Meghalaya Plateau
Also called: Shillong Plateau · Topic: Structure and Physiography of India: Himalayas, Plains, Peninsula, Coasts and Islands · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "Geographical Diversity of India"; Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"; Class 11, Ch 4 "Climate"
Meaning
The Meghalaya plateau, also called the Shillong plateau, is a detached part of the old Peninsular plateau in north-east India. From west to east it is divided into the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills. Each is named after the tribe that lives there. The southwest monsoon brings very heavy rain here, so the surface is badly eroded (worn away by water). Like the Chotanagpur plateau, the region is rich in coal, iron ore, sillimanite, limestone and uranium.
Example
In the Khasi hills, Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Mawsynram get extremely heavy rain. Even so, much of Cherrapunji is bare rock with no permanent plant cover. Shillong lies in the Khasi hills, and Tura and Nokrek peak are in the Garo hills.
Don't confuse with
- Karbi Anglong plateau: this is a separate detached piece of the Peninsula, east of Meghalaya in central Assam.
- Purvachal hills: these are young folded Himalayan hills along the Myanmar border, not part of the old Peninsular rock.