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Difficulty: MediumPhysiography and Relief Features of India

Consider the following statements regarding the structural and relief characteristics of the Peninsular Plateau of India:

1. The Western Ghats are continuous and can be crossed through passes only, whereas the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and dissected by major east-flowing rivers.
2. The average elevation of the Western Ghats decreases progressively from north to south.
3. The Eastern Ghats join the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri Hills.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A
    1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The Western Ghats form a continuous relief bar crossed only via specific passes, whereas the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous due to severe river dissection. The two ranges join at the Nilgiri Hills. The statement asserting a northward-to-southward decrease in elevation for the Western Ghats is false because the elevation actually increases southwards.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural continuity and drainage impacts on both Ghats (Statement 1).
Statement 1 is true. The Western Ghats form a continuous escarpment traversed primarily through mountain passes (e.g., Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat, Palghat). In contrast, the Eastern Ghats are highly fragmented and eroded by major east-flowing rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
Denudational processes and river incision have breached the Eastern Ghats into separate hill massifs.
2
Evaluate the elevation gradient of the Western Ghats from North to South (Statement 2).
Statement 2 is false. The average elevation of the Western Ghats increases southward.
The highest peaks of the Peninsular region, such as Anamudi (2,695 m) and Doddabetta (2,637 m), are located in the southern section of the Western Ghats.
3
Identify the geographical convergence zone of the Western and Eastern Ghats (Statement 3).
Statement 3 is true. The Eastern Ghats meet the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri complex.
The Nilgiri mountain block acts as the knot where both mountain systems converge.

Key Concept

Comparative physiography and relief features of the Western and Eastern Ghats
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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Topics

Physiography and Relief Features of India

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