Physiography of India- northern Mountains -Himalayas -Divisions of Himalayas

Chap 2. Physiography of India
Himalayas
LM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

1. Western H.
2. Central H.
3. Eastern H.
4. NE ranges
5. Brahmaputra Valley
6. Northern plains
7. Western plains
8. North central Highlands
9. South C. H.
10. North Deccan
11. South Deccan
12. Eastern Plateau
13. Western Ghats
14. Eastern Ghats
15. Western Coast
16. Eastern Coasts
17. Islands
Mountain = >1200 m
Hilly = 700 – 1200m
Plateau = 700 -300 m
Highland = 500 m
Plain = < 300m

THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
HIMALAYAS
1. Origin of Himalayas – Plate tectonics
2. Divisions of Himalayas – Two types
3. Highest peaks of each range
4. Mountain passes
5. Glaciers
6. Importance of Himalayas

Origin of Himalayas
Plate tectonics and Geosynclines
Formation of Himalayas
K Siddharth

Geological History of Himalayas
• Rock formation : Pre-Cambrian era (600 mya) to recent.
• Acc. to R. L. Singh (1971)

VII
Tertiary – Oligocene
(25-40 mya)
Collision of Indian plate with Eurasian.
Himadri / Greater Himalayas
Mid – Miocene
(14 mya)
Himachal / Lesser Himalayas
Pliocene (750 Tya) Shiwalik / outer Himalayas
Mid -pliocene Sedimentation along Indo-Gangetic trough
Pliestocene Evolution of present drainage pattern , Narmada –Tapi trough
Phase Period Significance
I
Pre-Cambrian
(600 mya)
Cooling and Solidification of earth crust – Gneisses and
Granite.
II
Cambrian Period
(500 mya)
undulations and crumpling of Dharwarian Sediements.
III calcareous deposition in Cuddapah and Vindhyan basins.
IV
Carboniferous period
(270 mya)
Gondwana rocks formed-95% coal resources of India.
V 200 mya
Gondwana ruptured peninsula drifted to north. Upliftment of
Vindhya. Formation of western Ghats
VI
Cretaceous
(135 mya)
Lava flow – formation of Deccan trap

Formation of Himalayas
• Origin and formation of Himalayas
• Plate tectonics - Age of Himayalas is 75 to 45 mya
• The Himalayas continue to rise more than 1 cm a year -- a growth rate of 10 km in a
million years
Classifications

CHARACTERISTICS OF HIMALAYAS
• The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their
• soaring heights,
• steep-sided jagged peaks,
• valley and alpine glaciers
• topography deeply cut by erosion
• river gorges,
• complex geologic structure, and
• series of elevational belts (or zones)
• that display different ecological associations of flora, fauna, and climate.

Over the past 65 million years, powerful global plate-tectonic forces have moved the
Earth’s crust to form the band of Eurasian mountain ranges—including the
Himalayas—that stretch from the Alps to the mountains of Southeast Asia.

Physiographic divisions of Himalayas
1
Trans – Himalayan ranges
1. Karakoram range
2. Ladakh
3. Zaskar
4. Kailash

1 Karakoram range
2 Ladakh range
3 Kailash
4 Zaskar
5 Greater Himalayas
6 Lesser Himalayas
7 Shiwalik / outer Him.
1
2
3
45
6
7
7

Trans Himalayas

1.Karakoram range
- It is also known as Krishnagiri situated in the northern most range of the Trans-Himalayan ranges.
- The Karakoram is a mountain range spanning the borders of China, India, and Pakistan, with the northwest
extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
- It extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 km.
- It is the second highest mountain range in the world
- Length = 500km (most heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar region)
- Average width is 120-140 km.
- greatest Glaciers (22) of the world located Siachen Glacier at 76 km (2nd longest in world) and the Biafo
Glacier at 63 km (3rd largest), Godwin-Austen Glacier and Baltoro Glacier
- elevation 5,500 m.
- Some of the peaks are more than 8,000 m msl
- K2 is the second highest peak in the world and
- It has been named as Godwin Austen by the Britishers and Qogir by the China.
- Major peaks
•K2: 8,611 metres
•Gasherbrum : 8,080 metres

- Godwin-Austen Glacier
1. Karakoram range - Baltoro Glacier - is one of the
longest glaciers outside the polar regions

1. Karakoram range
P O K

• Northern extension of K2 range
• elevation 6000 m.
• length =370km
• highest peak = Stok Kangri (6,153 m)
• No major peaks.
• It lies to the north of the Leh
• It lies between the Indus and Shyok river valleys
• an important part of the Trans-Himalayan range that merges with the
Kailash range in Tibet.
• The important passes that lie to the north east of Leh are- Kardung
La, and Digar La.
• The extension of the Ladakh Range into China is known as Kailash
Range.
• Fine Pashmina Wool
3. Zaskar range
• Runs parallel to great Himalayan Range.
• The Nanga Parbat (8126 m) is the highest point in the north-
west
• adjoining Deosai Mountain and Ladakh range is in north.
• length 300 km
• few peaks of this range attains height of over 6000 m
• The Rakaposhi-Haramosh ranges beyond the Indus may be
treated as extension of the Ladakh range to the northwest.LM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

4. Kailash range
• It is a branch of the Ladakh range which is
situated in the western Tibet. Its average elevation
is elevation 5500 m.
• Length 57 km
• highest peak =Mount Kailash (6638) is the
highest peak of this range.
• River Indus originates from the northern slope of
the Kailash range.
• The mountain is located near Lake
Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal, close to
the source of some of the longest Asian rivers:
the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali also
known as Ghaghara.

1. Trans – Himalayan ranges1. Karakoram range
2. Ladakh range 3. Zaskar range 4. Kailash range
- It is also known as Krishnagiri
situated in the northern most
range of the Trans-Himalayan
ranges.
- Afghanistan and China and
acts as watershed between
India and Turkestan.
- It extends eastwards from
the Pamir for about 800 km.
- The average width is 120-
140 km.
- elevation 6100 m.
- length =500km
- greatest Glaciers of the world
located
- Some of the peaks are more
than 8,000 m msl
- K2 is the second highest
peak in the world and
- It has been named as
Godwin Austen by the
Britishers and Qogir by the
China.
• Northern extension of
K2 range
• length =370km
• highest peak = Stok
Kangri (6,153 m)
• No major peaks.
• It lies to the north of the
Leh
• It lies between
the Indus and Shyok ri
ver valleys
• an important part of the
Trans-Himalayan range
that merges with the
Kailash range in Tibet.
• The important passes
that lie to the north east
of Leh are- Kardung La,
and Digar La.
• Fine Pashmina Wool
• Runs parallel to great
Himalayan Range.
• The Nanga Parbat (8126
mt) is the highest point in
the north-west
• adjoining Deosai Mountain
• Ladakh range is in north
• Length 300 km
• few peaks of this range
attains height of over 6000
m
• The Rakaposhi-Haramosh
ranges beyond the Indus
may be treated as
extension of the Ladakh
range to the northwest.
• It is a branch of the Ladakh
range which is situated in
the western Tibet. Its
average elevation is
elevation 5500 m.
• Length 57 km
• highest peak =Mount
Kailash (6638) is the
highest peak of this range.
River Indus originates from
the northern slope of the
Kailash range.
• The mountain is located
near Lake
Manasarovar and Lake
Rakshastal, close to
the source of some of
the longest Asian rivers:
the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputr
a, and Karnali also known
as Ghaghara.
The extension of the Ladakh Range into
China is known as Kailash Range.LM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

Greater Himalayas
• The Great Himalayas or Greater Himalayas (Hindi: महान हहमालय हहमाहि) is the highest mountain
range of the Himalayan Range System, part of the Alpines belt.
• This range is separated from Trans Himalaya mountain ranges by the Main Central Thrust Fault, which
lies north of it. Entities the range is within include Pakistan, China, India, Nepal, and Tibet.
• The world's highest peak, Mount Everest, and other "near−highest" peaks -
K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Nanga Parbat, etc., are part of the Greater Himalayas range.
• The total west to east extension of the great Himalayas is 2400 km and
• their average elevation is 6000 m
• They are home to many glaciers like Gangotri Glacier, Satopanth Glacier etc.

Highest peaks in
Greater Himalayas
•Mount Everest was first located
by George Everest, the then
Surveyor General of India in
1841 and in 1852 it was
established as the highest peak
of the world by the Great
Trigonometrical Survey of India.

Average elevation of 6,100 m above sea level and an average width of about 25 km.
It is mainly formed of the central crystallines (granites, schist and gneisses) overlain by
metamorphosed sediments [limestone].
The folds in this range are asymmetrical with steep south slope and gentle north
slope giving ‘hog back (a long, steep hill or mountain ridge)’ topography.
State Passes of Greater Himalayas
Jammu and Kashmir
1.Burzil Pass
2.Zoji La [La means pass]
Himachal Pradesh
1.Bara Lacha La
2.Shipki La [The Hindustan-Tibet Road connecting Shimla with Gartok in Western Tibet]
Uttarakhand
1.Thaga La
2.Niti Pass
3.Lipu Lekh
Sikkim
1.Nathu La
2.Jelep La [important trade route connecting Kalimpong (near Darjeeling) with Lhasa in
Tibet, passes through Jelep La (4,386 m)LM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

• Lower/ inner/middle or Lesser Himalayas is 80 km in width, 4000-4500m average
elevation
--- Geology – unfossiliferous or metamorphosed crystalline rocks – slate,
limestone, qaurtzites.
--- The region is subject to extensive erosion due to heavy rains, deforestation and
urbanization along the hill slopes.
Lesser Himalayas

• Pirpanjal in Jammu and Kashmir,
• Dhauladhar in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Nag Tibba in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, etc.
• are some of the famous mountain ranges.
• The Srinagar valley lies in the Lesser Himalayas.
• The Jhelum meanders and enters the Wular Lake, and leaves it near Sopore.
• This Srinagar Valley is between the greater Himalayas and the Lesser Himalaya in Kashmir.

Assignment 6
1. Mapping of all the Himalayan ranges
2. Highest peaks – Trans / Greater Him.
3. List of all peaks, passes and valleys along
the Him range.

Shiwalik / Outer Himalayas
Siwalik Range, also called Siwalik Hills or Outer Himalayas, Siwalik also spelled Shiwalik,
• sub-Himalayan range of the northern Indian subcontinent.
• It extends west-northwestward for more than 1,600 km from the Tista River in Sikkim state, northeastern
India, through Nepal, across northwestern India, and into northern Pakistan.
• 16 km width
• An average elevation of 900 to 1,200 meters.
• It rises abruptly from the plain of the Indus and Ganges (Ganga) rivers (south) and parallels the main range
of the Himalayas (north), from which it is separated by valleys.
• The Shiwalik are sometimes considered to include the
southern foothills of the Assam Himalayas, which
extend eastward for 640 km across southern Bhutan to
the bend of the Brahmaputra River.
• The name Siwalik (from Sanskrit, meaning “Belonging to
[the God] Shiva”) was formerly restricted, is the 320 km
of foothills in India extending from the Ganges River at
Haridwar, Uttarakhand state, northwestward to the
Beas River.
Nepal’s portion of the range is called the Churia Range.
Abi Gamin is a highest mountain peak in Shiwalik mostly
situated in the Chamoli district of UttarakhandLM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

Assi -7
4 divisions:
1. Location w .r to Indian subconti
2. Peak.
3. Significant –passes, valleys,
4 mt ranges
5Geology
6 Width and
7 avrg elevation,
8 length

Longitudinal divisions of Himalayas
1.The Kashmir /Punjab/ Himachal Himalayas
2.The Kumaun Himalayas
3.The Central/ Nepal Himalayas
4.The Assam/ Eastern Himalayas

The Kashmir /Punjab/ Himachal Himalayas
Kashmir Himalayas lies between the Indus River and Sutlej. A significant portion
of the Himalayas lies in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh..
In Jammu and Kashmir region:
-- high snow-covered peaks, deep valleys, interlocked spurs, and High Mountain passes.
The range stretches for 700km in length and 500 km in width.
It has a height of 3000 m with a large number of glaciers.
The Ladakh region of the Kashmir Himalayas is dominated by cold desert conditions.
The Kashmir valley = surrounded by the Greater and the Lesser Himalayas.
The Karewa soil is found here and this area is famous for the saffron and other
dry fruit cultivation. Important passes and peaks (PTO).
In the Himachal Pradesh Region:
All the three ranges- the greater, the lesser, and the outer Himalayas are well represented in this region.
The northern slopes are covered with thick forests, plains, and lakes.
The southern slopes are rugged with forest-clad.
The Kangra valley, Kullu- Manali lies here.
These areas are highly productive and well known for orchards and scenic beauty.
Dalhousie, Shimla, Chamba, Kullu- Manali and Dharam sala is the important hill station in this region.
The important passes are Rohtang pass, Bara-Lacha, Shipki La.

Important passes of the Kashmir Himalayas: Pir panjal,
Banihal, Zoji La, Burzil, Khardungla, Pensi- La, Saser-
La, Lanak- La, Jara- La, Tasaka-La, Umasi-La and
Qara-Tagh-La.
The important snow-capped peaks are
Nanda Devi, Trisul, Nunkun, Kamath and
Nanga-Parbat

The Kumaun Himalayas
• This division lies between the Satluj and Kali River.
• The highest peak in this division is Nanda Devi.
• Important peaks =Nanda Devi, Trisul, Kedarnath, Dunagiri, Kamet, Badrinath, Jaonli, Gangotri, and
Bandarpunch.
• Glaciers= Pindari, Gangotri, and Milam
• Hill stations = Mussorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, and Bageshwar.
• Passes = Thaga La, Muling La, Mana, Mangsha Dhura, and Lipu Lekh.

The Central / Nepal Himalayas
This division stretches from the Kali River to the Tista River. The major part of it lies in Nepal except for the
extreme eastern part- Sikkim Himalayas. The important peaks are the Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Dhaula
Giri, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Gosainath.
Nathu La and Jelep La are the important passes in this region.

The Assam/ Eastern Himalayas
• lies between Tista and the Brahmaputra
River (Dihang).
• It occupies the state of Arunachal
Pradesh in India and Bhutan.
• On the southern border of Arunachal
Pradesh, it takes a southerly turn, and
ranges are arranged in North-South
direction passing through Nagaland,
Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura called
Purvanchal.
• The Purvanchal is joined by Meghalaya
Plateau in the west and its extension of
the Myanmar mountain chain continues
to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and
the Archipelago of Indonesia.
• The Himalayas rise very rapidly in the
plains of Assam and narrow at the
foothills of Shiwaliks.
PDF Here LM Thakare - Physiography of India - Himalayas

Assam Himalayas

• It comprises of many hills
called Aka hills, Dafla hills, Miri
hills, Abor hills, Mishmi hills,
and Namcha Barwa.
• The important hills of eastern
Himalayas are Pakai bum,
Manipur hills, Blue Mountain,
Tripura range, and Brail range.
• The important passes in this
region are Bomdi La,
Yonggyap, Diphu, Pangsau,
Tse La, Dihang, Debang,
Tunga, and Bom La.

Significance of Himalayas
1. Climatic Influence,
2. Defence,
3. Source of Rivers,
4. Fertile Soil,
5. Hydroelectricity,
6. Forest Wealth,
7. Agriculture,
8. Tourism,
9. Pilgrimage,
10. Minerals

1. Climatic Influence:
• By virtue of their high altitude, length and direction, they effectively intercept the summer monsoons coming from the
Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea and cause precipitation in the form of rain or snow.
• Besides, they prevent the cold continental air masses of central Asia from entering into India.
• No Himalayas, the whole of India would have been a desert in the absence of precipitation and its winters would have
been very severe under the influence of cold air masses coming from Central Asia.
• According to the latest meteorological studies, the Himalayas are responsible for splitting the jet stream into two
branches and these in turn play an extremely important role in bring monsoons in India.
2. Defence:
The Himalayas have been protecting India from outside invaders since the early times thus serving as a defence barrier. But
the Chinese aggression on India in October, 1962 has reduced the defence significance of the Himalayas to a considerable
extent.
3. Source of Rivers:
• Abundant rainfall and vast snow-fields as well as large glaciers
• Snow melt in summer provides water to these rivers even during dry season and these are perennial rivers.
• The Himalayan Rivers, along with hundreds of their tributaries, form the very basis of life in the whole of north India.

4. Fertile Soil:
The great rivers and their tributaries carry enormous quantities of alluvium while descending from the Himalayas. This is
deposited in the Great Plain of North India in the form of fertile soil, making the plain one of the most fertile lands of the
world.
It has been estimated that the Ganga and the Indus carry 19 and 10 lakh tonnes of silt, per day respectively and the silt carried
by the Brahmaputra is even more.
5. Hydroelectricity:
• used for producing hydroelectricity.
• There are natural waterfalls at certain places while dams can be constructed across rivers at some other places.
6. Forest Wealth:
• a succession of vegetal cover from the tropical to the Alpine.
• The Himalayan forests provide fuel wood, raw materials , medicinal plants
• Several patches are covered with grass offering rich pastures for grazing animals.
7. Agriculture:
• The Himalayas do not offer extensive flat lands for agriculture but some of the slopes are terraced for cultivation.
• Rice is the main crop on the terraced slopes. Tea is a unique crop which can be grown on the hill slopes only.
• The other crops are wheat, maize, potatoes, tobacco and ginger.
• A wide variety of fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, mulberry, walnut, cherries, peaches, apricot, etc. are also grown in the
Himalayan region.

8. Tourism:
• By virtue of their scenic beauty and healthy environment, cool and comfortable climate
• when the neighbouring plains are reeling under the scorching heat of the summer season.
• winter sports and the craze to enjoy snowfall
• Srinagar, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Chamba, Shimla, Kulu, Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, Darjeeling,
Mirik, Gangtok, etc. are important tourist centres in the Himalayas.
9. Pilgrimage:
Large number of pilgrims trek through difficult terrain to pay their reverence to these sacred shrines. Kailas, Amarnath,
Badrinath, Kedamath, Vaishnu Devi, Jwalaji, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Yamunotri, etc. are important places of pilgrimage.
10. Minerals:
• The Himalayan region contains many valuable minerals. There are vast potentialities of mineral oil in the tertiary
rocks. Coal is found in Kashmir.
• Copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, antimony, tungsten, gold, silver, limestone, semi-precious and precious stones,
gypsum and magnetite are known to occur at more than 100 localities in the Himalayas.

THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS

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Physiography of India- northern Mountains -Himalayas -Divisions of Himalayas

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