What are the features of northern …

(i) The northern plains have been formed from the alluvium deposited by the mountain rivers.
(ii) They are located between the Himalayan rivers in the north and the Peninsular Plateau in the south.
(iii) They turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich harvest of variety of crops. This led to the development of the Indus Valley Civilization.
(iv) They are made up of deposits of alluvium and cover an area of 7 lakh sq. km.
(v) They are densely populated physiographic division of India and are believed to be highly productive in terms of agriculture.
(vi) The North Indian plains have the Indus river system in the west and the Ganga Brahmaputra river system in the East.
(vii) The first include Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj. The Indus flows into the Arabian Sea. The second includes Ganga-Brahamaputra which combines with Meghna at the point when it drains into the Bay of Bengal. They form the world's largest and fastest growing delta. On the basis of difference of relief, they are divided into four parts-Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar.
(viii) The northern plain is divided into three sections - Punjab plain, Ganga plain and Brahmaputra plain. The Ganga plain has diverse relief features. It has four belts.
(a) Bhabar is a belt of pebbles extending from 8-16 km in width in which stream disappears.
(b) Terai is a wet, swampy, marshy region with thick forests and wild life.
(c) Bhangar is a terrace-like feature made of old alluvium. It contains calcareous deposits called Kankar.
(d) Khadar is the flood plain which renewed everywhere and is very fertile.