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out of the sea level called coral reef. The finest There, too, considerable damage was caused to
example of coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef of people and their property. Considering the
Australia. There is also accumulation of corals in magnitude of these natural disasters and similar
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which are other disasters like earthquakes, cyclones and
environmentally very sensitive. During the other happenings, the government of India have
Tsunami in 2004, the sea waves washed out mud now set up the National Disaster Management
from the islands and deposited over these coral Authority (NDMA). This organisation is now
accumulations caused much damage. Scientists planning to install Tsunami Warning system and
all over the world are still debating how to save take other such preventive measures to protect
these coral accumulations. people.
DANGER WATERS Importance of the Physiographic Divisions
In December 2004, an earthquake recorded 100 g The Western Ghats being relatively higher
km off Sumatra coasts of Indonesia in the ocean make the winds blowing over the Arabian
measured 8.9 on Richter scale. The earthquake Sea shed their moisture on the western
at the seafloor triggered a kind of tidal waved slopes.
called Tsunami. It devastated life and property of g Himalaya acts as a climatic barrier and do
people in 15 nations of South East Asia including not allow cold winds of the north enter the
India and Sri Lanka. Greatest damage was Indian subcontinent. It also does not allow
however caused in the Indonesia itself where monsoon winds leave the Indian subconti-
over 1,75,000 people died. The waves travelled nent.
in about 48 hours even to coasts of east Africa.
g The Indus plain, the Ganga plain and the
Coastal plains have the most fertile soils and
are responsible for agricultural prosperity of
India.
g The rivers of South India have been
dammed. Besides being the source of water,
they generate electricity and provide
employment.
g Being a homogenous geographic unit, they
are responsible for shaping the character
and political unity of India.
Chandrasekhar
Terminology
Paradise : heaven
Glacier : a slowly moving, ice on the sea
Homogenous : of the same kind
Inside Story
Inside Story
g From culture, economy and even the landscape of India has diverse elements, all on one
landmass.
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