Himalayan Mountains and Physiographic Divisions of India

Himalayan Mountains

• The Himalayas are young fold mountains.
• They formed millions of years ago from the convergence of plates.
• Examples of Fold Mountains include the Andes Mountains (South America), Alps Mountains (Europe), and Rockies Mountains (North America).
• The Himalayas' highest peak is Mount Everest.
• Old fold mountains formed billions of years ago.
• Examples of these include the Ural Mountains, Appalachians, and Aravalli.
• The Himalayas are primarily composed of granitic rocks.

Physiographic Divisions of India

• India has six physiographic divisions: the Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, the Great Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, and Island groups.

Formation of the Himalayas

• The Himalayas formed when the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate.
• This collision caused the land to fold and uplift, creating the mountain range.
• The process also formed the Tibetan Plateau.
• The Himalayas are a significant part of the world's geography.

Himalayan Ranges

• The Himalayas are divided into three main ranges: the Trans-Himalayan, Great Himalayan, and Lesser Himalayan ranges.
• Each range contains various smaller mountain ranges and valleys.
• The Trans-Himalayan range includes the Karakoram, Ladakh, and Zanskar ranges.
• The Great Himalayan range has the highest peaks, such as Mount Everest.
• The Lesser Himalayan range includes the Shiwalik range.

Glaciers of Karakoram Range

• The Karakoram Range has several glaciers, including Siachen, Baltoro, Hispar, and Diafo.
• The Siachen glacier is the second longest non-polar glacier.
• The core of these ranges is primarily granitic rock.

Passes in Jammu & Kashmir

• Important passes in the Jammu and Kashmir region, such as Banihal, Pir Panjal, Burzil, Zoji La, are crucial for travel and transportation.
• Zoji La is a high mountain pass.
• Leh is located at a high altitude.

Important Peaks in the Himalayas

• Important peaks in Arunachal include Kangto (7090 m).
• Important peaks in Nagaland include Saramati peak.
• Important peaks in Manipur include Mt. Esii (Tenipu).
• Important peaks in Mizoram include Phawngpui (Blue mountain).
• Mount Everest is the world's highest peak, standing at 8848 meters.

Mountain Passes

• Important mountain passes include Rohtang, Baralacha La, and Lipu Lekh.
• Rohtang Pass connects Kullu to Lahaul and Spiti Valley.
• Baralacha La Pass connects Lahaul and Spiti to Leh.
• Atal Tunnel is located in Rohtang Pass.
• Lipu Lekh is at a trijunction.

Other Information

• The Himalayas have a variety of ecological zones.
• There are high peaks and valleys.
• Glaciers and rivers are important features of the Himalayan region.
• Different types of mountains (block mountains, volcanic mountains) are important to note.
• The Himalayas are a unique and significant geographical region.
• The Himalayas have a high diversity of plants and animals, due to varied elevation and climate zones.
• This diversity helps to support a rich array of life.