Chapter 1

India size and

location

Location

• To find the exact location of anywhere, we use longitude and latitude for
exact measure.

• In everyday life, we use google maps to find the exact location of the
specified area.

• In this chapter, we will learn about how we find the absolute measure of
distance of any location.
• To find any distance we use horizontal and vertical lines which we know as
latitudes and longitudes.

• . Prime meridian is the point of reference of the world which

represents the midpoint of east and west and it represents
0-degree meridian.
• The left direction of the prime meridian is said to be the
west degree of the prime meridian and the right
direction is said to be the least degree of the prime
meridian.
• For example- if we want to find 55°30’E (read as 55 degree
30 minutes) we look from the right side to find the
location.
• Longitude- vertical mapping lines on earth are lines of
 longitude, known as meridians.one simple way to visualize
this might be to think about oranges.
• Longitude is an angular distance, measured in degrees along the equator east
or west of the Prime (or First) Meridian.
• On the globe longitude is shown as a series of semi-circles that run from pole to
pole passing through the equator. Such lines are also called
• Unlike the equator which is centrally placed between the poles, any meridian
could have been taken to begin the numbering of longitude. It was finally
decided in 1884, by international agreement, to choose as the zero meridian the
one which passes through the Royal Astronomical Observatory at
Greenwich, near London.
• This is the Prime Meridian (0°) from which all other meridians radiate eastwards
and westwards up to 180°.
• As the parallels of latitude become shorter poleward, so the meridians of longitude,
which converge at the poles, enclose a narrower space. • They have one very
important function, they determine local time in relation to G.M.T. or Greenwich
Mean Time, which is sometimes referred to as World Time.

• Equator is halfway between the north pole and the south pole. •
The distance between two parallel longitudes is equal to the
latitude but when we slightly move towards poles the distance
gets converted to a narrow stream of lines. • The maximum
distance between two longitudes is seen on the equator. •
Latitude is horizontal mapping of lines on earth. They are
known as “parallels” of latitude, because they run parallel to
the equator.
• Equator is the point of reference for the latitudes. • From
the equator, either you will move towards the north or south
pole.
• For exact location both longitudes as well as latitudes are
required.
• Two parallel latitudes always have equal distance whereas in case of longitude
when the lines come across poles distance gets shorter between them. • The sun
rays and latitude
 • •
The Equator is the warmest among all sides as the sun rays fall directly upon it. As
long as we go farthest from the sun, the rays of the sun will spread due to the axis of
earth and the area of the pole gets colder.

• •
Lines of latitude
1. The Tropic of Cancer is currently positioned at approximately 23.4 degrees north of the
Equator. The Tropic of Capricorn is 23.4 degrees south of the Equator. The area
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is often called the Tropical
area and are generally warmer.
2. Tropic of cancer lies in the northern hemisphere and the tropic of Capricorn lies in
the southern hemisphere.
• India is lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The area above the tropic of cancer and the area below the tropic
of Capricorn the coldest area.
 • The mainland extends between latitudes 8 degree 4’N and 37 degree 6 ’N and longitudes
68 degree 7’E and 97 degree 25’E

If we find the difference between these, we will get around 30 degrees and this is called the
latitudinal extent of the first one and even 30 degrees of the longitudinal extent.

• The Tropic of Cancer divides India into almost two equal parts.

• States through which tropic of cancer passes are

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, west Bengal,

Tripura and mizoram

Tropic of cancer is longest in Madhya Pradesh and shortest in the rajasthan. There are 28 states
and 8 union territories in india.
 The island group of india
Towards south east of the mainland, Andaman and nicobar island in Bay of Bengal. Towards
south-west of the mainland, Lakshadweep island in the Arabian sea.

The southernmost point of the indian ocean “ Indira point” got submerged under the sea water in
2004 during the tsunami.
Size of INDIA
 1. THE LANDMASS OF INDIA HAS AN AREA OF 3.28 MILLION
SQ KM, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 2.4 PERCENT OF
THE TOTAL GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE WORLD.
2. INDIA IS THE 7TH LARGEST COUNTRY OF THE WORLD.
3. INDIA HAS A LARGE BOUNDARY OF ABOUT 15,200 KM.
4. THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE COASTLINE OF THE
MAINLAND , INCLUDING ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
AND LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS IS 7516.6 KM

In terms of land, the countries given here are according to the united- nations demographic
record 2015, seven largest countries of the world are

Russia, Canada, USA, china, brazil, Australia and india

India is bounded by the young fold mountains in the northwest, northeast and north.

South of about 22 degree north latitude, begins to taper, and extends towards the indian ocean,
dividing it into two seas, the arabian sea on the west and the bay of bengal on its west.The Himalayas
are known as “young fold mountains” because they were formed only a few million years ago.

The Himalayas are a group of geologically young fold mountains that run along India’s northern
border. The Himalayan range is the world’s highest and most rugged mountain range.

The majority of the rock is uplifted sedimentary and metamorphic. They run from the Indus to the
Brahmaputra rivers in the west and east, respectively.

● Latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30 degree

● India's east west extent appears to be smaller than the north south extent
● There is a time lag of 2 hours between Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh
● Gujarat is situated in the extreme west of India Arunachal Pradesh is situated in the extreme east
of India. The Sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than Gujarat. ● Arunachal Pradesh
and Gujarat are about 30 degrees apart, so there is a time gap of two hours between them. Since
Arunachal Pradesh is located in the east, the sun rises earlier than in Gujarat. However, due to the
Indian Standard Meridian, the clock displays the same time. ● For a difference of 1 degree
longitude there is a time difference of 4 minutes. ● Hence time along the standard meridian of India
passing through the Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
is taken at the standard time for the whole country.
● Mirzapur, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, was historically chosen as the reference
point for the Indian Standard Time (IST) because it is geographically near the center of the
country, close to the Tropic of Cancer. This location was selected to ensure that the time zone
could be uniformly applied across the vast expanse of India.
● The longitude of 82.5 degrees east passing through Mirzapur was chosen as the standard
meridian for IST. This longitude was close to the local time of the city and was deemed to be a
convenient reference point for setting the standard time for the entire country. It is important to
note that the choice of Mirzapur as the reference point for IST is a matter of convention and
administrative convenience.
● The latitudinal extent influences the duration of the day and night as one moves from South to
North.
What is standard time?
It is the longitude used to describe the time of a country. it ideally should be the same for the whole
country and all the places in the country follow the same time.
 WHY IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DURATION OF DAY AND NIGHT HARDLY FELT AT
KANYAKUMARI BUT NOT SO MUCH IN KASHMIR?

As Kanyakumari is quite near the equator at 8°4'N the day-night difference is hardly one hour there, and therefore, the
duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari. On the other hand, as we move away from the equator to the
poles the variations in duration of day and night become greater.

INDIA AND THE WORLD

1. India is located in the centre of the world between East and West Asia.
2. India is the Southward extension of the Asian continent.
3. The trans Indian Ocean routes connect to the countries of Europe in the west and the
countries of East Asia. The term "Trans Indian Ocean Routes" refers to routes that connect
countries with coasts on the Indian Ocean to other parts of the world, such as Europe and
 Australia.

4. India has a strategic Central location

5. The Deccan plateau helps to establish close contact with west Asia, Africa and Europe from the
Western coast and with the south east and East Asia from the eastern coast.
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau that covers most of South India. It is triangular, surrounded
by three mountain ranges. It extends over eight Indian states (principally, Telangana, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu).
6. The word India is the prefix with the Ocean which is the Indian ocean because no other country
has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India.
7. Since the opening of Suez canal in 1869 India's distance from Europe has been reduced by
7000 km.

1. Why is the name of the Indian ocean referred to as “ indian ocean” ?

● A large part of the world trade passes through the Indian ocean.
● Because no other country has a long coastline on the Indian ocean as india.
● India has many ports on the Indian ocean.
● Trans Indian ocean routes connect India to Europe and east asia.
India on international Highway of trade and Commerce
1. The land routes of India are much older than the sea routes
2. It passes across the mountains provide passages to the ancient travelers where oceans failed to do so for a
long time
3. A pass is a gap or break in high rugged terrain such as a mountain ridge.

4. It is formed when a glacier or stream erodes, or wears away the land between areas of higher terrain.
5. Passes open provide the easiest roots for people to travel across steep mountain ranges.
6. Routes have contributed to the exchange of ideas in commodities since ancient times.
7. The ideas of the upanishads, the Indian numerals, the decimal system etc thus could reach many parts of the
world.
8. The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries influence of the Greek
culture and the architecture styles reached India

Land boundaries
North-west -pakistan and afghanistan
North - China (tibet), nepal and bhutan.
East- myanmar and bangladesh
Our southern neighbors across the sea consist of 2 island countries which are Sri lanka and maldives.
Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the palk strait and the gulf of
Mannar.Maldives islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands
The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separate India from Sri Lanka and thus both of them lie between India and
Sri Lanka. The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay.
Strait- narrow passage of water that connects 2 water bodies.it can be man made or natural.
Gulf- a portion of sea that penetrates the land and it connects land to the sea.this is only natural.

Before 1947 there were two types of states in India: the provinces and the princely states.
Provinces are ruled directly by British officials who were appointed by the viceroy.
Princely states ruled by local hereditary rulers acknowledged sovereignty in return for local autonomy.