Geography of IndiaLearning Goal:

Student can describe in detail the geographic

features of India and how they led to civilization

throughout India.

Class Discussion: In what ways would you describe India’s geography?

Physical Geography of IndiaIndia is a SUBCONTINENT, which is a large landmass that is like a continent, only smaller.The subcontinent includes present-day Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and most of Pakistan.

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Nepal

Pakistan

Geographers think the kite-shaped Indian subcontinent used to be a separate land. It inched north until it hit Asia. The collision pushed up mountains where the two lands met.

What that collision created so many millions of years ago is still growing. Inch by inch, year by year. The mountains are one of the most awe-inspiring features of planet Earth.

http://safeshare.tv/w/yPJcazHxyB

MountainsThose high mountains tower over the northern borders of

India. They form several mountain ranges including the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas. In the southwest and southeast are the Western and Eastern Ghats ranges. LABEL THE RANGES ON YOUR MAP.

HIMALAYAS: The world’s largest mountain range. It covers 420,000 square miles. The 10 tallest mountains on Earth are located here, including Mt. Everest (29,029ft)

HINDU KUSH: A large mountain range that separates India from Western Asia. It covers 60,000 square miles.

WESTERN GHATS: This range stretches almost 1000 miles along the western portion of the land mass.

EASTERN GHATS: Similar to the Western Ghats, this range stretches roughly 1000 miles.

WaterwaysIn addition to tall mountains, the subcontinent has several great rivers. These include the Ganges and the Indus Rivers.

GANGES RIVERINDUS RIVER

Like other rivers you have studied, these two rivers carry water for irrigation. The deposited silt made the land very fertile. The first Indian civilization was located near the Indus River valley.

The Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal surround India. Ancient Indians sailed these waters to other ancient lands, such as Mesopotamia. This travel helped encourage trade.

LABEL THE WATERWAYS

ClimateThe tall mountains help block cold north winds from reaching much of India. As a result, temperatures are generally warm there. In addition, a seasonal winds called, MONSOONS, shape India’s climate. Because of the monsoon, India has a dry season in the winter a rainy season in the summer. India’s summer monsoon provides rain for India’s crops. But these rains can also cause severe floods.

http://safeshare.tv/v/ss5649ed0dbed5e

INFERENCE QUESTION: Would people living throughout ancient India have been protected from outside invaders? Explain your answer.