Divide India into major physiographic divisions and describe the region in which the land of Odisha State is included

📝Model Answer

Introduction

India’s landmass exhibits remarkable physiographic diversity, shaped by its complex geological history spanning ancient Gondwana rocks, Himalayan orogeny, and riverine and coastal processes. On the basis of relief, structure, and physiographic evolution, India is broadly divided into major physiographic divisions, within which Odisha finds its place primarily in the Peninsular Plateau region.

Major Physiographic Divisions of India

1. The Northern and North-Eastern Mountains (Himalayas): The youngest fold mountain system in the world, comprising the Himadri (Great Himalayas), Himachal (Lesser Himalayas), and Shiwaliks, along with the Purvanchal hills in the north-east.
2. The Northern Plains: Formed by the alluvial deposition of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems, this is one of the most fertile and densely populated regions of the world.
3. The Peninsular Plateau: The oldest and most stable landmass of India, composed of ancient Precambrian rocks, further divided into the Central Highlands (Malwa Plateau, Chotanagpur Plateau) and the Deccan Plateau, flanked by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
4. The Indian Desert: The arid Thar Desert region in the north-west, characterised by shifting sand dunes and extreme aridity.
5. The Coastal Plains: Narrow strips of land along India’s western coast (Konkan, Malabar) and eastern coast (Northern Circars, Coromandel), formed by marine and riverine deposition.
6. The Islands: Comprising the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal (of volcanic and tectonic origin) and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea (of coral origin).

Physiographic Position of Odisha

1. Part of the Peninsular Plateau region: Odisha lies predominantly within the Peninsular Plateau, at the confluence of the Chotanagpur Plateau in the north and the Eastern Ghats in the south and west.
2. Northern Plateau region: The northern and north-western parts of Odisha (Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj) form an extension of the Chotanagpur Plateau, rich in mineral resources like iron ore, manganese, and coal.
3. Eastern Ghats: The central and southern parts of the state (Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada) are traversed by the Eastern Ghats, a discontinuous range of hills running roughly parallel to the eastern coast.
4. Central Tableland and river valleys: Between the northern plateau and the Eastern Ghats lies a central tableland region, drained by the Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Baitarani rivers.
5. Coastal Plains of Odisha: The eastern part of the state, along the Bay of Bengal, forms part of India’s Eastern Coastal Plain (specifically the Northern Circars/Utkal Plain), a fertile alluvial tract formed by the deltas of the Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Baitarani rivers.
6. Coastline and lagoons: Odisha’s coastline also features Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, a distinctive coastal physiographic feature formed by the interaction of riverine and marine processes.

Conclusion