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298 Arrow-Puffin-4_Semester-1 SocialThe Northern Plains3 Understand the region%u2019s climate variationsAnalyze the economic significance of the Northern PlainsExplore the diverse flora and fauna Identify potential environmental challenges Assess the impact of climate change on the Northern PlainsLearning OutcomesWarm Up%u2022 What are the chief landforms on Earth?%u2022 Why do people prefer to live in the plains?PlainsA plain is a flat area of fertile land. The Northern Plains of India are located to the south of the Himalayas. They stretch from Punjab in the west to Assam in the east and cover the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and some parts of Assam. Many rivers like the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Indus and the Satluj, which originate in the Himalayas, flow through the Northern Plains. These rivers are perennial rivers and have water throughout the year. They bring broken rocks, sand and silt with them which is called alluvium. Alluvial soil is fertile and very good for crops. The Northern Plains are a major crop growing area and the most thickly populated region.In these plains many small rivers called tributaries join the main rivers. The area watered by a river and its tributaries is called its basin. The Northern Plains can be divided into three basins:%uf097 The Ganga River Basin in the centre %uf097 The Brahmaputra River Basin in the east %uf097 The Satluj River Basin in the west What are the major rivers that flow through the Northern Plains?Checkpoint