Q1. What are the five geological formations of Meghalaya?

Ans. The five geological formations of meghalaya are as follows:-

1. The Archaean Gneissic complex: occupies the central and northern parts of meghalaya and
the rocks found in this formation are generally quartzite, gneiss and schist.

2. The Shillong group of rocks: including the quartzite, granite, schist, conglomerate and other
rocks occur in the central and eastern parts of the state and are marked by the presence of sills and
dykes.

3. The Lower Gondwana rocks: are found in the western parts of Garo hills and they include
pebble-beds, sandstone and shale.

4. The Sylhet traps: occur in a narrow belt and run in the east-west direction in the southern part
of the Khasi hills and they include basalt, rhyolites and few others.

5. The Cretaceous Tertiary sediments: These sediments are found in the southern parts of the
state and are very thick and extensive and the main rocks found in this formation are shale,
limestone, sandstone.

The formation is divided into three groups (khasi group, jaintia group, garo group). The khasi
group is further divided in Jadukata, bottom conglomerate and the mahadek formations.

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Q2. Describe a note about the drainage system of meghalaya?

Ans. The drainage system of meghalaya is controlled by its geological structure and
physiographic features.

The Tura range in Garo hills and the central uplands in Khasi and Jaintia hills form watersheds.

Nearly all water sources/ drainage systems in the state originate from watersheds.

The important rivers in the Garo hills of the northern group from the west to east direction are the
Kalu, Ringgi, Dadrik, Didram, Krishnai and Dadhaai.

The southern group from west to east are the Sanda, Bandra, Bhogai, Dareng, Nitai and Simsang.

Among the rivers of the Garo Hills the Simsang is the longest and is the most navigable for a
distance of about 30 kilometers.

In the Khasi and Jaintia hills there are also two groups of rives, one leading to the north and
another to the south.

The chief rivers of the northern group are the Khri, Digaru, Umtrew, Umiam and those of
southern group are the Kynshi, Umiew and Myngot.
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Q3.Describe the Physical features of Meghalaya?

Ans. The whole of meghalaya is a plateau. The height of this plateau ranges from 150 to 1961
meters above sea level.

The western part of state plateau is 600 meters from the sea level.

The important physical features in Garo hills are the Tura, Moheshkhola-Adaguri and Simsang
valley.

The highest peak in this range is Nokrek with an altitude of 1412 meters.

The rest of Garo hills ranges from north to south and hills vary in height from 450 to 600 meters.

The plateau is divided into three parts the north undulating hills, central upland, southern plateau

The nothern hills with peaks range in height between 170 and 820 meters and slope towars bhoi
area.(slope towards brahmaputra valley)

The central upland zone runs from west to east and occupies more than one-third of central and
eastern meghalaya and it rises up to 1823 meters.

The southern part of central and western meghalaya is characterized by steep slopes and is also
known as War country

The eastern plateau is at the height of 1200 meters, central upland of 1500 meters and have more
low and level lands than the khasi hills.

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Q4. What are the main rivers of the state of Meghalaya?

Ans. The main rivers of the state of Meghalaya are as follows:-

1.) The Khrishnai: is also called the Damring it originates in the north of arbela and it flows
towards the north and enters the Goalpara district of assam.

2.) The Kalu: is also called the Gonal and it rises from Tura and flows in the western direction
till it reaches Goalpara district of assam.

3.) The Bhogai: originates from the Tura range and is also known as Bugi and it flows in a
southern direction and falls into the Bramaputra valley of Bangladesh.

4.) The Nitai: is also called Danzig and it originates from the Tura range and it flows to the south
till it reaches Mymensingh in Bangladesh.
5.) The Simsang: is also called Someswari and is the longest river in Garo hills and it originates
from the Nokrek peak and it flows to the south till it enters the plains of Bangladesh.

6.) The Umiam: is also known as Um-lam. The main branches of this river are the Um-shyrpi,
the Um-jasai and the Wah-Umkhrah.

7.) The Um-khen: originates near shillong peak and it flows in a north-eastern direction and
enters the the plains of Assam.

8.) The Khri-Synnai: has its source near kyllan rock and it flows through the north-western
direction to the brahmaputra valley.

9.) The Khri: rises near laitdom village and it flows through a forested area till it reachs the Khri
synnai.

10.) The Um-Trew: and is also know as Digaru rises near Sohpetbneng hill and flows through a
west direction crossing the Gua-shillong highway.

11.) The Um-miwpat: rises near sohiong and it flows to the south through the paddy growing
areas.

12.)The Umngot: is also known as myngngot. rises near the shillong peak and flows in the south
and westen direction and again flows to the south.

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Q4. Describe the drainage pattern of the state of Meghalaya?

Ans. The types of drainage pattern in Meghalaya are as follows:-

1.) Dendritic Pattern: The main river receives a number of tributaries which in turn are fed by
smaller streams and the whole river system looks like a tree. (eg: Wahlaw river and its tributaries
in the Khasi hills.)

2.) Radial Pattern: The rivers and streams flow outwards from a central landmass which is
relatively higher than the surrounding areas. (eg: Garo hills and Jaintia hills.)

3.) Parallel pattern: the valley and ridges run almost parallel to each other and the streams flow
through the valleys from north to south. (eg: umiew and umsohiong.)

4.) Rectangular pattern: the streams have straight courses and are characterised by sharp
angular changes in their direction. (eg: Hari and Kharkar rivers of Jaintia hills.)

5.) Trellis pattern: The main river cuts across the long and small tributaries that flow down the
scarp slope. (eg: Umngot and its tributaries.)

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--Q5. What are the four seasons of Meghalaya?
Ans. The four seasons of Meghalaya are hot, summer, cool and rainy season.

Cold season begins in December to February: comes down to minimum temperature to 3.6
degrees C.

Hot season begins from March and April and the highest temperature is on the month April.

Rainy season from May to September.

Cool season from October and November.

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Q6. Describe the Distribution of Temperature of Meghalaya?

Ans. The alititude is the main factor which controls the distribution of temperatue in Meghalaya.

The western part has a fairly high temperature from February to October.

April is the hottest month with minimum temperature of 33 degrees and maximum is 22 degrees.

January is the coldest month with maximum of 24 degrees and minimum of 12 degrees.

The shillong area and central uplands has minimum temperature that never exceeds 24 degrees. In
December and January the minimum is 7.7 degrees and 7.1 degrees.

The cherrapunjee-mawsynram which lies in the southern part has minimum temperature of 23
degrees in august and 6.1 degrees in december.

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Q7. What is the distribution of rainfall in Meghalaya?

Ans. Meghalaya recieves its rainfall from the south-west monsoon winds.

The rainfall depends on the location. The total annual rainfall in the western part is 418 cm.

About 80% of the rainfall occurs the months of April to September, November, December and
January.

The amount of rainfall from south to north decreases because of the rain-shadow areas.

The average annual rainfall in the south-west is 400 cm, central part is 300 to 400 cm and north is
250-300 cm.

The average annual rainfall in central and eastern meghalaya is 879 cm, cherrapunji is 1142 cm
and shillong is 242 cm. Mawsynram is 1392 cms.

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Q8. What is soil?

Ans. Soil is a loos rock material together that forms the upper layer of the earths crust

and serves as a source of food and moisture for plants.

It is used for the growth of plants and agricultural crops, trees, grasses and vegetables grow on the
soils.

The formation of soil is greatly influenced by the climate, parent rock, plants and time.

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Q9. What are the different types of soil?

Ans. The different types of soil are as follows :-

1.) Red loamy soils:

Are found in the central part of Garo hills and central uplands in Central and Eastern Meghalaya.

They are formed by the disintegration of rocks and minerals. They are sandy and clayey loam.

It varies in colour from reddish brown to dark reddish brown.

The soil is rich in organic matter and nitrogen

and are usually acidic in nature and are suitable for the cultivation of rice, potato and fruits.

2.) Laterite soils:

are present in the west to east direction in the northern part of the state.

They are formed by the breaking of rocks which are rich in iron and aluminium they are reddish
and yellowish red.

the laterites have been formed by heavy rainfall and are poor in organic matter and are acidic in
nature

they are used for the purpose by mixing heavy amount of organic matter.

3.) Red and Yellow soils:

They are found in the west and east direction in the southern part of the state.

They vary from yellow to read, reddish yellow and yellowish brown.

They are fine textured varying from silty loam and loam and are suitable for rice and fruit
production.

4.) Alluvial soils:

They are found in the northern, western and southern areas of the state.

In texture they vary from sandy to clayey laom abd are highly acidic in nature.

Rice, jute and fruits are being cultivated in this soil.

The terrain has determined the characteristics of soils.

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Q10. Briefly describe the Natural vegetation of Meghalaya?

Ans. The natural vegetation consists of different types of forest and the grasslands.

In meghalaya the vegetation has been badly affected by reckless cutting, grazing and Jhumming.

Most of the forests has been completely destroyed by people and animals.

The existing forests are present only in the protected areas of the state.

The natural vegetation of cental and eastern meghalaya may be divided into three categories

the mixed tropical forests, the grasslands and the temperate forests.

The mixed tropical forests are found in the north and south parts upto 900 meters in height from
sea level.

The grasslands are found in the lower parts of central uplands at 900-1350 meters in height.

The temperate forests on the central uplands are found at the height of 1350 meters.

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