Question

Describe the relief features of the mountains in north India.

Answer 1

1. Greater Himalayas (Himadri):
   1. Highest and northernmost range of the Himalayas.
   2. Always covered with snow, with glaciers and snow-fed rivers.
   3. Peaks contains the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest (8,848 meters) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters).
   4. The range forms the main climatic barrier and separates India from the Tibetan Plateau.
2. Lesser Himalayas (Himachal):
   1. Middle range located south of the Greater Himalayas.
   2. Average elevation ranges from 3,000 to 4,500 meters.
   3. Famous for hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital.
   4. Known for beautiful valleys such as Kullu and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
   5. The Pir Panjal Range and Dhaoladhar Range are part of this system.
3. Shiwalik Range (Outer Himalayas):
   1. Lowest and southernmost range of the Himalayas.
   2. Made of loose soil and rocks, consisting mainly of alluvial deposits.
   3. Elevation: Ranges from 900 meters to 1,200 meters above sea level.
   4. Known for valleys called ‘Duns’, such as the Dehradun, Kothari Dun, and Patli Dun.
   5. The Shiwaliks are heavily eroded and form the foothills of the higher Himalayan ranges.
4. Foothills:
   1. Between the Shiwalik Range and the plains of India, there are several foothills characterized by rolling terrain and small hills.
   2. These areas are often fertile and have rich alluvial soils deposited by rivers.
5. River Valleys:
   1. The Himalayas are the source of several major rivers in North India, including the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
   2. These rivers flow through deep valleys, such as the Kashmir Valley and Kathmandu Valley, formed by the uplifting of the mountains and the erosion caused by the rivers.
6. Geological Features:
   1. The Himalayas are young fold mountains, having formed during the Tertiary period, around 50 to 70 million years ago.
   2. The region is still seismically active, leading to occasional earthquakes and landslides.