PhysicalDivisions

From the terrain point of view, Jharkhand can be divided into five physical divisions:

1. PAT REGION:

This is the highest terrain of Jharkhand situated in the western side of Jharkhand (except the

Parasnath mountain).

It is spread in the districts of Latehar, Lohardaga and Gumla.

Average height

of this area is 900-1100 meters. Netarhat is the highest terrain.

This region can be compared with

the shape of the souther plateau.

Deccan lava's remnants are found in this region.

2. PLATEAU OF RANCHI AND HAZARIBAGH /CENTRAL PLATEAU.

This is the second highest terrain of Jharkhand.

Its average height is 600 meters.

Damodar

valley separates the plateaus of Hazaribagh and Ranchi.

This plateau is considered a good

example of plains.

3. OUTER PLATEAU/LOWER PLATEAU:

This is situated on the edge of the Ranchi plateau and Hazaribagh plateau. Its

average height

between 300-450 meters although height of Parasanath

Mountain is 1365 meters.

This can

be divided into two parts from the terrain point of view - northern outer plateau and

southern

outer plateau.

Northern outer plateau is situated on the edge of the Hazaribagh plateau. It is

spread from the

western

border of Santhal Paragana in the east to Palamu in the west. The

districts of Latehar,

Palamu, Garhwa,

Kodarma, North Hazaribagh, Chatra and Giridih come

under this region.

The southern outer plateau is spread in the south of the Ranchi plateau. It is

Tread from

Simdega and

West Singhbhum in the west to East Singhbhum and Saraikela in the

east.

4. THE PLAINS OF CHAIBASA :

Eastern central part ofthe southern outer plateau is called the plains of Chaibasa.

Its average

height is about 150 meters.

It is surrounded by the Dalma hill range in the north, Dhalbhum

range in the east, Kolhan's

mountains

in the south, Saranda in the west and the Porahat hill

range in the northwest.

5. THE RAJMAHAL MOUNTAIN RANGES :

This area is situated at aheight of 150 to 300 meters in the Santhal Paragma region.

Most of

this area was built by the flow of lava during the Jurassic period

PLATEAU OF CHOTANAGPUR

Jharkhand has been renowned as the plateau of Chotanagpur from the terrain point of

view.

The plateau of Chotanagpur is the north-eastern part of the Indian

peninsula.

Chotanagpur plateau is part of the oldest region of Gondwana land of the Indian sub-continent.

                 Chotanagpur plateau is built with plains and remnant land formations. The rocks of
              Chotanagpur plateau are crystallized and of Metamorphic type. Chotanagpur plateau is also
              called a Godown of Minerals.

HILLS

The highest peak is found in the hills of Parasnath, situated in the eastern side of Hazaribagh.

Its

height is 1,365 meters. It is situated in Giridih district.

The hills of Parasnath are an

excellent example of Residual mountains.

Rajmahal range of hills is spread over the areas of

Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, West Pakuda and

the

middle and south of Sahebganj. It was mostly

formed in the Jurassic period due to the flow'

Iava. The

average height of these hills is

between 500 - 1000 feet.

The southern portion of Jharkhand, i.e. Porahat and Kolhan area is

full of high hills and

inaccessible

valleys.

The southwest portions of the state are surrounded

by the hills of Saranda and dense forests.

The hills of Saranda are situated in the south of

the Singbhum plateau.

orahat range of hills are situated in the middle of the Ranchi plateau

and Singhbhum plateau.

The hills of Loharda

a are situated in the western part ofthe plateau

of Ranchi.

The hills of Birmitrapur are situated in the south of the plateau of Singhbhum.