Category: Geography

The most characteristic features of the Himalayas are their soaring heights, steep-sided jagged peaks, valley and alpine glaciers often of stupendous size, topography deeply cut by erosion, seemingly unfathomable river gorges, complex geologic structure, and series of elevational belts (or zones) that display different ecological associations of flora, fauna, and climate. Viewed from the south, the Himalayas appear as a gigantic crescent with the main axis rising above the snow line, where snowfields, alpine glaciers, and avalanches all feed lower-valley glaciers that in turn constitute the sources of most of the Himalayan rivers. The greater part of the Himalayas, however, lies below the snow line. The mountain-building process that created the range is still active. As the bedrock is lifted, considerable stream erosion and gigantic landslides occur.

For example, the Gangotri Glacier gives rise to the Bhagirathi River. The Bhagirathi flows down to meet the Alaknanda River at a place called Dev Prayag. From here they flow as one river called the Ganga.

High valleys in between the snow peak are often covered with glaciers – slowly moving ‘rivers’ of ice. Glaciers are formed when a lot of snow accumulates, gets compressed into ice, and slowly flows down the valleys (usually at speeds of only about a few centimeters per day). The glaciers melt when they reach lower, warmer altitudes, thus giving rise to rivers.

The rivulets join together as they rush down the slopes, becoming streams. The streams (or ‘headstreams’) join together to become rivers, which get wider as more streams join them. These rivers cut through the high mountains, swiftly flowing through deep gorges and valleys.

In the spring it gets warm in the lower areas, and a lot of snow and ice melts. This feeds rivers. When snow melts it becomes water, which forms small rivulets.

Himalaya means the abode or home (Aalaya) of snow (ihma). There is snow in the Himalayas throughout
the year at heights above about 4,500 metres. In winter, snow falls at elevations down to about 2000 metres. The roads to many villages and towns that are high in the mountains are blocked by snow in winters, cutting these areas off from the rest of India.

The rivers that rise from the Himalayas are perennial – meaning, they flow throughout the year.

The Purvanchal or Eastern Himalayas:
These are extended in the north-eastern states of India. Several of these hills are Extended along the border of India and Myanmar.

The Trans –Himalayas: They are in the North of great Himalayas. It has the Karakoram, Ladak, Zaskar and Kailash Mountain ranges.

• Flat-topped terraces of Kashmir valley on flanks of Pir Panjal
• made up of clay, sands from old deltaic fans.
• Fertile land.

Lesser Himalayas:
Small meadows on the slopes of lesser Himalayas Gulmarg ,SoneMarg etc.
There are two open valleys between the Great Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayas:

• Kashmir valley
• Kathmandu valley
  The valleys of kashmir and kathmandu have been created with the
  sedimentation of lakes . The dal and the Wular lakes are its evidences .
  Valley of Lahul ,Spiti and kullu are between the Great and the Lesser Himalayas.