Question

Describe the location and extent of the Northern Plains of India.

Answer 1

• The Northern Plains have been formed from the alluvium that the mountain rivers deposited here.
  
• This turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops.
  
• This led to the development of the Indus River Valley Civilisation. The rich soil was further aided by favourable climate and constant water supply from the rivers.
  
• Between the mouths of the Indus and the Ganga-Brahmaputra, the North Indian Plain covers a distance of 2400 km. It is 240-320 km wide at some places.
  
• The North Indian Plains have the Indus river system in the west and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system in the east. The first includes Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj.
  
• The Indus flows into the Arabian Sea. The second includes Ganga, its tributaries and the Brahmaputra which combine as Meghna as they drain into the Bay of Bengal.
  
• They form the world’s largest and fastest growing delta. The difference in relief has led the North Indian Plains to be divided into four zones : (i) Bhabhar, (ii) Tarai, (iii) Bangar and (iv) Khadar.