Geography of Jammu and Kashmir Quiz

Physiography of Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory in northern India, situated in the Himalayas.
• Created on October 31, 2019.
• Capital: Srinagar (summer) and Jammu (winter).
• Total geographical area: 42,241 km².
• Total population: 12,267,013.
• Population density: 290/km².
• Districts: 20.
• Secretariat: Jammu and Srinagar.
• High Court: High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Official languages: Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English.

UT Symbols

• UT Animal: Hangul (Kashmir Stag), a critically endangered subspecies of elk found in Dachigam National Park.
• UT Bird: The Khalij Pheasant, found in forests and thickets from Pakistan to western Thailand. Declared official UT bird on October 21, 2021.
• UT Tree: The Chinar tree (Platanus orientalis). Also known as Booune in Kashmiri.
• UT Flower: The Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera).
• UT Emblem: The government of Jammu and Kashmir uses the words "Government of Jammu and Kashmir" on official documents, either alone or in conjunction with the National Emblem of India.

Location

• Situated in the northern part of India in the Himalayas.
• Latitude: 32° 17' N - 35° 10' N.
• Longitude: 73° 26' E - 76° 20' E.
• Area: 42,241 km².
• Borders: Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, Ladakh UT in the north/east, and partially under Pakistan's control.
• Geographical size: Second-largest UT after Ladakh, and Delhi.

Physiographic Divisions

• Jammu and Kashmir is a mountainous region with variations in height from 914 m to 7135 m (Nun Peak).
• The UT is divided into seven physiographic divisions.
• These divisions include: Outer Plains, Foothills (Shiwaliks), Lesser Himalayas (Pir Panjal), Valley of Kashmir, Greater Himalayas, The Karakoram Region, and Ladakh Plateau.

Plains

• The plains were formed by the erosion of bedrock material carried by rivers like the Chenab, Ravi, Tawi, Ujh, and Basantar.
• These plains are in the southern parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The outer plains are locally known as "Andarwah" or "Bajwat," featuring numerous hill torrents.
• Seasonal torrents ("Khads") characterize these areas.

Foothills (Shiwaliks)

• The Shiwaliks are the foothills of the Himalayas, composed of younger tertiary rocks.
• Width: 20 to 50 km.
• Altitude: 600–1200 m.
• Includes long ridges, longitudinal valleys, and Duns (e.g., Udhampur, Bhasoli, Kotli).

Lesser Himalayas

• Also known as Middle Himalayas, lying between the Ravi River in the east and the Poonch in the west.
• Composed of volcanic rocks, granite, gneiss, quartz, etc.
• Average elevation: 3,600–4,600 meters.
• Major ranges: Pir Panjal (longest and Westernmost), Dhauladhar.
• Features: Vaishno Devi cave.
• Rivers sourced here: Tawi, Manawar-Tawi, Basantra, and Ujh rivers.

Valley of Kashmir

• A deep, asymmetrical basin between Pir Panjal and the Western Himalayas.
• Filled with lake sediments and alluvial deposits from the upper Jhelum River.
• Features extensive plateaus of alluvial and lacustrine material (Karewas).
• Contains important side valleys like Lidder valley and Sind valley.

Karewas (Wudurs)

• Are lacustrine deposits (deposits in lakes) found in the Kashmir Valley and Bhadarwah Valley.
• They are flat-topped mounds of loamy soil encompassing the Kashmir Valley.
• Geologists believe they formed from the filling of the Kashmir valley by water from the Tethys Sea during the Pleistocene period.
• Later, river drainage created the present terrain with deposits.

Greater Himalayas

• Located North of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges.
• Average elevation: 4,500–6,100 m.
• Zanskar and other ranges found here (with peaks like Kun and Nun).
• Also includes Nanga Parbat for its elevation.

Zanskar Range

• A mountain range within the Tethys Himalaya, separating the Zanskar region from Ladakh.
• Contains high peaks.
• Important passes (like Marbal, Zojila, Fotu, Namika, Pensi).

Ladakh Range

• A southern extension of the Karakoram Range.
• Stretching 230 miles/370 km from Indus-Shyok confluence to the Tibetan border.
• Includes the main mountain passes: Chorbat, Digar La, Khardungi La, Chang La, Umling La, and Tsaka La.

Upper Indus Valley

• Includes areas from the Tibetan border to the point in the Pakistani region of Kashmir, westwards.
• Tributary rivers form alluvial fans in the main valley.
• Leh town is in this valley (at an elevation of 3500 m).

Karakorum

• A substantial portion is under Gilgit-Baltistan (controlled by Pakistan).
• Also known as the Mount Godwin-Austen/Chogori/Savage Mountains.
• The range's high peaks (like K2, Gasherbrum, Masherbrum) are globally significant.
• Passes: Karakorum Pass, Nubra.

Ladakh Plateau

• A high-altitude, gravelly plain in the northwest portion of Aksai Chin, bordering Tibet.
• Includes the Depsang Plains, which are geographically important.
• Important passes: Karakoram Pass, Lingi Tang Plains, etc.

Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir

• Kashmir Valley surrounded by high mountains.
• Important mountains and ranges: Amarnath, Afarwat, Burzil, Karakoram, Nanga Parbat, Harmukh Mountain, Nun Kun, Pir Panjal, Shiwalik, Toshmaidan, Kajinag, Soyamji Peak, Kharewa.

Volcanic Mountains

• Soyamji and Kharewa are dormant volcanic peaks in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The lecturer cites the eruption of Soyamji in 1934.