Question: Explain about the latitudinal and longitudinal extension of our country India.
Answer: India is one of the vast countries in this world. India is extended from 8 degree 4 minutes to 37 degree 6 minutes north. On the other hand longitudinally it is extended from 68 degree 7 minutes to 97 degree 25 minutes.
Question: Explain about the size and relative location of India. (India-Size and Location)
Answer: India is a vast country with an area 3.28 million square kilometers. This is on of the most economically developing country in south east Asia. This country contains about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world. This country is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar in the east, China, Bhutan and Nepal in the north, Srilanka in the south and Pakistan and Afghanistan in the west and north-west part respectively.
India is surrounded by lofty Himalayas in the east and Indian Ocean in the south (Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea). This is the seventh largest country of the world.
- 82 degree and 30 minutes east is the standard meridian in India.
- India is a large country and it may be very big problem to all citizen to maintain any official work together. Hence 82 degree and 30 minutes is the standard meridian for maintaining a single time through out the country.
- 15200 km is the total land boundary of India.
- 7516.6 km is the total coast line in India including Andaman and Nicobar island.
Question.
What is the latitudinal extent of India? How is the latitudinal spread in India advantageous to her?
Answer: The latitudinal extent of India lies between 8°4‘ N and 37°6‘ N. This means that the longitudinal
expanse is about 30° from west to east.
The advantages of longitudinal spread are :
(a) It influences the duration of the day and night as one moves from South to North.
(b) It also helps to take advantage of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on its
east for sea movements.
Question.
Why do the days and nights are almost of equal duration at Kanyakumari?
Answer: Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is located at the southernmost tip of India‘s main land. The latitude 8°4‘
N passes close to it. The place is thus near the equator and lies close to the Equatorial region. As the sun shines
directly over the Equator throughout the year, the durations of day and night are almost equal here. Hence, in
Kanyakumari, the difference in the duration of day and night is very little.
Question.
Why Is the knowledge of latitude and longitude important for people?
Answer: The knowledge of latitude and longitude is important for people because it helps them to understand
and locates the geographical location and globe better. The use of latitudes and longitudes offer a better and
quick grasp of geographical facts.
It determines the time zones of the different regions of the world. With the help of longitudes and latitudes, it is
easy to calculate local time and standard time. Longitudes and latitudes also help in calculating the distance from
one place to another.
Question.
What do you know about the neighbours of India?
Answer: India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia. India shares its land boundaries with
Afghanistan and Pakistan in the northwest; China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and Bangladesh
in the east. The island states of Sri Lanka and Maldives are our southern neighbours across the sea. Sri Lanka is
separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Manner, while
Maldives Islands are situated to the South of the Lakshadweep Islands. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and
India form the most natural geographical unit, often referred to as the Indian subcontinent.
Question: How has the long coastline been beneficial to India?
Answer:
- The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, extensions of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east of Indian Peninsula, and the Indian Ocean lies to its south. The total length of the coastline of the main land of India including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7516.6 km. The long coastline of India has helped in maritime trade since ages.
- The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean has provided it a strategic location along the trans-Indian Ocean routes. India can establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
- The long coastline has also played a major role in influencing the climate of India. It provides opportunities for fishing and extraction of petroleum. It serves as a natural boundary protecting India.
Question: Explain the main features of islands of Arabian Sea.
Answer: The major island groups lying in the Arabian Sea are the Lakshadweep group. It consists of many small
islands located opposite to Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea.
Features:
- It is composed of small coral islands that cover a small area of 32 square kilometres.
- Kavaratti Island is its administrative headquarters.
- It has great diversity of flora and fauna. Lakshadweep consists of 11 islands.
- Most of the area is cultivated with coconut.
- A bird sanctuary is located in Pity Island which is inhabited by humans.
Question: List six countries of the world bigger than India. Compare the size of India with these countries.
Answer:
Russia,
Canada,
United States of America,
China,
Brazil,
Australia.
Question: India has an important position on the globe.‖ Justify by giving three arguments.
Answer: Central location of India is of great significance because:
India has a central location between the East and West Asia.
India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
The Trans Indian ocean routes connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia.
Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean and help India to have contact with West Asia, Africa and
Europe from West Coast and with South East and East Asia from Eastern Coast.
India‘s eminent position in Indian Ocean justifies naming of an ocean after it.
Question: How is India's geographical location favourable for international trade?
Answer:
- Due to its central location at the head of the Indian Ocean, countries of East Africa, West Asia, South and South-East Asia, and East Asia could be reached through sea routes.
- Unlike landlocked countries (surrounded by land on all sides), it has an easy access to the outside world.
- The ocean routes from East and South-East Asia, and Australia to Africa, and Europe pass through the Indian Ocean. India is connected with Europe, North America and South America through both the routes-the Cape of Good Hope and the Suez Canal.
- India can also reach Canada and USA through the Strait of Malacca after crossing the Pacific Ocean. India is favorably located on the world‘s highway of trade and commerce both to the east and the west.
Question: India has a long coastline which is advantageous - Explain.
Answer:
- India has the longest coastline on the Indian Ocean. This long coastline (7,517 km) has given a tremendous boost to India‘s maritime trade. Almost 90% of India‘s international trade is carried on through sea.
- India has this long coastline mainly due to the Deccan peninsula extending into the Indian Ocean and dividing it into two water bodies, viz., the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
- India‘s central location at the head of the Indian Ocean and its long coastline have much helped in its interaction through the sea. The sea routes passing through the ocean provide easy connectivity to India with the West and the East.
- India has developed many major ports on its western and the eastern coasts. Some of them, such as Mumbai, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam etc., have become centres of India‘s flourishing shipping industry. This long coastline on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal has helped India to establish close maritime contacts in the following ways: