Himalayan Region in India: Formation, Types, and The Himalayan Ranges

The Himalayan region in India is a beautiful mountain range that serves as a natural northern border. This new fold mountain range, which is about 2,400 km long from the Indus to the Brahmaputra, has high peaks, deep valleys, and complicated geological formations that affect the climate and topography of the whole Indian subcontinent.

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Understanding the Himalayan Region Formation

To understand the himalayan region in India map, one must look at its geological origins. The Himalayas are not just static landmarks; they are the result of intense tectonic activity. According to geological studies, these are "Young Fold Mountains" formed by the collision of two massive tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate.  

Theory of Himalayan Region Formation

The Himalaya mountains were formed because the Tethys Ocean disappeared. When the Indian plate moved north the dirt and rocks that were in the Tethys sea got pushed together. Lifted up making the big folds that we see in the Himalaya mountains today. The Himalaya region in India is still moving and getting taller which is why the Himalaya region is still having earthquakes and volcanoes. The Himalaya region is very active.

Key Features of Himalayan Region Formation:

• The Young Fold Mountains are really young when you compare them to mountain ranges like the Urals or the Appalachians. These mountains are not old, like some of the ranges. The Young Fold Mountains are special because they are young.

• The Arcuate Shape is really interesting. In the region, which is part of the Indian political map the mountain range makes a curve. This curve is like an arc that opens up towards the South. The Arcuate Shape is pretty cool because it is shaped like a bow. The Himalayan region, in the political map is where you can see the Arcuate Shape of the mountain range.

• The width of the mountains is really different in places. The mountains in Kashmir are very wide they are 400 km across. On the hand the mountains, in Arunachal Pradesh are not that wide they are roughly 150 km across. The width of the mountains varies a lot.

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Types of Himalayan Range in India 

Himalayan range in India has a lot of parts inside it. People who study the earth like geographers usually look at the range in India in two main ways: they look at the Himalayan range in India from north to south and they look at the Himalayan range in India from west to east.

1. The Longitudinal Divisions (North to South)

The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges, each with distinct characteristics:

• The Great Himalayas are really something. This mountain range is the one and it just keeps going on and on. The Great Himalayas have the world's peaks, including Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga. The Great Himalayas are made up of granite in the middle. They are always covered in snow.

• The Lesser Himalayas, which is also known as Himachal, is a nice place. It is situated south of the Himadri. The Lesser Himalayas is famous for its terrain and beautiful hill stations. You can find places like Shimla and Mussoorie, in the Lesser Himalayas.The Lesser Himalayas is made up of compressed and altered rocks. The Lesser Himalayas has some ranges. These include the Pir Panjal and the Dhaula Dhar.

• The Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks): This is the southernmost range. It is composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers. A unique feature here is the "Duns" — longitudinal valleys like Dehradun that lie between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks.

2. Regional Divisions (West to East)

When looking at the himalayan region in india, the mountains are also divided based on the river valleys that cut through them:

• Punjab Himalayas: Between the Indus and Satluj rivers.  

• Kumaon Himalayas: Between the Satluj and Kali rivers.  

• Nepal Himalayas: Between the Kali and Teesta rivers.

• Assam Himalayas: Between the Teesta and Dihang (Brahmaputra) rivers.  

Trans-Himalayas Zone

The Trans-Himalayas Zone is a cold and dry region located to the north of the Great Himalayan range. It mainly includes areas of Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti, and parts of Tibet. This zone lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas, so it receives very little rainfall. Due to extreme climatic conditions, vegetation is sparse and limited to grasses, shrubs, and small bushes.

The Trans-Himalayas Zone has a cold desert climate, with very low temperatures in winter and short, cool summers. Rivers like the Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra flow through this region, supporting limited agriculture and human settlements. Crops such as barley, peas, and potatoes are grown during the short growing season.

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Significance of Himalayan Region

• Climatic Barrier: It keeps the cold winds from Siberia from reaching the Indian plains and stops the Southwest monsoon winds, which causes rain.

• Source of Rivers: The Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra are all major rivers that start in Himalayan glaciers.

• Biodiversity Hotspot: The area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, from tropical forests at the bottom to alpine plants at higher altitudes.

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Himalayan Region in India FAQs

Q1: What is the tallest mountain in the Indian Himalayas? 

A1: Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India, located on the boundary between Sikkim and Nepal. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, located in Nepal.

Q2: How can I find the Himalayan ranges on a map of the world? 

A2: The ranges on an Indian political map of the Himalayas cover the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, as well as the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Q3: What do "duns" mean in the geography of the Himalayas?

 A3: Duns are lengthy valleys that are between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks. Some examples are Patli Dun, Dehradun, and Kotli Dun.

Q4: What makes the Himalayas known as the "Young Fold Mountains"?

 A4: They are "young" because they were produced relatively recently in Earth's geological history (during the Tertiary period) and "fold" because they were made by the folding of crustal rocks owing to tectonic collision.

Q5: What is the difference between the Himadri and Himachal ranges? 

A5: The Himadri (Great Himalayas) is the highest, most northern, and permanently snow-covered range. The Himachal (Lesser Himalayas) lies to its south, has a lower average elevation, and is famous for its valley systems and hill stations.