Uttar Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India by area, following Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. It is the most populous state in the country, with a diverse landscape that includes plains, hills, and plateaus. The state is bordered by several other Indian states and has an international boundary with Nepal.
Location and Extent of Uttar Pradesh
- Latitude and Longitude: Uttar Pradesh is located between 23°52’N to 30°24’N latitudes and 77°05’E to 84°38’E longitudes.
- Size: The state covers an area of 240,928 square kilometers, which is about 7.33% of India’s total area.
- Dimensions: It stretches 650 km from east to west and 240 km from north to south.
- Borders: Uttar Pradesh shares its boundaries with 8 states and 1 Union Territory (Delhi):
- North: Nepal and Uttarakhand
- North-West: Himachal Pradesh
- West: Haryana and Delhi
- South-West: Rajasthan
- South: Madhya Pradesh
- South-East: Chhattisgarh
- East: Jharkhand and Bihar
Boundary Districts:
- Haryana: Saharanpur, Shamli, Baghpat, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura
- Rajasthan: Agra, Mathura
- Madhya Pradesh: Agra, Etawah, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra
- Uttarakhand: Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit
- Chhattisgarh: Sonbhadra
- Jharkhand: Sonbhadra
- Himachal Pradesh: Saharanpur
- Bihar: Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Ballia, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj
- Delhi (Union Territory): Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar
- Nepal (International Boundary): Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit
Geological Structure
Uttar Pradesh’s present landscape is a result of various geological formations, mostly believed to be part of the ancient Gondwanaland.
Rock Systems:
- Vindhyan Rock System:
- Found in the southern plateau of Uttar Pradesh.
- Formed during the Pre-Cambrian period.
- Contains minerals like limestone, dolomite, and sandstone.
- The Kaimur series, part of this system, is composed of sandstone and quartz.
- Bundelkhand Granite Gneiss:
- Originates from the Pre-Paleozoic Era.
- Includes minerals such as red quartz, feldspar, and hornblende.
- Historically, these stones were used in Mughal architecture in Agra.
- Tertiary Period:
- The Himalayan mountain range formed during this period.
- The Shivalik hills, made of sand and pebbles, are part of this system.
- Quaternary Period:
- Formation of the Bhabar and Terai regions.
- The Ganga-Yamuna plains began forming during the Pleistocene epoch, with processes continuing today.
- Soil types include Bangar (older, less fertile) and Khadar (newer, more fertile).
READ – Climate and Soil of Uttar Pradesh
Physical Divisions of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is divided into three main physiographical regions:
1. Bhabar and Terai Belt
- Bhabar Region:
- The northernmost part, extending from Saharanpur to Kushinagar.
- Characterized by large rocks (boulders) and small stones (pebbles) carried by rivers.
- Soil is porous, causing rivers to flow underground.
- Terai Region:
- Lies south of the Bhabar region, from Saharanpur to Deoria.
- It is a marshy plain with fine silt deposits.
- Rivers reappear here, making the soil fertile but prone to waterlogging.
2. Gangetic Plain
- Located between the Bhabar-Terai region in the north and the plateau region in the south.
- Drained by major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries.
- The plain is divided into:
- Bangar Land: Elevated, older alluvial deposits, less fertile.
- Khadar Land: Lower, newer deposits, more fertile but prone to erosion.
READ | RIVERS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF UTTAR PRADESH
3. Plateau Region
- The southern region, known as the Bundelkhand Plateau, includes Vindhya hills.
- Bounded by rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Betwa, and Ken.
- The region is mostly dry, with less rainfall and stunted vegetation growth.
- Key crops include jowar, mustard, gram, and wheat.
Key Highlights
- Most Populous State: Uttar Pradesh has the highest population in India.
- Gondwanaland: The state is part of the oldest landmass of India.
- Important Rivers: The Ganga, Yamuna, Betwa, and Ken are crucial to the state’s geography and agriculture.
- Terai Region: Known for its fertile soil but also for health issues like malaria due to its damp climate.
- Plateau Region: Dry and rocky, requiring specific farming techniques like dry farming.
FAQs
Here is the list of questions and answers in a single-line FAQ format:
- Question: At which place does Uttar Pradesh lie in terms of area in India?
Answer: Fourth - Question: What is the area of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: 2,40,928 sq km - Question: Uttar Pradesh covers how much area of the total geographical area of India?
Answer: 7.33% - Question: How many states share their boundary with Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: 8 - Question: Which is the easternmost district of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Ballia - Question: Which country shares a boundary with Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Nepal - Question: Which of the following states does not share a border with Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Odisha - Question: Which state does not touch the boundary of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Punjab - Question: Agra and Mathura together share their border with which state?
Answer: Rajasthan - Question: How many states does Sonbhadra district share its border with?
Answer: Four - Question: Which of the following districts of Uttar Pradesh does not have any international boundary?
Answer: Basti - Question: During which period was the upper Vindhyan system formed?
Answer: Pre-Cambrian period - Question: Kaimur series is extended in which states of India?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar - Question: Which rocks are formed of red orthoclase feldspar, red quartz, and hornblende chloride?
Answer: Bundelkhand Gneisses - Question: The Himalayan mountain range was formed during which period?
Answer: Tertiary period - Question: The sedimentary deposition in the Ganga-Yamuna plain is traced to which period?
Answer: Quaternary period - Question: Which region in Uttar Pradesh receives heavy rainfall?
Answer: Terai region - Question: Where is the narrow belt of Bhabar found?
Answer: Northern part of Terai - Question: Where in Uttar Pradesh is jute cultivated?
Answer: Terai region - Question: Triveni Sangam in Uttar Pradesh is the confluence of which rivers?
Answer: Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati - Question: The Gangetic plain is generally divided into how many sub-divisions?
Answer: Two - Question: Which terrain is known as older alluvial deposits?
Answer: Bangar land - Question: Ravines are a feature of which land type?
Answer: Khadar land - Question: Which district is not included in the Southern plateau of Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: Agra - Question: Is Uttar Pradesh the fourth largest state in the country?
Answer: Yes - Question: Is the Kaimur series formed from the Vindhyan system, and was red stone extensively used in Mughal buildings?
Answer: Yes, both statements are correct. - Question: Does the transitional belt along the sub-Himalayan Terai region cover the district from Lucknow in the West to Ballia in the East?
Answer: No, it covers Saharanpur in the West to Deoria in the East. - Question: Is the Terai Belt a level, damp, and marshy land with Sawana type of grass?
Answer: Yes - Question: Is the Gangetic plain entirely covered with black soil, and does it slope from North-West to South-East with a steep gradient toward the East?
Answer: Only the second statement is correct.
3 thoughts on “Geographical Features of Uttar Pradesh”