the northern plains

• This fertile plain lies to the south of the northern mountains.
• This plain is one of the most extensive stretches of the alluvium in the world and is deposited by the rivers Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
• The length of the plain is about 2,400 km and the width varies from 240 to 320 km.
• Its width increases from ==east== to ==west==.
• It covers an area of over 7 lakh sq.km.
• It has excellent roads and railways, which are helpful for the establishment of many industries. 40% of the total population of India lives here and it is called “The heart of India”.
• The Great Plains of India is remarkably a homogeneous surface with an imperceptible slope.
• They are formed mostly by the depositional process of the Himalayan and Vindhyan rivers. These rivers deposit enormous quantity of sediments deposited along the foothills and flood plains.

The important characteristics featuress of sediment deposition in the plains areas as follows.

1. The Bhabar Plain
   • made up of gravels and unassorted sediments deposited by the Himalayan rivers.
   • The porosity of this plain is so high that most of the small streams flow over this region disappear.
   • Width : 8 to 15 km.
   • It is wider in the western plains (Jammu Division) than in the east (Assam).
   • This plain is ==not suitable for cultivation==, only ==big trees with large roots thrive== in this region. Thapichutan
2. The Tarai Tract
   • It is a zone of excessive ==dampness, thick forests and rich wild life==.
   • This tract lies to the south of Bhabar plains.
   • Width : 15-30 km.
   • The Tarai is wider in the eastern parts of the Great Plains, especially in Brahmaputra Valley due to heavy rainfall.
   • In many states, the Tarai forests have been ==cleared for cultivation==. F*ck Humans
3. The Bhangar Plains
   • It represent the upland alluvial tracts of the Great Plains of India, formed by the older alluviums.
   • It lies above the flood limits of the rivers.
   • This soil is dark in colour, rich in humus content, well drained and ==useful for agriculture.==
4. The Khadar Plains
   • The new alluvium tracts along the courses of the rivers are known as the ‘Khadar’ or ‘Bet’ lands.
   • Enriched by fresh deposits of silt every year during rainy seasons.
   • It consists of sand, silt, clay and mud.
   • It is highly fertile soil.
5. Delta
   • Triangle shaped fertile land at the mouth of Ganga and Brahmaputhra rivers is called as the Sundarban delta.
   • It is the biggest and fastest growing delta.
   • It is an area of deposition as the river flows in this tract sluggishly.
   • The deltaic plain consists mainly of old mud, new mud and marsh.
   • In the delta region, the uplands are called ‘Chars’ while the marshy areas are called ‘Bils’.

Major Plains

1. Rajasthan Plains
   • It is located to the west of Aravalli range.
   • It covers an area of about 1,75,000 sq.km.
   • It’s formed by the deposition of the river Luni and the long vanished river Saraswathi.
   • There are several salt lakes in Rajasthan. The Sambhar salt lake (Pushkar Lake) near Jaipur is the prominent one.
   • The Thar desert, also known as the Great Indian desert is a large arid region in the north western part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 2,00,000 km² and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.
   • Thar is the world 7th largest desert.
   • T he desert lies in the western part of the aravalli range and covers 2/3 of Rajastan state.
   • There are two major divisions in the Thar desert are known as the Actual desert region (Marusthali) and the semi desert region (Bhangar).
   • Many different types of sand dunes and salt lakes (Dhands) are seen here.
2. Punjab - Haryana Plains
   • It lies to the northeast of the Great Indian Desert.
   • Area : 1.75 lakh sq.km.
   • It’s formed by the deposition of the rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi.
   • This plain acts as water - divide (doab).
   • The two major watershed it divides are Yamuna – Sutlej and Ganga – Yamuna.
3. Ganga Plains
   • It extends from the Yamuna River in the west to Bangladesh in the east.
   • Area : 3.75 sq.km.
   • River Ganga and its tributaries such as Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa etc.
   • constitute this plain by their sediments and make a great plain in India.
   • It is the largest plain of India.
   • The general slope of the entire plain (upper, middle and lower Ganga plains) is towards east and south-east.
4. Brahmaputra Plains
   • It is located mainly in the state of Assam.
   • It is a low - level plain located in the eastern part of the Great Plains of India and is formed by the deposits of river Brahmaputra.
   • Area : 56,275 sq.km.
   • These plains create alluvial fans and marshy tracts.