Structure and Physiography of India
The land of Indians is characterized by great diversity in its physical features. The north has a vast expanse of rugged topography consisting of a series of mountain ranges with varied peaks, beautiful valleys and deep gorges. The North-Western States are hilly along the Himalayas with steep slopes, high altitude plateaus with tableland topography.
Over these long years, it has undergone many changes brought about primarily by the endogenic and exogenic forces. These forces have played a significant role in giving shape to various surface and subsurface features of the earth.
The Indian plate was to the south of the equator millions of years ago. Over millions of years, this plate broke into many parts and the Australian plate moved towards the south eastern direction and the Indian plate to the north.
This northward movement of the Indian plate is still continuing and it has significant consequences on the physical environment of the Indian subcontinent.
It is primarily through the interplay of these endogenic and exogenic forces and lateral movements of the plates that the present geological structure and geomorphologic processes active in the Indian subcontinent came into existence.
Based on the variations in its geological structure and formations, India can be divided into three geological divisions. These geological regions broadly follow the physical features:
- The Penisular Block
- The Himalayas and other Peninuslar Mountains
- Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain.