Why is the southern part of India referred to as a peninsular plateau?
The southern part of India is referred to as a peninsular plateau because it is a landform that rises above the surrounding land with a relatively flat surface and steep slopes on some sides.
The term 'peninsular' is used because this region is surrounded by water on three sides—the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south—making it a peninsula.
The plateau is bordered by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, with the Deccan Plateau lying between these mountain ranges. It is also one of the oldest land formations in India.
Explanation
The chapter defines a plateau as a landform that rises up from the surrounding land with a more or less flat surface, often with steep slopes. The southern region is called a peninsular plateau because it is a peninsula (surrounded by water on three sides) and has the characteristic flat elevated surface of a plateau.
Solution Steps
A plateau is a landform that rises above the surrounding land with a relatively flat surface and steep slopes on some sides
The region is called 'peninsular' because it is surrounded by water on three sides—Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east), and Indian Ocean (south)
The plateau is bordered by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, with the Deccan Plateau between them
It is one of the oldest land formations in India