Question

In groups of six, prepare an interdisciplinary project on India’s major geographical features. For each feature, describe the region, explain its importance in the lives of the people living there and mention the languages spoken in that region. Include one example of each of the following.

• Mountains - Himalayas, Western Ghats, etc.
• Rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, etc.
• Deserts - Thar Desert, Rann of Kutch, etc.
• Valleys - Kangra Valley, Nubra Valley, etc.
• Islands - Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, etc.
• Plateaus - Deccan, Malwa, Meghalaya, etc.

Answer 1

Geographical feature	Example and region	Importance in people’s lives	Major languages spoken
Mountain	The Himalayas extend across northern India, including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.	They protect India from cold winds, influence the monsoon and are the source of many important rivers. Tourism, farming, horticulture and animal rearing provide employment to the local people.	Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri, Ladakhi, Nepali and several local languages
River	The Ganga begins in Uttarakhand and flows through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal before entering the Bay of Bengal.	It supplies water for drinking, irrigation and industries. Its fertile plains support agriculture, especially the cultivation of rice, wheat and sugar cane. The river also has great religious and cultural importance.	Hindi, Garhwali, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Bengali
Desert	The Thar Desert lies mainly in western Rajasthan and extends into Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.	People practise animal rearing, handicrafts and farming with the help of irrigation. Tourism is also an important source of income. People conserve water carefully because rainfall is very low.	Hindi, Rajasthani, Marwari, Sindhi and Gujarati
Valley	The Kangra Valley is situated in Himachal Pradesh and is surrounded by the Dhauladhar Range.	Its fertile soil and pleasant climate support the cultivation of tea, rice, wheat and fruits. Tourism, handicrafts and animal rearing are also important occupations.	Hindi, Kangri and Pahari
Island	The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.	Fishing, tourism, coconut cultivation and marine resources support the people. The islands are also important for India’s security and contain rich forests, coral reefs and wildlife.	Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Nicobarese and other tribal languages
Plateau	The Deccan Plateau covers a large part of southern India, mainly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.	Its black soil is suitable for growing cotton, while other areas produce millets, pulses, sugar cane and groundnuts. The plateau is rich in minerals, and its rivers support irrigation and hydroelectric-power generation.	Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi