====== Deccan Plateau ======

The **Deccan Plateau** is a large triangular plateau in peninsular India, covering most of the southern part of the country. It is one of the oldest landmasses on Earth and forms the core of the Indian peninsula.

===== Location and Extent =====

==== Geographical Boundaries ====

  * **North**: Satpura and Vindhya ranges
  * **East**: Eastern Ghats
  * **West**: Western Ghats
  * **South**: Extends to the southern tip of India

==== Area Coverage ====

  * **Total Area**: Approximately 5 lakh square kilometers
  * **States Covered**: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
  * **Elevation**: 300-900 meters above sea level
  * **Shape**: Triangular with apex pointing south

===== Geological Formation =====

==== Age and Origin ====

  * **Age**: Precambrian era (over 2.5 billion years old)
  * **Formation**: Ancient crystalline rocks, metamorphic and igneous
  * **Type**: Stable continental shield
  * **Volcanic activity**: Deccan Traps formation during Cretaceous period

==== Rock Types ====

^ Rock Type ^ Age ^ Distribution ^ Characteristics ^
| **Archaean Rocks** | 2.5+ billion years | Karnataka plateau | Granite, gneiss |
| **Dharwar Rocks** | 2.5-1.8 billion years | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh | Metamorphic rocks |
| **Deccan Traps** | 65 million years | Western Maharashtra | Basaltic lava flows |
| **Cuddapah Rocks** | 1.8-1.4 billion years | Andhra Pradesh | Sedimentary rocks |

===== Physiographic Divisions =====

==== Major Plateaus ====

**Maharashtra Plateau:**
  * **Location**: Western part of Deccan
  * **Composition**: Mainly Deccan Trap basalt
  * **Features**: Black soil (regur), suitable for cotton
  * **Rivers**: Godavari, Krishna upper courses

**Karnataka Plateau:**
  * **Location**: Central Deccan
  * **Composition**: Archean granite and gneiss
  * **Average elevation**: 600-900 meters
  * **Subdivision**: Malnad (Western) and Maidan (Eastern)

**Telangana Plateau:**
  * **Location**: Eastern Deccan
  * **Composition**: Archean rocks with some Dharwar formations
  * **Features**: Undulating topography
  * **Rivers**: Krishna, Godavari

**Tamil Nadu Plateau:**
  * **Location**: Southern part
  * **Features**: Residual hills and plains
  * **Rivers**: Cauvery, Vaigai

===== Major Rivers =====

==== Westward Flowing ====

^ River ^ Length (km) ^ Origin ^ Mouth ^
| **Narmada** | 1,312 | Amarkantak | Arabian Sea |
| **Tapti** | 724 | Satpura Range | Arabian Sea |

==== Eastward Flowing ####

^ River ^ Length (km) ^ Origin ^ Mouth ^
| **Godavari** | 1,465 | Brahmagiri Hills | Bay of Bengal |
| **Krishna** | 1,400 | Western Ghats | Bay of Bengal |
| **Cauvery** | 805 | Brahmagiri Hills | Bay of Bengal |
| **Mahanadi** | 858 | Sihawa | Bay of Bengal |

===== Mineral Resources =====

==== Metallic Minerals ####

**Iron Ore:**
  * **Location**: Karnataka (Bellary-Hospet), Odisha, Jharkhand
  * **Type**: High grade hematite
  * **Export**: Major export commodity

**Manganese:**
  * **Location**: Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra
  * **Use**: Steel production, alloy making

**Bauxite:**
  * **Location**: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
  * **Use**: Aluminum production

**Gold:**
  * **Location**: Karnataka (Kolar Gold Fields)
  * **Status**: Mostly exhausted now

==== Non-metallic Minerals ====

**Coal:**
  * **Location**: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh
  * **Type**: Gondwana coalfields
  * **Significance**: Major energy source

**Mica:**
  * **Location**: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
  * **Use**: Electrical industry

===== Soil Types =====

^ Soil Type ^ Distribution ^ Characteristics ^ Crops ^
| **Black Soil (Regur)** | Maharashtra, MP, Karnataka | Cotton soil, moisture retentive | Cotton, sugarcane |
| **Red Soil** | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu | Iron oxide content, well-drained | Millets, groundnut |
| **Laterite Soil** | Kerala, Karnataka coastal areas | High iron and aluminum | Cashew, coconut |
| **Alluvial Soil** | River valleys | Fertile, suitable for agriculture | Rice, wheat |

===== Climate =====

==== General Characteristics ####

  * **Type**: Tropical to semi-arid
  * **Temperature**: 
    - Summer: 25-45°C
    - Winter: 15-25°C
  * **Rainfall**: 
    - Western areas: 1000-2500mm
    - Eastern areas: 600-1200mm

==== Monsoon Impact ####

  * **Southwest Monsoon**: Main rainy season (June-September)
  * **Northeast Monsoon**: Affects eastern coastal areas (October-December)
  * **Rain Shadow**: Interior areas receive less rainfall

===== Natural Vegetation =====

==== Forest Types ####

  * **Tropical Deciduous**: Teak, sal, sandalwood
  * **Scrub Forests**: Thorny bushes in dry areas
  * **Evergreen Forests**: Western Ghats slopes
  * **Grasslands**: Natural and man-made

===== Economic Significance =====

==== Agriculture ####

**Major Crops:**
  * **Food Crops**: Rice, jowar, bajra, ragi
  * **Cash Crops**: Cotton, sugarcane, groundnut
  * **Plantation**: Coffee, tea, spices
  * **Horticulture**: Grapes, oranges, bananas

==== Industries ####

  * **Iron and Steel**: Visakhapatnam, Durgapur
  * **Textiles**: Cotton textile industry
  * **Information Technology**: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune
  * **Automotive**: Chennai, Bangalore, Pune

==== Mining ####

  * **Iron ore mining**: Karnataka, Odisha
  * **Coal mining**: Jharkhand, Odisha
  * **Bauxite mining**: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

===== Major Cities =====

^ City ^ State ^ Significance ^
| **Bangalore** | Karnataka | IT capital, aerospace |
| **Hyderabad** | Telangana | IT, pharmaceuticals |
| **Chennai** | Tamil Nadu | Automotive, port |
| **Pune** | Maharashtra | Auto, IT, education |
| **Coimbatore** | Tamil Nadu | Textiles, engineering |

===== Environmental Issues =====

==== Challenges ####

  * **Deforestation**: Loss of forest cover
  * **Soil erosion**: Due to mining and agriculture
  * **Water scarcity**: Limited surface water
  * **Mining impacts**: Environmental degradation
  * **Urban pollution**: Industrial cities

==== Conservation Efforts ####

  * **Afforestation programs**
  * **Watershed management**
  * **Sustainable mining practices**
  * **Water conservation**

===== UPSC Relevance =====

  * **Paper**: General Studies Paper I (Geography)
  * **Topics**: Physical features, mineral resources, economic geography
  * **Previous Year Questions**:
    - Deccan Plateau formation and mineral resources (2021)
    - River systems of peninsular India (2020)
    - Black soil distribution and characteristics (2019)

===== Memory Techniques =====

**Deccan Plateau Boundaries**: **N**orthern **S**atpura **W**estern **G**hats **E**astern **G**hats
  * **N** - North: Satpura-Vindhya
  * **S** - Satpura range
  * **W** - Western Ghats
  * **E** - Eastern Ghats

**Major Rivers**: **G**odavari **K**rishna **C**auvery **M**ahanadi
  * **G** - Godavari (longest)
  * **K** - Krishna
  * **C** - Cauvery (south)
  * **M** - Mahanadi (east)

===== Related Topics =====

  * [[indian_geography:mountain_ranges|Western and Eastern Ghats]]
  * [[indian_geography:coastal_regions|Peninsular coastal regions]]
  * [[indian_geography:cyclones|Impact on cyclone formation]]

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//Sources: NCERT Class 11 Geography, Certificate Physical and Human Geography//