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.

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

• 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

• 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

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

==== Eastward Flowing ####

==== 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

Coal:

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

Mica:

• Location: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
• Use: Electrical industry

==== General Characteristics ####

• Type: Tropical to semi-arid
• Temperature:
  1. Summer: 25-45°C
  2. Winter: 15-25°C
• Rainfall:
  1. Western areas: 1000-2500mm
  2. 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

==== Forest Types ####

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

==== 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

==== 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

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

Deccan Plateau Boundaries: Northern Satpura Western Ghats Eastern Ghats

• N - North: Satpura-Vindhya
• S - Satpura range
• W - Western Ghats
• E - Eastern Ghats

Major Rivers: Godavari Krishna Cauvery Mahanadi

• G - Godavari (longest)
• K - Krishna
• C - Cauvery (south)
• M - Mahanadi (east)

• Western and Eastern Ghats
• Peninsular coastal regions
• Impact on cyclone formation

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