question_answer

Give reasons:

(a) While the sun has already risen in Arunachal Pradesh, it is still dark in Gujarat.

(b) Ahmedabad will see the sun overhead twice in a year.

(c) Why has Meghalaya been named as such?

(d) India is often referred to as a sub-continent.

Answer:

(a) Arunachal Pradesh is located in the easternmost longitude \[97{}^\circ 2S'E\]and Gujarat is in the westernmost longitude\[68{}^\circ TE\]. They are \[30{}^\circ \] longitude apart. For every \[15{}^\circ \] of longitudinal difference, there is corresponding time difference of I hour. When sun rises at 6 a.m. in Arunachal Pradesh, it is 4 a.m. in Gujarat and it is still dark.

(b) The rays of sun become vertical twice a year only between the two tropics. Ahemadabad is located just below the Tropic of Cancer and is in Tropical zone thus it sees sun overhead twice a year.

(c) Meghalaya is north-western state, located on the windward side of Garo-Khasi hills and gets very heavy rainfall all through the year. Mawsynram in Meghalaya state receives highest average rainfall in the world. "Megha" means 'Rains' and 'alaya' means abode. Thus Meghalaya meaning land of rainfall, is the appropriate name given to this state.

(d) India is often referred as a sub-continent because India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh comprise one big piece of land, without any physical barrier between them. The mighty Himalayas separate this big mass of land from the main continent of Asia. Since India is the largest country, it is called as sub-continent. The Indian sub-continent is the most natural geographical unit, which has developed a very distinctive culture. It is very different from the rest of Asia regarding climate, natural vegetation, wild life and lifestyle.