Students often refer to SCERT Class 9 Social Science Notes Kerala Syllabus and Std 9 Geography Chapter 1 On the Roof of the World Notes Questions and Answers English Medium that include all exercises in the prescribed syllabus.
Kerala Syllabus 9th Standard Social Science Geography Notes Chapter 1 On the Roof of the World
Class 9 Social Science Geography Chapter 1 Notes Question Answer Kerala Syllabus On the Roof of the World
Class 9 Geography Chapter 1 Notes Kerala Syllabus English Medium
Question 1.
Observe the map (Topic 1: India Physical) and finish the location of the Northern mountains. Identify the other mountain ranges that originate from the Pamir Knet and list them.
Answer:
Kunlun, Tian Shan, Hind,kush, Karakoram
Question 2.
Generally mountains are the land forms with an average elevation above 900 meters from the sea level. Observe the map (Topic 1: India Physical) and find the major mountain ranges in India and include them in My Own Atlas.
Answer:
Question 3.
Complete the following table with the help of the map (Topic 1.1 Himalayan Mountain Physiographic Divisions). The index of the map will help you complete this work.
Answer:
| Trans Himalayas |
Himalaya | Eastern Hills |
| Karakoram | Himadri | Naga Hills |
| Ladakh | Himachal | Patkai Bum |
| Zaskar | Shiwaliks | Garo, Khasi, and Jain hills |
| Mizo hills |
Question 4.
Observe the map (Topic 1.1 Himalayan Mountain Physiographic Divisions). Find the location of the Himadri, the Himachal, and the Shiwaliks from the map and list out the states in which these ranges are situated.
Answer:
The Himadri, Himachal, and Shiwaliks are situated in the Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir of India.
Question 5.
Do you know that the Himalayas, which is one of the lofty mountains of the world, is still growing? What may be the reason?
Answer:
It is due to plate tectonics, which are the crustal rock blocks of continental and oceanic parts. Asthenosphere is the zone beneath the lithosphere where the rocks are molten and are in a semi-plastic state due to the high temperature. The tectonic plates move very slowly above the asthenosphere. Earth process like orogenic are active along the plate boundaries.
Question 6.
In which plate boundary was the Himalayas formed?
Answer:
Convergent Boundary
Question 7.
The table below shows the three regional divisions of the Himalayas and the rivers that separate them. Mark the location of these divisions and rivers in the outline map of India with the help of the map (Topic 3.1 Himalayan Mountains Regional Divisions).
| Himalayan Zone | Separating Rivers |
| Western Himalayas | Indus, Kali |
| Central Himalayas | Kali, Teesta |
| Eastern Himalayas | Teesta, Brahmaputra |
Answer:
Question 8.
Why are the Himalayan rivers water-rich year round?
Answer:
Himalayan rivers water rich year-round because rivers rising in this area are perennial in nature. The glaciers from the mountains or by the heavy rainfall either feeds them.
Question 9.
Mark the important passes of the Himalayas in the outline map of India and include it in My Own Atlas.
Answer:
Question 10.
How are hot springs formed?
Answer:
Rainwater infiltrates the soil and integrates with the groundwater, which is then heated by subsurface rock layers in regions with ongoing mountain-building activities, resulting in the emergence of hot springs on the surface. Numerous hot springs can be seen in the Himalayan terrain such as Nubra Valley, Manikaran, and Kheerganaga. Electric power can be generated using this geothermal energy.
Question 11.
Find the parts of Central Himalayas in India from map (Topic 3.1 Himalayan Mountains Regional Divisions) and mark them in My Own Atlas.
Answer:
Question 12.
Why are there numerous hill stations in the Himalaya Mountains?
Answer:
Hill stations in the Himalayan Mountains are popular for their cooler climates and stunning scenery, making them ideal retreats from the heat of the plains. Additionally, the Himalayan range offers diverse landscapes, from lush forests to snow-capped peaks, providing a range of experiences for visitors.
Question 13.
The Himalayan Rivers are flood prone even during summer. Why?
Answer:
Due to several factors, including heavy rainfall, rapid snow melt from higher elevations, and the melting of glaciers. These combined factors can lead to an increase in water volume in rivers and streams, resulting in flooding downstream. Additionally, the region’s rugged terrain can exacerbate the effects of flooding by channeling water quickly towards lower areas.
Question 14.
Identify the Himalayan rivers from the map (Topic 4.2 Himalayan River System) and prepare a Himalayan drainage map for ‘My Own Atlas’.
Answer:
Question 15.
What could be the reason for the occurrence of alluvial soil in the valleys between the mountain ranges?
Answer:
Alluvial soil in valleys between mountain ranges is primarily due to erosion. Over time, rivers carry sediment from the mountains down into the valleys, depositing it as alluvium. This process repeats over centuries, gradually building up layers of fertile soil.
On the Roof of the World Class 9 Extended Activities
Question 1.
Prepare an essay on ‘Human life in the Northern Mountains’.
Answer:
Living in the mountains can be hard. About 70% of the mountain population is rural and relies on farming, fishing, animal rearing and tourism. Agriculture in mountainous regions is challenging due to elevation, steep slopes, poor soil, and low temperatures. Despite these challenges, communities engage in subsistence farming by terracing slopes to grow crops like paddy, potatoes, and wheat and temperature fruit crops during the spring. Tea is a major crop along mountain slopes and valleys of Eastern Himalayas, especially in the Assam and Darjeeling regions.
The tribal population of the North Eastern Hills, follows shifting cultivation.Climate varies according to elevation and the type of animals reared also varies accordingly. In valleys, goats and cattle are commonly kept, while in mountain slopes, sheep and horses are reared. At the extremely cold regions of Himachal and Ladakh, species that can resist severe cold such as yak are reared. Gujjars are the shepherd tribes who live in the mountain meadows of Western Himalayas.
Due to the favorable geographical conditions, the whole Himalayan area has become a zone with rich economic opportunities for tourism. The growth of tourism in these areas began with pilgrimages. Numerous pilgrimage sites exist here, including Kailas, Manasarovar, Amarnath, and Hema Kund Sahib. These places have been attracting travelers for centuries.
The second phase of tourism development in the Himalayan Mountain region began in the 19th century when the British identified the area’s favorable climate. The resort towns such as Shimla, Darjeeling, Shillong, Almora, Ranikhet, Mussoorie, and Nainital are important tourist centers.
The third stage of modern tourism development began in the Himalayan region after the conquest of Mount Everest by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmond Hillary on 29th May 1953. Today the adventure tourism sector promoting Mountaineering, Paragliding, skiing, etc. has developed significantly in this region.
Question 2.
Mark the mountain ranges that are part of the Northern Mountains and incorporate the same in ‘My Own Atlas’
Answer:
Question 3.
Prepare a pictorial wall magazine on the occupation of people in the Northern Mountains.
Answer:
Std 9 Geography Chapter 1 Notes Kerala Syllabus Extra Question Answer
Question 1.
Explain the three parallel mountain ranges in the Himalayas.
Answer:
- The Himadri: It is also known as the Greater Himalayas or the Inner Himalayas. It has an average elevation of about 6100 meters above the mean sea level. The width of the range is nearly 25 km . These are snowclad mountains.
- The Himachal: It is also known as the Lesser Himalayas. It has an average elevation ranging from 3500 to 4500 meters above the mean sea level. This range is and has a width ranging from 60 to 80 km.
- The Shiwaliks: It is also known as the Outer Himalayas. Southernmost of the Himalayan ranges and forms the borders of the Ganga plains. The width ranges from an average of 60 to 150 km.
Question 2.
Explain the features of Uttarakhand Himalaya.
Answer:
It is a part of Himalayas which extends from River Satluj to River Kali. Its western side is known as GAdwal Himalaya and the eastern side is known as Kumaon Himalayas. Peaks such as Nandadevi, Kamet, Badrinath, Kedarnath etc are situated here. The Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers from where the rivers Ganga and Yamuna originate and freshwater lakes such as Nainital and Bhimtal are also situated here. Duns are the falt valleys seen in between Lesser Himalayas and the Shialik hill ranges. The alpine summer meadows along the higher altitude mountain slopes of this region are called ‘Bugyals’.
Question 3.
On what basis the Himalayas are classified into regions?
Answer:
The rivers that originate from the Himalayas create deep gorges in their course. The regional divisions of the Himalayas have been made on the basis of these cross-cutting rivers.
Question 4.
What is the drainage system of Eastern Himalaya?
Answer:
River Brahmaputra originating from Chemayungdung glacier near Manasarovar Lake and its tributaries, such as Dibang, Lohit, Manas etc. are the drainage system of the Eastern Himalaya.
Question 5.
Write a short note on the soil in the northern mountain range.
Answer:
Commonly we can see mountain and forest soil in the Himalayan terrain. According to the mountain environment, the soil texture and particle size vary. Valleys display fine grained soil with high humus content, while high slopes display coarse grained soil with low humus content. Alluvial deposition is seen in the valleys. Karewas, a human-rich fine soil in the Kashmir Valley, is a suitable location for saffron cultivation due to its glacial sediment deposit.
Question 6.
As the geographical conditions are favourable, the entire Himalayan region has become a zone with high economic potential for tourism. Justify.
Answer:
- Travels associated with pilgrimage were what initiated the development of tourism in these regions.
- There are several pilgrim centres in this region such as Kailas, Manasarovar, Amarnath and Hema Kund Sahib.These places have been attracting travellers for centuries.
- The second phase of tourism development in the Himalayan Mountain region began in the 19th century when the British identified the area’s favourable climate.
- The resort towns such as Shimla, Darjeeling, Shillong, Almora, Ranikhet, Mussoorie and Nainital are important tourist centres.
- The third stage of modern tourism development began in the Himalayan region after the conquest of Mount Everest by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmond Hillary on 29th May 1953.
- Today the adventure tourism sector promoting Mountaineering, Paragliding, skiing etc. has developed significantly in this region.
Question 7.
Which are the five physiographic divisions of India?
Answer:
- The Northern Mountain Region
- The North Indian Plain
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Dessert
- The Coastal Plains and Islands
Question 8.
Write the extension of Northern mountain ranges.
Answer:
The Northern mountain ranges that form the north and the northeastern boundary of the Indian subcontinent include several mountain ranges that originate from the Pamir Knot known as “the Roof of the World” and it extends up to Purvachal in the east.
Question 9.
Which mountain range is known as the ‘the Roof of the World’?
Answer:
Pamir Knot
Question 10.
How the Himalayas and the Alps were formed?
Answer:
The Himalayas and the Alps were formed through a process called folding. Fold mountains are formed due to the compression of sedimentary rock strata of the earth’s crust.
Question 11.
Which Trans Himalayan range connects Himalayas with the Pamir Knot?
Answer:
Karakoram Range
Question 12.
What are known as Lithospheric plates?
Answer:
The lithospheric plate is composed of the crust and upper mantle, consisting of fragments of varying sizes. These parts, known as lithospheric plates, can have widths of thousands of kilometers and a thickness of nearly 100 km . These plates may cover the continental portion, ocean bottom or both.
Question 13.
What are the three types of plate boundaries?
Answer:
Question 14.
What causes the formation of fold mountains?
Answer:
Rock layers along the convergent boundary get folded due to the compression of lithosphere plates. This leads to the formation of fold mountains.
Question 15.
What are the main components of the lithosphere?
Answer:
The lithosphere comprises the Earth’s crust and the upper mantle.
Question 16.
What is the role of the asthenosphere in plate tectonics?
Answer:
The asthenosphere, beneath the lithosphere, consists of molten rocks in a semi-plastic state due to high temperatures, allowing tectonic plates to move slowly above it.
Question 17.
What is the extension of the Western Himalayas?
Answer:
The Westem Himalayas stretch from the Indus river valley to the north of Jammu and Kashmir up to the Kali a river valley in the eastern part of Uttarakhand.
Question 18.
Which is the world’s second highest peak, situated in the Karakoram range?
Answer:
Mount K2 (Godwin Austin-8611 meters)
Question 19.
What are passes?
Answer:
Passes are the comparatively easier natural passages in the mountainous terrains. An example is Banihal Pass across the Pir-Panjal Range which connects Jammu with the Kashmir Valley.
Question 20.
What are Margs?
Answer:
Margs are meadows formed along the mountain slopes during the summer season. As these margs get covered under snow during winter, the region attracts tourists for winter games such as skiing, Sonmarg, and Gulmarg are examples.
Question 21.
What are the factors affecting the climate of Himalayan mountain zone?
Answer:
Elevation and the topography
Question 22.
Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers along with their tributaries are rain fed and snow fed, they are perennial (water-rich) throughout the year. Justify.
Answer:
They have turbulent flow in their mountains course. Flooding and channel deviation are common in the plains. These rivers create landforms such as V-shaped valleys, gorges and waterfalls.
Question 23.
What are some examples of the diverse wildlife found in the Himalayan region, and what conservation measures have been implemented to protect them?
Answer:
Himalayan region is the natural habitat of several wild animals like yak, musk deer, single-homed rhinoceros and snow leopard. Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries have been established for wildlife protection in the Himalayan terrain.
