Hinglish

The Peninsular Plateau

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 1: Geographical Diversity of India · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 1.4

Learn

A plateau is raised land with a flattish top and often steep sides. India's great plateau is the triangular south, surrounded by water on three sides, so it is a peninsular plateau. It is very old too. The tall, unbroken Western Ghats (Sahyadri in the north, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) run along the west coast; the lower, broken Eastern Ghats run along the east. Between them lies the Deccan Plateau.

The plateau tilts slightly east, so rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi flow east into the Bay of Bengal, while the Narmada and Tapti flow west into the Arabian Sea. Rivers tumbling over rocky edges form waterfalls like Jog Falls, used for hydroelectricity. The plateau holds coal and minerals, and its forests are home to the Santhal, Gond, Baiga, Bhil and Korku peoples, each with their own language and traditions.

Explore: east- or west-flowing?

  1. Sort each river.

Remember

  • The peninsular plateau is old, raised land between the Western and Eastern Ghats.
  • It tilts east, is rich in minerals and forests, and has many waterfalls.

Quick check

Why do most plateau rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal?

  1. the plateau tilts towards the east
  2. the Bay of Bengal is salty
  3. winds blow them
  4. they start in the Himalayas
Answer

the plateau tilts towards the east. Water flows downhill, and the plateau slopes east.

Think about it

Why are waterfalls common on plateaus?

One answer

Plateau surfaces are uneven and rocky with steep edges, so rivers suddenly drop over them.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.