Chambal ravines
Also called: Badlands of Chambal · Topic: Structure and Physiography of India: Himalayas, Plains, Peninsula, Coasts and Islands · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"; Class 11, Ch 3 "Drainage System"
Meaning
The Chambal ravines are deep, narrow gullies (channels cut by running water) along the Chambal river. Rainwater and the river easily cut into the soft alluvium (loose soil laid down by rivers) here. Over time this made a maze of gullies called badlands, which means land so cut up that it is hard to use. Farming, roads and settlement are difficult here. For a long time the ravines were hiding places for dacoits.
Example
The worst ravines are in Bhind and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh and in Dholpur district of Rajasthan, along the lower Chambal.
Don't confuse with
- Rift valley: a rift valley forms when a block of land sinks between faults (cracks in the earth's crust), as with the Narmada valley. Ravines are cut by water erosion at the surface.
Related concepts
- Peninsular Plateau
- Patland plateau
- Central Highlands
- Aravalli Range
- Delhi ridge
- Malwa plateau
- Vindhyan range
- Satpura range
- Maikal range
- Gir range