CLASS 4 - TERM-1 PRIME YEARS

Later, this single rocky mass broke up into several land masses, surrounded by water. Today, we call these land masses as continents, and the water bodies as oceans. There are 7 continents and 4 oceans. Continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica are the 7 continents. Oceans: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Artic Ocean are the four major oceans.Study the map of the world and locate the oceans and continents. 151 Relief features of the world Due to tectonic movements of plates of rock beneath the Earth’s surface, and volcanic eruptions, various landforms took shape on the surface of the Earth. The major landforms are mountains, plateaus, valleys, plains, and islands. The landforms are also called relief features. Mountains: Mountains are primarily of two types- block mountains, and fold mountains. Fold mountains are classified as young fold mountains, and old fold mountains. Block Mountains: These are formed when two tectonic plates push each other, and as a result, rise up. Block mountains form rift valleys. Vindhya-Satpura Mountains of India, and block forests of Germany are examples of block mountains.

Fold Mountains: Fold Mountains are formed when land masses rise up due to earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, and successive layers added by tectonic movement. The Himalayas of India are young fold mountains. Aravallis, Ural Mountains, and the Andes are old fold mountains. 152 About 250 million years ago, the land masses comprised of a single unit called Pangea. It broke up due to pressure exerted from within. It took 200 million years for the Earth to take its present form. Oceans: Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean, Indian ocean, Southern ocean and arctic ocean. Fold mountains Famous mountains of the world: Africa - Alps Asia - Himalayas Europe - Ural North America - Rockies South America - Andes

The Mount Everest got its name after a British engineer of the same name, who calculated the height of the peak. Tensing Norgay of Nepal and Edmond Hillary of New Zealand were the first to climb the peak in 1957. Bachendripal was the first woman who climbed Mount Everest. The highest mountain peak in the world is Mount Everest of the Himalayas, with a height of 8848 metres. It lies in Nepal. The Ural Mountains separate Asia from Europe. The Andes in South America is the longest mountain range in the world. The peaks and slopes of mountain ranges are prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Fujiyama in Japan and Vezuvius in Italy are still active volcanoes. Land slides are very common in mountainous regions. Huge masses of rocks and loose mud slide down mountains, posing danger to life and property of people living in the valleys below. Plateaus: Plateaus are flat lands higher than the plains. They are hills with flattened tops. Deccan plateau in India, Brazilian plateau, and The Australian plateau are some examples. Tibet is the largest plateau in the world. It is situated at a very high altitude. Hence, it is called the ‘Roof of the World’. Ladakh, which is a part of Jammu and Kashmir, is a desert plateau. It is the coldest part of India, and is situated at a height of 5000 metres above sea level. Most plateaus are rich in minerals. 153

Plains: They are the most fertile of all landforms, and hence, the most populated too. Plains are formed by the deposition of alluvium by water bodies. Alluvium consists of silt and sand carried by the rivers and deposited on land over thousands of years. Hence, such landforms are also called alluvial plains. Indo Gangetic plains, the Nile basin in Egypt, and Hoangho-Yangtze basins in China are examples of alluvial plains. World’s greatest civilizations developed in these plains. Valleys: Valleys are the low lying land region between two mountains or hills. They are higher than the plains and have rich rainfall and vegetation. Kashmir valley and Switzerland are some examples of valleys. Deserts: Deserts are landforms which receive scanty rainfall, and have almost no vegetation. They have extreme climate, with hot summers and very cold winters. Most of the deserts in the world are uninhabited, although there are Oasas where habitats can be found. Sahara desert in Africa is the largest desert in the world. Thar Desert in the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Desert, the Kalahari Desert, and the Australian Desert are a few examples of deserts in the world. The Siberian desert in the North of Asia, and Ladakh in India are examples of cold deserts. They are covered by snow throughout the year. In 2013, sudden floods and landslides killed thousands of people who were travelling to Himalayan shrines in Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Rishikesh. 154

1. Differentiate - Separate or mark out 2. Relief features - Different landforms 3. Tectonic plates - Different layers of rocks under the Earth which push against each other, or slide over each other. 4. Rift valley - A slope formed when two tectonic plates collide and fuse together. 5. Alluvium - Very fine sandy matter comprising of powdered minerals, fine sand, and decayed plant and animal matter. It has all the nutrients required by plants. 6. Oases - Certain spots in the desert where water is available, and there is vegetation. 1. What are the different landforms of the earth? 2. What is a rift valley? 3. Differentiate between Block Mountains and Fold Mountains? 4. Name the oceans of the world. 5. What are landslides? 6. Why Tibet is called the ‘Roof of the World’? 7. What is alluvium? 8. What is a peninsula? Name the following: a. A large body of water separating land masses. b. A slope formed when two rocky layers of the Earth collide. c. A flat land at a higher attitude. d. Material deposited by rivers over the years. e. Small areas of water and vegetation in the desert. 155

1. Take a strip of paper and fold it in the middle. Fold the two parts again. You will get something as shown in the picture. You can actually see a valley, and new mountains. Turn the paper over and see magic. You will notice that the valley has become a mountain, and the mountain has become a valley. 2. Make models of a peninsula and island using clay. You need two trays, clay, some water and twigs of plants. 3. Make a block mountain, and a rift valley. Make a brick with wet clay. Press down your palm in the centre. You will see the clay mount rising up on either side, leaving a depression in between. 4. Collect photographs of recent landslides in Uttarakhand and prepare a write up. Refer old newspapers and websites. (2013) 156 Valley Mountain clay brick press down rift valley mount

1. In the outline map of the world, colour the relief features using the colour scheme given below Mountains - brown Rivers - light blue Plateau- orange Desert - yellow Oceans - blue Plain - green 2. In the outline map of the world, mark the following: 1.Himalayas 5. Sahara desert 2. Alps mountain 6. Ural mountains 3. Kalahari Desert 7. River Indus 4. River Yangtze 8. River Nile 157

Our Country - India Locate India in the world map. Study the map carefully. What are the boundaries of India? Name the neighbouring countries of India India is a peninsula. What is a peninsula? Bharat-our motherland: The ancient name of India was Bharat. The name India was given by Greeks who invaded the country about 3000 years ago. The Greeks called the River Sindhu as Indus and named the country India, which means ‘land of Indus’ .The Persians, who followed the Greeks, called Sindhu as Hindu, and thus named the land as Hindustan. Do you know what Hindustan means? Surprisingly, Hindu is the name of Sindhu river in Persian language. For the same reason, ‘Hindu’ doesn’t relate to any religion. Alexander, the great conqueror from Greece, invaded India in 325BC, defeated King Porus of Sindh and conquered many parts of the country. He left after appointing his commander in charge of the territories he conquered. As a result of Greek settlements, many Greek words are mixed with Indian languages and unani medicines have contributed a lot to the medical field. Chandra Gupta Maurya, who defeated the Greeks, married a Greek princess. 158

India, as Bharat is now called, is a vast country with 29 states and 7 union territories. Due to its vast size, the climate and vegetation of the country are not the same throughout. The life of the people, their food habits, customs and traditions, all differ from region to region. However, inspite of all these differences, India is one nation. Location: India lies in the Indian Ocean. It is flanked by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal on either side. India is surrounded by countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Bagladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Myanmar. The land mass comprising of India and its neighbouring countries, along with East Indian islands, is called the Indian sub continent . 159

Look for tropic of cancer in the world map (23 / N) 1 2 0 The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into almost two climatic zones (23 / N) latitude. The southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula 1 2 0 is Kanyakumari. It is the point where the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet the Indian Ocean.The narrow strip of water that separates India from Sri Lanka is called Palk Strait. A strait is a narrow strip of waterway joining two large water bodies. Diverse culture: When we talk of India, we cannot but think of its glorious past. It was the cradle of two great civilizations- The Indus Valley civilization and the Vedic age. The way of life passed on by these civilizations can be seen even today, although there are influences of foreign invasions. India was attacked and conquered by many foreign invaders- the Greeks, the Persians, the Mongols, the Turks, the Mughals, and the Europeans. These invasions have helped to enrich the ancient culture of the country. It has resulted in a blend of various cultures, traditions, lifestyles and art forms. This is the reason why India is called the Gautama Buddha’s original name was Siddhartha. He was the prince of Kapilavastu in Nepal. He gave up the comforts of his princely life and went in pursuit of peace and salvation; to find means of liberating human beings from miseries. He got enlightenment while meditating under a Peepal tree in Gaya (in Bihar), and started preaching what he discovered. His preachings came to be called as the Buddhist religion . perfect example of ‘Unity in Diversity’. Religions of India The first ever religion of India was the Vedic religion. In fact, it is not a religion at all. It has no founders, no scriptures, and no set rules for followers. Instead, it is a way of life, and beliefs passed on from generation to generation. However, it is not the case with other religions. 160

Buddhism: It is a religion first preached by Gautama Buddha. He advocated the Astanga Marg to free oneself from miseries and sorrows of life. Jainism: It closely resembles Buddhism, but there are certain differences in the beliefs of the two religions. The founder of Jainism is not known. However, it is believed that the religion was first preached by Bahubali, whose monolith can be seen in Karnataka at Belur. The religion was first propagated by 24 monks called Tirthankaras. Mahavira is believed to be the last Thirthankara. Gurudwara Sikhism: Founded by Guru Nanak, most people of Punjab follow this religion. They worship Gurugranth Sahib at Gurudwara. Islam, Christianity and Zoarastrianism are religions that came to India from the outside. 161 Buddha

Government of India British came to India for trade in the 1612s. They become the rulers of this country. They took advantage of the hospitality extended by the rulers and started creating disunity among them. It was easy for them to take control of administration because there was no unity among the rulers of different kingdoms of the country. They ruled us for nearly 200 years. At last, a man came to liberate the people of India. He woke up the Indians from their sleep and urged them to fight for their freedom. Under his leadership, the people of India fought the British. India became free from British Rule in 1947 . That great man was Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi , popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi. He is considered the father of our nation. Today, India is a union of 29 states and 7 union territories. We have a central government headed by the Prime Minister, and state governments for each state. Our constitution declares that we are a sovereign socialist republic. Parliament house Mahatma Gandhi 162

1. Greeks - People of Greece. It is one of the countries in Europe. They are also called unanis. 2. Hindu - River Sindhu in Persian language 3. Bharat - Name of India in ancient times. It got the name after a great king Bharata who ruled the country about 5000 years ago. 4. Strait - A narrow strip of waterway that joins two large water bodies. 5. Invasions - Attacks 6. Ashtangamarg - Eight fold path advocated in Buddhism 7. Sovereign - Independent. 1. What are the boundaries of India? 2. Name the neighbours of India? 3. What are the countries that comprise the Indian sub continent? 4. How did India get its name? 5. Why is there a difference in climate of northern and southern India? 6. What are the religions followed by people of present day India? 163

Which of the following statements are not true? Put a ‘x’ against them. 1. The Greeks gave the name Indus to River Sindu. 2. Climate and vegetation of India are same throughout. 3. The landmass comprising of India and neighburing countries is called peninsula. 4. Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India. 5. Palk Strait separates India and Arabia. 6. The British were the last to establish their rule in India. Unscramble the words below to get the correct name as per the given clues. a. A narrow strip of water joining two water bodies. t s i a r t b. Way of life passed from generation to generation. u t r e c l u c. Large land masses separated by water bodies. n t i c n o e t n d. A neighbouring country of India. p l a e n 164

1. Colour the countries of the Indian subcontinent in the outline map of the word. 2. Name the states of India through which the Tropic of Cancer passes. (refer to the political map of India) 3. Make a list of states of India and their capitals. 4. Collect the pictures of Buddhist and Jain monuments and inscriptions. Get photographs of Buddhist monastery in Dharmasala (Ladakh). • Refer to websites for information on Mahatma Gandhi. Also, read his book ‘My Experiments with Truth’. • Write an article in about 100 words on the personality traits of Mahatma Gandhi and his services to the country. Attach a photograph too. 165

Northern Mountains 1. Himadri: This is the highest mountain range of the Himalayas with an average height of 6000 metres above sea level. The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, lies in this range. It has a height of 8848 metres and it lies in Nepal. Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India with a height 8596 m above sea level. It lies in Sikkim. The peaks of Himadri are covered by snow throughout the year. There is no vegetation in this region. The Himalayas are a part of mountain ranges that originate from the Pamirknot in central Asia. The Himalayas are young fold mountains. There are three distinct mountain ranges in Himalayas: 1. Himadri or Greater Himalayas 2. Himachal or Lesser Himalayas 3. The Shiwaliks or Terai Did you know? • The Himalayas were once under the sea between two land masses. • The Himalayas came up due to tectonic movement of plates, which bridged the two land masses. Himalayan ranges 166

2. Himachal: The average height of this range is 1500-3000 metres above sea level. Some of the most beautiful hill stations of India like Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, and Nainital are located in this range. The valley of Kashmir and Kathmandu are located between Himachal and Himadri. 3. Shiwalik: The average height of this range is less than 1500 metres above sea level. Thick forests are characteristic of this range. However, these days, most of the forests are being cleared for cultivation. A variety of wildlife is found in these forests. The main occupation of people living in this region is sheep rearing and cultivation. There are broad, longitudinal valleys called duns here. For example- Dehradun. Purvanchal: This is a hill range which lies in the northeast region of the Himalayas. It is an extension of the Shiwaliks. There are many hills in this range which are closely knit, such as Patkai Bum, Naga, Miso, and Lushai on the east, and Caro, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills on the west. It is due to the presence of these hills that the northeastern part of India gets plenty of rainfall. sheep rearing 167

Mountain passes: The Himalayan ranges are difficult to cross. However, there are passes which enable us to cross over. In ancient days, traders from China, and invaders, used to cross through these passes. Some well known passes in the Himalayas are Khyber Pass, Bolan Pass, Karakoram Pass, Shipki La, and Nathu La pass. Northern plains It is a vast, low-lying region made of alluvial deposits. It is the most densely populated part of India. The three great rivers- River Ganga, River Yamuna, and River Brahmaputra and their tributaries make these plains fertile. The northern plains can be divided into three parts: 1. The Indus basin: Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab lie in this region. The tributaries of Indus, namely Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum flow though this region. Most of this river basin now lies in Pakistan. 2. The Ganga basin: River Ganga, which originates from Gangotri glacier, Yamuna, and other tributaries like Ghaghara, Gomti, Gandaki, and Koshi flow through this region. The confluence of Saraswati, Ganga and Yamuna is known as the Triveni Sangam. Rivers Chambal, Betwa, Son, and Damodar flow from south and join Ganga in this part of the plains. Haryana, east Rajasthan, U.P, Bihar, and West Bengal lie in this region. 168

3. The Brahmaputra Basin: This is the eastern part of the plains. It is irrigated by River Brahmaputra. Brahmaputra originates from Manasarovar Lake in Mount Kailash and flows eastwards. In Tibet, it is known as River Tsangpo. It then flows southwards to enter India through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and joins the Bay of Bengal. Both, Brahmaputra and Ganga together form the largest delta in the world. It is called the Sundarbans Delta. There are many interesting stories about mountains and rivers. According to Hindu mythology, River Ganga was brought from heaven to earth by long penances of King Bhagiratha. It was Lord Shiva who caught Ganga in his locks and let her out in a fine stream. Ganga is also known as Bhagirathi. delta 169 delta

1. Dun - wide and long valleys in the Shiwalik region. 2. Kathmandu - capital of Nepal. 3. Tributaries - small streams of rivers that join a big river. 4. Tsangpo - name of River Brahmaputra in Tibet. 5. Delta - triangle shaped land mass formed where the river joins the sea. 6. Glacier - a huge mass of melting ice and water sliding down mountains 1. What are the three ranges of the Himalayas? 2. Name the hill stations located in the Himalayas. 3. Name the Purvanchal hills. 4. In ancient days, what were the mountain passes used by traders and invaders? 5. Name the states irrigated by the Ganga basin. 6. What are duns? Imagine that the Himalayas are telling their story. Tell their story in the first person. Get more information on Sundarbans Delta. Prepare a write up in about 10-15 lines, supplementing it with photographs. 170

Make a model of the three ranges of the Himalayas with clay or paper. Use cut outs of trees, bushes, and animals for the Shiwalik range. Choose an appropriate word from the box to complete the following: Triveni Sangam Tsangpo Mountain passes Indus Khyber Sundarbans Mount kailash Gangotri Darjeeling 1. Confluence of River Saraswati, Ganga and River Yamuna is called _________________________ 2. Name of River Brahmaputra in Tibet is _________________________ 3. The largest delta in the world is _________________________ 4. River Ganga originates from _________________________ 5. Shipki La and Nathu La are _________________________ 171

Deserts, Plains, and Plateaus of India The Great Indian Desert: The Great Indian Desert extends into Pakistan. It is also called the Thar Desert . Western Rajasthan and North Western Gujarat lie in this desert region. Aravalli Hills lie to the east of it. River Luni is the only river in this region.We can see many sand dunes in this sandy desert. Sand dunes are formed when sand is blown away by winds. Sand dunes constantly change. There are spots in the desert where there is water and greenery. Dates and thorny bushes grow in such places. Such places in the desert are called oasis. There are nomadic tribes who go from place to place looking for oasis. They use camels as their means of transport. Camel can walk easily on loose sand, and it can remain without food and water for many days. That is why it is called the ‘Ship of the Desert’. Indira Gandhi canal now provides water for irrigation in some cultivated parts. Plateau region: The great central plateau of India is flanked by the Aravallis in the northwest, and the Rajamahal Hills in the northeast.Vindhya- Satpura Mountains divide the plateau into two parts - Malwa Camel stores water in its hump. It uses this stored water whenever it needs it. Camel’s hoofs are wide which enable him to walk on loose sand. It has long eye lashes to protect it from sand storms, which are common in deserts. 172

173 Physical map of India

Nilgiris are full of rain forests with dark, green vegetation. When sunlight falls on them through the thick, overhead rain clouds, the hills appear blue due to the property of light scattering. That is why they are called the Blue Mountains. plateau in the north, and Deccan plateau in the south. River Narmada flows through the rift valley formed by Vindhya-Satpura Mountains. Eastern part of malwa plateau is known as Chota Nagpur plateau. The Deccan plateau is triangular in shape and is flanked by the Western and Eastern Ghats. Western Ghats are high and continuous range of mountains. The hills of Western Ghats are known by different names from north to south. They are named successively as Sahyadri, Anamalai Hills, and Cardamom Hills from north to south. Eastern Ghats are shorter and broken range of hills. Both Eastern and Western Ghats taper down to a point called Nilgiris, or Blue Mountains. Anamudi is the highest peak of the southern hills. The plateau region is believed to have been formed by solidified lava. It is rich in minerals like bauxite, manganese, coal, and iron ore. The north western part of the plateau is rich in black lava soil which is best suited for cotton cultivation. That is why most of the cotton textile mills of India are located in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Cotton textile Due to same reason, Coimbatore and nearby places in Tamil Nadu are also popular for cotton textiles. 174

The Deccan plateau slopes eastwards. That is why rivers of this plateau flow eastwards. Find out the rivers of the plateau region from the map. Coastal plains: We find coastal plains on either side of the Deccan plateau. Western coastal plains are narrow. Rivers Narmada and Tapi form narrow estuaries here. The coast line from Gujarat to Goa is called the Konkan coast. From Goa to Kanyakumari, the coastline is called Malabar Coast. Mangalore, Calicut(kozhikod) and Kochi are important ports on the Malabar coast. Western coast is characterized by lagoons. Lagoons are also called backwaters. Lagoons are water bodies surrounded by land masses. The greenery and backwaters make this coast very beautiful.Eastern coastal plains are broader. They are characterized by deltas formed by River Godavari, River Krishna, and River Kaveri. The coast from Kanyakumari to Chennai is called the Coromandel Coast. From Chennai to Kolkata, it is called the Northern Circars. There are many beautiful beaches on both, the eastern and the western coast. Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata are important ports on the eastern coast. Backwaters of Kerala are very popular among tourists. They provide inland water transport between villages that are built around them. Several houseboats and restaurants on boats can be seen here, which serve as a tourist attraction. Kumarakom is one such backwater resort. 175

1. Lagoon - A body of water surrounded by land. 2. Sand dunes - Small hill shapes formed when sand in the desert is blown from one spot to the other by winds. 3. Rift valleys - Valleys formed when two tectonic plates push against each other to form block mountains. 4. Estuaries - Narrow stream line path taken by the river before it joins the sea. 5. Delta - Triangle shaped islands formed by rivers where they join the sea. 1. What is an oasis? 2. What are the different names of Western Ghats? 3. Why is cotton textile industry in India concentrated in Gujarat and Maharashtra? 4. Write 3 differences between eastern and western coastal plains? 5. Why do the rivers of Deccan plateau flow eastwards? Look around your school or house. What type of landform is around you? Plains? Plateaus? Barren land? Describe the landform that you see around you in a few lines. 176

What are these? a. A body of water surrounded by strips of land. b. River flowing through Thar Desert. c. Two west flowing rivers of the plateau region. d. Mountains that form rift valleys. e. Hills that are nicknamed as Blue Mountains. f. Northern part of the plateau region of India. Features of plateaus, deserts and coastal plains are mixed up below. Sort them out by writing the correct relief feature within brackets. a. Backwaters are a beautiful sight [ ] b. Sand dunes are common features [ ] c. River Narmada and Tapi form Estuaries [ ] d. Rich in black soil [ ] e. Vindhya-Satpura mountains divide it into two parts [ ] f. Anamudi is the highest peak [ ] g. Kochi is an important port [ ] h. Indira Gandhi canal provides water [ ] 177

Tell the story of different physical features of India as roleplay. Narration should be in first person. 1. Compare Eastern and Western coasts of India in a tabular form. 2. In the outline map of India, colour the plateau region, desert, and coastal plains. 3. Make a model of a delta. You need a tray, sand, water and a thin polythene tube. Cut the polythene tube and make a net. Keep it on the sand touching the water. Collect photographs showing different features of landforms, and make an album out of them. Write a sentence about each picture. 178 Form groups and give a presentation on anyone of the land forms. Have photographs or CDs to supplement.

Climate in India As we go up, the temperature of our surroundings falls by 1degree Celsius for every 165 metres. India is a land of diverse culture. One of the reasons for this diversity is India’s climate. Climate of a place influences its lifestyle, food, shelter, clothing etc. This inturn leads to practices and customs that are unique to a place. What is climate? Average weather conditions at a place over an year is called climate of a place. The following factors influence the climate of a place: Let’s examine these factors one by one. 1. Altitude: Places located at higher altitudes experience less heat. It is for this reason that Delhi is very hot in summers while Shimla, Darjeeling and other hill stations are cooler even in the summer. 2. Distance from the equator: Sun’s rays fall vertically on the equator most of the year and that’s why places that lie on the equator are hotter. 1. Altitude (height above sea level) 2. Distance from the equator 3. Nearness to the sea 4. Mountains and hills 179

The southern part of India is nearer to the equator. That is the reason why southern India has a warm climate, while northern India has extremely hot summers and extremely cold winters. 3. Nearness to the sea: It is the property of land to get heated very fast. On the other hand, the temperature of water rises slowly. During day time, land gets heated. As a result, hot air from the land rises up, and cold air from the sea takes its place. This is called sea breeze. It is this sea breeze that keeps the land near the sea cooler during the day. During the night, the hot air above the sea rises up, while the cold air from the land blows towards the sea, keeping land warmer during the night. This is called land-breeze. Due to these land and sea breezes, the coastal plains have a warm climate throughout the year. 4. Presence of mountains: Clouds are formed when water vapours condense into fine droplets and are held together by dust and smoke particles in the air. When land breeze (Night) sea breeze (Day) 180

these clouds move and strike tall mountains or hills, the water droplets accumulate and fall down as rain. This is called precipitation. Regions lying on the mountain slopes receive heavy rainfall. However, places that lie on the other side of the mountains don’t receive any rain as the clouds are stopped by the mountains. These places are in the rain shadow region. For Example: Mumbai lies on the side where rain bearing clouds approach the Western Ghats, while Pune lies on the opposite side. That’s why, Mumbai receives much more rainfall than Pune. Kerala, western Karnataka, western Maharashtra as well as the north eastern states of India receive heavy rainfall due to this reason. Chirapunji and Mawsynram in the north east receive the highest rainfall in India. North - East Monsoon South - West Monsoon 181

India is a land of monsoons. The word ‘Monsoon’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘mausom’, which means season. Monsoon winds are characteristic of the Indian subcontinent. Western coastal plains and the north eastern part of our country receive rain from southwest monsoon winds which blow from June to September. The eastern coastal plains receive rain from the north east monsoon winds which blow from October to December. It is also called retreating monsoon. Climate divide Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India, dividing India into two climatic zones. The southern part lies in the equatorial or tropical region, while the northern part of it lies in the sub tropical zone. Therefore, the southern part of India has a warm and humid climate without too many seasonal differences. Northern India on the other hand has hot summers and cold winters. However, the climate of a given state, region or city also depends on its altitude, presence of mountains, and nearness to the sea. Example: Can you predict the climate of Bengaluru? It is in the tropical zone: Therefore, it must have a warm, humid climate. It is not near the sea. Hence, there is no moderating agent. It lies in the interior of the country: Hence, it receives moderate rainfall. Kerala is known for its spices, and spices need rains from south west monsoon to grow. When the Portuguese came to Kerala and saw spices growing abundantly, they wanted to take some saplings with them to plant in their country. The king of Calicut agreed to their demand. When his minister pointed out that if spices grow in Europe, India’s foreign trade will stop, the king said, “Don’t worry. They can only take the saplings. They cannot take the south west monsoon to their country.” 182

After reading all that, you expect Bengaluru to have a warm and dry climate. However, it has a pleasant climate. It is neither humid nor hot. What is the reason for that? The reason for that is it is at a higher altitude. Think: Why Thiruvananthapuram has a moderate climate, although it is very near the equator and lies in the plain? It is because of its nearness of the sea. Climate and culture: People living in extremely cold regions, like Kashmir, prefer very hot food. Hence, curd is not a primary ingredient of their food. However, people living in the tropical zone are not averse to cold food items. This is the reason why people in Kashmir largely eat from a bowl, while in southern parts of the country food is eaten from plates or leaves. 1. Equator - An imaginary line passing through the middle of the earth, dividing it into two hemispheres. It is marked zero degree. 2. Precipitation - Condensed water droplets which fall from the clouds, taking the form of rain, hail, or snow. 3. Altitude - Height of a point from the ground. 4. Monsoon - Rain bearing winds characteristic of the Indian subcontinent. 5. Tropics - The region on either side of the equator between 23 ½ N 0 and 23 ½ S. 0 183

1. What are the factors that influence the climate of a region? 2. How does nearness to sea help to moderate the climate of a place? 3. Explain land breeze and sea breeze. 4. What is a rain shadow region? 5. Why are hill stations cooler? 1. Mumbai and Hyderabad are almost at the same distance from the equator. However, Mumbai has a moderate climate with plenty of rainfall, while Hyderabad has an extreme climate and gets scanty rainfall. Why? 2. What type of climate is Bhopal expected to have? 3. Predict the climate of Kodaikanal, a hill station in the south. 4. Though Aravalli Mountains are to the east of Rajasthan, it receives very scanty rainfall. Why? 184 1. In the map of India, show the direction of the monsoon winds. 2. Draw a sketch of land and sea breezes 3. Locate the following cities on the map of India a. Thiruvananthapuram b. Mumbai c. Chennai d. Bengaluru e. Hyderabad f. Pune g. Jaipur h. Delhi i. Bhubaneswar j. Dehradun

185

Soil and Vegetation in India Soil: Soil is formed by weathering of rocks. Rocks, when exposed to heat and rain continuously, get cracks on their surface. Rainwater collects in these cracks, which then freezes into ice during winters. As ice occupies more space, it pushes the cracks on to the sides. When this process continues for millions of years, the rocks crumble into fine particles. This is called soil. Soil layers 186

Soil profile: Soil has different layers. If there is a deep pit nearby your school or house, observe the layers. The top-most layer of soil is made up of loose and fine particles rich in humus. This is called top soil. It is good for growing plants. Beneath the top soil is a layer of loose, coarse rocky matter which is called subsoil. Beneath the sub soil is the weathering rocky layer. Depending on the texture and suitability of sustaining plant life, soil can be classified as follows: Alluvial soil: It is the most fertile soil, formed by the deposition of alluvium by rivers. It is found in western coastal plains, eastern coastal plains, and northern plains. Rice, wheat, sugarcane and pulses are grown in this soil. Black soil: It is formed by the weathering of solidified lava rocks. It is best suited for cotton cultivation. Black soil is found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and southern part of the plateau region. Laterite soil: This kind of soil is largely found in the hill slopes. It lacks in nutrients as it is washed by the rain. Laterite soil is best suited for growing coffee, tea, rubber, coconut and spices. This soil is also best suited for making bricks. Red soil: It is suited for growing millets, pulses, and tobacco, which are largely grown in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. 187

Mountain soil: Mountain soil is best suited for growing rice, millets, sugarcane, bamboo etc. It contains plenty of humus and is found in the Himalayan region and north eastern part of the country. Sandy soil or desert soil: As the name suggests, this soil is found in the desert region. If water and nutrients are provided, maize, ragi, and pulses can be grown in this soil. Forests of India India has considerable forest wealth. One fifth of the total land of India is covered by forests. We get many things from forests, like lac, gum, honey, medicinal herbs and timber. Forests house a wide variety of wild animals too. Of late, forests are being cleared to establish industries and residential complexes. As a result, wildlife and plant life is in danger. Livelihood of the tribals that inhabit forests is in question too. Depending on the climate and rainfall, forests can be classified into the following types. Evergreen forests or tropical rainforests: These are found along the Western Ghats, north eastern India, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The trees in these forests do not shed their leaves. They are characterised by thick foliage, with large wide leaves. Ebony and mahogany rosewood are the most popular trees found in these forests. 188

Deciduous forests: Trees in deciduous forests shed their leaves in summer. The trees grow very tall here, with long leaves. Teak, sal, sheesham, and bamboo are commonly found in deciduous forests. Deciduous forests are also called monsoon forests. They can be found in the plateau region, and the foot hills of the Himalayas. 189 Tropical rainforest Coniferous forests: These can be found in the higher altitudes of Himalayas. Trees in these forests are conical in shape, and their Decidous forest Leaves of coniferous trees are needle shaped in order to shed ice and snow flakes falling on them.

leaves are needle like. Pine, fir, and deodar are commonly found in these forests. They don’t produce seeds. They are non-flowering plants and produce only cones. Thorn forests: These forests are characterized by dry and thorny bushes, while trees 190 Coniferous forests

are found scattered. Thorn forests are found in the desert region. They have long roots, long thorns and small, spiky leaves. Babool and Kikar are common trees found in thorn forests. Tidal forests: These forests are found in the delta regions. Trees in these forests have long, slender stems, bushy outgrowth, and spongy roots. Sundari trees of the Sundarban Delta are an example of the kind of trees found in tidal forests. 191 Forest and wild life: Our forests are home to a wide variety of animals, ranging from lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos, deers, panthers, and reptiles such as crocodiles, snakes etc. These animals are in danger because of large scale poaching and deforestation. To protect the forests and wildlife of India, the government has initiated some programmes. Several sanctuaries and reserves have been set up to protect the animals. For example, Manas Tiger reserve in Assam, Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, and Kanha national park in Madhya Pradesh are tiger reserves. Similarly, the Gir National Park in Gujarat houses lions, leopards, deers, and jackals. The Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu has a number of elephants, hyenas, jackals, and tigers. The Periyar Wildlife

192 Sanctuary is specially meant for Indian elephants, although it also houses tigers, leopards, and other animals. The Kaziranga National Park in Assam takes care of rhinoceros.

1. Humus - decayed plant and animal matter 2. Weathering - crumbling of rocks into fine particles under the force of sun’s heat, rain, and extreme cold weather. 3. Texture - feel the hand. 4. Lava - red hot liquid matter gushing out of a volcano. It solidifies to rocky matter over a period of time 5. Reptiles - animals that have scales on their body and use their belly for crawling. Eg. snakes, lizards, crocodiles. 1. How is soil formed? 2. What are the different layers of soil? 3. How are forests useful to us? 4. Why is wildlife of India in danger? 1. Find the following: a. Soil best suited for growing rice. b. Soil best suited for coffee plantations c. Soil found in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh d. Soil best suited for cotton cultivation e. Soil found in desert regions 193

2. Identify the forest type a. Leaves are broad and trees have thick foliage _________ b. Leaves are needle like _________ c. Trees have long thorns and very tiny leaves _________ d. Trees shed their leaves in summers _________ e. They grow in the deltas _________ f. Teak and Soil are found in these forests _________ g. They are found in Andaman Islands _________ h. The trees are non-flowering species _________ If you have ever visited a forest area, describe what you saw and how you felt about it. If you haven’t, imagine that you are in a forest amidst animals. Write how you feel. The write up should be in about a page of your note book. Paste a photograph of a forest. Look around for rocks. Check whether they are weathering. Weathering rocks have a rough surface, and on rubbing with fingers, we find fine powdery particles sticking to the finger. Collect a few broken prices of weathered stones. (Small ones the size of pebbles) 194

1. Shade the regions of different forests in the map of India using different colors. 2. Mark the soil type found in different regions on a map of India 3. Draw a sketch of the soil profile of the country. Divide yourself into groups. Each group should make a model of one forest type. Spread clay on a thick cardboard or wooden plank. Make cut outs of trees to suit the respective forest type, and make them stand on the clay. Make cutouts of animals. Make them stand in-between the trees. Spread tiny plants on the cardboard to make the forest base. 195 4. Read the extract on forests and fill in this table Forest type Region where they are found Trees that grow there

Water Resources and Mineral Wealth of India Water resources: The main source of water for us is our rivers. Tanks, lakes and groundwater sources such as well, tubewell and borewell also meet our needs. Rivers: India has several rivers. They can be classified into perennial rivers and seasonal rivers. Perennial rivers: Himalayan rivers are perennial rivers. They maintain their water level even during summers. This is because during summers, ice melts from the mountains, which then flows into rivers. Seasonal rivers: Rivers of the plateau region are seasonal rivers. Most of them dry up in summers. In order to meet the water needs of people of the region, it is essential to save water of these rivers for the summer season. Dams are constructed across the rivers for this purpose. Dams: Dams are high walls built across the rivers at places where it rushes down hills or mountains. The water is held at high altitudes and let out only in required amounts, so that water that is held up can be used in summers. Dams mainly provide water for irrigation and domestic needs. However, dams can be used for other purposes also. For example, they can be used to generate electricity from water. Such dams are called hydro electric power projects, or Hydel projects. When water is held at a height at the dam site and allowed 196

to fall at a great force on a turbine connected to a generator, electricity is produced. Multipurpose projects: Dams that serve many purposes are called multipurpose projects. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru described them as ‘Temples of modern India’ . Such dams 1. Provide water for irrigation 2. Produce hydel power 3. Check floods 4. Can be used for transport by digging canals 5. Are tourist attractions as there are beautiful parks around such sites. Dams often lead to water dispute between states. There is an ongoing dispute over the waters of Kaveri River between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. According to Tamil Nadu, more water is drawn by Karnataka at their Mettur dam site, leading to shortage of water for Tamil Nadu. Karnataka refuses the charges. Tamil Nadu also has a dispute over water with Kerala on the Mullaperiyar dam. Dams have risks too. If they happen to be in a seismic region, they can be dangerous during an earthquake. Proposed Tehri dam in UP faces this threat, and people are protesting against its construction. Similarly, there have been agitations against construction of Sardar Sarovar dam across the Narmada, as there was the danger of nearby villages being submerged. The agitation was led by Medha Patkar. 197

India map showing river and dams 198

Following are some of the multipurpose projects of the country: 1. Bhakra Nangal - Highest in India; built across Sutlej river. Irrigates Punjab and Haryana 2. Hirakud Dam - Built across Mahanadi. Irrigates Odisha and West Bengal 3. Damodar Valley project - Built across River Damodar in West Bengal. It checks floods in Bengal besides providing water for irrigation 4. Gandhi Sagar - Built on Chambal River. Irrigates part of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat 5. Nagarjuna Sagar - Built across River Krishna. Irrigates the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh 6. Tungabhadra Dam - Built on Tungabhadra River. It is in Karnataka 7. Mettur Dam - Built on Kaveri River. Irrigates many parts of Tamil Nadu 8. Malambuzha dam - Built on River Bharatapuzha in Kerala Look for these dams in the map of India. 199 When Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was built, the Buddhist monuments and relics were removed from the village of Amaravati and were reinstalled at Nagarjuna Konda nearby. The museum is a major tourist attraction of the region.

Water conservation: The existing water resources are not enough to meet the needs of an ever increasing population. Therefore, it is very essential that water is conserved. We should reduce the consumption of water as far as possible. Other than that, we should also make arrangements to save rainwater from going down the drains. If every house has a rainwater harvesting system, the floods during the monsoon season and draughts during summers can be reduced. The waste water flowing into our drainage systems can be recycled too, and used for irrigation. Mineral Resources Minerals are naturally occurring chemical substances. Minerals are mainly of two types – metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals. Elements on earth are classified as metals and non- metals. Iron, copper, gold, silver, zinc, sodium etc. are some examples of metals. There are more than 80 metals found on earth. Coal, Petroleum etc., are some examples of non-metals. 200 Rain water harvesting Metallic minerals are minerals that contain at least one metal, while non-metallic minerals do not contain metals.The rocks that we see around us are all minerals.