upsc notes

Greenland Let’s start with a superlative: Greenland is the largest island in the world. But remember—it’s not a country in the traditional sense. Canadian Arctic Archipelago Now imagine a necklace of icy islands scattered above mainland Canada. This is the Canadian Arctic Archipelago—a major physiographic region. Newfoundland Southeast of Labrador Peninsula lies Newfoundland, a historically…

Let’s look at the map of North America. Now, focus on the western part of the continent. Between two major mountain systems—the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Pacific Coast Ranges to the west—lies a vast region that’s starved of rainfall. This is what we call the North American Desert. Now, why is this…

🟩 Missouri River – The Longest River in North America 📍 Length: ~4,090 km🗺️ Course: From southwestern Montana to St. Louis, Missouri🔁 Flows into: Mississippi River🧭 Type: Right-bank tributary of the Mississippi 📌 Key Facts: 💡 Main Tributaries: 🏙️ Important Cities: 🏗️ Important Dam: 📘 Mnemonic for Flow Path: “Montana Never Stops — It Keeps…

🌊 The Great Lakes – A Continental Freshwater Giant 🔶 What are the Great Lakes? The Great Lakes refer to five large freshwater lakes located in the northeastern part of North America — straddling the border of the USA and Canada. These are: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario👉 (Mnemonic: SM HEO – west to…

When we look at a continent from a geographer’s perspective, mountains are not just elevations on the map. They are tectonic biographies — written over millions of years, shaped by internal forces and external agents. Mountains control climate, rivers, settlement patterns, vegetation, and even culture. Look at the diagram of the mountain ranges marked on…

Among the seven continents, North America holds a unique position — not just in terms of physical geography, but also in terms of its economic influence, technological leadership, and geopolitical relevance. Let’s begin with a simple yet profound question: “Why should a civil services aspirant study North America in such detail?” The answer lies in…

To truly understand any continent, we follow a golden thumb rule: “Begin from the borders—the water bodies—then move inward to understand the core physiography.” ✏️ Drawing the Outline Refer to the figure above and take note of the key locations. As you go through the discussion, follow along using the hand-drawn map for better understanding….

Let’s begin with a basic yet profound question: Why learn to draw the World Map by hand when we already have printed and digital maps? The answer lies in the analytical ability and mental map-building that this exercise fosters. A civil services aspirant should not just see the world, but should be able to mentally…