Peninsular System
Ancient Block · Basalt Traps · Mineral Wealth
MICRO-REALM 01
Geological Stability
- PART OF ANCIENT GONDWANALAND
- HIGHLY STABLE RIGID BLOCK (SHIELD)
- SEISMICALLY QUIET (COMPARED TO HIMALAYAS)
- COMPOSED OF ANCIENT IGNEOUS & METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MICRO-REALM 02
Structural Tilt
- TRIANGULAR SHAPE POINTING SOUTH
- ELEVATION HIGHER IN WEST (900-1600M)
- GENTLE TILT TOWARDS EAST/SOUTHEAST
- DICTATES THE MAJOR RIVER DRAINAGE PATTERN
MICRO-REALM 03
The Western Ghats
- CONTINUOUS RANGE, CROSSED VIA PASSES (THAL, BHOR, PAL)
- ACTS AS A MASSIVE OROGRAPHIC BARRIER
- ANAMUDI (2695M) IS HIGHEST PEAK
- SOURCE OF MAJOR PENINSULAR RIVERS
MICRO-REALM 04
The Eastern Ghats
- DISCONTINUOUS AND HEAVILY ERODED
- BISECTED BY MAJOR EAST-FLOWING RIVERS
- LOWER AVERAGE ELEVATION (600M)
- MAHENDRAgiri IS A NOTABLE PEAK
MICRO-REALM 05
East-Flowing Rivers
- GODAVARI, KRISHNA, CAUVERY, MAHANADI
- MATURE, BROAD, GRADED VALLEYS
- SEASONAL/RAIN-FED FLOW
- FORM EXTENSIVE, FERTILE DELTAS ON EAST COAST
MICRO-REALM 06
Rift Valley Rivers
- NARMADA & TAPI (TAPTI)
- FLOW THROUGH FAULT TROUGHS (RIFT VALLEYS)
- DO NOT FORM DELTAS (LACK OF SILT/GRADIENT)
- FORM ESTUARIES ON THE WEST COAST
MICRO-REALM 07
Deccan Traps
- FORMED BY CRETACEOUS FISSURE ERUPTIONS
- MULTIPLE LAYERS OF BASALTIC LAVA
- 'TRAP' MEANS STEP/STAIR IN SWEDISH
- WEATHERS INTO FERTILE BLACK COTTON SOIL
MICRO-REALM 08
Soil Nexus
- BLACK SOIL (REGUR): NW DECCAN, COTTON
- RED/YELLOW: CRYSTALLINE ROCKS, EAST/SOUTH
- LATERITE: HIGH RAIN ZONES (GHATS), HIGHLY LEACHED
- DELTAIC ALLUVIUM: EASTERN COASTAL PLAINS
MICRO-REALM 09
Mineral Wealth
- DHARWAR SYSTEM: IRON ORE, MANGANESE, GOLD (KGF)
- GONDWANA ROCKS: 98% OF INDIA'S COAL RESERVES
- CHHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU: 'RUHR OF INDIA'
- BAUXITE RESERVES IN LATERITE CAPPINGS
MICRO-REALM 10
Vegetation Patterns
- W. GHATS: TROPICAL EVERGREEN/SEMI-EVERGREEN
- INTERIOR DECCAN (SHADOW): DRY DECIDUOUS/THORN
- EASTERN SLOPES/COAST: MOIST DECIDUOUS
- HIGH ENDEMISM (NILGIRIS BIOSphere RESERVE)
MICRO-REALM 11
Climate Dynamics
- TROPICAL CLIMATE PREDOMINATES (SOUTH OF CANCER)
- COASTAL AREAS MODERATED BY OCEANIC INFLUENCE
- INTERIOR EXPERIENCES CONTINENTALITY / HEAT WAVES
- TAMIL NADU RECEIVES WINTER RAIN (NE MONSOON)
MICRO-REALM 12
Economic Integration
- WESTERN GHATS RIVERS: MAJOR HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL
- PLANTATIONS: COFFEE, TEA, SPICES, RUBBER
- MINING METALLURGY DRIVES CENTRAL EASTERN REGION
- NATURAL PORTS ALONG SUBMERGED WEST COAST