Assam: Relief and Structure

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Assam is an important geographic location of North-East India. Situated between 89 – 96 East Longitude and 24 -27North Latitude, Assam is bordered in the North and East by the Kingdom of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Along the South lie Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Meghalaya lies to her South-West, Bengal and Bangladesh to her West. Although hills and Mountains in its three sides surround Assam, there has been always a relation with Tibet of China and South East Asia.

Assam and the entire North East India is a transitional zone between South Asia and South East Asia. The area of Assam is 78,433 square km.

Physiography:

The structure of Assam can be divided into three units, they are

  • Karbi Plateau , which is the inner most part of the Meghalaya plateau
  • The Tertiary depositional zone which includes hills of North Cachar Hill Districts and Barali range, and
  • Plain of Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley.

Assam is the frontier province of on the North-East. Modern Assam has 22 districts which are akin to counties in the US or the UK. Except for the districts of KarbiAnglong and North Cachar Hills, Assam is generally composed of plains and river valleys. It can be divided into three principal geographical regions: the Brahmaputra Valley in the north; the Barak Plain in the south; and the Mikir (KarbiAnglong) and Cachar Hills that divide the two regions.

The mighty Himalaya covers three sides of the province. The state Shares international boundaries with Bangladesh and Bhutan. Assam serves as a gateway to the South East Asia with its capital city of Guwahati.Whereas at one time Assam had extensive international borders with China/Tibet and Burma, modern Assam’s international borders are limited to those with the small country of Bhutan in the northwest and with Bangladesh to the southwest. Assam is bordered on the north by the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh that used to be an administrative part of Assam till the 1970s.

The northern part of Assam is wholly occupied by the elongated valley of the mighty river Brahmaputra. Most of Assam’s Population lives in this valley. The Brahmaputra valley is bounded by the foothills of the Himalayas to the north and another lower range of hills and mountains to the south. In the center part of Assam, to the south of the hills is the Barak Valley which is contiguous with the densely populated country of Bangladesh.

The Karbi Plateau is of the pre-Cambrian origin (5 billion to 570 millions years ago). It contains very old Metamorphic Rocks, which are highly compressed, hard and crystalline. Other parts of Assam made up of early Tertiary sedimentary deposits (65 million to 2 million years ago) and Quaternary (about 2 million years ago to the present) alluvial deposits.

Geomorphic studies also conclude that the Brahmaputra, the life-line of Assam is older than the Himalayas. The river with steep gorges and rapids in Arunachal Pradesh entering Assam becomes a braided river (at times 10 mi/16 km wide) and with tributaries, creates a flood plain known as the Brahmaputra Valley (50-60 mi/80-100 km wide, 600 mi/1000 km long). In the south, the Barak, flows through the Cachar district with a 25-30 miles (40-50 km) wide valley and enters Bangladesh with the name Surma.

Barak Valley is situated in the south Assam. In the north there is North Cachar Hills, in the east there is Manipur Hills and in the south there is Mizoram hills. The area is 6962 sq. km.

Assam is full of streams, rivulets, and rivers which receives water from Himalaya and hills and plateaus. The water falls into to basins; they are the Brahmaputra Basin and the Barak-Surma basin.

The Brahmaputra valley:

The northern part of Assam is wholly occupied by the elongated valley of the mighty river Brahmaputra. Most of Assam’s population lives in this valley. The Brahmaputra valley is bounded by the foothills of the Himalayas to the north and another lower range of hills and mountains to the south. The Brahmaputra Valley is the dominant physical feature of Assam. The Brahmaputra enters Assam near Sadiya at the extreme northeast corner and runs westward for nearly 450 miles before turning south to enter the plains of Bangladesh.

The river valley, rarely more than 50 miles wide, is studded with numerous low, isolated hills and ridges that abruptly rise from the plain. The valley surrounded on all sides, except the west, by mountains and is intersected by many streams and rivulets that flow from the neighboring hills to empty into the Brahmaputra.

Barak Valley:

The KarbiAnglong and North Cachar Hills from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam separate the Barak Valley. The Barak originates from the Barail Range in the border areas of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and flowing through the district of Cachar, it confluences with the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh. Barak Valley in Assam is a small valley with an Average width and length of approximately 40 to 50 km.

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Assam is a state in north-eastern India. It is bordered by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh to the north-east, Nagaland and Manipur to the east, Mizoram to the south-east, Tripura to the south, Meghalaya to the south-west, and West Bengal to the west. The state has a coastline with Bangladesh to the south-west.

The relief of Assam is characterized by three main features: the Brahmaputra Valley, the Barak Valley, and the hilly areas. The Brahmaputra Valley is a vast plain that is formed by the Brahmaputra River. The Barak Valley is a smaller plain that is formed by the Barak River. The hilly areas are located in the north and east of the state.

The structure of Assam is also characterized by three main features: Tertiary Sedimentary Rocks, alluvial deposits, volcanic rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Tertiary sedimentary rocks are the oldest rocks in Assam. They are found in the hilly areas. Alluvial deposits are the youngest rocks in Assam. They are found in the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak Valley. Volcanic rocks are found in the north-eastern part of the state. Metamorphic rocks are found in the central and southern parts of the state.

The Brahmaputra Valley is the most important region in Assam. It is the most densely populated region in the state. The Brahmaputra River is the main source of water for the Brahmaputra Valley. The Brahmaputra Valley is also home to a number of important cities, including Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Silchar.

The Barak Valley is a smaller region in Assam. It is located in the south-eastern part of the state. The Barak River is the main source of water for the Barak Valley. The Barak Valley is also home to a number of important cities, including Silchar and Karimganj.

The hilly areas are located in the north and east of the state. They are home to a number of important tribes, including the Bodos, the Karbis, and the Mishings. The hilly areas are also home to a number of important forests.

The Tertiary sedimentary rocks are the oldest rocks in Assam. They are found in the hilly areas. The Tertiary sedimentary rocks are composed of sandstone, shale, and limestone. The Tertiary sedimentary rocks are important because they are a source of coal.

The alluvial deposits are the youngest rocks in Assam. They are found in the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak Valley. The alluvial deposits are composed of sand, silt, and clay. The alluvial deposits are important because they are a source of fertile Soil.

The volcanic rocks are found in the north-eastern part of the state. The volcanic rocks are composed of basalt, andesite, and rhyolite. The volcanic rocks are important because they are a source of Minerals.

The metamorphic rocks are found in the central and southern parts of the state. The metamorphic rocks are composed of gneiss, schist, and marble. The metamorphic rocks are important because they are a source of building materials.

Assam is a state with a rich and diverse landscape. The relief and structure of Assam are important because they influence the Climate, the vegetation, and the wildlife of the state.

What is the climate of Assam?

Assam has a tropical monsoon climate. The summers are hot and humid, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. The winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. The monsoon season lasts from June to September, and brings heavy rains and flooding.

What are the main rivers of Assam?

The Brahmaputra is the largest river in Assam. It flows through the state from north to south. The Barak is the second largest river in Assam. It flows through the state from west to east. Other major rivers in Assam include the Manas, the Dihing, the Dhansiri, and the Kopili.

What are the main crops of Assam?

Tea is the main crop of Assam. It is grown in the Brahmaputra Valley. Other major crops in Assam include rice, jute, sugarcane, and oilseeds.

What are the main languages spoken in Assam?

Assamese is the Official Language of Assam. It is spoken by the majority of the population. Other major languages spoken in Assam include Bengali, Hindi, and Bodo.

What are the main religions of Assam?

Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism is the majority religion in Assam. It is followed by Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism.

What are the main tourist attractions in Assam?

The Kaziranga National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Assam. It is home to a large population of rhinoceroses. Other popular tourist attractions in Assam include the Manas National Park, the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, and the Umananda Temple.

What are the main challenges facing Assam?

Assam faces a number of challenges, including POVERTY, illiteracy, and Unemployment. The state is also prone to natural disasters, such as floods and Earthquakes.

What are the main opportunities for Assam?

Assam has a number of opportunities, including its rich natural Resources, its skilled workforce, and its strategic location. The state has the potential to become a major economic hub in the region.

  1. Which of the following is not a physical feature of Assam?
    (A) Brahmaputra River
    (B) Barak River
    (C) Himalayas
    (D) Vindhyas

  2. Which of the following is the largest river in Assam?
    (A) Brahmaputra River
    (B) Barak River
    (C) Manas River
    (D) Dibrugarh River

  3. Which of the following is the capital of Assam?
    (A) Guwahati
    (B) Dibrugarh
    (C) Jorhat
    (D) Silchar

  4. Which of the following is the main language spoken in Assam?
    (A) Assamese
    (B) Bengali
    (C) Hindi
    (D) English

  5. Which of the following is the main religion in Assam?
    (A) Hinduism
    (B) Islam
    (C) Christianity
    (D) Buddhism

  6. Which of the following is the main crop grown in Assam?
    (A) Rice
    (B) Tea
    (C) Jute
    (D) Wheat

  7. Which of the following is the main mineral found in Assam?
    (A) Oil
    (B) Coal
    (C) Iron Ore
    (D) Copper

  8. Which of the following is the main tourist attraction in Assam?
    (A) Kaziranga National Park
    (B) Manas National Park
    (C) Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
    (D) Nameri National Park

  9. Which of the following is the main festival celebrated in Assam?
    (A) Bihu
    (B) Durga puja
    (C) Kali Puja
    (D) Chhath Puja

  10. Which of the following is the main sport played in Assam?
    (A) Football
    (B) Cricket
    (C) Hockey
    (D) Kabaddi