The Northern Mountains (Himalayas)

• The Himalayan Mountains form the northern mountain region of India.
• They are the highest mountain ranges in the world.
• These mountain ranges start from Pamir Knot in the west and extend up to Purvanchal in the east.
• Youngest & Loftiest mountain range of the world
• Formed by Tectonic Forces & are 2400 Km in Length
• Are of varying width → from 400 Km in Kashmir to 160 Km Arunachal Pradesh
• Altitudinal variations are greater in the eastern part than in the western part
• Prominent Features → Highest peaks, Deep valleys & Gorges, Glaciers etc.

The Himalayan Mountains can be further divided into following major ranges -

• Trans Himalayas Immediate to the north of the Great Himalayan Range
• Most of the part of this Himalayan range lies in the Tibet and hence also called Tibetan Himalaya
• Ranges →Zaskar, K2 (Godwin Austin), Ladakh, Kailash and Karakoram Range
• Greater Himalaya (Inner Himalaya) Always covered with snow →Known as Himadri
• Average height →6000 mts
• Most continuous range
• Core composed of granite
• Ranges → Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga
• Forests type →Needle leaved coniferous
• Middle Himalaya Average height → 3500 – 4500 mts
• Most of the valleys & hill stations are located in this range e.g. Kashmir, Kathmandu , Nainital
• Ranges →Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar, Mahabharat
• Forests type →Broad leaved evergreen
• Outer Himalaya (Shivalik Range/ Himachals) Average height →600 – 1200 mts
• Most of the Dun & Duars are located in this range
• Ex. Dehradun, Patlidun (longitudinal valleys)
• Deciduous type forests