Page 1 - Lesson Note

SAI International School
Grade-IX, Sub: Geography

Ch2- Physical Features of India
Sub Topic- 3- Northern Plains

Sub- Lesson Notes
topics
Northern • The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of three major river
Plains systems namely- the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with its
(page no. tributaries.
11)
• It is formed of Alluvial soil. The vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya
is deposited with alluvium (fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of
sand and gravel) over a million of years and formed this plain.

• Area of Northern plain: 7 lakh sq. km. Length of Northern plain: 2400
km. Breadth of Northern plain: 240 to 320 km.

• It is densely populated region. Agriculturally, it is the most productive region
of India due to rich soil cover combined with adequate water supply and
favourable climate.

• The rivers coming from northern mountains brought a huge amount of eroded
soil which help in the depositional work.
→ In the lower course, due to gentle slope, the velocity of the river decreases
which results in the formation of riverine islands (An Island formed by the
river).

• Also, in lower course rivers split into numerous channels due to the
deposition of silt known as distributaries.

• The Northern Plain is broadly divided into three parts:

→ The Punjab Plains- The Western part of the Northern Plain, formed by the
Indus and its tributaries, the larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan.

→ The term Punjab has been derived from the term ‘Doab’ means the land
between two rivers. Similarly Punjab is the land of five tributaries of Indus.

→ The Ganga Plains- It extends between Ghaggar and Tista rivers, spread
over the states of north India, Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, party Jharkhand and
West Bengal.

→ The Brahmaputra Plains- Lies in the east of Ganga plain, particularly in
Assam.