Kangtu & Namcha Barwa
Arunachal Himalayas 1. Annapurna (8091 m)
Important rivers - Kameng, Subansiri & Dihang
Nepal: 2. Dhaulagiri (8167 m)
Tribes - Monpa, Abor, Mishimi, Nyishi & Naga
3. Mount Makalu
Patkai bum
known as Himachal / Lesser Himalayas
Naga Hills
Avg. Height - 4000 m
Eastern/Purvanchal Hills
Manipur Hills J & K - Pir Panjal Range

Mizo/Lushai Hills Himachal Pradesh - Dhauladhar

Middle Himalayas Names
Dal Lake Uttarakhand - Nagtibba
fresh water lakes
Wular Lake Nepal - Mahabharat Range

Kashmir Valley is b/w Great Himalayas and

Pangong Tso Lakes Lesser Himalayas
salt water lakes
Tso Morir
Churiya Hills
Meanders in its youth stage between Indus river & Sutlej river Punjab Himalayas
Avg. height - 1000 m
Jhelum River
Srinagar between Sutlej & Kali river Kumaon Himalayas
In the Eastern Himalayas gets replaced by
Shiwalik
Duars
between Kali & Teesta river Nepal Himalayas Regional divisions
B/w Lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks -
between Dihang & Teesta river Assam Himalayas
longitudinal valleys known a Dune
Karewas formation (glacial deposits) Kashmir Himalayas
Largest dune - Dehradun
 Arunachal Pradesh

Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu to Kashmir/Srinagar -
Banihal & Pir Panjal

Kashmir to Gilgit - Burzil

Himachal Pradesh Kashmir to Leh - Zoji La

Sikkim

Passes

Uttarakhand

Rohtang pass connects -

Kullu to Lahaul and Spiti Valley

Baralacha La - Lahaul and Spiti to Leh

Atal Tunnel in Rohtang Pass

Lipu Lekh located at Trijunction

 general elevation - 600-900 m
Discontinuous, irregular, and Dissected by
rivers Due to breaking & drifting of Gondwana land

Stretched from Mahanadi Valley to the Nilgiri made up of black soil

(Connects Western Ghats to Eastern Ghats)
Continous and can be crossed through passes
only
Eastern Ghats broad and shallow valleys & rounded hills
Highest peak - Mahendragiri (1501 m) /
Jindagarah (1690 m) Block mountains
Higher than eastern - 900-1600 m
Shevaroy Hills & Javadi Hills are located to the Rajpeepla
Stretch from Tapi to South of Nilgiri Hills southeast to it
3 hills Mahadeo
Spread across - Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa Maikal
Formation Satpura
Highest Peak - Dhupgarh (Madhya Pradesh)
Cause Orographic rainfall
located on Mahadeo Hills
Height increase from North to South Western Ghats Hill station - Panchmadi Hills Queen of Satpura
Highest peak - Anaimudi (Anaimalai Hills)
2695 m Rivers that flow - Narmada & Son
Amarkantak Plateau
Makes radial drainage pattern
2nd highest peak - Doddabetta (2637 m)
Panna (Madhya Pradesh) - Famous for diamond
Southernmost Hills - Cardamom Hills
Vindhya
triangular landmass lying South of Narmada Highest peak - Sadbhavna Shikhar
Bhorghat - Mumbai to Pune Borders (Peak of Goodwill)

Thalghat - Mumbai to Nasik Passes Satpura - Northern borders Central Highlands

Part lying to the North of Narmada River
Divisions
Pal Ghat - Annamalai to Nilgiri Mahadev, Kaimur hills, and Maikal range - Peninsular Plateau Deccan Plateau
Covered by Vindhya at North, Satpura at
Eastern borders
South, & Aravalis on the Northw
Tilted towards East
Malwa Plateau (largest)
Deccan Plateau Central Highlands - Western side
higher in the west and slopes gently eastwards
Main plateaus
Chota Nagpur Plateau
extension of these found in North East
- Eastern side

Spread across - Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Rajmahal Hills - makes North Eastern boundary Malwa Plateau
wider in West but narrower in the East
Odisha, West Bengal
Malda fault/Malda gap -
known as Ruhr State (famous for minerals) Separates from Karbi Anglong Plateau, In Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh
Meghalaya Plateau (Garo, Khasi & Jantia Hills)
Ranchi Plateau & North Cachar Plateau (Mikir & Rangma Hills) Made of lava (Basaltic rock)
Spread across 860 km
(Black soil originates)
Hazaribagh Plateau 3 hills
Old fold mountains
Rivers that flow - Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, Ken
Koderma Plateau Chota Nagpur Plateau (Tributaries of Yamuna)
Aravalis residual mountains
Highest peak - Parsavnath (name of 23rd
Tirthankar) Spread across - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi,
Haryana
River that flows in rift valley -
Damodar River (eastern side) Highest peak - Guru Shikhar (1722 m)
(situated in Mt. Abu Hills)
Jadugada Mines - famous for Uranium
 Arabian Sea

Total - 36 islands

Largest - Andrott Lakshadweep

Shompen
Tribes
Nicobarese

Bay of Bengal

Total - 572 islands

Largest - Great Nicobar

9 coastal states + 4 UTs

Andaman & Nicobar Northern Plains Narrow in middle and wider in the ends
Coasts Submerging

Rivers do not form delta

Western Coastal Plains
Islands Formation of Kayals (Backwaters)

Punnamada Kayal: Nehru Trophy (Boat race)

North Andamanese
Port development is easy
Jarawa
Negrito group Tribes Wider
Once

Senthelese Eastern Coastal Plains Emerging

Form Delta
Netaji S. C. Bose Island Ross Islands
12 Govt. Owned Ownership & management by Central Govt
Shaheed Dweep Neil Island Islands renamed 13
1 Pvt. Owned Ennore (Kamrajkar Port)
Swaraj Dweep Havelock Island
Parts of India
Major

Dessert

Seen in North Western of Aravali

Low rainfall - more than 150 mm/year

Ports
Also known as Marusthali

Burchans, Seif

Mushroom rocks Most rivers are ephemeral Features

Pedestrial Rocks
Minor 200 Owned by State Govt
green part in desert Oasis is seen here
 They are Perennial
Dendritic - resemble the branch of a tree
Water throughout the year
Brahmaputra Trellis - tributaries join the river at right angle Origin/Source - Glaciers

Radial - rivers originating from a central

Patterns dome/peak Himalayan Rivers
They have long courses from their source to
2900 km the sea

Centripetal - rivers draining their water into a

Length in India: 916 km 3 major rivers - Indus, Brahmaputra & Ganga
central lake/depression
originating from north of the mountain ranges
Tibet - Yarlung Tsangpo (origin)
Some Himalayan rivers are antecedent
Siang & Dihang - Arunachal Pradesh (following their original course)
names Indian River System eg: Satluj, Kosi, Indus
Assam - Brahmaputra
They are ephemeral
Jumuna - Bangladesh origin - Bokhar Chu Glacier near Lake
Mansarovar During dry season, large rivers have reduced
Takes U-turn in Namcha Barwa flow of water in their channels
Length - 2880 km/1114 km in India
South turn in Dhubri (Assam) Peninsular River They have shorter and shallower course
Flows in - China, India & Pakistan
World largest Riverine Island - Majuli Island Most of the rivers here originate in the
Drains - into Arabian Sea Western Ghats and flow towards Bay of Bengal
Origin - Chemayungdung Glacier/Angsi Glacier
National river of Pakistan Ex: Narmada, Tapi, Godavari
Padma + Jamuna = Meghna
Indus in Tibet is known as Singi Khamban signed in Karachi
World’s largest Delta - Sundarbans Delta (Lion’s mouth) B/w J L Nehru & Ayub Khan
(Sundari tree)
Indus + Jhelum - Sindh Sagar Doab Mediator - World Bank
Left Bank Tributaries
Lohit, Dhansiri Jhelum + Chenab - Jech Doab Indus, Jhelum & Chenab
Tributaries
Ganga then flows in Bangladesh where it is
Drainage System Indus Water Treaty, 1960 80% water used by Pakistan
20% water used by India
Right Bank Tributary Doab Chenab + Ravi - Rechna Doab
flows as Padma
Dibang, Kameng, Manas, Testa, Subansiri
Ravi + Beas - Bari Doab Ravi, Beas & Sutlej
Water from Ganga stored in bottle remains Indus 80% water used by India
fresh due to presence Bacteriophage viruses 20% water used by Pakistan
Beas + Sutlej - Bist Doab
Total length - 2525 km Ganga meanders in its youthful stage

National River of India, declared in 2008 Ancient name - Vitasta

Longest River of India Jhelum Origin - Verinag (J & K)

Passes through (5 states) - Uttarakhand, Flows in the border of India & Pakistan
Uttar Pradesh (longest), Bihar, J&K (shortest),
Wular Lake gets its water from Jhelum
West Bengal
Ancient name - Askini
1370 km
Chenab Origin - Baralacha La pass
It is the longest tributary of Ganga Yamuna
Largest tributary of Indus
Tributaries - Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Tons
Ancient name - Purushni
Ravi
Origin - Amarkantak Plateau Origin - Rohtang pass
(Radial Drainage Pattern) Tributaries - (Panchnad)
Ancient name - Bipasha
Tributaries - Koel, Rihand Son
Beas Origin - Rohtang pass
Punpun - joins Ganga at Fatuha near Patna
Only tributary of Indus that does not pass or
enter Pakistan
Prayagraj
Ancient name - Shutudri
Kanpur (largest)
West to East order Cities located on banks Sutlej Origin - Rakas lake (Lake Mansarovar)
Varanasi
It enters India through Shipkila pass
Patna
Right Bank Tributaries - Shyok, Gilgit, Hunza
 Chota Nagpur Plateau

Flows in rift valley Bay of Bengal (forms Delta)

East flowing rivers
Tributary of Hugli (Distributary of Ganga) Damodar flows due to the tilt of Deccan Plateau
Categories
Sorrow of Bengal West flowing rivers Arabian Sea (forms Estuary)

Tributaries - Bokaro, Barakar, Konar

gold particles are seen in river Chota Nagpur

Subarnrekha
Plateau (Randri Plateau) Origin - Nag Hills, Rajasthan

Baitarani Flows through - Rajasthan > Gujarat

Sankha + South Koel (tributaries) Brahmani Luni Only river of salt river

nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtles Vamsdhara don’t reach up to oceans
& ends in Rann of Katchh
Length - 850 km
Origin - Aravalli mountains, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Sorrow of Odisha
Sabarmati Rajasthan > Gujarat
Origin - Sihawa Hills (Rampur, Chhattisgarh)
Gandhinagar & Ahmedabad are located on its
Flows mainly in Chhattisgarh + Odisha bank
Mahanadi
(basin spread across Jharkhand, Maharashtra, MP)
Origin - Vindhya mountains
Dam on this river - Hirakud Dam
Mahi MP > Rajasthan > Gujarat > Gulf of Khambhat
Tributaries - Tel, Jonk, Ong, Hasdeo, Mand
crosses Tropic of Cancer two times
Length - 1450 km
Length - 1310 km
Origin - Trimbakeshwar Plateau (Nasik, Maharashtra)
Peninsular Rivers Longest Western River flowing into Arabian sea
Maharashtra > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh Forms delta
Origin - Amarkantak Plateau, MP
Rivers basin spread across - Chhattisgarh,
Odisha, MP, Karnataka
Godavari East Flowing Narmada MP > Gujarat > Gulf of Khambhat

Largest river of South India, Called as Dakshin Ganga Flows in rift valley,
flows b/w Vindhya & Satpura
Tributaries - Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha,
Purna, Manjra, Indravati, Purna, Pranhati, Sabri
West Flowing
Jabalpur is located on its bank

Length - 1400 km Tributaries - Banjar, Tawa, Shakkar, Halon

Origin - Mahabaleshwar Length - 724 km

Maharashtra > Karnataka > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh Delta Krishna Origin - Betul Plateau
Tapti
near Amarkantak Plateau (MP)
2nd longest river of South India
Surat is located on its bank
Tributaries - Bhima, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha,
Malaprabha, Musi, Konya, Dhoodhganga Tributaries - Aner, Gomai, Girna, Purna

Independent flowing rivers of Andhra Pradesh Pennar Zuari

Length - 800 km Goa Rivers

Lifeline of Goa
Mandovi
Origin - Brahamgiri Hills, Karnataka (Kodagu district) Panaji is located on its bank

Karnataka > Tamil Nadu > Delta (Kerala) Bharatphuza

Only river of south India which flows throughout the Longest river of Kerala
Kaveri Kerala Rivers Periyar
year - Perennial river
life line of Kerala

It is called Ganga of South India Pamba drains into Vembanad lake

Tributaries - Hemvati, Kabini, Bhavani, Shimsha Kalinadi

Karnataka Rivers
Delta - known as Garden of South India Sharavati Jog falls

Southern-most river of India Vaigai

 Dulhasti Hydroelectric Project

Hydroelectric Salal Hydroelectric Power Station Chenab river

Power Projects
Baglihar Hydroelectric Project
Jammu & Kashmir
Kishan Ganga
Purpose: Flood control, hydropower
Multipurpose Project
generation, irrigation, tourism
Tulbul Jhelum river
India’s first river valley project (1948)
Uri
based on the Tennessee River of USA
Varahi Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar) Beas river
Kunchikal 8 dams built on Damodar & its tributaries Himachal Pradesh
Highest waterfall in India Chamera Dam Ravi river
Damodar Valley Project Maithon - Jharkhand - Borakar River
Karnataka Sharavati Matatila Dam
Jog/Gersoppa/Mahtma Gandhi Tilaiyah - Jharkhand - Borakar River Betwa river
2nd highest waterfall in India Uttar Pradesh Lakshmibai Dam
Panchet - Jharkhand - Damodar
Kaveri Shivsamundram Rihand Dam
Rihand river
Konar - Jharkhand - Konar (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Reservoir)
Rajasthan Chambal Chulia
Constructed during 1st Five Year Plan Ukai Dam
Dhuandhar Waterfalls Tapi river
Madhya Pradesh Narmada Built on Sutlej river Gujarat Kakrapar Dam
Kapildhara
Bhakra - Himachal Pradesh Sardar Sarovar Dam Narmada river
Jharkhand Swarnrekha Hundru (Govind Sagar Lake from
Bhakra Nangal Dam) Tawa river
Bhakra Nangal Project Made of two dams Tawa Dam
Goa Mandvi Dudh Sagar (tributary of Narmada)
Nangal - Punjab
Venezuela Angel waterfall Highest waterfall in the world Ban Sagar Dam Son river
Highest Gravity Dam - bears forces on its own
USA-Canada border Niagara Falls 2nd highest in the world Madhya Pradesh Omkareshwar Dam
Largest Dam of India in terms of area
Narmada river
Chhattisgarh Chitrakote waterfall Niagara of India Indira Sagar Dam
Nathpa Jhakri Dam is also built on Sutlej in
Himachal Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar Dam Chambal river

Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam Mahi river

State-wise
Bilaspur Dam Banas river
Rajasthan
Maharashtra
Tarapur Atomic Power Station
Dam & waterfall Rana Pratap Sagar Dam
Chambal river
Built on Rihand river (Tributary of Son)
1st Nuclear Power Station Jawahar Sagar Dam
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Lake created from
Rajasthan (Rwatbhata) Rajasthan Atomic Power Station Rihand Dam
this dam Jayakwadi Dam Godavari river

Tamil Nadu Largest Artificial Lake of India Maharashtra Chhom Dam Krishna river
(Kalpakkam) Madras Atomic Power Station
1st indigenously built Koyna Dam
Nuclear Power Plants In Odisha, Sambalpur district
(largest dam of Maharashtra)
Koyna river
Uttar Pradesh Narora Atomic Power Station Hirakud Dam Built on Mahanadi river
Chhattisgarh Indravati Dam Godavari river
Gujarat Kakrapar Atomic Power Station Longest dam of world/India (4.8 km/25 km)
Jog/Mahatma Gandhi Dam
Karnataka Kaiga Nuclear Power Station In Uttarakhand Sharavati river
Linganamakki Dam
Tamil Nadu Kudhankulam Nuclear Power Station
Dams Tehri Dam Built on Bhagirathi river Karnataka
Shivsamudram Dam
Highest Dam of India (261 m) Kaveri river
Almatti Dam
n West Bengal, built on Ganga river
Farakka Dam Kerala Periyar/Mullaperiyar/Idukki Dam Periyar river
This dam was built to provide water to the
Hooghly river
Pochampad/Sriram Sagar/Kaleshwaram
Telangana Godavari river
Lift Irrigation Project
Harike Dam was built through this project in
Punjab (Kapurthala)
Paykara Dam Paykara river
Tamil Nadu
Vyas River Project Sutlej and Vyas meets here
Mettur Dam Kaveri river

An Indira Gandhi Canal was constructed from it

Srisailam Dam
Andhra Pradesh Krishna river
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
 Latitude
Diurnal Range of Temperature

Altitude
Annual Range of Temperature

Pressure & wind system

Annual Range of Rainfall Factors affecting
Variation in climate of India Relief feature
Temperature/Rainfall
Ocean Current

Chilling winds from Artic/Central Asia effect Distance form sea

winter season

known as Upper atmospheric Circulation

Seasons & Months

Winter Season

Also known as North-East Monsoon Winter Rainfall

& it causes rainfall over Coromandel
coast (Tamil Nadu/Andhra)

Clear skies
In North India
Retreating Inward of Western Disturbances through jet
streams is marked by increase in prevailing
October heat - oppressing heat monsoon night temperature

Monsoon

Calamity in the month of Baisakh

Kal Baisakhi in West Bengal

Nor-Westers helpful for growth of jute, tea

Bardoli Chheerha In Assam

Pre-Monsoon Showers
Seen in Kerala/ Karnataka

Blossom Showers Helps in growth/cultivation of coffee

Rain Bearing System On Set of Monsoon
Summer Season Mango Showers
Seen in Kerala

Helps in early ripening of mangoes

 These are layered forests (shed there leaves
not all together)
known as Slash & Burn Agriculture
They are seen in places of high temperature
No good for environment, causes (>30⁰C) & high rainfall (>200cm)
deforestation & soil looses its productivity
In India, seen in Western side of Western
Indonesia - Ladang
Ghats, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, North-East
Mexico - Milpa
Shifting Evergreen Highest biodiversity seen here
Sri Lanka - Chena Cultivation Forests
Across the world Eg: Amazon Rainforests (known as Lungs of
Vietnam - Ray the World)
Brazil - Roca
Vegetation seen - Rosewood, Ebony, 70-150 cm - Dry Deciduous
Venezuela - Konuko Mahogany, Cinchona, Aini, Epihytes Rainfall - 70 cm-200 cm
150-200 cm - Moist Deciduos
Jhum - North East different names Also known as Desert covered by forest
Also known as Monsoon Forests
Kumari - Western Ghats

Pama Dabi/Bringa - Odisha

Tropical Deciduous These are the most predominant forests in
India
Forest
Penda/Podu - Andhra Pradesh
Across the India They are seen in Peninsular Plateaus, North
Dipa - Chhattisgarh (Bastar district) Indian Plains

Waltre - Rajasthan Rainfall - < 50 cm Dry Deciduous - Tendu, Khair, Palas

Kuruwa - Jharkhand Trees

Grasslands Thorns are modified form of leaves (to avoid Moist Deciduous - Shisham, Sagon,
Sandalwood, Teak, Sal
Bewar/Dahiya - Madhya Pradesh water loss)

tells about the total Forest cover in India Tropical Thorn Trees - Babul, Khejri, Cactus Shape: Cone
Elephant grass but not nutritious
Forests
Biennial Report Special type of grass seen here - Tussocky Seen in areas of high snowfall
Savannah - in Africa
grass
Tropical grasslands Forest Cover - 21.71% In India seen in Upper Himalayas
Campos grassland - Brazil
In India seen in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat
Llanos grassland - Venezuela
Tree Cover - 2.9%
Forest Trees
Softwood trees - Chir, Pine, Cedar, Deodar,
Spruce
Forest and Trees - 24.62%
Small grass but nutritious
Coniferous Forest National Forest Policy - 1952-1988
Highest Forest cover(area) - Madhya Pradesh India State In mountain region
Prairies - North America (1st), Arunachal Pradesh (2nd)
Forest Report Chipko Movement - 1978
led by Sundarlal Bahuguna
seen in Himalayas - Bugyal Grassland seen
Steppes - Asia/Europe Highest Forest cover(%) - Mizoram (1st),
Arunachal (2nd) Montane North India
Upper part - Alpine/Coniferous Forest Day - 21st March
Velds - South Africa eg: Rhododendron
Temperate grasslands Lowest Forest cover - Haryana
Forests Indian Forest Research Institute located in
Downs - Australia Lower part - Deciduous forests Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Highest increase - Andhra Pradesh
Pustaz - Hungary Known as Littoral/Swamp forests Evergreen forests seen here due to rainfall
Highest decrease - Arunachal > Manipur South India
Canterbury - New Zealand Seen in coastal areas Sholas seen here Grassland/Forests of
Western Ghats
Pampas - Argentina More in Sundarban Deltas - Sundari Trees
Mangrove Forests
Region - West Bengal

They are called living roots

Trees are viviparous

 Seen in coastal areas
Parent Rock
Has organic matter/humus Marshy/Peaty soil Factors for Climate
It is seen in regions of formation of soil
high humidity & high rainfall Time
High humus is seen Montane soil
Seen in extremely low rainfall areas (<50 cm) -
Western Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana Desert soil Covers 40% area of India
(In India, most fertile type of soil)

Covers 4.3% area of India Found in Northern Plains + Deltas of

Peninsular rivers
It is formed by leaching process
(where important minerals such as Silica
washes away with the soil) Alluvial soil eg - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam
Covers 15% area of India
Rich in Potash & poor in Phosphorus
Found in regions of high temperature & high
It is formed due to eruption of lava rainfall Laterite soil
Formed due to sediments deposited by rivers
Found in North Western part of Peninsular It is known as Brick Soil
Khadar - New Alluvium, more fertile
Plateau - Maharashtra, Gujarat
Type
Good for Cashew growth & cultivation
Bhangar - Old Alluvium, less fertile
Also known as Regur
Found in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala
Clayey in nature Covers 18% area of India

It is impermeable soil Formed by the weathering of the metamorphic

(high water holding capacity) Black soil rock

Self-ploughing characteristics (develops It is red due to presence of Iron Oxide

cracks when dry & sticky when moist)
Red soil Changes colour to yellow on hydration
Most suitable soil for cotton cultivation
(requires 210 frost free days)
Soil It is found in water deficit region - Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Piedmont Zone of
Western Ghats
rich in Iron, lime, Alumina

Loamy Soil - sand content is more In low rainfall areas

Extended to 3 states
Nilgiri
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

Great Rann of Kutch

Sundarban Nilgiri Biosphere Reserves - 1st Biosphere

Reserve in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
Nanda Devi

Nokrek

Panchmarhi
12 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Man and
Simplipal Largest - Great Rann of Kutch
Biosphere programme (MAB), 1971
Chattisgarh-Madhya
Achanakmar-Amarkantak
Pradesh border

Great Nicobar

Agasthyamalai

Highest mixed & first

Kangchenjunga
World Heritage Site Biosphere Reserves (Total: 18)
latest added 1Panna
 World’s only floating NP on Loktak Lake Manas NP
Keibul Lamjao NP Manipur
famous for Sanghai Deer Nameri NP
Indravati NP
Palamu NP Kaziranga NP Famous for One-horned Rhino
Kanger Valley NP Chhattisgarh Jharkhand
Betla NP Dihang NP
Guru Ghasidas NP Assam
Orang NP
Bhitarkanika NP
Odisha Dibru Saikhowa NP
Simplipal NP

Raimona National Park

Jaldapara NP
Valmiki Tiger Reserve Bihar notified in 2021
Dihing Patkai National Park
Neora Valley NP
Sanjay Gandhi NP
Rajiv Gandhi NP (Nagarhole NP) Kanchenjunga NP Sikkim Singalila NP

Kudremukh NP West Bengal Madhav NP

Sunderban NP
Karnataka Bandhavgarh NP
Anshi NP
Gorumara NP
Eravikulam NP Kanha NP
Bannerghatta NP
Buxa NP
Annaimudi NP Periyar NP Kerala Madhya Pradesh Pench NP

Mudumalai NP Silent Valley NP Panna NP

state animal -
Great Indian Bustard
Guindy NP Mandla Plant Fossil NP
Tamil Nadu Mukundra Hills NP
Indira Gandhi NP Satpura NP

Gulf of Mannar NP
Rajasthan Ranthambore NP
Van Vihar NP

State animal: Snow Leopard Sariska NP

Palani NP

largest National Park Hemis NP Desert NP

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Salim Ali NP
Jammu & Kashmir Keoladeo NP
Ladakh Nawab gang Bird Sanctuary

Dachigam NP
Uttar Pradesh Chandra Prabha WS

Kishtwar NP Pin Valley NP National Park Rajaji NP

Chambal WS
Nanda Devi NP
Simbalbara NP
Dhudhwa NP
Valley of Flower NP
Great Himalayan NP Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga NP Uttarakhand Gangotri NP
Marine NP
India’s first NP, estd. in 1936
Inderkila NP
Blackbuck NP
Gujarat Jim Corbett NP Project Tiger, 1973
Vansda NP
Old names - Hailey’s National Park,
Famous for Asiatic Lions Gir NP Ramganga NP