Major Plateaus of Asia

Numerous plateaus, or regions of high, generally flat ground, can be found throughout Asia. The majority of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are contained within the 3.6 million square kilometre (1.4 million square mile) Iranian plateau. The plateau features some high mountains and low river basins but is not entirely flat. Most of southern India is made up of the Deccan Plateau. The plateau is typically 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level. And the Tibetan Plateau is typically regarded as the largest and highest region to have ever existed in Earth history.

Features of Major Plateaus of Asia

Here are the features of major plateaus of Asia −

Tibetan Plateau

The highest plateau in Asia is the Tibetan Plateau, which has an average elevation of more than 4,500 meters. The two highest summits in the world, Mount Everest and K2, are located nearby and encircle the area. The Tibetan Plateau, commonly known as "the Roof of the World," is the highest and largest plateau in the world, with an area of about 2,500,000 square meters. The Tibetan Plateau, which stretches 2,500 kilometres from east to west and 1,000 kilometres north to south, is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the north, the Pamir Mountains to the west, the Karakorum Mountains to the west, the western part of the Qinling Mountains to the east, and the Loess Plateau to the northeast.

Mongolian Plateau

The elevation of the Mongolian Plateau ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Hulunbuir has the lowest point and Altai has the highest point. The Greater Khingan Mountains in the east, the Yin Mountains in the south, the Altai Mountains in the west, and the Sayan and Khentii mountains in the north define the boundaries of the Mongolian Plateau, which spans an area of more than 3,200,000 square kilometres (1,200,000 sq. mi) and is shared by China, Mongolia, and Russia. The Mongolian Plateau experiences a temperate continental climate with 200 mm (8 inches) of annual rainfall on average. The mean temperature varies significantly between the hottest and coldest months. The main climatic features of the Mongolian Plateau are high winds and abrupt weather variations.

Iranian Plateau

Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian Plateau, spans a region of over 2.7 million square kilometres and is 2,500 kilometres in length from east to west and 1,500 kilometres in width from north to south. In Pakistan, it is situated between the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to the south, the Zagros Mountains to the west, the Caspian Sea and the Kopet Dag to the north, the Armenian Highlands and the Caucasus Mountains to the northwest, and the Indo-Gangetic Plains to the east. The highest peak in the Iranian plateau, Damavand in the Alborz (5,610 meters), is a closed mountain plateau.

Deccan Plateau

The greatest plateau in India is the Deccan Plateau, which is situated between the Western and Eastern Ghats. The Vindhya Range forms the plateau's northern extremity, and the Ghats form its eastern and western boundaries. With an average elevation of 600–800 meters, the landscape is high in the west and low in the east. The huge Deccan Trap eruption produced the volcanic basalt beds of the Deccan region. Due to its low latitude, the Deccan Plateau has typical continental monsoon weather.

Chota Nagpur Plateau

East Indian highland known as the Chota Nagpur highland includes a large portion of the state of Jharkhand as well as bordering regions of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar. To the north and east of the plateau is the Indo-Gangetic plain, and to the south is the Mahanadi River basin. The Chota Nagpur Plateau spans a total area of about 65,000 square kilometres (25,000 sq mi). A large region of land raised above the surrounding terrain is known as a plateau, and the Chota Nagpur Plateau is one of them. The plateau was created by the rising of the continent due to forces operating deep inside the earth.

Ladakh Plateau

Located between the major Great Himalayas to the south and the Kunlun Mountain range to the north is the Indian province of Ladakh. The area is one of Kashmir's least populated, and it is inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan origin. Ladakh is a noteworthy location for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it has a distinctive history, culture, and customs while also being sandwiched by the region's five main powers—China, India, Afghanistan, Tibet, and Pakistan. Ladakh, which is located on a plain at a high elevation, was chosen as the halfway point on the trade route connecting Punjab, India, and Central Asia.

Malwa Plateau

Indian plateau region known as the Malwa Plateau. It is bordered to the north by the Madhya Bharat Plateau and Bundelkhand Upland, to the east and south by the Vindhya Range, and to the west by the Gujarat Plains. The plateau, which is of volcanic origin, spans southeast Rajasthan state and central Madhya Pradesh state. The Sanskrit word malav, which is a portion of Laksmi's dwelling (the goddess of wealth), is where the name Malwa originates. The Maurya, Gupta, and Paramara empires alternately dominated the plateau; during this time, numerous Buddhist temples and monuments (such as the stupas at Sanchi), known for their architecture and sculpture, were also constructed.

Mysore Plateau

One of the four geographically distinctive sections of the Indian state of Karnataka is the Mysore plateau, sometimes referred to as the South Karnataka plateau. The Western Ghats encircle it on the west and south, and it contains several undulations. On the Mysore Plateau, the river Kaveri passes primarily through Karnataka. The area has an average elevation of 600 to 900 meters. The districts of Bangalore, Bangalore Rural, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, and Tumkur are all included in the plateau.

Shillong Plateau

The Shillong Plateau is a plateau located in northeastern India's Meghalaya state. The Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills are formed by the southern, northern, and western ridges of the plateau, respectively. In satellite pictures, the plateau can be seen to have numerous fracture lines and to have undergone extensive and compressive stresses in the N-S and E-W directions, respectively. Many deep earthquakes, such as the Assam earthquake in 1897 along the blind Oldham Fault, indicate tectonic activity in the mantle.

List of Major Plateaus of Asia

Here's a table featuring the major plateaus of Asia, their locations, and approximate elevations −

Plateau	Location	Elevation (meters)
Tibetan Plateau	Tibet (China)	4,500 - 5,500
Mongolian Plateau	Mongolia	1,000 - 1,500
Iranian Plateau	Iran	900 - 1,600
Deccan Plateau	India	600 - 800
Chota Nagpur Plateau	India	300 - 700
Ladakh Plateau	Ladakh (India)	3,000 - 5,000
Malwa Plateau	India	300 - 600
Mysore Plateau	India	600 - 900
Shillong Plateau	India (Meghalaya)	1,500 - 2,000

Conclusion

The Tibetan Plateau, Mongolian Plateau, Iranian Plateau, Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Ladakh Plateau, Malwa Plateau, Mysore Plateau, and Shillong Plateau are only a few of Asia's major plateaus. These geographical features are varied and significant. These plateaus offer distinctive sceneries and climatic conditions due to their wide variation in elevation, size, and geographic features. The natural and cultural history of the area has been significantly shaped by them. These plateaus are intriguing places to explore and study, ranging from the tallest plateau on Earth to the volcanic origins of the Deccan Plateau.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest plateau in Asia?

The Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau in Asia and the world, with an average elevation of over 4,500 meters.

Which plateau is known as the "Roof of the World"?

The Tibetan Plateau is often referred to as the "Roof of the World" due to its high elevation and vast expanse.

Where is the Deccan Plateau located?

The Deccan Plateau is located in southern India, between the Western and Eastern Ghats Mountain ranges.

What are the boundaries of the Iranian Plateau?

The Iranian Plateau is bounded by the Zagros Mountains to the west, the Caspian Sea and Kopet Dag to the north, the Armenian Highlands and Caucasus Mountains to the northwest, and the Indo-Gangetic Plains to the east.