The Himalayas
Complete Geography Quick Revision Notes
Himalayas – Introduction
The Himalayas are one of the youngest fold mountain ranges in the world of tectonic origin and comprise mainly sedimentary rocks.
Geosyncline
Geosyncline is an obsolete geological concept that described a long, linear trough in the Earth’s crust where vast amounts of sediment accumulated, which was believed to later be deformed into mountain ranges.
Formation of the Himalayas
The Himalayas were formed when the Indo-Australian tectonic plate and Eurasian tectonic plate collided. This caused the closure of the ancient Tethys Sea, leading to the folding and uplifting of sediments deposited on its seabed.
Four Mountain Ranges in the Himalayas
1. Trans-Himalayas
The Trans-Himalayas are located north of the Great Himalayas. This region is characterized by high plateaus and arid landscapes.
Kailash Range in China is also part of the Trans-Himalayas.
Prominent Ranges under Trans-Himalayas
1. Karakoram Range
It forms India’s boundary with Afghanistan and China.
Highest Peak: K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen (8611 m), which is the world’s second highest peak.
Mt. Rakaposhi and Mt. Gasherbrum are also part of the Karakoram Range.
2. Ladakh Range
It has the highest slope.
The Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus, flows between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges.
3. Zanskar Range
Highest Peak: Kamet Peak is the highest peak of this range.
The Indus River flows between the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges.
Glaciers of the Karakoram Range
- Siachen is the second longest non-polar glacier.
- Siachen is the highest battlefield, at about 5700 m above sea level.
- Operation Meghdoot was launched in 1984.
- Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan is the longest non-polar glacier in the world.
- Lambert Glacier in Antarctica is the longest glacier in the world.
2. Greater Himalayas
The Greater Himalayas are also known as Himadri or Inner Himalayas.
- They are asymmetrical in nature.
- The core of the Greater Himalayas is composed of granitic rock.
- Average height is about 6000 m.
- The axial range is about 2500 km.
- Width is about 120 to 190 km.
Gaurishankar is a peak in the Greater Himalayas in Nepal.
Kedarnath, Badrinath and Bandarpunch are important peaks located in Uttarakhand and are also part of the Greater Himalayas.
Highest Peaks of the Greater Himalayas
- Mt. Everest – Highest mountain in the world, 8848 m high. Local names: Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet.
- Mt. Kanchenjunga – Highest in India, located in Sikkim, with a height of 8598 m.
- Mt. Lhotse – Located in Tibet and the Khumbu region of Nepal, with a height of 8516 m.
- Mt. Makalu – 8485 m.
- Dhaulagiri – 8167 m, also known as White Mountain.
- Annapurna – 8091 m.
- Nanda Devi – Highest peak in Uttarakhand, with a height of 7816 m.
- Mt. Kamet – 7756 m, located in Uttarakhand.
3. Lesser Himalayas
The Lesser Himalayas are also known as the Middle Himalayas.
Different Regional Names
Important Valleys
Kashmir Valley lies between the Greater Himalayas and Lesser Himalayas.
Kangra Valley is a type of longitudinal valley that runs parallel to the Mountain Trend.
Kullu Valley is a type of transverse valley that cuts across mountain trends.
4. Shiwaliks / Outer Himalayas
The Shiwaliks are also known as the Outer Himalayas.
In the eastern part, the Shiwaliks disappear and Duars take their place. Duars are soft, unconsolidated deposits that are good for tea cultivation.
Quick Revision – Himalayas
| Topic | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Himalayas | One of the youngest fold mountain ranges in the world; mainly composed of sedimentary rocks. |
| Formation | Collision of Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates and closure of the ancient Tethys Sea. |
| Trans-Himalayas | Located north of the Great Himalayas; characterized by high plateaus and arid landscapes. Average elevation about 3000 m. |
| Karakoram | India’s boundary with Afghanistan and China; K2 is the highest peak, 8611 m. |
| Ladakh Range | Has the highest slope; Shyok River flows between Karakoram and Ladakh. |
| Zanskar Range | Kamet is the highest peak; Indus River flows between Ladakh and Zanskar. |
| Greater Himalayas | Also called Himadri or Inner Himalayas. Average height about 6000 m. Core is composed of granitic rock. |
| Mt. Everest | Highest mountain in the world, 8848 m; Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet. |
| Kanchenjunga | Highest peak in India, located in Sikkim, 8598 m. |
| Lesser Himalayas | Also called Middle Himalayas; average height about 4000 m and width 60 to 80 km. |
| Regional Names | J&K – Pir Panjal; Himachal Pradesh – Dhauladhar; Uttarakhand – Nag Tibba; Nepal – Mahabharat Range. |
| Shiwaliks | Also called Outer Himalayas; average height about 1000 m and width 10 to 50 km. |
| Duns | Longitudinal valleys between the Lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks; Dehradun is the largest Dun in India. |
| Churia Range | The portion of the Shiwaliks lying in Nepal is called the Churia Range. |