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Himalyan Profile |
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Himalayas is one of the most fascinating country
sides which have always been attracting the people
of various paths. The zigzag mysterious high ranges
of mountains are full of adventure, snow land-scaps
in the high reaches followed by lush green evergreen
forest types open with sloppy pastures lands call
the nature lovers to visit. It is one of the
youngest mountain systems of the world. Jhingran
(1980) wrote "Whereas the mountains of peninsular
India such as Aravalli, The Nilgiris and the Eastern
Ghats are 1500 to 2500 million years old and the
Vindhyanchals are about 1000 million years old, the
Himalayas date back to only about 40 million years." |
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The Himalayan mountain chain stretches from the
Indus gap in the north west to Bramputra gap in the
east. They extend along an arculate shape for about
2400 Kms. The width of these mountains varies from
150 Kms.To 300 Kms. ( Bose 1972 ) |
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There is unquestioned evidence to prove that the
Himalayas rose from under the sea. It is believed
that before the mountain chain was formed, there
existed a Tethys sea between two land masses viz.
Angraland to the north and Godndwana land to the
south. Rivers from both these masses drained into
the Tethys sea. Millions of tons of sediments was
deposited into this water body which resulted in
sagging of ocean bottom due to the enormous weight.
Thus huge forces of stress and strain came into
play. During this period southern continent started
moving northwards. Some volcanic activity also
accompanied this whereby the partly folded sediments
begin to rise out of the sea. Slowly the sea water
drained out. It is believed that the Himalayas were
formed due to number of phases of up lift. These
sediments were folded into series of complex
structures. |
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Due to later phases of tectonic activity a younger
fold mountain chain was formed to the south of
Himalayas. This is the Shiwalik Range. It runs
parallel to the main range in the west but gradually
merges with it in the Eastern region. |
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DISTINCT REGIONS OF HIMALAYAS -FROM SOUTH TO NORTH |
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* Outer or Shiwalik Himalayas :
This consists of the low rolling Shiwalik Hills that
extend more or less parallel to the main Himalayan
range. |
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* Lower Himalayas :
These are the foot
hills of the main Himalayan range. They rise to
elevation of over 2500 Mtrs. These include
Dhauladhar, Shimls ridege, Mussoorie ridges and
Dargeeling-Ghoom ridge. |
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* Higher or main Himalaya :
This is the main
Himalayan mountain wall that towers above the lower
Himalayas and the plains of northern India.The
snowclad peaks tower to elevation of over 8000mtrs.
Mount Everest and other high mountain peaks are a
part of main Himalayan walls. |
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* Trans or Tiberan Himalayan :
As the name suggests, this region lies north of the
main Himalayan mountain wall. The average elevation
is usually over 3000 Mtrs. This is a vast table land
or plateau that extends across the main Himalaya.
It's a part of the Tibetian plateau that lies
further north. Ladakh, Lahul Spiti, Mustang-Bhot are
some area of Trans Himalaya. |
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* Geo-political regions fall in Himalayas :
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gharwal & Kumaun
(Uttrakhand), Nepal, Sikkim & Darjeeling Hills,
Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh |
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