Page 315 - New Medley 4 Semester 1

in every part of India except in the mountains. The hottest place is near

Bikaner in Rajasthan.

During the summer season, the days are longer than the nights. Hot, dry

and dusty winds, called loo, blow over the Northern Plains. The Deccan
Plateau of India is cooler due to the influence of surrounding water

bodies. Dust storms are common in the evening. Sometimes, these dust
storms bring light rain. This rain is called kalbaisakhi in Assam and

West Bengal. In Karnataka and Kerala, this is called the mango shower,
as it helps in the early ripening of mangoes.

• Critical thinking
Tick () the right options.

1. (Rainfall/River) is an element of climate of a country.
2. Dras in Ladakh is the (hottest/coldest) place in India.
3. (Northern/Southern) part of India does not experience distinct winter.

4. Kalbaisakhi is experienced in (West Bengal/Rajasthan)
5. In India, Monsoon has (one/two) branches.

The Rainy Season

The rainy season in our country begins with the onset of summer monsoon
winds in the month of June. This season continues till the end of September.

The summer monsoon winds enter India from the south-west direction.
Thus these winds are also called the south-west monsoon winds.

The Indian peninsula divides the southwest monsoon winds into two
branches— the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch. The

Arabian Sea branch is more powerful than the Bay of Bengal branch.
These winds blow from sea to land and carry with them a large amount

of moisture.

Mawsynram in Meghalaya is the wettest place in the world. Most of the
rainfall in our country is received during this season.

The monsoon winds are very irregular. They can cause floods in one
part of the country and drought in another part at the same time. The

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